Alicia returns to Dweomerheart.
On a simple throne Mystra rests as Marie sings. She sleeps softly, her breathing slow as she recovers.
Marie's song is more of a gentle lullaby right now, softly crooning away.
"There's no rush, let her rest," Alicia says quietly to one of the Marie's in the room - there's several and it's beyond even Alicia's abilities to tell which is the real deal. "But let her know I've made the spell and the danger known widely. Selune is planning further direct action against Shar and we'll be taking part."
Marie nods to that and continues her vigil while Alicia returns to Sylica.
Thus you return after a rather hectic day thanks to Shar. Do you have any immediate reactions to this, within an hour or two's time?
Nothing immediate, she'd be working on retraining to learn the new spell but that probably takes more than a couple of hours.
As you do...
Are you well today, Alicia?
Alicia is of course in a dimensionally warded spot!
It's not like you to take time on pleasantries, Shar. Will you share commiserations if I say no? Will you promise to change it if I say yes?
It is a day that will go down in Creation's history. Why should I not be happy on the day I won?
I'm actually touched that you'd think of me on a day so important to you.
It is a compliment of sorts, even Alicia can recognise that. Poor lonely Shar.
But did you really get enough from it to secure ultimate victory? The threat you pose has risen greatly, but that only has a clarifying effect for your enemies.
Oh Alicia, do you think I would show such a secret without a worthy prize from it?
Of course not, Shar. But you might be exaggerating the import to make yourself feel better and me feel worse.
You feel a sense of mirth but ultimately no more words.
They really need to hurry up with that attack. Something to put Shar on the back foot again, reverse her gains or at least keep her from being so cocky.
For now she needs to work on mastering Mystra's new spell though. Safety first!
It's not hard to finish up the spell when you've been given a roadmap by the Mother of All Magic, at least. You soon enough have that done and set up.
After that, and casting the spell on everyone who needs it, Alicia fetches Antenora and Syala.
"I think the quiet spell we've been enjoying recently is about to come to an end, so I'm going to take this chance to become One," she tells them, having put it off long enough.
"Events move again," Antenora agrees, "I'll be there for you."
Syala smiles just a little bit, "And I'll be there to patch you up if it goes wrong, dear. Just make sure I stay bored."
"If something goes badly, go and fetch one of the seeds we left with Io, I think that will restore a broken divinity," Alicia says, having a precaution in place. "But I'm confident I can follow in Antenora's footsteps this time, in my own way."
"Then we'll be with you," Antenora vows. "Are you ready now?"
"Let me just change first," Alicia says as one of her avatars appears to safeguard her things, methodically taking off her panoply of magic items - even the ring of eternal celerity, and then her clothes. She creates with her own divine power something to wear for modesty's sake, a black tunic and hose similar to what she usually wears under her armour - in fact almost identical to what she just took off. But this one was made by her, and that lends symbolic weight to what's coming.
"Now. Antenora, would you do the honours?" she invites her to take them outside of Creation.
Okay, it's been a bit since we've done a One ascension, and these are a big enough risk that I want to make sure you're clear on everything. Are you? That aside, how do your numbers stack up here?
I think so. I have to make 3 DC 30 charisma checks with no recourse to temporary bonuses, but I gain a +15 bonus from the research provided by Io/Antenora/Sylvie?
In this case Alicia's check is +36 and she can't fail on a 1, so it should be a safe bet. Barring the far realm horrors that might show up to attack Anty and Syala and possible dangerous manifestations of Alicia's personality or history that can appear during it.
It's nothing.
The endless empty expanse of white, the absence of everything. Syala begins to fly around you in a defensive pose, as does Antenora. She is silent but ready, surrounding you as you prepare to rise beyond.
Alicia's posture slackens as the other two peel away, looking down at her own body, the only tangible thing that can be counted out here. Her anchor not just in Creation but in the Beyond, in anywhere at all. Alicia. Herself. I.
Charisma check 1.
[20:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+36
[20:31] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d20=2]
You drift.
You remember yourself - a prism burst of memories and sensations. Grapes and childhood, the warm sun and Beth's sneer, the smell of dust on the road and of hearth and home. Blood. So much blood.
When did you become such an adept killer?
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 48 > [d100=48]
This wasn't the only path. Was it the right path?
You find the question lingers in your mind like blood splatters on your armor.
But you already know the answer to that. The question fades, long since answered.
Antenora and Syala fly around you, more than at the ready.
Death goes with her.
The blade cuts. The sword stabs. The weapon kills.
The spell burns. The sorcery electrocutes. The magic kills.
It's something she's comfortable with. There's no dodging the question, and so it has long since been internalised and accepted. This is her talent, and even if she has others, her talent at killing is at the forefront.
She's fine with that. Creation is a violent place. A place where a killer like her can prosper.
Okay then, give me your second Charisma check.
[17:23] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+36
[17:23] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 53 > [d20=17]
You resonate amid the emptiness.
You remember so many things. The voices of fiends and angels, of nightmares and raptures.
"It's needed," You remember Sylian's voice, an echo of it seeming to resonate within your veins.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 9 > [d100=9]
Yet the two still surround you, the Beyond calm even as you grapple with yourself.
One more Charisma check.
[18:25] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+36
[18:25] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 54 > [d20=18]
Yet you draw into yourself, drawn in more and more and more.
One question looms in your mind: Peace?
It's what she fights for.
Peace.
Her peace. On her terms.
That's what it comes down to ultimately. The contradiction of using violence to suppress those who threaten peace. In a Creation of perfect peace there is no need for killers like her. But unlike some who revel in violence, Alicia will gladly see herself made obsolete.
There's more to her than just the sharp edges.
Although considering there's more Beyond Creation? Would she go seek out other existences to impose her type of peace there? Would their realities and inhabitants be so wildly different from her that she'd be to them much like Zetsuboku was to Creation? It's an interesting thought experiment, but not one she dwells upon right now.
Creation is so vast and ancient, it will be a long time if ever before it knows true peace.
A schism. A split. A sense of two that was one.
Salvation.
> roll 1d20+15
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 25 > [d20=10]
A resonance. A resonance of forgiveness, an echo to a previous trip here. In that moment you remember Della, the warped reflection that momentarily struck before you dissolved it in the Beyond, to allow Antenora to finish her ascension.
You feel something snap into place. You feel yourself ascend, you rise, you grow. You feel different and vitalized and yet all the same at once.
Congratulations, you have become One.
Alicia looks around the nothingness of Beyond, seeking out Antenora and Syala before she moves towards them, decisive rather than spending time on more introspection after feeling that shift. "It's done, time to leave."
Syala is at your side as Antenora approaches, a shift as you return to Sylica.
Once there, "Are you well, Alicia?" Antenora asks, "It seems to have gone well."
"There wasn't any trouble on my end," Alicia says, her avatar appearing to return all her equipment which she begins putting back on. "If you're already a deity it doesn't change much, but I still felt something shift within me. You weren't bothered by anything while watching over me?"
"Just your opposite at the end," Antenora says, then softer, "An image of blood and merciless aggression."
"It didn't last long," Syala says, "Both you and Antenora had the same idea, something tied to darker aspects of yourself." With a little chuckle, "Archons," she says exaggeratedly, "All the same!"
"Well I am a war deity, dealing with that contradiction's to be expected," Alicia says, smiling at the pair. "Thank you for taking care of it for me."
Then she'll contact Marie to see if Mystra's still sleeping or not.
Marie can see that Mystra is awake now, if barely and stirring with a deep slowness.
Since Marie tells Alicia to wait a while, Alicia holds off on visiting.
Instead she'll contact Selune!
Selune, I've come across information that may be important for when we attack Shar. Though it's not yet confirmed, Morwel believes the Godsrush has added three new deities who all serve Shar. She has asked that we be discreet with this information, but if true then they count a gloom, a daemon, and a leshay among them. I don't know any specifics of their portfolios or natures, however.
Troubling, yet I do not lament more targets.
A gloom and a leshay are not to be underestimated.
The leshay in particular is believed to be Chylas, a scholar of the stars. As a fey he was highly resistant to holy power... Morwel cautioned me of it, but I'm unsure if he could retain that if he takes on the mantle of an evil deity.
It just fundamentally doesn't make sense with the way Creation is structured and undermines the whole point of finding an answer between the alignments. Fine if you're just a normal creature, but as a deity there should be structure to such things.
Then enough moonfire to drown a world will suffice.
Thank you for this knowledge, Alicia.
I'll contact you if I hear more.
Then she'll have to wait a bit until Marie says Mystra looks well enough for visitors.
It isn't too long before that happens.
Go ahead.
Alicia then returns to Marie and Mystra's side. "I've spread the knowledge of how to defend against Shar's new trick, are you feeling better Mystra?" she asks right off.
"I'm in recovery," Mystra confesses to you, "But my energy returns by the moment."
"Selune is eager to strike at Shar in reprisal, but there's something else," Alicia says. "Shar contacted me - to gloat. But she proclaimed today as the day of her ultimate victory in Creation. That's rather more grandiose than she usually gets and has me worried over what has actually been accomplished with this."
"Too grandiose," Mystra agrees. She slowly sits up and focuses on you. "I fear she means to do something with the Weave, some way and some how. I can imagine nothing else that would give her such a sense of vindication."
"That's what I was thinking," Alicia nods. "Similarly, whatever she's doing, using your blood probably gives her some means of blinding you to what's happened. It might be good for one of us to put a second set of eyes on it."
"That is wise," Mystra says. "Do you have a volunteer?"
"Marie and I are right here," Alicia points out. She wouldn't have suggested it if she wasn't willing. "But you have other candidates of course."
Mystra offers her hand out, a wordless acceptance. "Then look with all your mind and will."
Marie and Alicia both put their hands on Mystra's. They don't have to hold up the weave, it won't be the same ordeal as earlier, but it'll still require careful attention for them to see without relying on Mystra, as doing so would only subject them to the same theoretical blind spot Alicia worries about.
Both of you are sorcerers, so give me Charisma checks. +3 bonus since Mystra's letting you see and you've done things like this before.
[18:48] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+42 Alicia, good hope, improvisation
[18:48] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=3]
[18:49] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+36 Marie, good hope, improvisation
[18:49] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d20=19]
Forgot to add the +3, so Alicia got 48 and Marie 58 in total.
The Weave is everything and in that, you are all.
Marie and Alicia lose themselves in it, a timeless forever that stretches into mere minutes. You search the Weave, you see the spells. You are the spells, every fireball and cure light wounds spell cast across Creation and more.
And yet it is all as it should be. It is all tranquil and proper. Magic flows as it should.
The two withdraw and look at each other first, Marie shaking her head before Alicia nods in acceptance. "We couldn't sense anything amiss either. Either Shar's hidden it that well, she hasn't done it yet, or her plan runs along a different thread entirely," she says to Mystra.
"She must be hiding it," Mystra says, "I cannot imagine she will not strike against the Weave somehow." She rests a moment before, "We must discern what she plans."
"Savras or Azuth might see more clearly than we did, it's worth checking again," Alicia says, considering it. "To pierce deception... Antenora has a talent for that but she's not magically inclined, she wouldn't get anywhere with the Weave." She leaves it hanging in case Mystra has any ideas who might be a good candidate at seeing something in her own blind spot.
Mystra considers a long time, "But..." she muses, a sudden stop that seems to completely interrupt her internal train of thought. "Is there any way Shar could do anything else with it?" she muses aloud. "I do not think it possible, but with whispers of the Beyond in recent times, I have to question it."
"My initial thought was making something like a simulacrum," Alicia says. "A false Mystra made of shadow with a sizeable fraction of your might and knowledge, if not your divinity. But... well, what you say opens up greater possibilities, doesn't it?"
"She's definitely got something bigger in mind than a simple curse, if she said this is her victory then it has to be something that'll shake Creation," Marie puts in.
"Something vast," Mystra agrees, "Have you heard anything that could indicate what she plans, Alicia?"
"Little, her gloating was vague of course," Alicia says. "The only other recent news is only rumour, it came from Queen Morwel and she cautioned I not spread it too far. She believes three new deities have risen to serve Shar. A gloom, a daemon, and a leshay. Three would certainly fit if she'd acquired a god seed of her own, although I don't see what benefit she could gain from your blood in regards to them."
"Well, Mystra - what could you do with your blood?" Marie asks, since she and Alicia don't have the same sort of knowledge as Shar has, but Mystra knows a lot more.
"Almost anything," Mystra says, "It's a tiny fragment of the Weave." She answers, "Imbued with all the spells that pass through it and the patterns of magic." Here she rests, "So many things. A droplet could restore an entire Prime to the Weave if it was severed. Two could grant a mortal, should they survive it somehow, the magic of a grand archmage. More could do almost anything."
"She could use it to imbue her minions with great magical power, but that seems... too mundane," Alicia says. "Not enough for her to crow about her ultimate victory."
"Could she use it to make her own Weave?" Marie suggests. "As a template for something she can expand with her own power?"
"What would she do with it, though?" Alicia asks. "It wouldn't serve as a way to circumvent any of the restrictions on magic laid down by the Incarnations, and chronomancy would still draw the attention of the temporal compact."
"Maybe she wouldn't do anything different, maybe it's purely a way to horn in on Mystra's business. Like Helm did with Kelemvor," Marie offers, giving Mystra an apologetic look for talking about her having her job stolen.
"Another Weave," Mystra muses, "An Anti-Weave. A Dark Weave. A Shadow Weave?" Her expression turns grim, "If nothing else, perhaps she could find a way to circumvent some defenses with it, or at least anti magic, if not worse."
"Perhaps, but it's a relatively minor trick isn't it? And it would be equally defenceless in return," Alicia says. "Perhaps look out for spellcasters who suddenly stop appearing to cast spells on the Weave but haven't died? That might be a way to indirectly find evidence of such a thing?"
"I do not think it will be minor if Shar speaks highly of it," Mystra says, "She has many flaws, but empty boasts are not one of them. Your point is taken, and it will be trivial to check for such things."
"We don't know that's her plan, but if it is I think it's the long term prize of usurping your role that counts as her victory, not the mechanical differences in spells cast over this theoretical second weave," Alicia says.
"Of the possibilities we've discussed it's the one that feels grandest," Marie puts in. "That makes it feel like we're on the right track."
"That it does," Mystra agrees, "Should the worst have happened from this attack, and were she fast enough, she could well capitalize in the chaos if that is her plan."
"It could have been a lot worse if all of us weren't here to help," Marie seconds that. "So what now?"
"We stay vigilant and await our chances," Mystra says, "If we find evidence that this is Shar's goal?" Her expression becomes tight, "We will remind her that her duties cover loss, and instruct her in how to lose."
"We'll be ready," Alicia promises. "And in the meantime we'll give our support to Selune's impending attack." Unfortunately they're just not strong enough to attack Shar themselves without the support of a greater power like that.
Maybe one day, but she'd trade that for a decisive victory now with Selune's help.
Okay, so that's winding down. Any immediate move in response to that?
Nothing else to do right now, no.
You go back. As you do, you sense and feel it. Nial's murmured prayer for victory in combat. You see around him.
Hanna.
Hanna stands by Aurora's gates, "We don't know exactly what's going on here, but we're going to solve it. Whatever bloodsucker has done this deserves an axe to the head. Crush any vampire spawn or servant undead, purify the wicked and strike down the necromancers. Also, there's possibly captive servants of Lathander, Mielikki, Azuth and Mystra. We don't know why they're kidnapping them and if they're even alive, but if they are, get them out of there intact. We're going in right into the thick of it, we found a place they haven't warded for teleportation, we'll get right into the teeth of the enemy forces."
She'll watch over this as something potentially interesting, and she gives Nial a faint sense of caution.
If the vampires habitually ward against teleportation and they haven't this time, that sounds suspicious after all.
"For Aurora! For Lifasa!" The cry goes up as the gates open and they go off.
It's a dark place, underground somewhere. Barely a moment before it begins - tidal waves of the dead, of corpses puppeted to unholy life. They fight with a vigor that belies being a mere zombie, even as Hanna leads the way into them.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 96 > [d100=96]
Nial wades in, a battle cry as he slices through one. Another and another fall as combat erupts - and Nial surges, as one he impales grins and leans forward, before something in its chest glistens bright. A gemstone? No, just crude quartz. But it crackles with black fire before the dead explodes, Nial engulfed in unholy flame.
Exploding zombies are a repugnant classic, aren't they? Hopefully that didn't kill him, he's capable at ranged fighting after all... assuming they can make enough room for it.
Nial hits the ground after hard - disfigured and broken, burnt horribly. He lies there as the battle raged, the flame of his life flickering and dimming. With one eye intact and the other gone, he manages to lift his head just a little, to see the battle. "For...Aur..ro...rora." he whispers.
"....please..." A bare whispers, "I...I don't w...want to...g..go..."
Come on Hanna, throw down a mass heal. Hit the undead and heal your friends, it's a tried and true tactic!
She won't interfere heavily, but she makes her presence felt with Nial, giving him comfort if it really is the end but also giving him strength to hang on a bit longer in case any of his allies are in a position to heal him.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 68 > [d100=68]
Nial's expression softens as the light lingers in his eyes and starts to dim, "S...sorry, I...could have done...mo...re, my..l...la...dy..." His head lolls aside as his eyes go dark.
A moment later a soldier with Helm's holy symbol races to his side and lays down a swift healing spell, but it's a moment too late. "Damn it," he mutters, "I'll make sure the healers try to bring you back," Meanwhile, Nial's soul begins to leave his body, drifting up and -
A presence. A hunger, dark and vast. Something inhuman. You feel it start to pull at Nial's soul, try to drag it down and away.
Excuse me but no. That's not happening.
That's how you get an avatar to come visit.
Is that what you want, vampires?
A snarl before a rough voice declares in your mind, 'Snivel before me, impotent godling. You are not the first and will not be the last. This one's soul will feed me. It's mine. Mine!'
Alicia nonetheless maintains a firm grip on Nial's soul to direct him to the well of souls.
In the meantime her avatar girds itself for battle and is about to gate herself over. She can tell there's no dimensional interdiction over Nial or the like that would impede her, right?
Aliciavatar HP: 855+20/855
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), extended ray deflection (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), greater foresight (CL 38), seira's arcane thesis (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), mass energy immunity (cold) (CL 39), celestial valor (CL 36), opal inviolability (CL 37)
Defences: AC 106, CMD 114, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (cold, unholy), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref/init, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/saves, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +6 bonus hd, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +10 SR checks, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, darkvision 60, true seeing, scent, tremorsense/blindsight 60, perception +79
Sorcerer spells: 6/16/15/13/8/9/14/8/8/8/7/6/6/5/5/2
Duskblade spells: 6/22/22/22/11/6/15
There is not at all.
Meanwhile the force does not give up easily, pulling back against you as...
Charisma check, +5 bonus.
[18:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+21 (+30 more if this is an opposed check, using many moments of prescience)
[18:02] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 26 > [d20=5]
It is so 56 total.
> roll 1d20+35 (+25 MoP had the same idea)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d20=20]
A very wise choice for you to pop that.
It's a fight. A downright brawl but you manage to hold onto Nial's spirit, the vampiric presence clawing and fighting for every inch.
Alicia feels provoked. There's lots of things she doesn't like and she fights against, but there's always a sense off 'fairness' that everyone gets what's coming to them in the end. Interfering with the final destination of souls goes against that, goes against what to her mind is something fundamental to Creation.
That it's not made impossible suggests the Incarnations left such opportunities in deliberately.
Often it's someone like Shar that does it, however. Makes it hard to get proper redress. But this time? A gate opens, connecting Sylica with this place.
Her avatar steps through, and Nial's soul rather than being sent back to the well of souls is returned to his body, restored and resurrected as the avatar reaches a hand down to pull him to his feet.
"Together we will show what happens to those who would deny a soul its rightful place," she says firmly, power flowing into Nial so that he may fight at her side.
Nial gets to be her familiar now.
Counts as 36 hit dice for any effects that matter with those.
Hit points change to 379 if they're not already higher.
Base attack bonus changes to +36 if it's not already higher.
Base saves (before stats/feats/abilities) change to Fort +18, Ref +9, Will +18 if they're not already higher.
Gains Alicia's base skill ranks for any skills his aren't higher than. That's +39 to acrobatics, craft (landscaping), craft (painting), diplomacy, intimidate, fly, knowledge (arcana), knowledge (history), knowledge (nature), knowledge (religion), knowledge (planes), perception, perform (oratory), profession (general), sense motive, spellcraft, survival, and swim. And +16 to bluff.
Intelligence rises to 23 if it's not already higher.
Gains +18 to natural armour.
Gains improved evasion.
Gains spell resistance 41.
Can cast Limited Wish as a spell-like ability twice per day.
Aliciavatar HP: 855+20/855
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), extended ray deflection (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), greater foresight (CL 38), seira's arcane thesis (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), mass energy immunity (cold) (CL 39), celestial valor (CL 36), opal inviolability (CL 37)
Defences: AC 106, CMD 114, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (cold, unholy), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref/init, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/saves, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +6 bonus hd, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +10 SR checks, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, darkvision 60, true seeing, scent, tremorsense/blindsight 60, perception +79
Sorcerer spells: 6/16/15/13/8/9/14/8/8/8/7/6/6/5/5/2
Duskblade spells: 6/22/22/22/11/6/15
The battle - the dead versus the living, from the lowliest corpse to Hanna herself - freezes as you enter. As Nial stirs and rises all eyes are on you - your entrance has momentarily stopped the battle if nothing else.
Hanna recovers first, and lets out a cry of, "You heard her," she shouts, "The enemy has committed unspeakable blasphemies. END THEM!"
What power surges in your veins, goddess? Have you come to feed my slave?
The voice is the barest whisper in your mind, almost a phantasm of it. Were you mortal, you might think it a trick of your imagination. You can almost feel your canines ache and thirst tickle the back of your neck, but you resist such a presence with a moment of will.
It is a feast moon. Look high into the sky and see.
Meanwhile Nial surges ahead with Hanna, the battle joined again, the dead only now starting to recover as battle surges all around you.
You have also have talked to many deities before. This is a voice of power, a voice of authority. It is not the voice of the divine, not quite. It is something twisted and wrong, something that seethes against your mind. Like sharp fangs dragging across your brain, always a threat to sink in and drink.
Free action to use greater foresight's 1/round divination on knowing where the source of that voice is.
Also just basically what's the layout like here? Does Alicia have an idea of where the soul siphon is from her tussle with it?
Aliciavatar HP: 855+20/855
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), extended ray deflection (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), greater foresight (CL 38), seira's arcane thesis (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), mass energy immunity (cold) (CL 39), celestial valor (CL 36), opal inviolability (CL 37)
Defences: AC 106, CMD 114, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (cold, unholy), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref/init, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/saves, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +6 bonus hd, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +10 SR checks, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, darkvision 60, true seeing, scent, tremorsense/blindsight 60, perception +79
Sorcerer spells: 6/16/15/13/8/9/14/8/8/8/7/6/6/5/5/2
Duskblade spells: 6/22/22/22/11/6/15
Give me CL on divination, he has defenses up.
The layout is a fairly large cavern - about 50ft by 80ft. It's currently full of heroes and the dead waging war. There's a passage deeper in ahead, from which the dead come.
[19:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38 CL
[19:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 53 > [d20=15]
'The Blood Castle,' is the answer you get.
You can sense whatever's draining the soul is ahead, not too far.
That's such a worthless answer, every vampire calls their castle that.
Well anyway, the avatar enters the fray without necessarily upstaging the heroes of Aurora here or making it too easy for them. Nial's probably having fun at least. "At them, the stealer of souls is not far!" she encourages, a single beam of silver fire clearing her own path while she exhorts the warriors of righteousness.
2 quickened mass snake's swiftness on either side to give everyone in a 20 foot radius burst an immediate free melee attack.
[20:04] <@Ebiris> roll 40d10 DC 46 ref half
[20:04] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 230 > [40d10=230]
Aliciavatar HP: 855+20/855
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), extended ray deflection (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), greater foresight (CL 38), seira's arcane thesis (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), mass energy immunity (cold) (CL 39), celestial valor (CL 36), opal inviolability (CL 37)
Defences: AC 106, CMD 114, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (cold, unholy), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref/init, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/saves, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +6 bonus hd, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +10 SR checks, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, darkvision 60, true seeing, scent, tremorsense/blindsight 60, perception +79
Sorcerer spells: 6/16/15/13/6/9/14/8/8/8/7/6/6/5/5/2
Duskblade spells: 6/22/22/22/11/6/15
In his defense, it might be the original Castle of Blood if it's the First Vampire.
With this the group surges and the way ahead for you is clear - you can go onward if you wish, or stay with them as Hanna leads an attack against them, to finish off the dead.
Alicia will stay with Aurora's forces, destroying the undead and moving with them to reach and destroy the thing ahead where if anything can be done for the souls it has eaten, she will do it.
I am wroth, but I will not usurp your command here Hanna. These are your soldiers, not mine.
As Hanna cleaves apart a zombie and leaps away from the flame?
'Thank you for that. Act as you see fit.' Her message is a little terse, as you see Nial cleave one of the zombies apart with one blow.
She doesn't even use her sword, it's all magic right now. Half boosting the warriors, half slaying the undead, Alicia measures her actions to not take away fully from the challenge or accomplishment of the ones already fighting here before she swept in.
She's still decisive, this is after all the highest tier of divine response she's meting out.
And when the way is clear she's the one leading the way towards the soul siphon.
Give me Intimidate with a +20 circumstance bonus.
[17:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 many moments of prescience dropped
[17:03] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 106 > [d20=18]
I never even added the +20 on the roll so that's 126.
The dead flee in terror. Some burst into flame as you pass and they retreat, only to be slain by Aurora's soldiers.
Ahead is an archway, fortified by several great behemoths of bone and skulls in the form of massive hounds. Long ago you faced creatures like this - charnel hounds. What were once mighty foes for you now turn and whimper, fleeing away as fast as they can. They do not bare to bar your way now.
As well they should. She hasn't even made herself big, but her presence is suffocating, every measured step she takes towards her goal a toll of the clock striking midnight.
She's very good at killing.
The archway parts - and you sense unholy ground ahead, unhallowed to evil. Within this place a figure comes forth - tall and broad, blonde and with visible fangs. He is dressed in cape and rich clothes, like a nobleman.
With a grand gesture, "You are the cow who dares challenge me?" he bellows, "So fearful you bring an army of sows with you?"
What magic does he have on him? Also I have true seeing in case he really looks different.
[17:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38 arcane sight CL
[17:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 48 > [d20=10]
[17:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38 true seeing CL
[17:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 50 > [d20=12]
Aliciavatar HP: 855+20/855
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), extended ray deflection (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), greater foresight (CL 38), seira's arcane thesis (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), mass energy immunity (cold) (CL 39), celestial valor (CL 36), opal inviolability (CL 37)
Defences: AC 106, CMD 114, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (cold, unholy), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref/init, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/saves, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +6 bonus hd, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +10 SR checks, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, darkvision 60, true seeing, scent, tremorsense/blindsight 60, perception +79
Sorcerer spells: 6/16/15/13/6/9/14/8/8/8/7/6/6/5/5/2
Duskblade spells: 6/22/22/22/11/6/15
He's in his true form.
He has the following spells active: Mind Blank, Greater Heroism, Life Ward, Sunshield, Heartguard and Imbuement of Blood.
First three are standard spells. Sunshield stops sunlight from harming the creature, heartguard gives a vampire's heart some protection against being staked and imbuement of blood strengthens a vampire depending on how much blood they've drank in the past several hours.
Out of interest, where are we? Like, what plane?
That's actually a very good point that somehow never came up. Earth.
No anarch fun then.
"You deserve no speeches," she says coldly, before things get very ugly for the vampire.
Unless he has divine rank and can beat her supreme init, anyway.
Go for it.
Alicia starts with a quickened time stop!
Maximised so 5 rounds, stopping here in case anyone has spell stowaway.
Also what's the layout of the room like? Is there any slope to the ground?
Aliciavatar HP: 855+20/855
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), extended ray deflection (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), greater foresight (CL 38), seira's arcane thesis (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), mass energy immunity (cold) (CL 39), celestial valor (CL 36), opal inviolability (CL 37)
Defences: AC 106, CMD 114, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (cold, unholy), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref/init, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/saves, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +6 bonus hd, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +10 SR checks, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, darkvision 60, true seeing, scent, tremorsense/blindsight 60, perception +79
Sorcerer spells: 6/16/15/13/6/9/14/8/8/8/6/6/6/5/5/2
Duskblade spells: 6/22/22/22/11/6/1
The ground's slightly sloped backwards, so you're going uphill.
No one here has that so go all wrathful.
Alicia proceeds to prepare the ground to her liking.
Round 1: Cast quickened dimensional lock over vampire's position and move to stand behind him. Cast True Creation SLA to make 36 cubic feet of water twenty feet up the slope. Link square behind created water with one ten feet past the vampire and me down the slope.
Round 2: Cast quickened superb dispelling on unhallow. Cast True Creation SLA to make 36 cubic feet of water twenty feet up the slope. Link square behind created water with one ten feet past the vampire and me down the slope.
Round 3: Alter reality a hallow around us. Link square behind created water with one ten feet past the vampire and me down the slope.
Round 4: Cast True Creation SLA to make 36 cubic feet of water twenty feet up the slope. Link square behind created water with one ten feet past the vampire and me down the slope.
Round 5: Cast True Creation SLA to make 36 cubic feet of water twenty feet up the slope. Link square behind created water with one ten feet past the vampire and me down the slope.
[19:06] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+39 superb dispelling vs unhallow
[19:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=17]
Net result is a large mass of water (about 1000 gallons) appears twenty feet uphill when time resumes, and gravity (which is doubled here, not that it matters) pulls it downhill past us. It reaches the squares I've linked (a row of 5 so 25 feet across) and gets warped back to where it started. So it's basically the same water endlessly cycling in a fun little river just for us.From the vampire's perspective it must be quite startling as Alicia seems to vanish right before she feels her hand grabbing the back of his neck, right as a stream of water begins rushing down over their waists.
[19:08] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+91 cmb to grapple
[19:08] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 110 > [d20=19]
(used a many moments of prescience on that)"You vampires always create such clever defences against sunlight," she says, voice loud enough to carry, for those of Aurora to hear her as well. "You never remember the effect running water has. But I remember."
Aliciavatar HP: 855+20/855
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), extended ray deflection (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), greater foresight (CL 38), seira's arcane thesis (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), mass energy immunity (cold) (CL 39), celestial valor (CL 36), opal inviolability (CL 37)
Defences: AC 106, CMD 114, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (cold, unholy), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref/init, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/saves, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +6 bonus hd, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +10 SR checks, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, darkvision 60, true seeing, scent, tremorsense/blindsight 60, perception +79
Sorcerer spells: 6/16/15/13/6/9/14/8/8/8/5/6/6/4/5/2
Duskblade spells: 6/22/22/22/11/6/1
Many moments of prescience: 2/4
A scream from the vampire as he goes rigid, the waters flowing around the both of you. He has no chance against your grasp, as you hold him firmly. A howl of pain and fury escapes him, but he's going nowhere with your hand around his throat.
Aurora lets out a cheer in the meantime, as Hanna looks on rather thoughtfully.
Alicia merely keeps her hold on the vampire, progressing it into a pin to dunk him entirely in the water until he's nothing more than a memory.
Don't know if that was just descriptive text or if he's completely helpless for his turn, but that's my plan for the next two rounds anyway.
Perception.
[19:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+79+30 many moments of prescience popped
[19:59] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 118 > [d20=9]
Aliciavatar HP: 855+20/855
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), extended ray deflection (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), greater foresight (CL 38), seira's arcane thesis (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), mass energy immunity (cold) (CL 39), celestial valor (CL 36), opal inviolability (CL 37)
Defences: AC 106, CMD 114, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (cold, unholy), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref/init, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/saves, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +6 bonus hd, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +10 SR checks, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, darkvision 60, true seeing, scent, tremorsense/blindsight 60, perception +79
Sorcerer spells: 6/16/15/13/6/9/14/8/8/8/5/6/6/4/5/2
Duskblade spells: 6/22/22/22/11/6/1
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
You can see the faintest gleam of red in the vampire's eyes as you let the water wash him away - a feeling of a presence again, the same as before, watching you from afar.
I see you, vampire. Hiding away in your Blood Castle.
Then come closer!
Suddenly, the vampire's head splits apart as the water washes him away. A great hand of blood comes forth, going right for your neck.
> roll 1d20+100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 106 > [d20=6]
AC?
106! But I'll pop my last many moments of prescience to make it 136 because fuck that guy.
Also what exactly is he doing, like is this a spell? If he's targeting Alicia through scrying means she does have a pretty beefy nondetection up (DC 54 to beat)
Aliciavatar HP: 855+20/855
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), extended ray deflection (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), greater foresight (CL 38), seira's arcane thesis (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), mass energy immunity (cold) (CL 39), celestial valor (CL 36), opal inviolability (CL 37)
Defences: AC 106, CMD 114, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (cold, unholy), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref/init, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/saves, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +6 bonus hd, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +10 SR checks, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, darkvision 60, true seeing, scent, tremorsense/blindsight 60, perception +79
Sorcerer spells: 6/16/15/13/6/9/14/8/8/8/5/6/6/4/5/2
Duskblade spells: 6/22/22/22/11/6/1
Many moments of prescience: 0/4
As near as you can tell - and you can tell pretty well - it's some sort of innate power to him. If he's the First Vampire, it's probably related to that somehow. Dominion over vampires, domination and worse.
Yet your divine will freezes that hand an inch from your throat, at which point it crumbles to dust. The vampire is washed away by the waters, no further attack as a great cheer goes up at your victory.
Can I tell what happened to the soul of the vampire I just killed? Is it going to the well of souls or being grabbed by the soul eater?
Also can I track the power that was just used against me to tell where the first vampire is? I can pop one of my free action divinations from greater foresight to help, I already made a CL check for the spell earlier that beat his defences to get the Blood Castle answer. Obviously I want more than those two words, like knowing what plane he's on would be nice.
The soul is moving along normally.
You could use a power or ability to do so that's suitable, for. You have a round or so to work with so go ahead.
Does remote sensing work? An attack could be relevant to her portfolio via the war domain? Otherwise I'll just pop that free action divination on the avatar.The avatar recasts many moments of prescience and adjusts the dimensionally warped space so as to clear a path ahead for everyone while keeping the river flowing to the side of the chamber if needed. "I will see to the destruction of the soul siphon here before calling my work done," she says for the benefit of the Aurora warriors, leading the way ahead towards the blasphemy that incited her presence here.
Aliciavatar HP: 855+20/855
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), extended ray deflection (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), greater foresight (CL 38), seira's arcane thesis (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), mass energy immunity (cold) (CL 39), celestial valor (CL 36), opal inviolability (CL 37)
Defences: AC 106, CMD 114, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (cold, unholy), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref/init, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/saves, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +6 bonus hd, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +10 SR checks, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, darkvision 60, true seeing, scent, tremorsense/blindsight 60, perception +79
Sorcerer spells: 6/16/15/13/6/9/14/8/8/8/5/5/6/4/5/2
Duskblade spells: 6/22/22/22/11/6/1
Many moments of prescience: 4/4
Remote sensing could work, sure.
It lies ahead. It is a hunger, a twisted altar. It is carved of red stone rather well, above average work to your eye. The top of it has a white cloth that is stained red laid atop it.
Meanwhile, you can see a figure. A beautiful thing. Gorgeous, really. Masculine and looming, long black hair and wearing a loose, open silk shirt and leather pants. He is a paragon of the masculine, muscled and slender, sheer sexual appeal that borders on the obscene.
Then he looks your way, as if to meet your eyes, and smiles.
In that moment you sense an endless ravine, a chasm of hunger that screams out for you. The creature before you does nothing to hide its nature, merely looking on with rapacious, ravenous hunger. It slowly licks its lips, perfect tongue and long, sharp fangs seen as it does.
Her avatar studies the twisted altar while the real Alicia discerns the location she is viewing.
Any tricks to the altar or will unbinding/violence solve its problem?
No tricks, either should suffice, but unbinding would be much cleaner.
Alicia's avatar releases a pulse of liberating energy!
Just because she's a lawful deity doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate freedom. Everything in its proper place, and the proper place in this case is free!
And does my remote sensing tell me what plane the first vampire is on while he's being all Draco in Leather Pants at me?
The Abyss. Death's Stare in particular.
Before that the altar melts like snow in the sun, souls freed and coming forth from your liberation. There is a sense of relief from them as this unholy work is done, the affront against you no more.
"It's done, I leave the rest to you heroes of Aurora," Alicia turns to the others, focusing on Nial in particular as the blessing of being her familiar leaves him, returning him to normal. "This could have been your time, Nial. But I would not permit the affront this place prepared for you. Treat every day that comes as a gift."
Nial kneels before you, "I will remember this lesson," he vows.
Alicia nods and then she plane shifts away.
Meanwhile the real Alicia goes over what if anything is known about Death's Stare.
[18:27] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+114 buffed up planes check (greater heroism, divine insight, guidance of avatar, improvisation, greater visage of the deity) using Rei
[18:27] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+114 buffed up planes check (greater heroism, divine insight, guidance of avatar, improvisation, greater visage of the deity) using Rei --> [ 1d20=11 ]{125}
Death's Stare is said to be a lost layer of the Abyss: 389. The legends don't get into details, but Orcus did something there in a battle against another demon prince - possibly Demogorgon or Pale Night, or maybe Graz'zt. It's said that the dead are as home there as in Thanatos, and that something nothing there ever dies forever, but rises in unholy life.
She'll look in on Ebony now to make sure she's not busy at the moment.
Also for reference since Ebony keeps us posted, does the crusade know already that the first vampire lives there?
They have an idea but not the layer, no.
> roll 1d100 Rei
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 Rei --> [ 1d100=84 ]{84}
Ebony is currently outside of Aurora. She kneels before Lady Chan - who merely glances your way at your own look, but takes no further action. "I will hear your words, Ebony of Aurora," her voice is heard on the winds, like a gentle sigh.
Alicia's interest relents - she's allowed to look at her proxy any time she wants though! But she'll tell Ebony this information when she's not in negotiations with another power.
An hour later Ebony rests in a guest room, and you have plenty of leisure to talk to her as you please.
Ebony, I have information about the First Vampire.
'I hear and obey,' Ebony murmurs back.
His Blood Castle is on the 389th layer of the Abyss: Death's Stare.
He will be no easy foe, not even for the heroes of Aurora. Use this information wisely.
'I will wield it with wisdom,' Ebony echos.
Alicia will trust Aurora's leadership not to go immediately charging in without a plan. But she'll continue to monitor them via Ebony, because just like the final battles for Lifasa and Benfal, this one might call for some increased divine assistance.
As you ruminate on that, 'Alicia,' Ebony sends, 'May I ask how you obtained this information?'
You may ask Hanna or Nial when they return from their mission on Earth, but I was made wroth by the attempt at stealing Nial's soul after he was slain in battle, and dispatched my avatar to make clear my displeasure. The first vampire struck at my avatar in response and in doing so gave away his location.
'I will consult with Hanna immediately.' Ebony sends back. 'Thank you, Alicia.'
All of us in Sylica support your efforts on Aurora. When the time comes we may take further part, as we did on Lifasa.
It would be nice for Latha. Although she's concerned that making war on the Abyss would invite Malcanthet to get involved.
Thus you begin to prepare other matters, but not long into it?
How is Mystra, Alicia? I also come bearing news.
Recovered, though Marie is still with her. What news?
Malcanthet moves. One of my faithful has heard word of one of the Radiant Sisters meddling on a Prime. Which means she must have a proxy spark.
Not necessarily considering recent turnover, but do go on.
I have a likely location as well.
You can stop keeping me in suspense.
In the hidden suite in Sylica where the secret avatars are all forced to wait, Alicia's avatar there says directly to Antenora's avatar, "There's no reason we can't just chat like this where it's easier. What's going on with this radiant sister and what do you want to do about her?"
There is an advantage to having all their avatars stuck in one place when it comes to communication after all.
Antenora turns with a slight smile, "Allow me this small entertainment," she admits, "With Marie occupied, I do enjoy someone to tease." Nonetheless she goes on, "Arythma, the prime of Dana Langersun and a few others. In her actual kingdom, though I don't' think it's related to the royal family at all. As far as I know, it's coincidental."
"Primes are big places," Alicia says. "So what radiant sister is it and what's she doing over there?"
"I'm here too!" Marie's avatar announces, skipping over.
"Rose," Antenora turns to Marie and her expression brightens, "She's stirring up trouble as near as I can tell - something to do with cultmaking, perhaps someone playing the longer game rather than a swift power grab."
"So do you have a plan to do something about it?" Marie asks.
"Also what's the provenance of this information?" Alicia follows up. "It could be a lure after all."
"My faithful have just begun there and are brave, but a Radiant Sister is beyond them." Antenora admits, "Either call on the rest of Sylica for aid, or failing that, something a little more personal. The information itself is good - it came from a defector who has every reason to hate them. A devil hostage, one who got away. Of course it doesn't rule out that it was an intentional escape and they were allowed to escape, but the devil gave the information freely out of one of the few things a devil can be counted on - to hate demons."
"Could ask Ebony to look, since you can't really send your own avatar," Alicia says.
"She had a bad time last time she went to that world though," Marie adds, making a face.
"And she's busy enough with Aurora anyway," Alicia nods. "Do you have anyone else you can think of that could be sent over from your end, Antenora? Sending an avatar to deal with an immediate crisis is one thing, but a long term investigation and hunt on a prime doesn't feel an appropriate place for direct divine intervention."
"I agree," Antenora muses, "But no, no one good enough and who isn't too vital to risk. Not yet." She confesses this after a moment, "Thus I need the rest of Sylica's aid."
"You can ask Latha and Syala if they have anyone among their followers suitable but I'm not sure any are up to the task of beating a radiant sister... really it depends on experience though, since there was so much turnover after what happened in Rosewater. It might just be a jumped up lillitu and not actually strong enough to be a destabilising on the fabric of a prime even without being a proxy," Alicia says. "From Sylica though, Marchalu or Emmaline might be up to the investigation and battle even at the higher end of potential danger, given a chance."
Antenora nods at the advice, "Emmaline if she wants it," Antenora says, "She's grown enough for it."
"Just have to make sure Shar doesn't interfere and make it even worse," Marie points out. "Keep a close eye on her in case you need to send an avatar for emergencies, Alicia?"
"I will," she agrees.
"Thank you," Antenora nods, "I'm talking to Emmaline now, she seems interested."
"It's a good chance for her to stretch her abilities after a fairly peaceful period living here," Alicia says, understanding the allure.
"She'll do well at it, and have a victory to her name when it's done," Antenora agrees. "Thank you, Alicia, that was well considered."
"She's the one with all the goddess experience here," Marie says, patting Alicia on the back.
"Well you've all been around with me for it, but the compliment is well taken," Alicia says herself, smiling at the pair.
Antenora lingers by Alicia, "You keep teaching me and guiding me," she declares, "No matter how far we go."
"I've learned a thing or two from you over the years," Alicia praises Antenora in turn. "We're a pantheon together now, we all help and learn from each other."
To this vow Antenora smiles before...
Give me a quick d100.
[19:40] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[19:40] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d100=45]
Selune's will comes to you. Not even in words, just an ethereal impulse: Do you wish to target Sharrans?
Alicia sends back a positive feeling response!
Then assemble a group and come to the Gates of the Moon.
What sort of challenge is expected?
Alicia asks for more clarification to see where this fits on the goddess/avatar/proxy/follower spectrum of commitment.
A challenge worthy of both you and Syala.
Alicia sends back a feeling of understanding.
And then she'll acquire Latha and Marie for a trip to the Gates of the Moon.
Okay, obligatory question of any prep, spells or other things I need to make a spoiler block for.
Since we don't know where we're going or how long the trip is, no point bothering with short duration stuff.
Marie will offer out her epic mage armour as usual. CL 36, +22 armour to AC.
Alicia will offer out many moments of prescience through divine familiar bullshit. CL 38, 4 chances to boost a roll by +30 insight.
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), foresight (CL 36), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36)
Defences: AC 82, CMD 106, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +2 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/5/7/7/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/8/8/8/7/5/6/7/4
"The sun comes to the moon," Latha remarks as you all prepare to leave. "Poetic."
[spoiler]
Latha
HP: 800/800
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+12 (+12 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 15/15 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweaver 3/3 Vision of Heaven (rnd) 1/1 Zeal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL36), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38)
Notes: Level + 22 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Many Moments of Prescience: 4 uses for a +30 insight bonus.
"Well if it's shadows we've got a good team to handle it," Marie says, casting a gate spell to take them to the same place they all met up before that last attack on the plane of shadow.
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), foresight (CL 36), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36)
Defences: AC 82, CMD 106, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +2 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/5/7/7/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/8/8/8/7/5/6/7/4
In the glow of moonlight the three of you appear.
"Welcome."
Flush with the moonlight as an ethereal shawl of silk flows around her, Lady Phoebe hovers before you. Her eyes are closed as she murmurs, "Selune offers you her greetings, and would offer my aid in this particular battle, should you desire it."
"Hello again, Phoebe," Alicia greets her. "We'd like to know more about the battle, Selune was sparse on details to invite us here,"
"We believe we have found a hidden demiplane of Sharrans," Is Phoebe's answer, "Hidden deep in the Ethereal. One manned by shadows and the specters of the night."
Marie was right about this being a good team for it. "In that case we'd be glad to have your aid," Alicia accepts Phoebe's presence, seeing it more as a chance to make a connection with an ally than a specific need for her power, though she's certain it will be useful.
"Do you want me to cast my mage armour spell on you?" Marie offers. "It's stronger than most, and very useful to have around shadows."
"Yes," Phoebe agrees to Marie, "It will be helpful."
Marie dutifully casts it on her!
CL 36 epic mage armour, +22 armour to AC."What else is known about this demiplane, then?" Alicia asks.
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), foresight (CL 36), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36)
Defences: AC 82, CMD 106, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +2 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/5/7/7/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/8/8/8/7/4/6/7/4
"The living are not welcome there, not even Sharrans," Phoebe says, "It is a place of death, not life. It takes the living and steals their energies."
"Death ward, Latha?" Alicia asks their cleric to handle that. She could manage something herself but it's nicer if it's an actual spell from someone so specialised.
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/5/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/8/8/8/7/4/6/7/4
Death Ward, CL 36th. Funny story, she doesn't memorize it - she has Life's Grace and Undeath's Eternal Foe for similar niches, but she just alter realities death ward as needed.
With a flex of magic and will it is done, Latha's hand radiant as the sun as she touches each of you, one after another.
[spoiler]
Latha
HP: 800/800
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+12 (+12 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 15/15 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweaver 3/3 Vision of Heaven (rnd) 1/1 Zeal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL36), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Death Ward (CL36)
Notes: Level + 22 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Many Moments of Prescience: 4 uses for a +30 insight bonus.
Do they do the same as Death Ward but better? She can cast them instead! (unless it's self only)
They can be good, but it's a question of durations. Undeath's Eternal Foe is great but it's round/level.
Okay, save that for when we get there.
"Can you take us to the vicinity of this demiplane's entrance, Phoebe?" Alicia asks. "How did you learn of it?"
[spoiler]
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/5/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/8/8/8/7/4/6/7/4
[/spoiler[
"I did not learn of it, Selune did. One of the Moonmaiden's faithful chanced on it," Phoebe explains, "He believes he escaped unnoticed." At the same time Phoebe opens up a misty portal forward.
"We'll know soon," Latha concurs, "Though I doubt this will be simple regardless."
"It never is," Alicia agrees, floating through the portal Phoebe provides.
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/5/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/8/8/8/7/4/6/7/4
Mists. Cold, clammy mists. You've been to the Deep Ethereal before, but the mists are colder. They feel as if they'll leech the heat from you, like the deep, insidious cold of winter.
Latha speaks, misting breath spreading as she does, "Too cold," she remarks, "Bitterly so."
Are either of you not immune to cold?
Marie lacks immunity to cold.
Fortitude save, Marielle.
[19:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+60
[19:56] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 75 > [d20=15]
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/5/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/8/8/8/7/4/6/7/4
Marie feels a deep chill, but one she wards off with an instinctive application of divine power. It feels like her very innards were flash-frozen.
"Brrr, cold," Marie agrees before Alicia helpfully casts energy immunity on everyone.
Mass energy immunity actually, so everyone can have it just because. CL 38, extended.
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/5/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/8/8/8/7/4/6/7/4
Marie weaves her magic around the party as Phoebe flies ahead. "Come, before we find ourselves drowned in minions."
Latha follows without complaint, "The cold here is as bitter as the fruits of a devil's heart."
[spoiler]
Latha
HP: 800/800
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+12 (+12 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 15/15 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweaver 3/3 Vision of Heaven (rnd) 1/1 Zeal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL36), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Death Ward (CL36), Mass Energy Immunity (Cold) (CL38)
Notes: Level + 22 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Many Moments of Prescience: 4 uses for a +30 insight bonus.
Alicia quietly follows Phoebe without word, keeping an eye out in all directions since spectral foes can elude most of the benefits given by sensual blessing. Marie flickers briefly before she too follows.
Marie goes invisible with greater invisibility and uses a projected image in her place. She's about fifty feet behind Alicia while her image remains about ten feet to her side.
[17:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+101 bluff check for undeniable illusion
[17:28] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 111 > [d20=10]
DC 111 sense motive required to realise that the projected image is an illusion even with stuff like blindsight or true seeing.
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/5/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Like this you advance onward - and the mists slowly part to reveal solid walls of ice. Ice dozens of feet thick, and within it the dead can be seen. Specters and shadows, all gliding through it like it isn't there, heading in your direction. The walls stretch nearly a mile above and below, as well as half a mile to the sides.
Beyond it you are able to see a hazy building, shielded by the mists and the bitter chill here.
"That's a lot of ice," Marie says. "Are we going to have to melt it all?"
Alicia considers that...
Is the hazy building inside the ice or behind it?
Behind it.
"No, we can just go around," Alicia says, compressing space to get to the side of the block. "Follow me?" she moves through that twist, crossing two thirds of a mile in an instant.
"Well cast," Phoebe agrees as you all step by, on the far edge of the block. Undead are in it as well, but only a few as you can walk right around if you like. Or fly as the case may be.
"I'm quite proud of this magic," she smiles at Phoebe, another twist of space used to bring them closer to that building.
Just one titanic block of ice guarding just one direction, though? And the one they came by? Seems a bit off.
Indeed, no further barriers seem to be here as you twist past. Odd indeed.
"I wonder if we circumvented something," Latha wonders aloud, "This seems strangely mundane."
"Did your scout approach from this direction as well, Phoebe?" Alicia asks. Surely Phoebe herself can't be betraying them by leading them into a trap.
"Yes, and this is new," Phoebe says, "If done quickly, it is an impressive work, if incomplete."
"It's cold enough for water to freeze naturally but getting this much and shaping it into a block would take work," Marie says via her projected image as they approach the building, more compressed space letting them get there in a hurry.
You hurry along - but as you approach the building begins to move back and away. It glides back, but nothing your space folding can't beat if you make an effort.
"Is the building the entrance to the demiplane?" she asks Phoebe, first taking them to the building's original location to check that out.
"Yes," Is the answer as you fly ahead to it and catch up. It's like a barracks, one story and large, winding on and ahead. It's made of old brick and stone, weathered but intact. Ice clings to the wall in places, and icicles dangle from the the edges of the roof. A single entrance leads in, wide open to enter.
Far behind you, you can hear the wail of the dead, but not close enough to be any danger.
Once they're close enough, Alicia looks it over for magic.
Arcane sight. Plus blindsight for getting an idea of what's all inside beyond what can be immediately seen through the door.
[17:27] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41 arcane sight CL
[17:27] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d20=14]
[17:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+87 perception
[17:28] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 100 > [d20=13]
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/5/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
The barracks have several enchantments. It has an enhancement to move away from those that approach it. Is is unholy ground that bolsters the dead. The living find themselves drawn to death within, finding it more and more appealing as it frays at their minds. A matching enchantment glorifies self harm in those who proceed in, as it batters and destroys their sanity. It's also warded against teleportation and similar measures within, as you'd expect.
So far nothing terribly threatening to them, but no idea what waits inside the demiplane itself. She dispels the mobility enchantment just to stop it from moving around so aimlessly before they fly in through the door.
[18:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44 superb dispelling
[18:00] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 51 > [d20=7]
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/4/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
The magic crumbles to your command as you step in.
It is dark here, as you would expect, until moonlight and sunlight parts the shadows. A large, long and functional entrance hall is ahead here. The walls are dotted with elegant, beautiful artworks of shadows. Drawings that radiate magic - a powerful, befouled creation, something to spew them forth like a plague.
Rather like what Emmaline came to Sylica with, though likely not as productive. "Phoebe, Latha, it would behoove us to destroy the artwork here," she suggests, letting them handle that while she looks for additional defenders, or the entrance to the actual demiplane they're here for.
As you say that, the art begins to emit shadows. They emerge swiftly as Latha smiles, "It will be our pleasure," she remarks.
Phoebe raises her hand, as moonlight gathers around her.
At the far end is another doorway leading deeper in, closed and chained over.
Init here.
Illusion Marie is next to Alicia, real Marie is back by the front door.
[19:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+17 nerveskitter, Marie
[19:11] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 19 > [d20=2]
Alicia has supreme init.
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/4/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
> roll 1d20+14 Latha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 29 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 28 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+10 paintings
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 11 > [d20=1]
> roll 1d20+2 shadows
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d20=15]
Init is Alicia (Supreme) > Latha (29) > Phoebe (28) > Marie (19) > Shadows (17) > Paintings (11)
Open.
How are the paintings producing shadows? Is it something Perfect Summons would mess with?
They simply seem to come from it - the portraits are creating them from nothing. They aren't summons so not subject to that.
Alicia scores a line of silver fire down the paintings along the wall on her left side.
70 feet worth of object disintegrating line to play with, focused on the wall and not the shadows but I'll roll damage in case it's needed.
[19:56] <@Ebiris> roll 40d10 DC 51 ref half
[19:56] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 235 > [40d10=235]
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/4/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
A row of paintings are undone by this, scoured clear as silver fire obliterates them. It leaves behind only blackened bits, nothing worthwhile surviving the assault.
Anything else this turn?
She'll turn herself large so she has reach to AoO any shadows going by her. That's it.
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 117, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/4/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 95, CMD 89, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Init is Alicia (Supreme) > Latha (29) > Phoebe (28) > Marie (19) > Paintings (11)
> roll 25d6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 88 > [d6=4,2,6,4,2,6,4,2,3,5,3,5,1,5,5,5,3,3,1,1,6,3,2,6,1]
> roll 1d20+10
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 13 > [d20=3]
Just an SLA sunburst, she's not whipping out the big guns for this quite yet.
In a burst of sunlight the shadows are gone, scorched away into nothingness. Latha looks about, only one side of paintings left. To the rest Phoebe merely gestures, a point at them and...
> roll 1d20 1 check
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d20=17]
> roll 20d8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 106 > [d8=5,2,5,4,5,6,7,8,6,7,8,5,6,5,1,5,4,8,6,3]
With a scouring of moon fire, the other paintings are burnt away. Nothing remains of them save for remnants as for now, the way ahead is clear.
Free act, that was actually a CL20 encounter, y'all just strong.
If we were level 20 a CL 4 encounter would go about the same.Nodding in approval, Alicia approaches the door ahead of them while Marie begins to sing something jaunty to get them in the mood.
Any magic on the door?
Marie's doing Inspire Heroics. +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC for everyone.
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/4/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
I know. It's just a perspective sort of thing.
The door's not enchanted directly.
Having no way to detect or disarm mechanical traps, Alicia burns through the door with the expedient of some silver fire.
The door burns away, obliterated by your power. Beyond the door lies a curving, sloped path downwards. It's darker here, with the only light coming from all of you. Obscene and perverse images of sacrifice are engraved into the walls.
Alert for any further magical traps or summons or actual entrances to the demiplane, Alicia leads the way down this path.
That's easy enough to find - gravity increases the more you step down, and if you fall to your knees, it's enchanted that you'll tumble on down.
"Caution," Phoebe murmurs, "The air and the forces fight against us as we step forward here."
"I see it too," Latha murmurs, a blue cast to her eyes. "We will not bow to Shar's power."
Alicia dispels that. She'd probably be fine but Marie is delicate.
[18:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44 superb dispelling
[18:11] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 58 > [d20=14]
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/3/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
To your will as a goddess of magic, the enchantment strains and breaks apart completely.
Thus they can keep going with no fear of unsightly stumbles!
Deeper down in the manor. At the bottom is a statue of Shar - a good likeness, down to her cold and yet smugly vicious face - which bursts in a blast of moonfire, the statue decapitated. Two curtain covered doorways lead deeper in here, a distant sound her.
Song.
A song you've heard before, a song as sweet as the last breath that frees you from a lifetime of pain. The Song of Ending echos from deeper within.
Marie swaps her song now, counter-singing against Shar as she's often done since becoming a tulani.
5 minutes on the clock for inspire heroics, Marie is now on countersong duty.Alicia meanwhile nods in approval to Phoebe and determines where to go next.
Does tremorsense/blindsight give an idea of the layout past the curtains so I know if one leads to an immediate dead end? Which one is the singing coming from? Any magic?
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/3/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
You can 'see' ahead. Twin passages merge together into one great room. Here many bow and pay respect before a portal, from which the song comes through. A great altar of Shar is here, the vile energies of it like acid against your mind.
"Portal's ahead, the song's coming from it," Alicia says. While Shar can of course make her song heard across planes, it's concerning and suggests that she might have one of her avatars inside this demiplane.
Assuming it is a demiplane and not say a portal to the plane of shadow.
Either way, her sword cuts down one of the curtains as she advances through.
The curtain falls apart just like that, reduced to ribbons.
"Forward," Latha agrees, aglow now. The party hurries in as...
Perform check, Marie.
[20:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+59 perform
[20:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 76 > [d20=17]
Marie's song battles the song of loss as you proceed. It is war against one another as you approach. Here Sharrans bow and pay homage before a swirling purple portal, the song coming forth from within. They do not react to your presence, only praising Shar all the while.
Alicia gives them reason to react as she reaches the centre of the room, her divine presence felt in all its fearful glory. "Flee," she commands them.
Divine Aura, 50 foot radius frightened effect. DC 33 will negates. Unless Phoebe happens to be lawful good she'll have to make a save herself unfortunately. Marie can't fail it so not rolling for her.
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/3/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
> roll 1d20 with bonuses in play this is a 1 check for Phoebe
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 13 > [d20=13]
> roll 1d20+28 Sharrans (+6 ???)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d20=10]
Fear ripples throughout as the profane worship stops. Yet they withstand it - for from the portal she emerges. Her step is soft and light, as Shar emerges. Her head is bowed and eyes are closed, this mere presence enough to fortify them against your will.
Instantly moonfire explodes against Shar, as her hand lashes up, a short sword in it. It's enough to parry the explosion entirely, the color and vitality from it gone with a single pass of her blade.
It is some small consolation that you can feel this is only an avatar.
"Alicia. Marie. Latha. Phoebe. I welcome you," Shar whispers, head bowed.
It was only a matter of time before this was going to happen, but still it feels too soon.
Then again with Shar recently bragging about her ultimate victory, this was never going to be on their own schedule.
Shar can roll against the aura too - she's an avatar, she might roll a 1! Actually I'll roll the rank check first since I think DvR 0 still has immunity to mind affecting.
[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 rank check
[17:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 20 > [d20=11]
"Shar," Alicia says, as Marie's singing stops (assuming Shar's did, otherwise she'll keep going). "We've finally found something you'll go this far to defend?"
> roll 1d20
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 19 > [d20=19]
> roll 1d20+70
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 81 > [d20=11]
"Shar," Phoebe's voice is like ice, yet fire swirls around her as Latha adjusts her grip on her mace. She silently switches to Clarenyre, which cackles with holy flames that batter against the darkness before you.
"I invite you within," Shar declares, "This is but the opening act. What lies within the portal is what is worthy of our attentions."
"Something you've built... or something you've found?" Alicia asks, curious at Shar's phrasing. Something worthy of her own attention more implies it's something she's come across and taken an interest in.
As much as this is certain to devolve into violence, she's unsure if they can actually win. May as well try to gather information before they have to retreat.
Marie's false form watches from Latha's flank while the real Marie is further back behind Phoebe.
"Explain yourself," Latha agrees, as her sword burns.
That sword draws Shar's gaze for a moment, a look of curious interest before, "Come and see," she says, a step back into the portal, her voice lingering as she does. "These worshipers here are nothing to us."
"Well that's an ominous invitation," Marie says, studying the portal.
Alicia does the same even as she admits, "We're not served by ignorance. It's a provocation we can't ignore."
[18:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41 CL for Alicia's arcane sight
[18:18] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d20=18]
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 CL for Marie's greater arcane sight
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 42 > [d20=5]
It's a portal into a demiplane, alright. It's not trapped in the least.
"And it's likely stepping into a nightmare of Shar's making," Latha declares, "We know well what we step into, do we not?"
"Hell and torment," Phoebe says, but does not hesitate. "If not us to step into the darkness, then who?"
Alicia honestly doesn't anticipate a trap at this point. And that's even more unsettling.
"We go. Whatever we find, we must bear witness," Alicia says, leading the way through. Marie follows close behind, positioning her projected image to transition seamlessly along with her.
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/3/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
It is dark when you step in. It is dark, silent and lonely. There is no immediate sign of Shar here. It is the ever gloom of caverns forever sequestered from the sun, a darkness absolute and only pierced by your radiances.
A single path invites you ahead, hewn of stone.
Alicia waits a moment for everyone else to make it through before following this tunnel.
What does tremorsense/blindsight 5 miles say about what's ahead? Also can I identify the demi-plane's planar traits?
Out of sight, everything becomes incoherent and faded, like a landscape waiting to be defined. Unrealized space, ready to be molded by the controller of this place.
If this is not a physical attack then expect an attack on our spirits. Whatever Shar has to show us, she believes it will bring us despair, so steel yourselves.
Imparting that warning to her companions, Alicia strides down the tunnel.
Then let the light of the dawn show us the way.
We will not be afraid. Not this time.
You stride on as the cavern's walls begin to glint with a metallic cast. Lines of metal, sleek tubes that seem almost like metallic shadows, run through the walls now. As space forms mere steps ahead of your sight, just enough to not disturb the illusion that this is a whole and formed place if not for your superior senses?
A swirling node. A nexus. You step into a larger space, where the tubes extend further. Here, at the very end, the avatar of Shar stands. Her head is bowed low, as if lost in a deep contemplation.
There are few things stronger than us in Creation.
But we are not quite supreme.
You've felt Sylica's will. Your realm is mighty and it would do anything to protect you. Look at how Bytopia mourned the loss of what drove it.
"What blasphemy is this, Shar?" Phoebe declares, moonfire swirling around her hands like a tightly knit inferno.
Any knowledge check to make sense of what all this stuff is doing/meant to do?
K:P, sure.
[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+75 divine insight
[17:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 85 > [d20=10]
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/3/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
You recall a fragment of lore, something brought to mind with Shar's own words.
That one day Arborea itself stirred, and sent an avatar to confront Morwel.
Just a bit of an ancient legend, whispered and distorted over the eons, but clear. That the planes themselves have great power, something you have seen firsthand.
Was more trying to figure out what all the pipes are doing and if they're some way of creating/controlling an avatar for this demi-plane or else for the plane of shadow.
You aren't quite sure what the metal tubes are about offhand.
"And you tried to force Bytopia back into mourning. We haven't forgotten that," Marie speaks up through her projected image.
"We haven't," Alicia seconds. "What have you done, Shar?"
I have turned that very possibility to my own ends.
Let me show you.
Is this demonstration going to be incipiently fatal for them?
There's no point trying to stop her, it's just an avatar and so whatever she's demonstrating is something Shar herself and any of her other avatars can do at any time. Better then to learn just what this technique entails so they can better form countermeasures.
"Why are you showing us this?" she asks, holding still.
Btw I asked earlier but never had it answered. What are this demiplane's planar traits?
It's pretty normal save for everything being morphic and under the controller's power. Of course, due to that, it's possible the traits could change.
Does that change your action at all?
It does not, but out of interest does that mean we can control it with our anarch powers? Would planar perinarch give control?
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/3/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
You believe you could certainly try to do so, yes.
Cool. Carry on! I'm not doing anything yet, I just wanted to know for future reference. Let Shar do her exposition.
Shar steps back into the wall. The wall is indistinct as is the avatar - and slowly they seem to become one. Merging, folding together, combining before your very eyes.
"So that's it," Latha declares, "Remove the distinction between plane and deity, and harvest the power of both?"
Is there anything at all I can discern magic-wise about what's going on here?
Spellcraft. This is advanced enough to require a roll.
[19:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+94 divine insight and improvisation
[19:22] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 111 > [d20=17]
A new system had spread - like the Weave and not, and it connects the avatar and the demiplane here. A sort of unholy combination, an elimination of barriers into one whole through this connection.
Would it effectively turn the avatar into a mobile demiplane or does it just result in a super-buff avatar within the demiplane?
"So that's what you did with Mystra's blood," Alicia says in realisation. "Why are you showing us this, Shar?"
Because...
I want to see your face the moment you realize your entire purpose is pointless and doomed.
Shar's voice is warm, even concerned.
Because I will be the one to grant you the rest of oblivion when existence becomes too painful to continue.
In that voice is soothing tones, as if to wash away your fears.
Because no matter what you will do, you are condemned to failure. Every battle and struggle you have waged is a meaningless rearguard action after your defeat is assured. All the sacrifices you have made are nothing. All the blood you have spilled is only a pleasant distraction from your reality.
Marie, Latha? Please help me with wresting control. The demiplane is morphic; like Limbo.
"I thought it might be something like that," she says as she asserts her anarchic control over the demiplane to wrench the avatar loose and 'tie off' the system that's been put in place here so it can't be easily re-done.
Check for that?
Charisma checks.
[16:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+21 Alicia charisma
[16:50] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 23 > [d20=2]
[16:51] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+16 Marie charisma
[16:51] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 31 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+13 Latha
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 21 > [d20=8]
Total of 75.
It's like trying to move lead. It's wrong, something clings to the entire demiplane. It resists your will like a stain clings to a white dress, as if to spoil the entire thing and never leave.
Is that it? I expected more of a struggle, not feeble flailing.
An odd metaphor since it isn't even her demiplane. If anything Alicia and company are the stain trying to ruin Shar's work!
"Did you manage this perfectly on your first try?" Alicia asks, annoyed at the taunting but if Shar just wants to grandstand they'll take advantage and try again. "I think our concept is worth pushing a little further."
This time put a little more juice into it, please, she asks her companions.
Alicia will quicken a limited wish for good hope, so +2 morale to ability checks for everyone (CL 38). I'm sorry Seira I always neglect it and then stuff like this happens. Then all of us can use alter reality for improvisation to get 1/2 CL (ie +18) to an ability check. That's one round used up and then we can try the anarch thing on the next round.
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/3/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Are you trying to hide the casting at all? Matters for reactions here.
I figure alter reality is effectively invisible (unless you have a way to see magic and beat nondetection), but the quickened limited wish is cast normally. Alicia doesn't have still/silent spell feats.
As you all prepare, Phoebe stands guard - and Shar laughs.
Foolishness. Let your magic crumble.
"No Shar," Phoebe says, as magic surges, "I know you." She begins to chant as well as...
> roll 1d2 coinflip is Phoebe chose right
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 2 > [d2=2]
Since I can't adjudicate that honestly as a DM since there's a choice here for her, randomness will do. Normally I'd use her judgment, but it's a case where she has two equally valid options and one's more effective than the other.
...Two spells meet, a clash of magic. Both shatter like electric blue lightning, motes of it whizzing off in every direction. For one moment no further spell comes, "Do it, Alicia," Latha calls, focusing her own will.
"Again!" Alicia seconds, repeating their attempt to control the demiplane with their recently gained anarch powers.
[18:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43 Alicia charisma
[18:10] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d20=16]
[18:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+36 Marie charisma
[18:10] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 43 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+13 Latha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 33 > [d20=20]
This is a suitable situation for an exploding crit.
> roll 1d20+33 Latha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 41 > [d20=8]
Along with her other bonuses, that's a total of 61.
Grand total of 163.
To perhaps everyone's amazement, you wretch an arm free. Shar's left arm is pulled away, some of the metal torn. Then some of her hip but nothing more, halfway in and halfway out.
You resist? Then let me put you to sleep and show you the folly of your resistance.
Well, you got her attention at least. Initiative.
[18:27] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+19 Marie, nerveskitter
[18:27] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 20 > [d20=1]
Alicia has supreme init.
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/3/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
> roll 1d20+16 Latha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 18 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+10 Phoebe
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 21 > [d20=11]
Init is Alicia (Supreme) > Avatar of Shar (Supreme) > Phoebe (21) > Marie (20) > Latha (18)
Go.
[spoiler]
Latha
HP: 800/800
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+12 (+12 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 15/15 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweaver 3/3 Vision of Heaven (rnd) 1/1 Zeal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL36), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Death Ward (CL36), Mass Energy Immunity (Cold) (CL38)
Notes: Level + 22 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Many Moments of Prescience: 4 uses for a +30 insight bonus.
"Did you truly expect us to just passively gawk and admire your brilliance?" Alicia asks, another wrench as she tries to assert her own control over the morphic nature of the demiplane and separate it from the avatar.
This isn't about winning this particular encounter, it's about finding a weakness and a countermeasure for a technique that Shar is clearly going to be exploiting on a grand scale from now on.
[18:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43 Alicia charisma, improvisation used up
[18:56] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=13]
Trying to work alone or together with the others here? If the others you'll have to wait to see the results until they've all had their turn.
Alone. She expects Shar will do something nasty and act before anyone else so if she can make any progress and weaken things now that's the goal.
Two swifts left after, assuming this is a standard or a full round action.
You feel the wretch - but it's not enough by yourself, but maybe more. Shar's grip is remarkable, but you're pulling on it all the while.
Go with the rest.
Alicia snaps off a quick spell in readiness for more.
Quickened Seira's arcane thesis, can now counterspell as an immediate action plus other bonuses.
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/3/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
The spell is cast, more power passing into you.
That it or are you using your other swift?
Last one's held to use as an immediate if I need to counterspell anything.
The darkness comes as you hold. A tremendous surge of spell energy rises all around Shar, no words uttered. Yet the night responds to her will, as if a living thing that hungers for you, lashes out at you.
Let me hear you scream, Alicia!
You can try and counterspell.
Can I tell what spell it is?
I mean, it's surely not one on my list but is it a darkness spell that might get auto-beat by Sunlance or Latha's Sunmantle?
If not I'll do superb dispelling and to save time I'll roll that check here. They're all 11th level so it costs the same slot regardless for her.
[18:06] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44 superb dispelling
[18:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 50 > [d20=6]
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
The spell is Shadows Devour. It does exactly that, inflicting massive damage and leeching away the life force of the target, as well as making them unable to bear darkness, both psychologically and physically.
Cool. I tried to counterspell it so what happens?
Your magic battles with it - but even you are not strong enough to stop Shar, not with a raw dispel. The darkness surges forward and...
Fortitude. SR but she can't fail it.
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+86 improved mettle
[18:50] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 101 > [d20=15]
But you endure and fend off the shadows. Your inner light shines, and the ground around you momentarily consecrates. It's enough to fend them off, but Shar doesn't even hesitate. This time a raw tendril of shadow stuff erupts out, exploding into a hundred shards of it that pepper you all over.
Reflex. Nothing to counter this time, it's an su.
[19:14] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+78 ref
[19:14] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 90 > [d20=12]
Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
> roll 60d8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 286 > [60d8=286]
> roll 286/2
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 143 >
> roll 286+143
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 429 >
You made the save so half damage, 214.
You are peppered, bloodied. They cut into you like knives, each one more and more relentless. Dark shadows flow into Shar from everywhere her body touches the plane, that you haven't pulled away. What's worse, the shadow shards stay in you, digging away into your body.
Damage repeats the next round.
Then Shar looks up, her empty gaze peering into Alicia's eyes as - !
Will.
Peering with what? Isn't Shar all diffused into the plane apart from that arm we pulled out earlier? Anyway...
[19:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+86 improved mettle
[19:53] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 87 > [d20=1]
Alicia HP: 709/903 (take 214 damage next round)
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
You feel a lash against your mind but nothing else, a shiver that shakes you. Your head throbs but you push past the pain.
Init is Alicia (Supreme) > Avatar of Shar (Supreme) > Phoebe (21) > Marie (20) > Latha (18)
What's your HP, Alicia? Your general state of health will matter for Phoebe's turn.
709/903 so 78% health. She's a tough cookie!
Lucky.
> roll 1d20+60
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 76 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+60
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 68 > [d20=8]
From Phoebe beautiful lances of moonfire erupt, both going at Shar. Yet neither touches her, lost in the shadows around her. Even as you endure Shar's attention, like a bug under a magnifying glass?
Marielle.
"Latha, help Alicia. Again!" Marie calls out, letting loose an empowering song before she prepares to use her anarch power again.
Free action to sing Inspire Greatness then she delays her action to go with Alicia and Latha for another anarch thing to yank Shar out.
Inspire greatness is +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, and +5 bonus d10 hd.
[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 5d10
[17:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d10=1,10,7,10,4]
Phoebe gets 32 + 5 x con mod, the rest of us have maximum hit points per die so 50 + 5 x con mod.
Alicia HP: 844/1038 (take 214 damage next round)
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 830+20/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Marie's magic is strong and bright, a moment of energy as you all delay, as Latha gathers her will - a moment to act and - !
Latha holds for the same idea. Go Alicia, I presume Charisma checks are incoming.
[spoiler]
Inspire greatness is +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, and +5 bonus d10 hd.
[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 5d10
[17:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d10=1,10,7,10,4]
Phoebe gets 32 + 5 x con mod, the rest of us have maximum hit points per die so 50 + 5 x con mod.
Latha
HP: 800/800
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+12 (+12 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 15/15 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweaver 3/3 Vision of Heaven (rnd) 1/1 Zeal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL36), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Death Ward (CL36), Mass Energy Immunity (Cold) (CL38)
Notes: Level + 22 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Many Moments of Prescience: 4 uses for a +30 insight bonus.
Another quickened limited wish to pop improvisation."Again," Alicia nods to Marie (or at least her illusory image) and Latha as she focuses on asserting her will over the plane and wrenching Shar loose from the conjoined monstrosity she's created.
[17:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43 Alicia charisma
[17:57] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 58 > [d20=15]
[17:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43 Marie charisma, improvisation used up
[17:57] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d20=16]
Also Alicia is now at 60% hp if Phoebe is taking note.
Alicia HP: 630/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/4/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 830+20/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
> roll 1d20+33 Latha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 52 > [d20=19]
An excellent set of rolls.
Another pull. This time a leg comes free, half in and half out. You're fighting against it, making more and more headway as...
Anything else this turn for you?
No, I'll reserve my other swift for countering if needed, Marie's not doing anything else.
With half of Shar out and half in?
Fine then. Enough games. Die in the shadows.
Suddenly all the darkness comes forth, like a smothering blanket over all of you. It drains away warmth, heat, energy, everything. It's harder to think by the moment as it comes forth.
Ref all.
Unfortunately for Marie it doesn't matter if you're invisible and away from where you appear to be when an attack covers that kind of radius!
[18:27] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 Alicia ref
[18:27] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 95 > [d20=15]
[18:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+85 Marie ref, she's using many moments of prescience
[18:28] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 91 > [d20=6]
Alicia HP: 630/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/4/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 830+20/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Many moments of prescience: 3/4
> roll 1d20+49 Phoebe
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 67 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+62 Latha evasion
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 68 > [d20=6]
500 damage. Marie and Alicia take half, Latha and Phoebe take full.
Night fall. Darkness tears at you and saps you. For a moment Alicia is lost in it and...
HPs?
[spoiler]
Inspire greatness is +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, and +5 bonus d10 hd.
[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 5d10
[17:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d10=1,10,7,10,4]
Phoebe gets 32 + 5 x con mod, the rest of us have maximum hit points per die so 50 + 5 x con mod.
Latha
HP: 410(300)/910
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+12 (+12 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 15/15 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweaver 3/3 Vision of Heaven (rnd) 1/1 Zeal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL36), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Death Ward (CL36), Mass Energy Immunity (Cold) (CL38)
Notes: Level + 22 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Many Moments of Prescience: 4 uses for a +30 insight bonus.
380 for Alicia and 600 for Marie. Alicia is at 36% health. Marie is at 72% but unless someone beats her insane stealth check they're not going to be landing any heals on her.
Alicia HP: 380/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/4/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 600/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Many moments of prescience: 3/4
Suddenly a barrage of pressure surrounds Alicia, as if to crush her into dust, the shadows like squeezing hands around her neck.
Fort.
[19:41] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+92 improved mettle
[19:41] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 107 > [d20=15]
But this time you endure it, even as you feel Shar's eyes on you, like a pressure that bombards your mind, even as you hear Latha's soft cry of pain.
Will.
[20:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+83 improved mettle
[20:03] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 88 > [d20=5]
But again Alicia endures. She endures it all as she can see her allies pushed back. Phoebe is bloodied all over while Latha blocks behind her Aegis of the Tarrasque. It buys her precious moments as...
The moon. For a precious moment the moon shines above you, bringing mercy to your wounds.
Mass Lunar Healing. 450 healing all. Marie.
Alicia's fully healed thanks to sensual blessing. Also Marie, Latha, and Alicia are basically on the same init because of the previous round's delay so we can all act together."Again!" Alicia says, continuing to do their best to break what Shar's done. They're making progress but all the same this feels perilously unworkable in battle. She wants to confirm the process but it might not be the best approach next time this happens.
Alicia has one more use on her improvisation but Marie and Latha are out and we don't want to have to waste a turn on them using alter reality to replace it.
Alicia will use quickened limited wishes - it's a personal level 1 bard spell but with a limited wish can she hit them with it or a similar effect to give them +18 on their next ability score check?
Alicia HP: 1038/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/4/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 600/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Many moments of prescience: 3/4
Okay. Get to rolling.
+19 actually since Alicia's sorc CL is 38.
[16:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44 Alicia charisma
[16:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 62 > [d20=18]
[16:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 Marie charisma
[16:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=8]
Alicia HP: 1038/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/2/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 600/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Many moments of prescience: 3/4
> roll 1d20+33 Latha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 48 > [d20=15]
Give me Fort saves, all.
[16:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+92 Alicia improved mettle
[16:58] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 104 > [d20=12]
[16:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+68 Marie
[16:59] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 83 > [d20=15]
Alicia HP: 1038/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/2/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 600/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Many moments of prescience: 3/4
> roll 1d20+60 Latha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 76 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+50 Phoebe
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=6]
100 damage. Alicia negates and the others take full.
You pull more of Shar out - her other leg now, most of her body gone - but not all of it. Instead a tremendous darkness surrounds all of you after, as there are no words - only a sense of undying fury and contempt, hatred wrapped cold.
Ref times.
[spoiler]
Latha
HP: 760/1010(800)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+12 (+12 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 15/15 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweaver 3/3 Vision of Heaven (rnd) 1/1 Zeal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL36), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Death Ward (CL36), Mass Energy Immunity (Cold) (CL38)
Notes: Level + 22 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Many Moments of Prescience: 4 uses for a +30 insight bonus.
[17:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 Alicia ref
[17:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 85 > [d20=5]
[17:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+85 Marie ref, using another moment of prescience
[17:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 101 > [d20=16]
Is there a particular radius to these big attacks she's doing so Marie can actually move herself out of them?
Alicia HP: 1038/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/2/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 500/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Many moments of prescience: 2/4
It looks to be pretty big, about 100ft or so, if that matters.
Good to know. You can carry on, it's not Marie's turn so she can't do anything about it right now.
> roll 1d20+49 Phoebe
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 52 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+62 Latha evasion
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 78 > [d20=16]
500 damage, all but Marie take full. HPs?
Presumably Marie took half? Alicia's at 538/1038 and Marie's at 250/830.
Alicia HP: 538/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/2/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 250/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4
Many moments of prescience: 2/4
The darkness entombs all of you. It is deep and overwhelming as Phoebe falters. She stumbles back, as suddenly pressure surrounds her all over.
> roll 1d20+50 Phoebe
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d20=5]
With a cry Phoebe's body begins to fade away. She leaves behind only her shawl, a ghostly, moonlit afterimage.
You're next, Alicia. Come.
Go.
[spoiler]
Latha
HP: 260/1010(800)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+12 (+12 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 15/15 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweaver 3/3 Vision of Heaven (rnd) 1/1 Zeal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL36), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Death Ward (CL36), Mass Energy Immunity (Cold) (CL38)
Notes: Level + 22 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Many Moments of Prescience: 4 uses for a +30 insight bonus.
Alicia grimaces as Phoebe dies, this being her failure to come up with a better tactic.
Even if they succeed, they still have a full strength avatar
right there. Is she pursuing a sunk cost?
"Marie with me. Latha, heal us!" she urges as the invisible Marie takes Latha's hand and her illusory copy gives her a significant look to make clear where she needs to target that heal for proper effect, casting a spell on her to boost what she receives from healing.
Another quickened limited wish to refresh her own improvisation, Marie and Latha have another shot in theirs.
Marie casts a quickened sensual blessing on Latha. +25 perception, various perception modes, and doubled healing from all sources.
[19:13] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44 Alicia charisma
[19:13] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 57 > [d20=13]
[19:13] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 Marie charisma
[19:13] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 41 > [d20=4]
Alicia HP: 538/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/1/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 250/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/6/4
Many moments of prescience: 2/4
How far away is the real Marie from Latha?
She's literally touching her, so in the adjacent square to her left.
In a burst of sunlight and power wounds heal, names and powers called on.
370 healing all, doubled when sensual blessing comes into play.
At the same time the two of you pull and...
Give me one more check, Alicia.
[17:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44 charisma popping improvisation again
[17:50] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=1]
Alicia HP: 1038/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/1/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 830/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/6/4
Many moments of prescience: 2/4
There's a tremendous wrenching as you're able to pull Shar out. She lands on her feet as the demiplane wobbles all around you, like gelatin dropped and left to shake out. Slowly, Shar chuckles.
Congratulations. I fear I'll have to fight you directly now. But perhaps you'll manage to do what even Selune has not against me: win.
Twin short swords are held up and at the ready as she marches towards you fearlessly.
Current size and reach?
large size, 10 foot reach.
Alicia HP: 1038/1038
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 133, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/1/8/2/7/5/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Marie HP: 830/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 105, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/6/4
Many moments of prescience: 2/4
Feel free to AoO.
[18:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+86 why not
[18:31] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 91 > [d20=5]
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+43+5d6 and -2 SR for one round
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 62 > [d6=1,6,1,1,4,1,1,4]
You slash but Shar is far too fast. Her blade lashes out and deflects it, while the other goes for your sword.
> roll 1d20+134
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 148 > [d20=14]
CMD? Any protection against being disarmed?
133 so pop a moment of prescience to make it 163.
Yet Alicia manages to hold her blade, hand numb from the sheer impact of sword on sword. Yet she holds onto it preciously as...
Go, all of you.
Marie sings a different song to bolster Alicia for this fight now they've brought Shar down to their level, alas too late for Phoebe. Then she makes a nice magical purring sound!
free action for inspire courage, +14 morale attack/damage/saves vs fear.
[19:25] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+39 purr of sharess SR
[19:25] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 52 > [d20=13]
[19:25] <@Ebiris> roll 40d6 damage
[19:25] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 127 > [d6=4,3,5,3,3,2,2,1,2,1,6,2,6,5,4,3,1,4,3,3,3,2,2,6,5,1,1,6,6,5,3,1,2,3,5,2,1,5,2,3]
DC 39 fort half, deafened if save fails.
Friendlies gain benefit of sublime revelry. So half damage taken from melee/ranged attacks."If it's just an avatar I'd better!" Alicia grunts, making herself even bigger before she attacks Shar with everything she has!
Swift to go colossal, swift to cast quickened many moments of prescience during the following string.
[19:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+112+18+30 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite, many moments of prescience
[19:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 162 > [d20=2]
[19:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+112+18+30 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite, many moments of prescience
[19:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 177 > [d20=17]
[19:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+107+18+30 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite, many moments of prescience
[19:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 156 > [d20=1]
[19:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+107+30 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[19:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 138 > [d20=1]
[19:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+102+30 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[19:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 134 > [d20=2]
[19:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+102+30 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[19:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 137 > [d20=5]
[19:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+97 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[19:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 117 > [d20=20]
[19:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+97 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[19:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 100 > [d20=3]
[19:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+92 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[19:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 95 > [d20=3]
[19:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+92 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[19:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 107 > [d20=15]
[19:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+112+18+30 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite, many moments of prescience - crit check for the 17
[19:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 174 > [d20=14]
[19:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+97 blinding speed, 15th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp - crit check for the 20
[19:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 107 > [d20=10]
Each hit reduces her SR by 2 for a turn. Flux grasp doesn't have SR but might be important elsewhere.
[19:40] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+62+15+15d4+700
[19:40] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 848 > [d6=5,5,4,5,5,3,5,2][d4=1,4,2,3,2,1,4,4,3,1,2,3,2,3,2]
[19:41] <@Ebiris> roll 16d6+124+30+15d4+1400 if 177/174 was a crit
[19:41] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1658 > [d6=6,1,6,4,6,2,6,4,1,1,3,2,6,5,6,6][d4=4,4,2,3,2,2,2,1,2,3,4,3,4,2,1]
[19:41] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+62+15+15d4+700 if it wasn't
[19:41] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 847 > [d6=1,5,5,1,6,2,4,2][d4=3,3,4,4,3,2,1,4,4,4,3,1,1,3,4]
[19:41] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+62+15+15d4+700
[19:41] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 850 > [d6=5,2,6,5,4,4,5,6][d4=1,2,2,1,3,3,4,4,2,2,1,1,2,4,4]
[19:41] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+62+15d4+700
[19:41] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 825 > [d6=5,3,2,4,1,5,6,4][d4=2,2,1,3,1,3,4,2,1,4,2,2,1,2,3]
[19:41] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+62+15d4+700
[19:41] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 833 > [d6=5,4,2,3,5,5,2,2][d4=2,1,4,4,2,4,4,3,4,2,1,4,2,3,3]
[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+62+15d4+700
[19:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 828 > [d6=6,5,5,2,3,6,3,4][d4=3,1,1,2,1,2,3,4,3,1,2,1,4,1,3]
[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 16d6+124+15d4+1400 if 117/107 was a crit
[19:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1621 > [d6=6,4,6,3,2,1,1,5,5,5,3,4,6,1,3,3][d4=3,4,1,1,4,1,1,1,4,4,4,2,4,3,2]
[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+62+15d4+700 if it wasn't
[19:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 824 > [d6=2,6,4,4,5,1,5,1][d4=1,4,4,3,3,2,1,3,1,1,1,3,3,2,2]
[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+62+15d4+700
[19:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 837 > [d6=6,3,6,2,5,2,4,4][d4=3,1,1,3,2,4,4,4,4,2,2,4,1,4,4]
[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+62+15d4+700
[19:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 821 > [d6=3,4,5,1,3,4,1,2][d4=1,2,4,1,2,3,2,2,1,3,4,2,4,1,4]
[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+62+15d4+700
[19:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 824 > [d6=1,3,3,6,3,1,6,6][d4=1,4,3,1,1,2,3,1,2,1,3,4,2,3,2]
DC 45 fort or -10 armour/natural armour, provoked on each hit but penalty doesn't stack.
Marie has a swift action left if she's still alive.
Alicia HP: 1284/1284
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/1/8/2/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
Marie HP: 830/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 2/4
Sonic is blocked so no save needed for the purr.
Go ahead and give me four Fortitude saves.
I'm assuming you mean just from Alicia.
[17:07] <@Ebiris> roll 4#1d20+98 improved mettle
[17:07] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 116, 109, 113, 114 >
Yes, thank you.
It's hard to hit Shar. A blur that moves, a wound that bloodies her turned into more of a deep scratch. The shadows writhe and coil as you strike, suffusing her with energy. Blow after blow is blocked before one gets through, a duel of sacrifices. Yet you do blood her, and each time your body darkens. As if your own shadow seeps into your blood and marrow to feast.
Your endurance is superior to that and you stand intact, the two of you face to face as blades clad against yours. Shar's eyes are black, empty, as if yawning portals to nothing. Her breath is ice cold this close, numbing your face. You feel it down to your soul, which loosens.
You know in your heart that were you still a mortal, your eternal soul would be screaming as it plunges into Shar's eyes at this very moment.
"Even Primus wants me to win, Alicia. Even Primus is ready to rest."
Latha and Marie are up in the next post, then Shar's turn. Go ahead and react as well as prime Marie's move.
So just to clarify, only the 20 hit her?
You hit her 4 times.
No rolling for the save on flux grasp?
Does she have fortunate fate++ or something going on or some absurdly high damage reduction/immunity to divine damage? Basically what did any of that accomplish?
Does she need one or four saves on flux grasp?
4, it triggers each time she's hit. DC 45 fort.
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 19, 12, 17, 1 >
Well, what do you know, you got a 1. -10 AC.
No, just vast resistance and endurance. Your knowledge skills suggest something like the way sublime revelry reduces physical harm.
"Primus doesn't speak for the rest of us!" Alicia snaps back.
It's armour and natural armour, so potentially -20.Marie takes a gamble, hoping Alicia's hits have stripped Shar's resistance to magic enough for this to get through. Slipping around behind the dark dancer, she... gives her something to dance about.
Quickened irresistible dance.
[17:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+72 melee touch, flanking, she's hopefully flat-footed too
[17:59] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 89 > [d20=17]
[17:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+39 SR, she's got a -8 penalty from Alicia hitting her
[17:59] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 43 > [d20=4]
[18:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5 rank check to beat mind affecting immunity. SR surely failed but good practice not to forget.
[18:04] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 10 > [d20=5]
Alicia HP: 1284/1284
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/1/8/2/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
Marie HP: 830/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/7/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 2/4
Yet nothing happens from that spell, fizzling out on her completely as...
Fort, Marie.
[18:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+68+30 lets drop a moment of prescience on this one
[18:17] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 100 > [d20=2]
Alicia HP: 1284/1284
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/1/8/2/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
Marie HP: 830/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/7/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
Yet Marie is able to hold, able to endure. A feeling as if her shadow is stabbing her in the back, pouring into her body and soaking into her very bones - but she endures it.
> roll 1d20+38 when in doubt, hope you get lucky on this check and it's been lowered enough
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 58 > [d20=20]
The light doesn't harm Shar. It rolls off of her, but it gets her attention. Sunstorm's burst of sunlight suffuses the area, casts bright radiance against Shar in those moments. She has to step back, a moment of focus as the sunlight is gone - but it ruins her attention on you. Instead only a single sword blow lashes out, a slice at your wrist.
> roll 1d20+134
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 137 > [d20=3]
AC?
Dispel check omitted because she can't fail it.
101.
> roll 1d6+58+3d6+12d6+40d6+10d10
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 310 > [d6=3,9][12d6=50][40d6=145][10d10=45]
With one slice there is nothing for a moment, just a sense of loss. Your left hand is gone just past the wrist, hitting the ground in the aftermath of Shar's swing. Your blood sprays out from where you were just maimed, a raw and sharp exclamation of agony within your mind.
Go.
Oh! Before that, Shar cast a spell right? Alicia has spellcasting harrier! So I'll hit her before I lose my hand.
[20:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+114+4+30 AoO with spellcasting harrier, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[20:18] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 165 > [d20=17]
[20:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+114+4+30 AoO with spellcasting harrier, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience crit check
[20:18] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 159 > [d20=11]
[20:19] <@Ebiris> roll 16d6+148+5d6+15d4+1400 if that critted
[20:19] <@Ebiris> roll 8d6+74+5d6+15d4+700 if it didn't
[20:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1668 > [d6=3,6,2,6,6,3,2,6,4,4,3,2,3,5,5,5,5,2,2,1,1][d4=2,3,4,3,4,3,3,3,3,2,1,2,4,3,4]
[20:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 863 > [d6=1,4,4,6,2,2,4,6,3,6,6,2,6][d4=1,4,1,3,3,3,1,3,2,3,1,3,4,2,3]
I hope it hurts a lot and she dies.
Alicia HP: 1129/1284
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/1/8/2/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 0/4
Marie HP: 830/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/7/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
Fort save.
[16:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+98 improved mettle
[16:44] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 105 > [d20=7]
A clash. A desperate sweep the moment before Shar strikes, a slash into her. Blood is drawn as you exchange blows, enough save you. For Shar falls back, blurring into the shadows and gone.
Then die in this place.
Free act.
Can I tell what happened?
Did she stealth? Turn invisible? Teleport? Did she do something that might provoke another attack of opportunity?
She used a supernatural ability to fade away, into the demiplane and beyond. Nice trick to say the least, something she primed up and prepared well in advance you suspect.
"We're not out of this yet," Alicia says, staying at this size in case anything else nasty shows up looking for a fight. "Marie, grab Phoebe's things. Whatever she's left can't be as bad as an avatar but we've no reason to stay behind now."
As her illusion nods, Marie herself picks up Phoebe's shawl and recasts superior invisibility before they retreat to the demiplane's entrance, Alicia twisting space to shorten the route.
Alicia HP: 1284/1284
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 36), Extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/1/8/1/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 4/4
Marie HP: 830/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/6/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
It's just her shawl, but Marie gets it.
"Be ready," Latha says, as - !
Perception.
[18:07] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+87 Alicia
[18:07] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 100 > [d20=13]
[18:07] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+81 Marie
[18:07] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 90 > [d20=9]
Alicia HP: 1284/1284
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 36), Extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/1/8/1/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 4/4
Marie HP: 830/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/6/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
Alicia's eyes can see it. The portal out is different. It moves ever so slightly, and malicious shadows seem to be in every aspect of it, hidden and yet obvious to your superior sight.
Has it been redirected somehow? (if you can redirect it doesn't that technically make this a mobile demiplane like Aurora?)
Check to find out what's been changed with it?
Can it be changed back with a dispel or with anarch power?
You think it has been, but you'd have to study it a moment to be sure. K:P would be appropriate here.
Depending on what was done, maybe your dispels or anarch powers could do it. You'll know once you learn more with a check.
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+75 divine insight
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 87 > [d20=12]
The portal will take you right to Shadow now.
As to the second question possibly, depending on what exactly Shar's done to it and if you could get it away from her. You suspect yes but you also lack the ability tell from here on a glance. You'd need a deeper examination of it.
"She said die here but she clearly wants us to come to her home," Alicia says after a moment's study of the obviously altered portal.
So normally you can't plane shift out of demiplanes, right? Because they don't have astral links? But a lack of astral links never interferes with a deity's teleportation, right? So... is there anything to stop us just making our own gate out of here?
Astral links never interfere with a deity's teleportation on their home plane. That's an important distinction.
Gotcha.
Is there magic on the portal like a spell over-writing its normal properties or has it been completely changed from the ground up?
Completely changed.
Which of the following are possible?
Alter the portal to our specifications via anarch powers/alter reality.
Create our own portal with anarch powers/alter reality.
Create an astrally linked zone with anarch powers/alter reality.
Destroy the demi-plane and eject ourselves onto... somewhere?
Go outside of Creation.
Possible but if Shar did it you may get resistance.
See above.
See above.
Possible if you did enough.
Possible if desperate enough.
"Lets try and make our own way out," Alicia says, side-stepping Shar's direct work and applying the demi-plane's morphic traits towards creating a fresh portal to its 'default' location on the ethereal plane.
"Together," Latha vows, her own will bent to it.
Charisma everyone who is trying.
Alicia quickens a limited wish to give them all +19 competence on the check ala improvisation. +2 morale from good hope.
[18:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44 Alicia charisma
[18:09] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 57 > [d20=13]
[18:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 Marie charisma
[18:09] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 48 > [d20=11]
Alicia HP: 1284/1284
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 36), Extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/0/8/1/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 4/4
Marie HP: 830/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/6/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
> roll 1d20+33
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 44 > [d20=11]
It's like trying to move sludge. A sludge that only slowly forms into the portal you desire.
But you are not unopposed. The shadows within the original portal scream silently as they erupt out, like a water cannon directing a massive spray of them at all of you.
Fort all.
Marie's invisible and not standing in the same place as her visible illusion if that helps her avoid this.
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+98 Alicia fort, improved mettle
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 101 > [d20=3]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+68 Marie fort
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 69 > [d20=1]
Alicia HP: 1284/1284
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 36), Extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/0/8/1/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 4/4
Marie HP: 830/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/6/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
600 damage all. Alicia nulls, Marie and Latha take full.
Alicia isn't touched. No, her blade and her light protect her.
It doesn't stop Latha's screams. You see shadows maul her, even as dozens burn away from her aura. You see them swarm her, dying in droves and yet more of them bombarding her. You hear Marie, her body torn again and again.
Not yet, Alicia. I'm not done with you yet.
The portal's almost done, just a little more and it should be ready and open.
Go.
[spoiler]
Latha
HP: 1000/1010(800)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+12 (+12 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 15/15 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweaver 3/3 Vision of Heaven (rnd) 1/1 Zeal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL36), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Death Ward (CL36), Mass Energy Immunity (Cold) (CL38)
Notes: Level + 22 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Many Moments of Prescience: 4 uses for a +30 insight bonus.
Being invisible didn't help Marie?"Heal yourselves, I have this!" Alicia says, a quickened wall of force blocking off the other portal and its nasty shadows.
Invisible still, Marie grabs for Latha's hand so she'll know where to aim the healing.
[18:41] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44 Alicia charisma, just her this time
[18:41] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 51 > [d20=7]
Alicia HP: 1284/1284
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 36), Extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/8/9/0/8/1/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 4/4
Marie HP: 230/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/6/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
Area attack, so no.
The portal opens - flickering and weak, but it's open at least for the moment.
Latha's action pending Alicia here a sec, so go ahead and react.
"Heal and go, I'll be right behind you!"
They'll most likely be emptied out back in the same place they entered the demiplane through and it's far from friendly territory.
Latha flees at that chance, bloodied and alive, her escape at hand. She goes through the portal, gone in an instant.
Marie?
Not healed by Latha after all, Marie heals herself before she rushes after her. "That's me!" her illusion says right before the real Marie goes through the portal and the projected image goes slack.
Using her heal SLA on herself before she goes.
Alicia HP: 1284/1284
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 36), Extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/8/9/0/8/1/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 4/4
Marie HP: 530/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/6/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
Legit DM mistake, she meant to move and heal. Somehow that got lost in the post. She popped a mass heal as you fled. +250 HP both of you.
As Latha and Marie tumble through to the other side, meanwhile?
> roll 1d20+50
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 53 > [d20=3]
Opposed Charisma check.
[spoiler]
Latha
HP: 900/1010(800)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+12 (+12 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 15/15 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweaver 3/3 Vision of Heaven (rnd) 1/1 Zeal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL36), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Death Ward (CL36), Mass Energy Immunity (Cold) (CL38)
Notes: Level + 22 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Many Moments of Prescience: 4 uses for a +30 insight bonus.
Marie doesn't use her SLA then.
[19:32] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+53 many moments of prescience popped
[19:32] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 63 > [d20=10]
Alicia HP: 1284/1284
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 36), Extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), good hope (CL 38), Seira's Arcane Thesis (CL 38)
Defences: AC 101, CMD 163, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +40 str, +20 con, -2 dex, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 ability checks, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/8/9/0/8/1/7/4/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Many moments of prescience: 3/4
Marie HP: 730/830
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40), good hope (CL 38)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 115, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC, +2 morale ability checks, +6 competence attack, +4 competence fort, +14 morale attack/damage
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/6/7/4/6/6/3
Many moments of prescience: 1/4
With her power concentrated, Alicia holds on. It's just long enough to resist Shar's pressure, the portal winking wildly but intact - at least for a few more moments.
Go.
Shrinking down to more manageable size, Alicia hurries through the portal she's made!
Escape.
You take a gasp of air.
You float in the Silver Sea of the Astral Plane. Latha and Marie are besides you as the portal lets out one last shudder and fails.
"The Astral," Latha says, at the ready, "It does not feel like a falsehood. But how?"
Take 10 for 70 on planes for relevant insights.
"I expected the ethereal," Alicia admits, looking around.
Your best guess is that something between your interference and whatever Shar was doing caused the portal to throw you out into the Astral. It's a default option for when something goes off with teleportation or portals. Your learned insight suggests it probably only worked because you're a goddess of magic.
As long as it isn't the Far Realm, but that's thankfully a rare fluke.
Not that the Beyond is especially scary for her these days.
"Too much instability, I think, it took the path of least resistance to the astral," Alicia concludes after a moment. "Well, we'd best return to the Gates of the Moon, Selune will be expecting us."
She opens a gate to where they left with Phoebe earlier and flies through, Marie dispelling her illusion and becoming visible herself as she follows.
Safety. You stand under the light of the moon. Selune's intent is wordless, a mix of anger directed at Shar and simple curiosity. It lingers for several moments before words finally come.
"What evil has Shar gone to this time?" Is her question.
"Her avatar was there, she wanted to show us something," Alicia begins, regretful but composed. "She's developed some way to merge herself with the essence of a plane to magnify her powers - her avatar and the demiplane became one. I'm sorry, but we weren't able to protect Phoebe in the battle that followed."
Marie hangs her head, holding the shawl before her.
Latha bows her head as well, silent.
"Phoebe will reform here," Selune says at last, "Fear not, I have long taken measure to ensure Shar cannot lightly take her soul." The shawl flies up and is lost in the light of the moon, "I would not send her otherwise."
"Still, it's a black mark to have let an ally fall in battle beside me," Alicia says. "We were able to extract Shar from the demiplane with considerable effort - I think the technique requires the plane to be morphic but I can't be sure. That still left us with an avatar to fight, although we were able to drive her off and escape. Whether Shar herself has now merged with the plane of shadow is I suppose the big question now."
"I fear the worst," Latha says, "Shar was not disturbed by our small victories there, I fear that this entire encounter was merely her triumphant celebration. A taste of what she wishes to give us."
Selune is before you - an old woman made young, a fantasy of moonlight. "Were such a deed managed, we risk the greatest nightmare."
"There's still a lot we don't know, how much that demiplane had to be prepared for it, whether she can use that power to influence things outside the demiplane, whether she and her avatars can merge with the outer or inner planes... but she sounded extremely confident about it being a decisive stroke against Creation," Alicia concludes. "Regardless, it took the three of us concerted effort for almost half a minute to break the union. That's not practical for most."
"Few can withstand her avatar," Selune continues with that, "But it has become even deadlier for those who can. This is not a move to terrorize the mortal, but to seek the blood of the immortal."
For one moment Phoebe's shawl is seen amid the moonlight.
"You have grown mighty," Selune finally says, "At a pace I have never seen before, this fast and this strong. All of you, this Godsrush - it must continue. Shar is not idle. She does not wait for us to be prepared to destroy her."
"Her penalty at the God-King's judgement hasn't slowed her down," Alicia agrees, eye briefly caught by that shawl before it focuses on Selune. "Gauging her commitment to battle is hard even for me, at time she felt like she was toying with us, at others like she was truly determined to snuff us out. It keeps us off balance and uncertain... but certainly we need to become stronger to properly fight her."
"See that you grow stronger, as do all of you, as do the others of the Godsrush." Selune agrees. "I watch over Alyssa Songsteel's new realm and they grow as well."
"If we've time for it... now she's done this and talked such a big game, Shar won't stand still," Alicia says. "Still, we'll return to Sylica and prepare. And I must tell Mystra of this. Farewell, Selune."
There is a pause as you turn to go.
"Alicia," Selune's voice is quieter, almost a normal woman's voice. "Today is a dark day - for it is the first day I fear that Shar may triumph. Has she merged with Shadow, there may be none but the Incarnations who can stop her."
"I know," Alicia says grimly. "She wouldn't have been so proud of a trick limited to a mere demiplane."
"Should I face Shar and fail, you must travel to Lunara on the Astral Plane, but only should I lay my life down and still fail to defeat Shar. You may tell the other leaders of the Godsrush but no others. Mystra already knows." Selune explains, "Do not forget this."
"You should know, the Godsrush has a sponsor," Alicia says, delaying on this grim note. "If I tell the others, they'll know as well."
There is a long note of silence.
> roll 1d2 one of those rare coinflips because they're so torn on saying something or not
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 1 > [d2=1]
"Has the Incarnation of Law returned his gaze to us?" Selune asks. "For Ao makes no move to stop Shar yet."
"Had he done so and had he not announced it, we would not be able to say," Latha says in response.
"I'm sworn to silence," Alicia apologises. "But it is a power of Creation that guided us to the divine seeds left behind by the Incarnation of Balance before its absence."
edit: Alicia said Incarnation of Law but it was the Incarnation of Balance that set these up. Corrected here since she would remember better than me, it probably doesn't affect Selune's reaction.
Fury? Anger?
No. There is a moment of contemplation, "How often I am where you are now," Selune reflects, "How rarely I am where I am now. I understand."
"Unfortunately I don't have all the answers, I'm more piece than player myself," Alicia says, still sounding apologetic. "But I'm bound by my word as well as the consequences of discovery, and can tell you no more. Thank you for understanding, Selune. My silence is no slight."
As the light of the moon shines down, "If when this is over we both live and you can speak freely, I ask that you come and tell me of these matters."
In a more contemplative voice, "The Prophecy of Primus and now this. Has the Last Day managed to surprise us all with how close its drawn?" Slowly Selune fades away into the moonlight, gone.
"Come. Dweomerheart next, Mystra must hear of this," Alicia says to Marie and Latha, opening a gate to her sanctum in Dweomerheart and allowing Mystra to redirect it as she sees fit.
You appear before Mystra. She sits atop the roof of her palace, in the shadows of the stars above. The Stars of Mystra surround her, a spell chanted by all of them. Yet on your arrival they stop in tandem, bow and vanish.
Mystra looks to you, "Grave and graver tidings?"
"We found out what Shar used your blood for," Alicia confirms, voice like the grave. "She's used it to develop a system for merging herself with the essence of a plane - we fought an avatar who had merged with a demiplane."
"A mere demiplane would not be that catastrophic," Mystra immediately says, "She's taken it farther."
"An avatar and a demiplane, Shar herself and..." Alicia trails off before voicing the conclusion. "The demiplane was morphic. I don't know if that was a requirement for the process but it gave us a wedge we could use to reverse the process, only with time and great difficulty."
"You saw it yourself," Mystra says at last, "Your own judgment considers it a grave threat?"
Alicia makes a small noise of frustration. "There's a lot I still don't know. I don't know if it's purely defensive and makes Shar impossible to assault, or if she can bring that power with her on the offensive. Either are catastrophic but one is certainly worse than the other."
Marie speaks up after having been silent for a while. "Unless you're strong enough to destroy a plane, or you have enough anarchic power to contest her control and wrench her loose, it makes her invincible. I don't know if her powers are stronger, but she can attack you and you can't meaningfully hurt her. That's a horrible place to start a fight from."
"She wants us to know that," Mystra agrees, "I have known Shar long enough to know that she will assail your mind as surely as your soul. I could not say with any certainty which is true. I would expect it cannot leave her plane, but Shar has already accomplished one deed of great danger, a second may not be beyond her."
"In other words, we are forced acknowledge the possibility," Latha concludes, "It casts a shadow on us as a mountain casts a shadow as the sun sets."
"Even if she can't walk from Shadow to Elysium and bring Shadow and all its power with her... there's magic she can cast from one place to affect another that might be further empowered now," Alicia says.
"I doubt she's going to just sit still after showing that off," Marie says. "Something else is coming, so we need to either brace, or try and take back the initiative ourselves to throw her off."
"A direct assault is suicide if she has Shadow's power," Mystra agrees, "Something to set her back and make her react."
"It would be wise to try and surmise her next move, if we can," Latha grips the handle of her mace tight, "She has many enemies, so she need not choose the most obvious to strike against, but the most vulnerable. The vulnerable are those freshly risen."
"So of those..." Alicia begins, but is cut off.
"Bel and Gathgorian?!" Marie blurts out.
"... I was going to say Alyssa and her group were most likely, but that's... unorthodox," Alicia says, eyeing Marie.
"Like Latha said, don't think of the most obvious. We know they're opposed to Shar. If she kills them and we don't lift a finger to help, that makes her life easier. If we help them... we have to help them, and that'd make us miserable. It's hard for her to lose in that context," Marie explains the logic. Or chaotic intuition, if you prefer.
"That is..." Latha begins, and even smiles slightly. "Antenora would be proud of that logic."
"It fits with how Shar likes to torment others, no matter what choices they make." Mystra remarks, "It is a match to her twisted logic."
"It's depressing enough that I'd have to agree," Alicia concedes. "Well, lets go back to Sylica and then try reaching out to the devils. Please take care, Mystra. I hope next time we can come visit for a more pleasant occasion."
"Be well," Mystra bids you as you return and...
Okay, how are you going to reach out to them, then.
Syala and Jessica and Antenora are all kept in the loop via their avatars so if they want to make any contributions or suggestions over all this business they can, otherwise Alicia will simply reach out to Bel wih her divine voice.
Just imagine if anyone could contact anyone with the same sort of ease the gods communicate with one another...
Bel, I have news of Shar if you would hear it.
As do I.
Convenient timing. Then again, if she's trying to show off... she has a lot of avatars.
Has she demonstrated her ability to merge with a plane's essence to you as well?
She has shown a new pair of weapons, Anurel and Enurel. Any wound made by them cannot be healed, she claims, nor any slain with it resurrected.
Did the weapons she saw the avatar use look any different than she's seen Shar's avatars use before, like the one that fought Selune?
We received different demonstrations then. I faced an avatar who merged herself with a demiplane to become unassailable. Concerted anarchic effort broke the connection, but that relied on the demiplane in question being morphic. I don't know if that is a requirement for the ability, nor if Shar herself has merged with Shadow.
They did not.
Shar presumes above her station and flaunts her power like a harlot who thirsts for coin, but that is only a tactic of distraction. She seeks to assail our wills, as if we were lesser creatures to give in to weakness. You are many things, Alicia Reynes, but you are not weak.
She will fail, and I will see her die at my feet.
A motivational speech from a devil. She'll have to share that with Seira later.
I'll take that in the spirit intended. Take heed of this warning though; offensive action against ground Shar has prepared will be much more complicated by this trick. And should she take the offensive against you, I will come if called.
In this one matter we have agreement. Should she attack you, I will come if called.
Our own wars shall be suspended until Creation is safe. Anything else is demonic foolishness.
That's about all that can be hoped for, she can't babysit Bel and Gathgorian nor does she have the inclination to, but she'll help more or less anyone if they're being attacked by Shar and now they know she's on call.
"So that's the reactive side covered," she says, having gotten Marie, Syala, Antenora, Latha, and Jessica all together. "But what proactive action can we take against Shar now?"
Antenora sits as you all enjoy the gentle warmth your and Syala's private garden. She sips from a cup of tea and with her eyes closed, the softest clatter as she places it down. "Any assault against Shadow was ill advised before this, and now it is far more. That will be a great trial at the end of this, but that day is not yet here. Further, Shar's nature makes her a hidden threat until revealed, and it seems that as she waxes, she always has another threat new to us."
"The fruits are inexhaustible and the fruit tree is nigh invincible," Syala runs with that, pacing under the shade of an apple tree, heavy green apples swaying with a slight breeze. "It's a mixed blessing. We have as many threats to learn from as we wish, but ultimately we still face overwhelming odds and struggle to do any true setbacks to her. This latest affair makes me suspect she never shows her true goals until she wins."
Jessica sits amid a sweet smelling berry bush, shadows forming around it to make a throne for her to sit on. On occasion she picks a berry and slowly eats it. "There's a great sense of futility to it all," Jessica admits, "No matter how much we strike against her, there's always so much more. Any who falter before that, who lose their grip on hope, have lost to her completely. We need something beyond this. Something beyond the normal troubles, beyond the normal routines we do. We could hunt the Shadow Twelve, but in the end, will there not be more in time?"
Latha sits heavy on a chair of white painted, wrought wicker. The sun shines down on her as she slowly sloshes a glass of ambrosia back and forth, "I feel as if that's the heart of it. That no matter what we do, she's off doing her real wins while playing with us. I have no doubt that she sees her victory as a foregone conclusion, that she's merely going through the steps to obtain her victory. Am I the only one? The confidence she has, the eternal lack of anger or reaction to when we defy her or give her setbacks. It's like they don't matter to her."
"Damn her." Antenora agrees with a softness, "It's dark, but more than anything else, I want that shoe on her foot. I want to see her show uncertainty, to hurt, to reap what she has sown. A dark and brutal justice, but I do not doubt it is justice. Not when it is Shar. For once, I want that cold blooded monster to show some reaction to us beyond amusement, fake compassion or hate."
Marie's got a swing hanging from an overhanging branch of Syala's tree, although her feet can touch the ground so it's not really moving. It gives her a sense of whimsy to go along with everyone else's thematic seating. "What does Shar actually care about, then?" she asks.
Alicia, sat in her own white wicker chair, mulls over everyone's words while looking at her tea. Sadly no tea leaves divining wisdom for her. "You're asking how we can make one who exemplifies loss experience it. Isn't it like trying to defeat Lathander with light?"
"Well... figure out a way to kill her with kindness then?" Marie suggests, a bit flustered at being shot down so quickly.
"I wonder if that might even work, if it was sincere... but who could sincerely show kindness to Shar?" Alicia asks, giving serious thought to Marie's flustered reply. If nothing else, this is the time for unorthodox thinking.
Syala pauses under the tree. "Here Shar, have a magical artifact. Another, another, another."
Jessica rolls a berry between her fingers, "Well, what is the opposite of oblivion, sister? What is the opposite of loss? Gain, life, creation. In a sense every moment we live is a defiance of Shar."
"Which helps how?" Antenora questions, finishing her tea before the cup is put down and aside.
"Not in the slightest," Jessica admits, "I go around and around on this, from kindness to her opposite and come around with nothing. The only idea I have is to copy Shar, to ask for some of Mystra's blood. Yet should we succeed...what would that do to us and what would that do to Sylica? Even then, could we compete with Shar's far greater age and power, versus Sylica's youth?"
"An arms race that could have horrible consequences on the planes... to say nothing of how apocalyptic it sounds. The very planes themselves garbing the gods as arms and armour for the final battle to decide Creation's fate?" Alicia asks. "It feels like the sort of thing that invites a tomorrow no one can imagine."
"Like you'd see on the last day before an Answer or oblivion," Marie agrees. "But then Shar has been talking like we're on the verge of that anyway, saying how it's her final victory."
"Could that be her plan? Force us all to escalate and destroy us along with our very planes?" Jessica asks, "To make her greatest victory come to her in desperation? If such should come to pass, no one has an Answer yet. There could be only one result."
"It could be," Antenora weighs it slowly, "If she's found a way to merge with one, perhaps she's found the means to wound or destroy one."
"At worst, our plan may not even have the time it needs," Latha says, "But...fearful as this is, I do not believe it is her true aim here. Not on a scale that fast. Shar wants us to suffer, no matter how she dresses it up. One only needs to observe her faithful to see that." She looks up, "No. Should we fail, I do not believe our end will be clean nor fast, not in one Final Day where we strive and lose."
"That's a vast deal of optimism to append to Shar's cruelty, when we already risk so much on Ao's cruelty," Syala turns, "But, perhaps that's why we have hope yet. Our enemies do not wish to merely win, they wish to torment us. Whatever false Answer Ao found, it is proven false by this. Alicia, why did Shar not go to greater lengths to detain you in her demiplane on top of this grand, vain presentation? Her goal was never to slay you that day. Her goal was to assail you in body in mind, to slay your soul's hope."
"Lots of other people live in Sylica too, and we don't know what consequences using the plane like that would have for them," Marie speaks up. "Or even if it'd do us any good outside of Sylica."
"I don't think it's a productive approach, we can't match Shar blow for blow, trying to copy her weapons and tactics only cedes the advantage of experience and power to her," Alicia says, not getting drawn on whether Shar's sadism would prolong their deaths. "Lets look at our resources, and what remains to be tapped? We have two single charge divine seeds reserved... and unaccounted for we know at least that two exist in Acheron and Gehenna, and that Primus holds one. Since I haven't heard of the Hecatoncheires being slain or reformed, nor of the seraphs being defeated by Bel and Gathgorian, we can assume the one in Elysium still remains."
"That's actually quite a lot when you say it like that," Marie says. "But we don't really have leads on the Acheron and Gehenna ones. And you know, if there was one for the plane of Shadow that Shar found, she might've found those two as well for those new deities we heard about."
"Maybe, but it's something to consider, in case we can find any clues. Also... there's the thing on the 666th layer of the Abyss, that Malcanthet showed us a fragment of. It was a simple toy, but the greater whole it came from? We're at the point where I'm desperate enough to go looking for it in case it can be used against Shar," Alicia says, still running down the possibilities of things that could be used to tilt the scales more in their favour.
"We have options," Antenora reckons, "First, do any of you feel stronger or closer?"
"I do," Syala says, "But I need a triumph of some kind, I can feel it, like last time." She reaches up and grabs an apple, "And I don't think just wrestling Alicia will do."
Antenora smiles back slightly at that.
"I do as well. In spite of it all, I feel our survival and defiance of Shar was a small victory," Latha speaks up, "My light endured the pitch black night."
"That's something we should do as well," Jessica agrees, "Advance our portfolios, we can't forget that."
Do Alicia or Marie feel especially close to breakthroughs there?
Not that close, no.
"That takes years though, unless you're close already. And seeds aside it hasn't been long since my last natural growth," Alicia says.
"I'm just starting out," Marie adds. "As a goddess anyway."
"It's still an aspect to consider," Syala says, "In the meantime, what do we know about the 666th layer of the Abyss?"
Alicia takes 10 for 105 with divine insight/guidance of avatar and misc buffs for knowledge (planes) on the topic.
You know what you know about it from Malcanthet. It's said to be a terminus.
You know that you can't just go there normally, nor plane shift to it under normal conditions.
You know Kascha knows more about it from her studies as well as her experience with the Man of the Winds with Muirfinn, who seemed to know more of it and cautioned against learning more, for what lies there can turn lies into truth and truth into lies.
"Not much, Malcanthet said a little bit when we met her last time. It's inaccessible normally and she didn't give away any routes she knows of," Alicia says. "Kascha is probably our best bet, she's an expert at these things."
"Let me invite her," Antenora speaks up here. "We can get it all right from her."
"Go ahead, we might even need her to guide us on a trip if we go there," Alicia gives permission.
It's not too long until Kascha arrives. Antenora stands to meet her, "Thank you for coming," she says, offering a hand.
Kascha takes it and smiles, "Oh, it's no trouble, and it's for a good reason." She goes and takes a seat at the table, "Alicia and everyone, what is it you need to know?"
Marie gives a cheerful wave in greeting while Alicia nods more sedately. "It's good to see you either way, Kascha. We're interested in the 666th layer of the Abyss. We think something was left there by the Incarnations, something that can turn truth into lies and lies into truth. Malcanthet demonstrated a fragment she'd acquired of it to us and while it couldn't do much more than parlour tricks, it still had a clear effect that didn't rely on magic. So the potential of the complete whole must be considered."
"I'll refresh all of you," Kascha offers, "The Man of the Winds spoke of what lay in the 666th layer when we sought information on Kina-ja."
Syala's lip curls up into a half scowl, but she smooths it out. "Who Sharess dealt with, permanently this time. She won't let her get out from under her paw again."
"To everyone's gain, for Kina-ja reached it and found what she desired. To quote the Man of the Winds: 6, 6, 6. Kina-ja cannot defeat her nemesis. Not without aid. She sought what lies there and found it. He is many and none. His appearance and history are the greatest lies of all. He is the terminus. He is where it will end. He is one of hers. Do not speak his name. It is a lie. It is a lie wrapped in a lie, given to a lie told by a liar. Do not speak his realm's name, for it is lies from the liar. The absolute light can dissolve it, but it will fail when you need it most, because it is not your story. Kina-ja is truth, but her lies will become lying truths if not stopped. It is a sign that all lies will become real, and all truths will become lies. The terminus will swallow both."
Antenora sighs, rather deeply. "Useful, even once we pare away the demonic madness. That says that whatever lies there is alive, a he. A person."
Going on, "When Muirfinn asked the Man of the Winds about him, this was his answer: Do not speak his name. It is a lie. It is a lie wrapped in a lie, given to a lie told by a liar. Do not ask of what it is, for only lies that become truth will be found. Ask me to tell you his name, my son."
"There are others like that. Names that cannot be spoken, for they bring disaster," Antenora reckons it slowly, "We know of one of those at the last, Alicia. One that brings hellfire. This man knew what lies on the 666th layer's name?"
"If he spoke the truth, but...I don't think he lied," Kascha admits, "He spoke in truths hidden, but not in lies. He has insight unmatched to others we have seen. He also stated that his price was for Muirfinn to kill Kina-ja, and that all void is Shar, but not all lies are Shar. He also said the absolute light was key to it all, and that to defeat Kina-ja, we had to give her a chance to make her dream come true."
A moment.
"It worked. We used Syala and Sharess's presence to lure her and ultimately defeat her." Kascha finisehs.
"In the end all the lies didn't matter," Syala speaks up here, "In the end, she was a sad, angry woman who went astray - and with all we did, she couldn't avoid that any more. Sharess still doesn't like her, but she's tolerating her and she's deep in a reformation program. She's not getting the slightest bit loose until that's taken for good."
"I suspect the Man of the Winds wanted her dead rather than being reformed by Sharess," Kascha says, "In retrospect, he is still a fiend and that would suit him more than a soul saved."
"So how did Kina-ja reach 666, and what specifically did she find there?" Alicia asks after all that exposition.
"And who's this nameless one? A guardian left by an Incarnation?" Marie asks. "Maybe he's connected to Pale Night, since we know she's originally from Beyond."
"We never found out," Kascha says, "But I can go fix that. Would you come with me, Syala? Sharess gets, uh...catty about Kina-ja."
"I know," Syala holds a hand up, "Do you want to come along, love?
"He could be," Jessica agrees, "He fits the pattern of something transcendent."
"Also," here Antenora speaks up, "Sylvie and I, as well as Seira, had a discussion about this. Sylvie mentions she believes the Man of the Winds is tied to the Ordial Plane and that's where his information comes from, in case we wish to investigate that as well."
"You mean the gate where one of the seeds was?" Alicia asks Antenora. "Either way I'd be happy to come along to see Sharess."
"Yes," Antenora agrees, "It makes a certain sense, because if he can see all of this, he must have access to something abnormal, and an unfinished transitive plane is abnormal."
"Why don't you and Jessica investigate it while Syala and I go with Kascha?" Alicia asks, leaving Marie and Latha to stay and guard the base. "There should be a route there from Queen's stairway that Alyssa used."
Okay then, any prep as you and Syala go out?
We'll just go as is, shouldn't be any fighting.
Oh also Latha can talk to NPCs in other nodes to tell them about this plane-merging business so they can bring it up as convenient for Moore/Alyssa without disturbing their threads.
Works.
You meet Sharess in a familiar place. Evergold. She soaks alone, up to her waist as semi visible hands of force massage her back. Her eyes are closed as incense that smells like raspberries and chocolate burns nearby, tickling your noses. An assortment of chocolate and raspberry treats float on a tray in front of her, not a speck of water touching them despite floating atop it.
"Hi Sharess," Syala calls, "Sorry to-"
"Kina-ja," she says, snatching a treat and popping it down. "I haven't even sharpened my claws yet today."
"Oh, this is Evergold?" Kascha takes it in, a hand to her mouth.
"Yes, and right now the others are off doing...whatever they do when I'm not looking," Sharess declares, "Get in or not as you want." Another treat goes down.
"It's not my first time," Alicia says casually, unclasping her armour and setting it down before she unceremoniously strips and walks nude into the water to sit opposite Sharess.
Syala joins you and gets comfortable next to you, while Kascha follows, "Thank you," she says as she gets in. "It's an honor."
Sharess responds by devastating those chocolate treats before her, before, "The point, Syala."
"We need to talk to Kina-ja about how she got to the 666th layer of the Abyss, and we need an answer, even if we have to use our full power to get it," Syala says, without hesitation.
"Shar's escalating things and bragging about how it's her final victory," Alicia says after Syala. "if the Incarnations left something behind on 666 that we can use... well, now's the time to go looking."
A few more tidbits are devoured before, "We're really going to have to insist," Kascha says delicately. "I'm sorry, but this is that important."
With the treats are gone, Sharess opens her eyes and snaps her fingers. Nearby a simple human woman appears, wearing a white toga and asleep. She stays asleep, her hair currently a soft red and very short. She's a natural beauty. "Return her in one piece," is what Sharess says, "She'll sleep for as long as we need."
A soft, cat like mrrr noise before, "Syala, rub my shoulders." she instructs.
Syala doesn't argue, going over and positioning to do just that. She works and Sharess lets out a low, animal like sound, "Mrrrr. At least you're good to me, Syala. So many ingrates across the planes! So many!"
"Is there anything you want to talk about, Sharess?" Alicia offers gently, looking over at presumably Kina-ja and trying to access her mind while she's asleep.
Limited wish for probe thoughts, DC is 33 if she's resisting. Want to ask how she reached the 666th layer.
She is not resisting.
Her mind is a mess and somewhat segmented, but it's also clear she's been set up to be responsive. She sought and found a portal in Xzanlayth.
"Oh, I personally answered a prayer of a couple who asked my aid in being happy together," Sharess says, "But had trouble in the bedroom. I helped them, guided them and what do I get? Once they're happy they go and dedicate themselves to Lathander! They weren't even Lathaderites before this!" A low, feline growl follows. "I wasn't even subtle! How did they even reach that conclusion?! Sharess is the one who answered our prayer, so we're going to go off and serve Lathander after!"
Syala massages away, "There, there," she whispers, "For all the wonderful mortals, there's still idiots with no taste and no gratitude."
Alicia takes a moment to recall what she herself knows about Xzanlayth.
Take 10 for 105 on planes with all the buffs.
"Mmm, I know the feeling," she says, still paying attention to Sharess amidst her focus. "I had one follower a few years ago that was quite devout and serious all while training to be a warrior, then went mad with the joy of battle the first time he got into a real fight. He's with Tempus now."
Really with Tempus; he fell into a spike trap and then had burning oil poured over him by angry kobolds. Alicia likes to think he'd have done better for himself if he'd stayed faithful to her.
"It is completely unfair," Sharess seconds, as more treats appear before her. Chocolate and orange this time, and a tray of your own appears before you. "So ungrateful, so..."
As Kascha takes a treat, "Mortal?" she asks, quieter.
"Yes! Exactly!" Sharess says, "You're new, but you have any stories yet?"
"Nothing like that," Kascha admits, "Just...I've seen one Seira helps go on other paths. There are good strong seeds and there are seeds that wither no matter what I try."
Syala levitates a snack up for herself as Sharess holds a hand up, Syala stopping. A blink and Sharess is behind you, rubbing your shoulders. You have to admit she's inhumanly good at it, you want to melt into a proverbial puddle under her hands. "You do what you do so well, but mortals get the strangest ideas in their heads! It's like pouring out a glass of water and instead of falling, it decides to rise up back to the clouds and turn into lightning!"
Syala simply settles into where Sharess was and starts enjoying her abandoned treats.
Meanwhile, you recall Xzanlayth is very obscure - an old elven fortress that fell into the Abyss. It's said a battle between Orcus and Demogorgon had something to do with it, and that it fell into a layer neither controlled by accident. 433 if you remember what you heard, an obscure layer said to be ruled by some sort of mud demon.
"Oh, paying me back for all the times I've pet you as a cat?" Alicia asks, groaning at the literally divine massage she's being treated to, reaching up to take one of the chocolates for a nibble.
Armed with her own knowledge and refreshing the magic that boosts her recollection, she probes Kina-ja's mind a little further. What did she find through the portal?
Presumably the first answer gave enough context as to the portal's specific location and any means of activation? If not that would get clarified first before moving on to this question.
The portal is in the center of it, just past the throne room.
You see that she found nothing - a place that is nothing at all, until he saw her. A figure of ivory and gold, of wing and beauty. A celestial, an angel. A thing that stood out from this place, beautiful and utterly impassive.
Meanwhile, as you groan under Sharess's gentle ministrations, "You're one of the good ones, Alicia. I should appreciate you," Sharess agrees.
"Martin's doing well, by the way," she agrees, asking Kina-ja what she and the ivory-gold figure spoke of.
"I know," Sharess smiles at that, "He's growing into a lovely tom."
Nothing. Kina-ja spoke her desire and it said not a word - but she left, knowing she had what she needed when she needed it.
And yet, in spite of seeing it, she did not notice the look of hateful loathing the angel sent her as she departed.
"I've got what I needed from Kina-ja, thank you," Alicia says a moment later. "A route to that layer and an idea of what awaits there. She didn't explore it thoroughly or anything."
Sharess leans in and hugs you from behind, a soft purr as she does. "I'm glad you got satisfaction," she agrees. "It's too bad you aren't one of mine, we would have gotten along so very well."
"Mystra has silver fire and isn't afraid to use it," Syala doesn't hesitate to add that. "And before you say it - Waukeen has enough gold to bury you if you look at Seira."
"Mrrrrr," A vaguely cat like noise as Sharess lets you go, "You're no fun today, Syala."
"Not today, not with Shar," Syala shakes her head, "Sorry, Sharess, I have greater worries."
"We get along well enough as it is," Alicia smiles and pats Sharess's hand over her shoulder. "Kascha, would you like to come with us on this trip? We'll wait for Antenora and Jessica to come back first, since Antenora's divine power over truth will probably be essential for this."
"I'd love to," Kascha says, "A phoenix may be important as well, because a proper rebirth may matter."
Alicia has one last chocolate before they go. "Thank you Sharess. I wouldn't want to look for salvation in the Abyss, but I hope this is something we can use against Shar without damning ourselves."
With this you go off and...
Okay, prep for this trip and who all is going?
See what Jessica and Anty have to report from their trip first?
Party is Alicia, Syala, Antenora, and Kascha. I'll do combat buffs after Jess and Anty's presentation.
"He's gone to ground," Jessica answers, "We checked his normal haunts, but he's hiding. We can find him with time, I'm sure."
"Who's gone to ground?" Alicia asks. "Did you go to the Ordial Gate? Was anything there?"
I'm sorry, I misread. Strike.
Jessica sits, "We went," she says, "Queen sends her regards. Without the Guardian there's really nothing there. It's unfinished grey as far as my eyes could see."
Antenora comes over and rests in a chair, "There is one thing. It is a place of thought and ideas. I created there and the ideas...connected? That is the best word I have. They did not last no matter what I did."
"What sort of things did you do?" she asks Antenora out of interest before they move on.
"I created the idea of a courre," Antenora says, "It connected to the idea of happiness, it...there's really no words for it. It faded right after."
"It's not like anything else I've seen in Creation," Jessica admits.
"Probably a bit too ambitious going right to a creature, still it's interesting," Alicia says. "Sadly doesn't move us forward, but I got the information I needed from Kina-ja. Antenora, can you come with Syala, Kascha, and I for our expedition to the Abyss? I don't doubt we'll run into opposition before we even reach 666, but when we get there your divine power of truth is sure to be useful."
"I can. Where are we going?" Antenora asks, "How big a war will this be?"
Marie will offer out her epic mage armour as usual. CL 37, +22 armour to AC.
Alicia will offer out many moments of prescience through divine familiar bullshit. CL 38, 4 chances to boost a roll by +30 insight. She'll also cast extended nondetection on everyone with that too so they get a CL 39 nondetection which is DC 54 to overcome.
Alicia will provide CL 36 recitation for +3 luck AC/attack/saves to the Sylican contingent. Kascha should cast her own since she'd only get +2 from Alicia.
Everyone should alter reality a greater heroism for +4 morale attack/skills/saves and +20 temp hp.
I'd like if Syala could cast greater true seeing on everyone."We're going to layer 433. If Malcanthet knows of this entrance we can expect she has someone watching it and if we don't face opposition on the way in there'll certainly be an army waiting for us on the way out," Alicia tells Antenora. "I don't know what we can expect from the guardian of 666."
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), greater true seeing (CL 36)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/4/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
"Nothing good," Antenora agrees, "But I'm ready. Where on 433 are we aiming for?"
[spoiler]
Antenora
HP: 900+20/900
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear), Divine 20ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+7 (+4 morale, +3 luck), Damage+0 AC+3 (+3 luck), Saves+7 (+4 morale, +3 luck), Skills+4 (+4 morale), Checks+0
Resources: Holy Fury 41/41 (enc) Divine Retribution 1/1 Smite Evil 13/13 Channel Energy 18/18 Lay On Hands 540/540 Remove Disease 11/11 (week), Spiritual Connection 3/3 Blinding Speed 25/25 Divine Blast 18/18
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Nondetection (CL39), Recitation (CL36), Greater Heroism (CL36), Greater True Seeing (CL36)
Notes: Can always inflict nonlethal with attacks, spells, SLAs and abilities.
Smite Notes: +2 damage/paladin level on a charging smite. Each point of favored PA on charge is worth 9 points of damage, post charge multiplier (15 on crit).
Typical Charging Numbers: 36 for base smite damage, 72 for charging smite +2 per per level. So 108 bonus damage baseline. Raw attack plus smite is 1d8+145+2d6+2d6 (+4/+4d6 if fiendbane hits). Doesn't include other factors.
Remember everything triples and x5 on a crit when adding things.
Syala
HP: 720+20/720
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Divine 30ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+7 (+4 morale, +3 luck), Damage+0 AC+21 (+18 armor, +3 luck), Saves+7 (+4 morale, +3 luck), Skills+4 (+4 morale), Checks+0
Resources: Rage 8/8 Divine Blast 14/14 Family Domain 3/3 Wrath Domain 2/2 Add Twin 7/7 (non epic only)
Spells Used: 4 11th
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL37), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Nondetection (CL39), Recitation (CL36), Greater Heroism (CL36), Greater True Seeing (CL36)
Notes: Automatically converts vile damage to normal damage.
Kascha
HP: 759+20/759
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+7 (+4 morale, +3 luck), Damage+0 AC+17 (+3 luck, +14 armor), Saves+7 (+4 morale, +3 luck), Skills+4 (+4 morale), Checks+0
Resources: Chaos Devotion 1/1 Pearl of Power Vest 3/3 Entangling Blast 3/3 Brass Ioun Stone Temp HP 3/3 White Sphere Ioun Stone Mass Heal 1/1 Renewal Domain 1/1
Spells Used: 6: Superior Resistance 8: Mind Blank
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL36), Epic Mage Armor (CL37), Many Moments of Prescience (CL38), Nondetection (CL39), Greater Heroism (CL36), Greater True Seeing (CL36)
Notes:
"Xzanlayth," Alicia answers. "An old elven fortress that fell into the Abyss. The portal's in there."
She wonders if those elves were connected to Amaryl given their naming sense. "We'll plane shift to the astral first and then open a gate to outside the fortress, work our way in."
"Then let's strike strongly," Syala says, "I doubt we'll face anything but a horde of demons if it's a fortress."
"Let them know fear," Antenora declares, "They have tried this before, it will fail as it did before."
"I'm expecting more of a monster infested ruin than an occupied fortress, but I could be wrong," Alicia says as she transports all of them to the silver expanse of the astral. "Also, this is just my intuition speaking, but once we reach 666 I want all of us to be very careful how we speak. Avoid making any declarative statements, try and phrase things uncertainly or as questions."
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), greater true seeing (CL 36)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/4/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
As you float amid the timeless expanse here, "In other words, guard your words," Syala agrees, "A single errant word could be fatal."
"Or worse," Kascha says, "I don't doubt that this will be bad."
Glad they all understand, Alicia twists reality to render them all unseen so long as they stick close, and then opens a gate to Xzanlayth's approach and flies through.
Alter reality for invisibility sphere there.
Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), greater true seeing (CL 36), invisibility sphere (CL 36)
Defences: AC 108, CMD 117, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/4/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
Give me Perception real quick and I'll get to this.
[18:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+87
[18:11] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 106 > [d20=19]
The sky is broken. Great, glass like cracks spread about it. A sky the colored of phlegm from a deeply sick soul, a sour and bright green that is cracked all over. From these cracks they flow forth. Demons of all kinds, from the lowly to the mighty. From babau to balors, from mariliths to manes. Here they plummet and land in the ground, which is one endless morass of red mud. You appear amid this madness, where every demons fights every other.
Great balors carry the banners of other demon lords. You see the twin faces of Demogorgon on one, another with the dread scepter of Orcus. A sigil of an empty eye, a brand of a broken man on a rack. The body of a pit fiend, severed into six pieces, while another shows a gaping maw that will devour all. These balors are far larger than the norm, and each wears a crown of black ice, an aura of utter cold around them that freeze-shatters any demon who dares assail them.
Blood, viscera and mud is everywhere. There is nothing, only a sea of carnage refreshed every moment in the frenzies of the demons all about you. Ahead lies a great, once beautiful fortress in ruin. It is caked in wet, red mud and the demons even battle there.
Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.
A voice demands within your minds, within all of your minds. A drumbeat, a profane urge that you can feel, if easily put aside. A call to madness, a call to violence without reason, motive or end. A call to embrace this until your own deathblow, and never to feel a moment of regret.
Antenora hovers just over the mud, a long moment where the battles go on despite your appearance. It is then that eyes see you, cries. The least demons simply are no more on laying eyes on you, blasted away. From the others come cries of rage, as harsh and unyielding as the steel that girds your body.
"If it's carnage you want?" Syala offers as Kascha visibly breathes out and steels herself, her greatsword in one hand.
"And I thought this might be one of the quieter layers..."
Is this big enough for Alicia to be able to garner much from her portfolio sense over war? Specifically to learn what's being fought over here?
Basically want to know if this is just random carnage or if it's a war over access to 666.
Also we're invisible right now! The gate wasn't but we are, DC 54 to beat on nondetection.
Yes, it is big enough to tell. It's to entertain the lord of the layer, nothing more. His personal joy and entertainment.
Another as well. The Queen of Air and Darkness watches this, watches it all. Her favor blesses the demons who carry the banners.
Fair enough then, you have time without being noticed, but the portal will be.
"This way," Alicia whispers, flying up and guiding everyone through the battle towards the fortress, and to misdirect things she summons a large fire elemental in front of the gate before it vanishes.
The elemental lasts barely four seconds, torn apart by a dozen foes in all directions. Yet for this moment all of you hurry along, weaving amid the chaos.
'Silent,' Antenora sends to you, 'And only hope the lord of this realm doesn't take this as a challenge.'
'Hope? We can slay a demon lord while we're at it. I'd expect you to bite at the bit here,' Syala answers.
'Our greater mission is of priority, this demon lord will be here tomorrow,' Antenora sends right back.
'Syala, find us a path to the throne room of the castle?' Alicia asks, letting her take the lead once they're making progress.
As in use the druid spell since it'll be handy for this.
d100 real quick.
[19:14] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[19:14] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 80 > [d100=80]
You fly on amid the chaos - but with your speed and agility are able to do so. You reach the fortress - and you find the inner courtyard is full of battle as well, various doors contested as demons wage war.
Syala's the one taking the lead now with her divination, they'll just follow her and avoid the demons where they can.
Onward - and Syala points at a wall. It folds open, revealing a passage within. On you go, the war left behind. Silence in these halls, dark and empty. A long stone passage to a single black door, unguarded.
If there's any trick to the door, Syala should be able to handle it with her spell so Alicia just follows flying behind her as quietly as she can.
This is as far as it goes. Look at it, Alicia.
Syala stands before the door.
Alicia looks at it!
Arcane sight as well as lots of other perception modes.
This door radiates intense holy power, magic woven around it to keep demons at bay.
That... feels like a lie to Alicia. But it's what her senses are telling her.
"Let me then," she murmurs, trying to open the door since Syala's divination is no longer supplying answers.
The door sears your hand - but opens, a surge of power from it. You weather the pain of it and stand true, as beyond is a simple drop, a drop into an seemingly endless abyss.
66 points of vile fire damage that pierces immunity and resistance.
"Wasn't anything holy about that," Alicia says, withdrawing her hand and looking at the door to see if it still seems to be a beacon of holy power to her senses.
Alicia HP: 785/831 (-46 vile)
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), greater true seeing (CL 36), invisibility sphere (CL 36)
Defences: AC 108, CMD 117, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/4/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
It feels like nothing at all now - the door is open.
"Trickery," Antenora declares, "Nothing but trickery."
"Did you get a look at the door yourself Antenora?" she asks, curious to see if her power of truth might have better seen through the lie at play.
"It's a lie," Antenora says, "I didn't notice until it hurt you, but I can see it now. It's wrong, so very wrong," She gives it a look of disgust before she turns away. "A lie that's almost true."
"That's what we're looking for," Syala agrees, peering down.
"And what about this pit?" she asks Antenora.
How deep is it? Deeper than five miles?
Yes. It seems to go on endlessly, as far as you can see.
"It's...real," Antenora says, "I don't feel the same thing from it."
"It's deeper than I can sense," Alicia says.
What else can she sense with her tremorsense/blindsight within 5 miles? Do other parts of the fortress extend down that far? Can I intuit for myself what might make sense as a throne room elsewhere in case Syala's find the path got spoofed from the start and this is a false lead?
Nothing. It's still - the fortress drops off after about half a mile or so. There is a throne room, this one on the far side of the castle.
"The throne room's on the far side of the fortress from here, I think so anyway... when you used find the path, what exactly did you set as your target Syala?" Alicia asks, lingering over the hole.
"A path to 666," Syala answers, "Of course, it could just be another lie."
Kascha kneels at the edge and looks, "Unfortunately, it could be true, but take us to a part of it we don't want to go to."
"It could be a lie," Antenora agrees, "We may need to make a leap of faith."
She did say the throne room when she asked Syala to cast it.
"I think it's probably a lie," Alicia says. "Whereas we can hopefully trust Kina-ja's memories. This is probably here to mislead anyone reliant on simple divinations, so lets change our course."
She works out a path based on what she can discern of the castle's layout and activity within it that they can use to reach the throne room without running into demons or the like and then leads them off.
It's not too hard - the back parts are generally abandoned. No demons war here, despite the sounds of it from outside. As you go...
Perception.
[17:41] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+87
[17:41] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 101 > [d20=14]
Alicia HP: 785/831 (-46 vile)
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), greater true seeing (CL 36), invisibility sphere (CL 36)
Defences: AC 108, CMD 117, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/4/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
It's a quiet trip like that. The throne room is forgotten, old and beaten. A wood throne sits here, mostly gone by the ages. Broken armor lies about here, as well as shattered swords. Once grand perhaps, now little more than a memory.
And just past the throne room is the centre where Kina-ja found her portal? Alicia looks in that direction!
There are doors in the back, yes. Kascha goes to inspect the throne while Antenora puts a hand on your arm. "Stop," she says, very softly.
Alicia stops and waits for Antenora to elaborate on the problem.
"It's wrong. It's completely wrong, it's a lie." Antenora looks up, "This entire room is a lie." She looks about and flies up a few feet, before in a voice of opal light?
Reveal yourself.
It is embedded into the throne. The face of a green frog, nails keeping it pinned to the rotted throne. It watches with eyes that are the same void as you saw behind the door, before it slowly decrees, "Begone from this place, Opal Angel. Truth as you champion it has no power here."
Antenora lands and walks to it, meeting that gaze.
No. We seek the path to 666. Reveal it to us or stand aside.
A recoil that shakes the entire throne, a scream like the endless, ghostly undulation of a spirit denied its rest.
Speak.
In a howl of pain, "Should I speak of it to any of you, the Succubus Queen shall reap my soul!"
Fear not Malcanthet, for we are far more than she will ever be. Speak.
"Beyond this door, ignore them all! What is stone shall be air, and the path of air leads towards what you seek!" The voice declares as it shakes all about, the throne wobbling and clattering against the floor.
"This door?" Alicia circles around behind the throne and taps a hand against the stone wall.
"Yes," The frog says, shaking yet.
Antenora goes to it, "I will save you," she promises, "When we return. There is a better way and I will show it to you." She then follows Alicia.
Syala follows as well, "Alright, that was helpful," she says, "You're growing into your position, Antenora."
"On our way out. Don't forget," Alicia says to Antenora, letting her take the lead from here on out.
Thus the party goes through this door. Here lies a room with many doors, all of them night black and shut. Over a dozen - 17 in total. Antenora, however, doesn't look at any of them. She goes to the wall and presses a hand against it. "Here," she says, "Alicia, aid me, please."
Alicia follows Antenora and puts her hand next to hers. "What do I need to do?" she asks.
"Focus your will," Antenora instructs, "Push it forward."
Charisma check.
Lets drop good hope, +2 morale to ability checks for everyone, CL 36.Alicia takes a moment to gather her will before she pushes it outwards through the wall.
[19:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+25
[19:55] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 37 > [d20=12]
Alicia HP: 785/831 (-46 vile)
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), greater true seeing (CL 36), good hope (CL 36)
Defences: AC 108, CMD 117, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/4/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
> roll 1d20+17
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 33 > [d20=16]
Forgot +2 for rank so 35.
To your wills, the wall recedes back and away, an 18th door revealed. It opens without a word, nothing but empty air and space behind it, a corridor of such.
"Of course. 18 of them," Antenora says, already flying forward. "6, 6, 6."
"You might have figured it out regardless," Alicia concedes Antenora's love of numerology, following after her.
"Oh, that is an easy one, but profound," Kascha agrees as she goes. "Did you just notice it?"
"The moment I saw the 18th door," Antenora agrees, "The thought came to mind when I counted 17 doors, it seemed provocative."
Syala quietly rolls her eyes at this and shoots Alicia an exasperated look.
Since it was correct, Alicia can't look too exasperated.
Worry not, Syala's look is enough for two.
Down the corridor you go. Down this passage, down it farther. As you go it becomes darker, as if dusk and then night fell. A night that slowly forms a door ahead, a door of stars and the black night sky. It does not resist you, but instead opens as you approach. Within lies a stairway that winds downward.
Kina-ja found what she sought. Colke found what he feared. Malcanthet found what she desired.
You will not be any of those, Antenora.
You will not be any of those, Syala.
You will not be any of those, Kascha.
"And what will Alicia find?" she murmurs, hoping everyone remembers what she said before about watching their words.
To that there is no answer.
Well. Only one way to find out isn't there?
She'll let Antenora take the lead but they're all going down those stairs.
No one speaks aloud as you walk down. Each step echos like the roar of a lion, a silence only broken by the music of your feet. Down, down, down and down further - until with one step, it's suddenly gone. You stand in the same place you saw Kina-Ja.
Before you the same glorious celestial rises forth. A creature of pure gold and ivory. It looks on at you with an utterly impassive expression -
> roll 1d20+2 Antenora
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 15 > [d20=13]
> roll 1d20+6
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 7 > [d20=1]
In Antenora's opal light, its face twists. A look of pure contempt and disgust, as if peering on vermin. Loathing writ large, given freely.
"What troubles you so?" Alicia asks in response to that loathing, stopping once the figure appears.
"The Incarnations have made nothing but filth," Is his answer, seeming to come forth as Antenora's light shines. "Squalid mortals that live, rut and die. Depraved spirits that do the same on a grander scale. Mindless elements that hate one another. A pointless system that leads to nothing. A great mistake."
Kascha is silent until, "You think you can...?" she stops, as if not daring to finish her thought.
All lies shall become truth, and all truths shall become lies. The Abyss will bring about the great change to all of Creation.
Liar.
It was spoken that you are the terminus. No change will come from you, demon.
Antenora, what did we talk about before coming here?
She really hopes Antenora's words won't become a lie and thus a great change will come from the demon.
At least she couched the terminus part in appropriately vague terms.
"Is this layer also filth made by the incarnations?" she asks herself, standing beside Antenora now.
Gimme a quick Will save?
[17:40] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+77 improved mettle
[17:40] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 82 > [d20=5]
Alicia HP: 785/831 (-46 vile)
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), greater true seeing (CL 36), good hope (CL 36)
Defences: AC 108, CMD 117, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/5/8/4/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
You get no reply, just a look of intense and yet resigned hatred from the creature before you.
"Hmm," Alicia makes a noncommittal noise.
She almost said 'I see' and that probably wouldn't have been the best use of his words in this place.
"Would you tell us what your own purpose is here?"
Give me a Charisma check here, +7 bonus for Antenora.
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+30
[18:19] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 36 > [d20=6]
"IT is my purpose to give those who come here what they seek," Is the answer at last.
"Who gave you that purpose? Is there a contingency that would relieve you of it?" Alicia asks, gathering information before getting into what she seeks.
The look you get is pure hate, no response at all.
"Hmm," Alicia hums again, a neutral noise as she looks around and takes in their surroundings to the extent of her divine senses.
It's nothing as far as you can see, nothing but...
The light of Antenora shines here. Truth is evident.
A...thing is ahead. A body. A body as large as a world, far away and yet visible due to its impossible vastness. It is the figure before you writ large, yet with a body broken. A body of pitted lead, lightless stone and dead flesh. It is curled into a fetal position. Across its body blisters blossom, and in those grow more of the gold and ivory figure you see before you.
"What's that?" Alicia asks, pointing at the enormous body.
That's even bigger than her at her biggest!
Antenora peers, "That..." she trails off.
Syala watches and whistles low, not a word.
Kascha gasps, a hand to her mouth.
Leave!
"Should we leave?" Alicia steps forward. This way of talking is rather annoying, but still better safe than sorry.
"What is that?" she repeats her earlier question, addressing the disgusted false angelic being.
Just for end of session giggles, gimme Diplo here.
[20:26] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+66 if I roll 6 Antenora will be happy at least
[20:26] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 69 > [d20=3]
Alyssa sends a message to Alicia, Would an attack on Gargauth violate the agreement we have with them concerning the fight against Shar? An opportunity may have presented itself.
You see the blisters on the great figure pop, a dozens of copies of the figure before you are 'birthed', and rapidly begin to fly in this direction.
"It may be best to leave?" Antenora phrases it carefully, already starting to fly up and away.
"Wouldn't that mean our journey was pointless?" Alicia asks, moving with Antenora and looking at the figure they have nearby.
She can spare a moment to answer Alyssa.
I don't believe so, Gargauth is unimportant in the grand scheme of things. I don't know if he could call on Bel and Gathgorian for aid, and I wouldn't recommend asking them directly.
Kascha follows as does Syala - and a response is cut off as you end back up before the passage that took you here, 18 doors ahead.
"We learned something, of course it wasn't meaningless," Kascha says right away, "We can return later."
Syala takes a long breath, "With Antenora. I'm not sure how well we'd have done without a deity of truth, but not well would be my estimation."
Oh she thought Antenora was just maneuvering for space, not outright fleeing.
"We didn't do any better, nothing was gained from this," Alicia says, displeased.
Understood, thank you!
That gets Antenora to nod, "Nothing was lost," she points out, "And we did gain insight. Whatever that lie is, it is powerful enough to threaten us credibly. As it was said: He is the terminus. He is where it will end. He is one of hers. We don't know what we meddle in here, only that it is a matter of great cosmic importance. I'm sorry Alicia, but the risk was too great. Not with what we know and the power we have now."
"So now what?" Syala asks, crossing her arms. "We went here out of desperate need, that changes nothing."
"I would suggest we find the Man of the Winds," Antenora says, "Force him to speak raw truth, force him to tell us what we need to know. What we can use to decide if this is meaningful or a mistake. "
Were they credibly threatened? Alicia didn't feel so.
"Very well. Lets take care of that frog and depart then," she lets Antenora lead them back to the throneroom.
The frog is there - and Antenora simply removes it with a touch, carrying the face. It doesn't object - perhaps it's not that stupid, but she carries it with her.
How are you getting out?
Alicia attempts to open a gate to the astral plane from here.
Alicia HP: 785/831 (-46 vile)
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), greater true seeing (CL 36), good hope (CL 36)
Defences: AC 108, CMD 117, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/4/8/4/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16
No good, at least not in the castle proper. Defenses most likely.
That's the sort of thing arcane sight really should warn her of before she expends a ninth circle slot.
Oh well, she renders them all invisible again. "Quiet, lets leave the way we came," she says, starting to fly back out to escape from that battlefield they arrived at.
This is easy enough and this time you return home.
"So...now what do we do?" Kascha asks.
"Where can we find this Man of the Winds and how much help can we really expect from him?" Alicia asks, going back to what Antenora said earlier.
"Jessica's still looking, he's not in Pandemonium," Syala reports, "Last I heard, she said he'd gone to ground and will take some time to find."
"So we're at an impasse. And we don't even know if anything on 666 can even be useful to us," Alicia concludes, disappointed. "We can keep Jessica looking if she has the time, but for now we're back where we started and no closer to countering Shar's recent moves."
"It's unfortunate," Antenora says, "Alicia, would you have fought there or retreated?" She meets your eyes, "I couldn't justify the risk, justify a battle somewhere that an errant word could possibly warp reality."
"It depends, we hadn't yet learned enough to know if it was worth fighting for," Alicia says to Antenora. "We don't even know the truth of its reality warping effect. I wanted us all to watch our words out of an abundance of caution, but we don't really know what it's capable of or how it works."
"How about we see if we can make a second trip better?" Syala suggests, "Any spells or preparations that may aid us. Rather than chasing our own tails here."
"I don't think any spells are going to make another trip go differently than the last one, and we're more likely to run into opposition this time. At least until we get some information from the Man of the Winds we may as well just leave it alone," Alicia says, not wanting to go right back immediately after leaving.
"Then, we wait on Jessica." Syala says, "And square one, as you said." A long bow of her head, as if in thought. "My other idea is to seek powerful things in Chronias, but I have no doubt that's planned for and saved for when we need it most."
"It's not like we can visit Chronias and come back," Alicia says. "I don't really have any other ideas we can use right now. Even if we try hunting down a better magic sword, it's not going to make the difference on a conflict of this scale. We need a tool of the incarnations, not just an artifact of divinity."
"If it was only so easy to find one," Kascha says, "None of the Guardians were too helpful, their commands were too strict. But maybe..." A trail off, "Maybe we could learn something if we had a chance to study one?"
"Do you have any ideas?" Alicia asks Kascha, eager for ideas. "As I understand it, 21 is gone now. All that's left are the divine seeds."
"I mean one of the remaining Guardians," Kascha says, "Though maybe Zaphkiel could help up to study something like that?"
"Ah... well, I believe the seed in Elysium is unclaimed, which means its guardian should still be extant," Alicia says. "Given their restrictions on action and how opaque they are to magical sensing though... do you have a plan for how to study them?"
"In honesty...?" Kascha slumps a bit, "Not in the slightest. But I can't think of anything else."
Syala comes forth and gently hugs Kascha. "I know. It's so much pressure and when it feels like we can't do anything, it hurts."
"I've been thinking of so many things, but none of them work out," Kascha admits, "Should we copy Shar's trick, the escalation will only get worse. What will Creation look like if we all became one with our planes and wielded them like swords? Would there be a Creation? 21's purpose is fulfilled and it is out of reach now, and...what does that leave us? I'm scared, I'm so scared that I can't find anything to help with this. I can't let Seira down!"
"I know," Alicia commiserates with Kascha. "We're just lacking so much in raw power, experience, knowledge of Creation's mysteries... where do we go or what do we do that can actually make up the vast advantages our enemies have over us? Ultimately I think we have to be creative, to come at it from a different angle because we can't match Shar on ground she's chosen. But that's a lot easier said than done."
"It is." Antenora agrees, "But we were chosen and we will not fail. Not in this. Marie, do you have any insights? Your talent has always been exactly that, creativity and unanticipated perspective."
Kascha sighs softly, "And now more and more depends on me. We're taking on so much just for the power to stop Shar in the end."
"Well... you know the saying to think outside the box?" Marie says thoughtfully. "What about thinking outside Creation? We've seen before how someone can make things real out there just by enforcing their will around them. How someone can assert themselves to become an existence independent of Creation. What if we all put our heads together out there on something Latha can make, some kind of... rule-breaking artifact that can beat anything Shar can come up with? Something specifically made to counter this trick of hers, or just something so generally useful it evens the odds for us?"
Antenora bows her head in deep thought. "Perhaps, but I doubtlessly worry of the risks. Besides, if such was easy and possible, wouldn't it have been done by Io or Zaphkiel, or even by others at their behest? We still lack what it is that make the Incarnations and Guardians so fearsome. Still, it's far better to try than not, and perhaps we will be the ones to succeed for the first time."
"How many seek the power of the Beyond and go mad from it, bringing terror to Creation?" Alicia asks gravely. "But the fact is we have profited. What Antenora did that was so rare and has now been made simple from her example. So yes, we might be the ones to succeed here, and we're sorely lacking in other options."
As all ruminate on it, it's Kascha who speaks first, "Then...what do we seek to make, Alicia? That's as important as creating something in the first place."
"Something... to break the connection she's exploiting?" Alicia posits. "It would only be resetting things by taking away her latest advantage however, I wonder if we should aim higher? The problem is that anything we make can be stolen or copied - if we make this an arms race and give Shar time to adapt to it, she'll be able to throw more resources than us at making something better. So whatever we make it ought to be decisive."
"I don't think we can just wish up a sword that kills Shar, and a weapon's only ever as good as its wielder," Marie says. "I think just at least we can aim to ruin this new ability of hers. It's not something that can be turned against us anyway if it gets lost or copied."
Syala paces back and forth as she's silent a short time, before, "That's all we can aim for right now. If we tip our hand too strong, we may provoke more problems - like those new swords of hers. We don't want to escalate into her trying something precipitous. We have to remember that if it comes down to us, right now we still lose to Shar."
At that Antenora, very softly, murmurs, "As much as it pains me, yes. Until we change that fact, we do need to operate with wisdom."
"Alright. At least I got a good look at the process, and I have enough of an understanding of the weave to work through what Shar replicated that we won't just be blindly fumbling and hoping," Alicia says. "I can help direct it, Latha's own gift for artifice will give it focus. What else can we add to the process?"
"I'm not sure I'd add anything thematically relevant, but extra power probably doesn't hurt?" Marie offers.
"Truth," Antenora says, "The truth is that this isn't Shar's to take, and we'll need to remind her of it."
"Kascha? Syala?" Alicia asks. "Do you two want to try assisting as well?"
"I'd be glad to," Kascha offers.
"My light should be helpful," Syala says at last, "Yes, I'll help."
Then they'll go get Latha and explain the plan to her and see how she feels about participating. She's rather central to the whole thing.
Latha listens to the entire plan, "If that is your will, I'll cooperate and lend my strength to it," she agrees.
"Well, unless anyone has any extra preparations to make, I believe we can create any necessary materials on site," Alicia volunteers to transport them all outside of Creation, leaving the avatars in charge of Sylica while they're all gone and Jessica's still off chasing down the Man of Winds.
Okay, quick and obligatory question of any prep.
Not from Alicia, that's why she was asking team NPC!
Thus you step into the Beyond.
There is nothing. No noise, no form, no shape. Only yourselves as you all stand amid it, as if a disruption to eternal, peaceful silence.
Alicia has them all standing in a ring, speaking through divine will rather than with her mouth.
Let us consider what is required. An item to disjoin, a thing that severs one into two. A blade is obvious, but what kind? A sword? A weapon of death and wounding? We won't be using this to strike Shar herself though, only to cut her apart from what she forces herself upon. Perhaps a tool - a saw? Or scissors?
I like the sound of scissors. Snippity-snip, away goes Shar.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 68 > [d100=68]
Scissors feel apt.
I agree with Marie, scissors are meaningful in a way a blade is not here, and simpler than a saw.
Then we agree, scissors it is. Scissors to cut through a false weave that Shar has wrought. Latha, you're the key to this. I need you to focus on channelling our thoughts and energies into something tangible, a real artifact to manifest our combined desires. I will share my specific understanding of Shar's mechanism, and I want the rest of you to focus your wills towards the overall concept of severing and parting. Use magic freely to bolster your wits and will, this isn't like becoming One, it's an outward expression made manifest.
Prepare and be ready.
Also be ready in case we're interrupted again.
If we're interrupted the rest of us should deal with it so that Latha and Alicia don't lose focus, since they're doing most of the work here. Syala and I will take care of things.
Marie using the logic that as One Antenora's contribution is innately more valuable, and Kascha's scholarly bent will help more with the nitty gritty magic than anything she or Syala can add to the mix.
Okay then I'm going to need a few to get spells in order for prep on their end. Any for you?
Lets all use good hope, improvisation, and focusing chant. That's +2 morale and +18 competence, and +1 circumstance to the inevitable ability score checks.
Antenora will use Inner Beauty for +2 more to Charisma checks for herself.
Latha can spontaneously cast any divine spell she wishes if anyone has requests.
Syala will give out Syala's Blessing to everyone in case it's needed.
Go ahead and set up how you're doing this and I'll start adjudicating.
Pretty much already laid out in the last IC post.
Latha's making an artifact, Alicia's providing mechanical details on what Shar did that they're trying to make a counter for, the others are providing generic power.
Okay, we'lls tar twith a round of Charisma checks first.
[19:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+42 Alicia
[19:54] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 47 > [d20=5]
[19:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 Marie
[19:54] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+40 Antenora
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 46 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+35 Latha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 46 > [d20=11]
> roll 1d20+35 Syala
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+32 Kascha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 46 > [d20=14]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 89 > [d100=89]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 58 > [d100=58]
Will is gathered kgrsnar as all of mydla you focus on 45^39d Latha. She raises ?3kdi? her hammer and -
"Something's here," Antenoraau saysau, "Iau canau hearau itau."
Kascha looks about, her greatsword in hand j'ja[ogijegmegomgmasmsmmsmss.
Brace. What the hell is it?
I don't see anything around here.
Alicia keeps her focus on working with Latha, trusting the others to look out for her.
A job Marie takes up as she looks around!
Perception, Marie, but please use your Intelligence modifier in place of Wisdom, and your ranks in K:A in place of your ranks in Perception. If you have any item creation feats, each one grants a +2 circumstance bonus that stacks.
So basically it's a normal arcana check!
[17:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+81
[17:11] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d20=17]
Kinda sorta, yeah.
> roll 1d20+101 Kascha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 107 > [d20=6]It is arozzz yoz. A nothing tzzz zs sozzzzing, a material zzven form and yzt wzzzzzt it.
An idea.
T hguohta.
aN iMPOSSIBLE edict, a meaningless word.
Vg qbrf abg svg vagb lbhe zvaqf.
It is like a dagger, already starting to bore in.It is like a mouth that has begun to bite.It is like the first cool wind of autumn that calms summer.
Kascha do you know what it means when you have a dream and your teeth fall out in it?
Because Marie enforces the concept of that stereotypical dream upon this unpleasant concept that's bugging them and trying to distract them from their important work!
Give me a caster level check and count this as a 10th level spell cast.
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 (+38 for good/chaos spells, +42 for illusion spells, +37 for force spells, +39 for SR, +46 for magic missile)
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=19]
> roll 1d20+36 Kascha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 41 > [d20=5]
3d20, both of you, against your primary casting stat. Goal is to roll lower than it.
[17:57] <@Ebiris> roll 3d20 for under 41
[17:57] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d20=4,8,10]
> roll 3d20 for under 41 too
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 33 > [d20=10,13,10]
Clarity returns. Reality is as close to as it should be as possible.
"What was that?" Antenora says aloud.
"Whatever it is, it's just had a major life change," Marie says, smiling at Kascha and getting back to it.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 11 > [d100=11]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 11 > [d100=11]
Latha works away - and a shape begins to form. It seems undefined, strangely borderless and devoid of color. She pauses her work and regards it, "It needs more," she declares, "It needs....something more."
"Something from Creation?" Marie asks. "Like something from Shar to key it to its target? Or something symbolising duality or severing?"
"Something against Shar and for severing," Latha says at last.
"All I can think of is my sword - it's a sword that cuts and it's drawn the blood of Shar's avatar," Alicia says. "Would it be consumed or used as a template, do you know Latha?"
"I fear it may be consumed, but the Far Realm is never consistent," Latha confesses. "But the sacrifice of it would be meaningful."
"I still have Bonds. It has been a very good sword though," Alicia says, taking off the Root Wood Avenger and offering it to Latha.
Root Wood Avenger: This sword is a root wood two bladed sword+8 shattermantle/+8 shattermantle. Each blade deals a base of 1d12 damage. The wielder gains a +4 morale bonus to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, armor class, saving throws and ability checks when in combat.
This material is wood taken from the deepest roots of the Queendom. This wood is a deep, dark brown that takes well to being polished. This material naturally cuts through dimensions and can protect when other materials cannot. Armor and shields made of root wood apply their armor or shield bonus to armor class to touch attacks of all kinds, including against ethereal creatures. Against spells that teleport a creature or send them to another plane, the wearer may add the armor or shield bonus to any saving throw against them. Weapons made of root wood are treated as ghost touch weapons and ignore any miss chance from concealment. Extraplanar creatures take an extra 5d6 points of damage from a root wood weapon.
Weapons, armors and shields made of root wood have triple the normal hit points than normal and hardness 30.
Ballpark, how much raw damage (not worrying about damage reduction or other factors) did this deal to Shar?
Around 5500 hp, although a lot of that came from the channelled vivacious/maximised flux grasps. Without them it'd be more like 1000 hp.
The sword is taken as Latha places it over it, her hammer slamming down.
> roll 1d20+55 Latha (+20 sword)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d100 low is good for the sword
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 74 > [d100=74]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 31 > [d100=31]
Give me a roll of 1d20+36, Alicia.
[19:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+36
[19:57] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=20]
That's good, right?
It's clutch.
Before your eyes, Root Wood Avenger crumbles away. Like dust on the wind, but that dust coats the undefined object before you. Latha raises her hammer and strikes thrice more, each time a ring like a bell echoing throughout the Beyond.
> roll 3#1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 95, 74, 26 >
Slowly, ever so slowly, the scissors begin to come into being. Scissors of wood, sized to fit comfortably into a human hand. "They're forming," Latha calls, "Stand guard, I fear what will happen if there's an interruption now!"
Alicia's done her part now, this last part is predominantly Latha so she joins Marie in standing guard to keep away any interference from ruining their efforts and rendering the sacrifice moot.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 8 > [d100=8]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 15 > [d100=15]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 64 > [d100=64]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 23 > [d100=23]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 94 > [d100=94]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 94 > [d100=94]
It's hard to say how long it is. There's an odd nothingness here, and yet...
It seems almost like a blink of an eye when Latha calls, "They're done!"
"Back home then," Alicia says, warping all of them back to Sylica so they can study what their efforts have gained them inside of Creation.
Hopefully they don't start immediately damaging Creation by their existence.
Go ahead and repost the Root Wood Avenger in loot and note it as lost.
done.
Thus you return, intact. Latha holds them - a pair of scissors of wood, seemingly mundane to the naked eye.
"Did it work?" Antenora asks, going to them. "Did it?"
Alicia and Marie both study them with magical senses of course!
Spellcraft, both of you, due to the Far Realm.
[16:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+75 Alicia divine insight
[16:45] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 89 > [d20=14]
[16:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+71 Marie divine insight
[16:45] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 87 > [d20=16]
Scissors of Unbinding
These scissors seem capable undoing unnatural bonds, all it takes it to cut something (or a creature/object if it's something that isn't visible or present to cut). Treat these scissors as an exotic weapon that deals 1d6 points of damage, has a +8 enhancement bonus and a dread weapon against Sharrans.
"We'd have to test it, but... I think it's what we need," Alicia says at last.
"I think they'd be useful for a lot more besides. Fiendish contracts, mental domination... they might be able to cut through all kinds of unpleasant red tape," Marie pipes up.
Syala leads out a great sigh of relief, "We'll have to test it," she agrees at last. "Plus hope it's strong enough to affect Shar."
"Yes, but it's more valuable than that. It's a small bit of hope on a day we sorely need it," Kascha pipes up.
"Exactly," Alicia smiles at Kascha. "It's something we've made ourselves out of our own need. We're not helpless nor hopeless. And we'll prove it to Shar next time we face her."
"Next time," Latha murmurs. "Soon."
Okay, you have the scissors. Are you doing anything with them right away?
Nothing too provocative. We'll tell Selune and Mystra and PC allies that we have a potential counter against Shar's new trick and to call on us if they get stuck into something with her.
Sure thing. Just for my own prep since I'm not going much longer before this doc appointment, gimme a d100.
[18:06] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[18:06] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 79 > [d100=79]
That evening, Alicia stands under the night sky. While her mind is many places and with many souls, her body looks upwards. The sky is clear and full of radiance, a beautiful display. The palace is silent and the gardens still this late, moments of peace to be found even now.
"I always wondered." Antenora's voice as she walks up from behind you, as you sense her divine will spread to grant you privacy. "How much could the stars and moon see? How much could the sun see each day? Did Lathander and Selune see us all in every day of our labors and every night of our rest? For a devil, the answer is obvious, as you're always watched." She stands at your side, wearing a shining gown that resembles moonlight, less solid and more a suggestion of silver glow that keeps her decent.
"Strange that Hell was close to the truth of divine perception."
Antenora cocks her head to regard you. "Stranger yet that by the end of this, we'll be the ones to protect the moon and sun. Perhaps earlier than that, I fear for Selune now."
"Yes, she sounded like she might do something reckless after we last spoke," Alicia agrees, turning towards Antenora, still dressed in her own all too solid armour, as she almost always is these days. "I've told her we have something to counter this new trick, and whether that calms her down or bids her to call on us if she ends up in trouble, I hope it's enough."
Antenora inclines her head to you and turns her gaze upward.
"This won't be a clean victory," she murmurs. "We're going to mourn far too many before it's done. This isn't a fairy tale where there's no suffering and there's a mindless and happy ending so that everyone goes home happy. Ianvasah was just the beginning, wasn't she? Shar won't stand still, she won't sit on her throne and let us prepare. Does she have an inkling of what the Godsrush truly means?"
"Of course she does," Alicia says dismissively. "We already know she's empowered her own servitor deities, even if they haven't revealed themselves fully. I trust Morwel's word on that. I wonder if she's taught them the same trick to merge with a plane or if she's keeping that for herself? Either way, they won't survive us," she pats the inconspicuous wooden scissors tucked into her belt.
Antenora turns and rests her hand over those scissors. "Hope. Such a small thing and yet so valuable."
Slowly Antenora turns her gaze back up to the sky, "However, it's only been two things. The swords and these planes. Numerology suggests a third is yet to come."
"That would be her vicious band of godlings, wouldn't it?" Alicia says, no mystery to Antenora's numerology prediction here.
"Granted," Antenora admits, perhaps a moment of embarrassment forced down. "It says much about our troubles when such a salient threat was almost forgotten."
"I'm sure they'd be very sad if they knew how little we thought of them," Alicia says, a note of dour amusement.
Antenora smiles at this, "I can bear that with great endurance."
Again Antenora turns to you, "Thank you, Alicia. I needed that smile."
Alicia inclines her head slightly. "There's no fooling ourselves about what we're up against, but we're not helpless and our enemies only want us to believe we are. Lets maintain our confidence and show exactly why we've gotten as far as we already have."
"Together," Antenora vows, as...
More, but it's about time to change topics. More in the next post.