You fly down.
It is a long voyage, but one can hardly admit it is unpleasant. No, you are held by a lillend, carried with a strong armed gentleness. As they fly, they sing. Gentle songs that lull, surely something that would reduce a normal soul to sleep. It is no great thing for you of course, nor for Jessica, even as they croon along.
She can at least relax, trusting that after showing Vivantha's crown they'll be well looked after by Demissa and her friends, so Alicia relaxes and feigns sleep here on the stair while her avatar keeps her mind busy elsewhere.
It merely takes time then. Time you spend at rest, eyes closed. You hear the flat of winds and the gentle sounds of the wind until at last..."You can awaken them now, " Demissa commands.
A moment after that and Alicia squirms in Demissa's arms, stretching a bit without dislodging herself and looking around. "M'up," she mutters groggily.
"Good," Your ride says as you're put down. You're standing on a large stone platform, several buildings of stone about. Nothing fancy, but it's open and airy, lots of room for fliers.
Jessica does the same with a grunt, "Thanks," she manages.
Demissa nods, "We're almost there," She instructs. "Follow. Do not wander off."
Patting herself down and checking her weapons first, Alicia nods afterwards. "Lead on, then."
You're all lead into a home - a home of stone, a front door for a two story building, roof accesses noted. There's open spaces in the roof, big enough for even a lillend to enter and exit. The front door is opened, "Visitors come," Demissa announces, "Please come forth if you are here!"
Alicia waits behind Demissa, her sensual blessing spell long expired but she can still surely hear if anyone's around.
The lillend that emerges is nude - as they all tend to mostly be by their nature, for what it matters for semi human creatures - save for a metal top that covers her bosom and nothing else, made of what looks to be shining silver. Her bottom half is a tail and decorated with various silvery piercings, dozens of them below.
"Yes?" she asks, "Who are you and what do you seek of me?"
"Call me Kate," Alicia says, taking Vivantha's crown out of her bag of holding again to show it off. "Vivantha at Aurora told me to look up Valnala for some deep lore about the staircase."
The crown is examined, "Then you have my services," Is the answer you get, "This would not be given over a trifle. What lore do you speak of?"
She puts the crown away again and then looks at her feet... or rather the floor and what's beneath. "We're trying to find the bottom of the staircase."
"Hmph." A less than fond look, green haired bangs hiding her face. She brushes them aside before, "All this for some legend of treasure?"
Here Jessica hmphs right back, "You got opinions about this?"
"So you think it's just treasure down there, whatever junk adventurers have dropped over the side of the stairs over the years piled up for the taking?" Alicia asks, her own tone not giving much away.
Valnala hms at that, "Then why do you seek the bottom?" she asks right back.
"What's the bottom of the stairs? The end? Or the start?" Alicia asks. Yes they have a lead on godseeds and that's why and that counts as treasure, but if such things are there there's no way they're just sitting loose and unattended. Someone put them there, and someone likely watches over them still.
"Where do these stairs come from? Who built them and why? That's a mystery, isn't it?"
Jessica grunts at this.
Meanwhile your hostess considers, gaze on you. "We don't know," is the final admission, "There are legends and tales, but no truth to be had."
"Well, Vivantha thought you were the best starting point for this, we didn't expect you to just walk us right down there," Alicia says, unbothered. "Why don't we put our heads together for some of those legends and see where we get to?"
"We're not here to waste time, birdie," Jessica agrees shortly.
To this Valnala says, "Very well, as Vivantha sent you." She leads you inside - a few chair suitable for humans are here, as well as a cushioned divan that Valnala goes for. It's decorated minimally within, almost austere. Just a few bits of colors - flowers and a curtains.
"The most common story is that a great treasure lies at the bottom, for everything that falls off is said to end up there. Amid a sea of corpses is a mountain of treasure." Valnala explains, "Or that a great dragon resides there, or that the treasures of the lillend are stored within."
"Well if it was the last one you'd know about it, wouldn't you?" Alicia asks, sitting herself down on one of those chairs, adjusting the swords at her hips for comfort before she leans forward with her elbows on her knees.
Jessica plops down, the chair taking her weight well. With a look he adds, "Unless you're bullshitting us."
"I'm not," A crisp reply from Valnala, a cool look over at Jessica. "The point is that many legends come down to it being a treasure trove. None are true that I know of. No, we lillend have looked in every direction, and we have not yet found the bottom of the stair, or any limitations. There is always more to search."
"So what about some of the more out there legends?" Alicia asks, hoping Valnala has something more esoteric to go on that they might be able to pursue and take somewhere. It wouldn't be the first time after all.
"Many," Valnala says, "One that a great wyrm hides there, and some claim the lost dragon deity Io sleeps there. Other stories whisper that a portal to divinity itself resides there, and others yet say at the bottom is where Creation itself was formed by the Great Creators. Other stories yet say it leads to a place where all life returns to be reborn in time, or that the Yggdrasil tree is there."
Portal to divinity, could that be the thread Jessica found that pointed them this way? "Lots of wyrms and dragons and dragon gods in the legends," she speaks up. "Why do you think that is?" A staircase isn't very thematic for a dragon after all.
"Treasure," Jessica scowls, "You see treasure and anyone with half a brain thinks dragon."
"Yes," Valnala agrees to that, "Some mistake us as half dragons as well."
"Still, no one actually sees the treasure, it's all just wishful thinking isn't it?" Alicia asks. Might be worth asking Io however. "It being where Creation was formed... can sort of see that, the staircase touches every corner doesn't it?"
"There is a theory that agrees with that, amid us," Valnala says, "That the Infinite Stair is the backbone of Creation, from where all comes and all rests."
Alicia personally isn't sure. Yes it works as a backbone but nothing really springs from it, it just fits into the framework.
"If it was, might be something important there. Or even just the location would have power, as the source. Good reason to have it hidden and hard to get to," she muses, drumming her fingers on her thigh and looking over at Valnala. "So what's your pet theory?"
"I think that there is no bottom," she says at last, "But if there was, you'd need something to reach it. No amount of traveling will do by itself."
[18:27] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+51 sense motive
[18:27] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 58 > [d20=7]
Does she really think there's no bottom?
You think she genuinely isn't sure.
"A key would make sense, wouldn't it? It's called the staircase but it's just as much about doors as it is about steps. The right key, and the right lock to turn it in..." she hums thoughtfully.
"True, if not helpful because you have no idea what the key would be," Valnala says, "If you have any ideas, share."
"Haha, that's why we came to you remember," Alicia points out. "Searching blindly for a key's a fools errand, but the lock - the door. That has to be right here, doesn't it?" she taps a foot on the floor. "That's a far better starting point to work from."
"...there may be one thing that can help," Valnala says at last.
"About time," Jessica says, "Out with it, bird."
With a look of exasperation, "Impudent human," she bites off, "It's not well known, but on rare occasions there's platforms with no stairs to them, seen from afar. Our scouts can never reach them, they vanish before they do or they are taken off course."
"That sounds like a clue. Do those platforms have doors on them? Do they appear in any sort of predictable pattern?" Alicia asks with obvious interest.
"Sometimes and it's not clear," Is the answer, "None that we've ever discerned."
"Only sometimes? Do the doors look different?" Alicia asks. Since you can often get an idea of where one leads by how it looks on the stair.
"None have gotten close enough to tell details, not any reputable legend or report," Valnala says, "No, it's always far away, too far away to tell."
"Hmm. Know if anyone's been researching these in more detail?" Alicia asks. "Ever tried any divinations to predict them?"
"No one worthwhile," Is the answer, "Divinations fail on the matter, revealing nothing."
"So it's a lead but the sort of one you could spend an elf's lifetime walking on the stairs before you even see one of these stray platforms, nevermind have a shot at reaching it?" Alicia concludes. For reaching it, her space compression magic could be key, but it's worthless if none are found.
"Yes." A thin smile is on the lillend's face, "It's hardly easy if we haven't solved it."
To that Jessica barks out a laugh, "That's right. Girlie there's thinking about treasure already, like she has it, I bet."
Alicia rolls her eyes at that interruption. "It's a start, isn't it?" Then she asks Valnala, "You said no one worthwhile's studying these stray platforms. Anyone else worthwhile at least interested in these legends in general?"
At this Valnala smiles, a rather serpentine, dangerous look. Like a snake sizing up a mouse. "Why, we're having a lovely conversation, aren't we?"
"So no one else lives up to your standards, is that it?" she asks with a bit of bravado in the face of Valnala's subtle intimidation. "I suppose we can't expect too much when we're chasing myths."
Jessica rises and steps in front of you. With a bitter look, "I apologize for her," he says, "She has ten gallons of energy and not a drop of good manners in her."
Valnala's gaze is chilly-cold, but she merely crosses her arms before, "I am our foremost expert on these legends," she goes on, "But that's what they are - legends, mysteries."
Alicia looks affronted at that interjection considering how brusque Jessica's been acting throughout all this. "So where do these legends and mysteries come from, what are your sources?" she asks.
"A thousand stories, a hundred tales and a handful of scholarly works," Valnala says, "Long centuries of gathering stories to the root of them, as well as the discovery of supporting evidence when possible."
"So what kind of evidence have you found to back up any particular versions?" Alicia asks.
"Lore, reliable reports," Valnala says, "That manner of thing."
"Nothing physical though, huh?" Alicia asks.
"Of course not," Is the reply, "If we had something physical, we'd be in a different situation, child."
"Doesn't really get us much closer in the end. Still, we know a bit more so thanks for that. Unless you've got any insightful questions?" Alicia asks her 'uncle'.
Jessica hms, "Say we really want to find the bottom," she says, "Say we won't take no for an answer. What would you have us do?"
"Pray," Is the answer, "Look deeply and don't expect to succeed, but try with all your passion nonetheless."
"Might be something we're missing here," Alicia frowns. "Hold on, I've got a scroll that'll help me think better. Should've used it to start with." She reaches into her bag of holding and takes out her scroll of Bredanalundalum's Wit. Time to use it instead of holding on for a rainy day. "This'll cast on me so you don't need to worry or anything," she says to Valnala before she reads the words of power from the scroll.
Now. What question should she ask Valnala?
-1 scroll of Bredanalundalum's Wit.
Trying to hide your casting at all?
Nope, she can spellcraft if she wants. I'm reading from a scroll and not casting directly for what difference that makes.
Valnala takes 10 on Spellcraft.
A sharp pause at that, "Where did you get a spell like that," she exhales, "Explain."
"From a friendly dragon," Alicia answers with a sharp smile of her own. "One who was extremely well hidden."
Valnala rises - and Jessica is with her. "Peace," she murmurs. "We don't mean you any harm."
"Vivantha loaned us her crown, we're not exactly fresh off the boat here," Alicia says even though Jessica's change in attitude probably blows their cover. "Now are you going to let me use this spell? It might give us the right questions to find something we've all been missing."
My apologies, sister, but I did not want a meaningless fight to happen.
"Let me see it," Valnala insists, "Such magic is a rare treasure."
Have I cast the spell or did she DM/spellcraft the scroll before I used it?
I normally fluff scrolls as disintegrating when cast from but I guess that's not mandatory.
I assumed interruption.
"Extremely rare, so you should be privileged that I'm prepared to use it on our conversation," Alicia says, standing up and approaching where Valnala reclines to show her the artfully penned scroll Bredanalundalum gifted her with.
The scroll is read.
"...It seems things are not as they appear," she says at last, the scroll returned. "I had thought you nothing more than crass treasure seekers."
"I can be crass if I want to be," Alicia says, stepping back with the scroll. "Now hold on while I use this..."
Now she'll cast from the scroll and see what question it recommends she ask Valnala.
It recommends the following question: You don't truly believe there is a bottom, yet what of the evidence you've seen with your own eyes?
Alicia clears her throat. "You don't truly believe there is a bottom, yet what of the evidence you've seen with your own eyes?"
Assuming scroll is minimum CL of 27 that's 1/5 questions.
"...There's just enough to suspect otherwise, but I never wanted to believed it," Is the answer at last. Valnala sighs, "It's too easily brushed aside as foolishness, but that doesn't mean that I can ignore the possibility."
"Why don't you want to believe it?" Alicia asks, this question coming from herself rather than the spell.
A pause here, a longer one. "I suppose that a mystery is only a mystery as long as you don't find the truth of it. That such a wondrous idea could be quantified and solved, like a cold equation the Inevitables provide."
A surprisingly romantic answer. Now what does the spell suggest for her next question?
The question you should ask is: With that in mind, how would you truly help us find the truth, if it were important for us to find it?
"With that in mind, how would you truly help us find the truth, if it were important for us to find it?" Alicia asks, following the script.
2/5 questions used.
Here Valnala is silent a short time, as if in thought. She sits back, the tip of her tail flicking back and forth.
"Go down and have a lillend take you between the spaces, rather than being stuck to the stairs." IS the answer, "If you stay to the stairs, you'll never succeed."
And yet the lillend haven't found it. Still, however this spell works and whatever it's driving towards she'll see where it leads. Next question, oh wise Bredanalundalum?
The question is this: We are superior to a lillend and have abilities above them, one would slow us down, so how can we travel between the stairs without one?
Alicia frowns briefly at the question, wondering if she should reword it to be more polite. But no, she'll trust the spell and so she says with a gesture between herself and Jessica, "We are superior to a lillend and have abilities above them, one would slow us down, so how can we travel between the stairs without one?"
3/5 questions.
Jessica glances at you while Valnala stares a moment, gobsmacked. "How dare.." she begins, but stops. "No. What are you to make such a demand of me?"
"I'd hoped to keep this excursion a secret, but I suppose all you'd have to do is ask Vivantha who she loaned her crown to..." Alicia's physique changes now as she reverts to her natural appearance, her clothes adjusting to fit while her divine aura is made manifest, a stirring sensation of conflict and exertion that suffuses the senses and brings the tantalising prospect of something more, of casting off what's unworthy, of being freed from limits and shackles.
DC 28 will or dazed.
> roll 1d20+20 doesn't have her combat set ready
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 30 > [d20=10]
"Aaah...!"
Valnala stares as Jessica reverts as well, at your side. She shakes before managing to rally herself enough to speak, "You are...!"
"We are," Jessica says softly, "Do you understand now, Valnala?"
With a visibly shaking hand reaches up to steady herself, right on her chest. "Divinity," she breathes, "Queen of the Battlefield," she rises and bows, "I am humbled."
The point made, Alicia's aura dissipates. "I apologise for the subterfuge, but if our interest in this matter were made evident it would draw attention that we'd rather not have on the staircase. I ask that you please not speak widely about our conversation," she says, her more natural cadence replacing the somewhat testy way she was speaking in the Kate persona or the recited manner she was repeating questions provided by the spell.
"It is no small matter," Jessica agrees. "We ask this only with great need."
Valnala closes her eyes several moments before, "Our ability to do so is our greatest gift," she admits. "There is a way to temporarily bestow it, and I would lend you what bestows it."
"For such a gift we would be in your debt," Alicia says, seeing what question the spell suggests next.
The question is thus: Would you like a small blessing in return?
She just said they'd be in her debt, and she doesn't see how that question advances them towards finding the bottom of the stairs. Still... "Would you like a small blessing in return?" she asks.
Lillend don't serve any deities in general do they? Since this'd probably be a Deific Gift.
4/5 questions.
Generally not, no. Some do serve various CG deities, but it's individual.
A pause, "...ah. You honor me," Valnala says, standing, "I only ask that any sisters of mine that come to you are treated with love and compassion."
She smiles, "You needn't even ask. Before I was a goddess, before I mastered magic to allow for easy traversal of the planes, I made use of these stairs and was treated kindly by all the lillend I met. I haven't forgotten that. Your request does you credit though - give me your hand?" she reaches out with her own.
Valnala gives you her hand as requested.
Alicia's aura is felt again, more potent as a silvery light coalesces around her palm and flows into Valnala.
Using a deific gift to give Valnala a +3 untyped bonus to knowledge (arcana) and spellcraft checks, presuming that's allowable.
I don't mind that in this case, no. I'd probably adjudicate sa giving her two skill focuses - she's high enough level that two small feats isn't entirely unreasonable - but whichever.
Your power flares and manifests within Valnala, who emits a soft, slight gasp. "Oh!"
Oh yes, that would work. Actually make it +2 then so it's equivalent to the other feats that give +2 to two skills.
Alicia lets go of Valnala's hand and sees what the last question Bredanalundalum's Wit has for her is.
The question is thus: Are you satisfied now, Valnala?
Well that's the last one, she supposes if they get the lillend flight ability in the stairs they can try for a bit and see if they get lucky.
"Are you satisfied now, Valnala?"
5/5 questions used up.
"I am honored," Valnala bows her head to both of you, "Allow me to retrieve what you need."
"Thank you," Alicia says, stepping back to wait for Valnala now. Hopefully that scroll was well spent, but better to use it productively than to simply hoard it for a day that never comes.
Soon enough Valnala returns with a figurine of a falcon in flight, "This will let you and those close to you travel safely," she offers, "Keep it on you."
Alicia accepts it. "It won't wear off so long as I carry this?" she asks to check on the temporary nature of bestowing their gift.
"Yes," Is the answer, "Return it when you're finished, but it will serve you as long as you have it."
"Hopefully it won't take an elf's lifetime," Alicia says with a slight smile, returning to her disguised form. "We'll make sure we aren't seen using it, I don't imagine any lillend would want to field questions from other stair-goers as to how we're managing."
"That would be wisest," Valnala agrees, "May I ask if you believe there truly is a bottom to the stairs?"
"Honestly I'm not sure - because if there's a bottom logically there's a top as well," Alicia says. "But I have enough to go on that I'm prepared to search. Hopefully," she lifts up the stone falcon, "I'll have a story to go with it when I return this to you."
"May it serve you well," Is the answer you get.
Jessica smiles and adjusts before, "Come on, girlie," she says, "Got places to explore."
"Farewell Valnala," Alicia nods to their host, stepping out and having a proper look at the statue with arcane sight.
Take 10 for 60 on spellcraft.
What a curious thing. It's an artifact first and foremost, a major one. It simply allows safe passage within the Infinite Stair, even beyond the stairs and landings. You believe any creature within 50ft can also benefit from this.
Well Vivantha certainly steered her right to Valnala. She better take very good care of this. For now she'll put it into her bag of holding. "Lets go home, we can get changed and equipped properly then come back to try this properly," she says to Jessica, looking to take the nearest staircase to the first door out wherever it leads. She can gate to Sylica from there and get changed.
Gimme a quick 1d100.
[16:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[16:04] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d100=32]
Trip back is uneventful. Prep for this?
Lets take a quick trip to see Io first and see if he has a take on all the legends that say he's at the bottom. Still just Alicia and Jessica just now back in normal loadouts.
To meet Io is an impossible task for most. Yet you are able to do it with a little bit of magic, your transport and trip unremarkable. Soon enough the greatest wyrm looms far above you, silent until you reach him.
"Greetings again," Io bids, "You continue to strengthen."
"Greetings, and thank you. We managed to inflict some damage on Shar recently with the help of Selune and many others, though it was far from anything decisive. We'll keep working however. My sister has been looking into godseeds like the one you created for us," she gestures to Jessica. "And one lead pointed her to the fabled bottom of the Infinite Staircase. A great many legends around that place also describe it as your own lair, so we came to see if you knew anything about it before searching ourselves."
"It has been a long time," Io says, "But that old legend still abounds?"
"It's a pervasive one among several others," Alicia confirms.
"It is just that - a legend." Io asserts, "I have never had a great interest in the Infinite Stair, nor in the lillend that populate it."
"I see. Well, we'd have been remiss not to check after what we heard, we'll investigate and see what we can find in case it's helpful to us," Alicia says. "Is there anything you require while we're here?"
"Continue to strengthen," Io says, "Your path will be hard yet, but you have cleared one great obstacle away."
"You mean Eblis?" she asks.
"Yes," Io agrees.
She nods, sensing she won't get much more on the topic. "Antenora deserves the credit for that one. Until we meet again, Io," she bids him farewell, she and Jessica now departing to try exploring the infinite staircase.
As you go out?
Baseless rumors are always going to happen. We are not excluded from that.
It was still worth checking just for the avoidance of doubt, since we have easy access to the subject of those rumours.
I agree, sister. Nonetheless, as I once confirmed Antenora is not your alternate identity, we can confirm Io is not involved in this matter.
She gives Jessica an amused look. Thank you for clearing that up on both our behalves.
With a smile on her face?
Nor is Marie your Felix reborn. A well meaning rumor and yet so terribly wrong.
Her expression falls a bit. Yes, that's rather unpleasant.
Babies pass to Zaphkiel in the end. Could he...let you see him again, sister? With all we're doing for him and for Creation, I can't imagine it's out of line as a request.
Are they really doing this right now? Really?
He went to Mystra. He's fine now. It's okay Jessica, really.
Jessica frowns at that but lets it go, seeming to catch your mood. Instead aloud she says, "Very well, sister. Shall we begin our quest again now?"
"Yes, lets go."
They go. Gate to ysgard, walk onto the stairs through the same door they used last time, go invisible and start flying
Okay, quick question. Are you going up or down or in any particular direction?
Also give me a d100.
We're going horizontally to the left of where our door opens out onto the stairs.
[17:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[17:43] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d100=98]
> roll 1d100 subtablin'
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d100=71]
Thus you begin to fly. As you leave behind the stairs and platforms, you find it is empty. Silent. The only sound is the sound of your own movements, everything still when you are away from parts of the Stair.
Hm? What's that?
Far ahead, away from any platforms, you can see a flight of lillends a few miles below you. They are all clustered around a small sphere, a twisting of space into such a thing, pitch black.
See that, Jessica? Lets investigate, stay close while I shift space for us.
Compressing space to allow for faster transit across those miles, Alicia and Jessica approach.
Using invisibility sphere so we can see each other while being unseen by everyone else.
A simple nod from Jessica as you get closer. You see a dozen lillend are around this sphere. It's as if the space around them has balled together, like a growth pressing up from the flesh of a sick man. As you do, "It's unusually strong," One of the lillend says, a red head with delicate features, wearing only a single bracelet and nothing else.
"Will Bastrilo's gift remove it?" Another asks, a blonde in upper body armor as well as smooth iron around its tail, like a body sheathe. "It's been unresponsive to my magic."
"Bastrilo's gift is a last resort," A tall brunette says sourly, clad in a silken purple shirt as a top, tail tattooed with glowing purple ink, designs and whirls of magic engraved there. "I have another method that should resolve this. It is unusually strong, but this is stronger."
Alicia has a look over that strange ball herself before deciding whether to reveal themselves.
Take 10 for 79 on buffed divine insight spellcraft.
Also do I recognise Bastrilo's gift?
The ball is strange - it's meant to readjust space in the Infinite Stair, smoothing it over with a dozen spells - including a few rather like space compression.
You don't, but the name Bastrilo rings a dim bell. You recall a report from Ebony about lore Sage Vul'lath held, that Aurora obtained in due time. The snippet is as follows:
Adammal, Perith, Grengale, Bastrilo. All dead names of no meaning. All of the same being, lost like grains of sand on the beach of eternity. I have sought the truth for 10 centuries, but answers elude me. His true name is reckoned to be powerful enough to open the Gate. I must open the Gate and he knows this. I cannot stop now. I feel a reckoning is coming, he no longer bothers to hide his presence. He knows I can stop him. I know that if we come to battle now, he will triumph. I do not run. I consign these last words to this grimoire and consign it to this library.
Are there any non-lillend around on the nearby stairs close enough to potentially see us?
There are not.
Alicia and Jessica then appear as she drops her invisibility globe, Valnala's statue held in her hand. "Do you require assistance?" she asks gently, appearing about fifteen feet from the red-haired lillend.
"Ah!" An array of cries and hisses, the lillend whirling to face you, scattering about. All eye stare at the two of you and the statue.
"H...ow?" One manages before the red head eyes you.
"Lady Alicia," A deep bow, "I believe we have this matter in hand, but thank you."
"One of your sisters gifted me with this for an unrelated endeavour and she asked that I be kind to any other lillend I met," she says, holding up the bird statue and smiling. "I didn't mean to startle you, and if you have the matter in hand we'll leave you be."
The others stare once your name is pronounced.
"Be cautious - these spaces are not always safe," Warns the red head, "I do not believe the divine is at any serious danger here, but be aware."
"Thanks," Jessica agrees to that, "I'd thought so myself on seeing that."
"Yes, having seen that we'll know to be more aware of our surroundings," Alicia nods her head towards the blackened sphere. "Thank you for the warning, and good luck." She turns them both invisible and directs Jessica a little bit away but not too far, so she can see exactly how they go about handling this thing.
Once you're gone?
"That was Saint Alicia?" A blonde lillend asks, eyes wide. "She's gorgeous!"
"She's a warrior, not a harlot," The red head retorts swiftly, scowling, "Her beauty is never important, only a warrior's blade matters, much as only or songs and magic matter for us."
'Excuse me?' Jessica comments to you.
"Don't let her hear that," the brunette declares primly, "Oralea, that was gross stupidity. Only a fool speaks such things of the divine. She is a woman and I'm sure she has her feminine pride. Show such poor judgment again and I'll reassign you for someone who has mastered their tongue and wits."
The red head - Oralea you suppose - merely goes quiet at that.
"She is striking," The blonde says, "It reminded me of when I was with the Hounds and we did such brave deeds. Was I the only one?"
A few murmurs at that, "That's normal," the brunette goes on, "Even incidental contact with powerful beings or divinities can do such things. Her presence was muted." With the same sour look as before, "Now be silent, there is a problem to solve."
Alicia just smiles at Jessica. Her heart's in the right place.
It's a little bit voyeuristic to listen to people talking about her after they think she's left, but it's interesting too.
Not as interesting as seeing what they do with this problem before them, though.
What follows is a spell - the brunette casts, a long and complicated spell that takes about a minute to cast. It's one part space manipulation and one part space resolution. It seems to be the magical equivalent of a way to repair space distortions in virtually anything, even a space such as the Infinite Stair.
That's interesting. Would it work on the space destroyed by the Q'pa?
You think it could, yes, as long as it's not cast as a divine spell.
She memorises the spell as useful for the future, waiting to see if it resolves things before she and Jessica resume their own flight.
To this spell the knot dissolves, the sphere gone and space normal.
"It's done," The brunette says, "Oralea, you will stay here three days to ensure it does not repeat."
Oralea's gaze is unhappy but she finally says, "Very well," in a tone that suggests its anything but.
She wonders if Oralea's being picked on for her faux pas just now. Alicia doesn't hold it against her but nor is she going to intervene further, so off they go!
Another d100 then.
[18:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[18:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 34 > [d100=34]
You go further a time. An hour or perhaps two before you spy something. The faintest flicker two miles away - for a split second a few bricks of a platform are there, then nothing.
That was so fast there was no way they could have reached it even with space compression!
Still, she uses it now to reach that spot and see if there's any clues as to what happened.
Would take 4 rounds to cover 2 miles for us.
"Sister?" Jessica asks as you move along, hurrying to it. When you reach it, it looks no different than any other space here.
"I saw something here, a few bricks appeared then vanished just as quickly," Alicia says, studying the area for magic.
There's fading magic here - it's crumbling by the second, but it's here.
Spellcraft, -20 penalty due to that. Fortunately you're an epic level character with divinity and the magic domain, so this is possible for you rather than being utterly impossible.
[19:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+49 spellcraft, divine insight popped
[19:11] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d20=6]
You only catch a few fragments, but it's enough. Some sort of natural ripple in the nature of this plane, like a flicker of the reality of the Infinite Stair. You wouldn't call it a mistake or an error, but merely a natural process.
"Hmm. Nothing terribly helpful. I think we need to catch a free platform fully formed, or at least see this up close as it happens," Alicia says, shaking her head after a moment. "Lets keep flying, can't expect to solve it immediately."
"Patience is the word," Jessica agrees, "I do hope these platforms prove the answer, or at least direct us to it. I fear this may be a long quest otherwise."
"They're the only lead we have unfortunately. Brute forcing it by flying down is a fool's errand."
Give me another d100 then.
[19:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[19:55] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 90 > [d100=90]
You go down longer - aha! It's two hours later, when at the edge of your vision, three miles away? A platform appears around nothing, naught but a single, undecorated door there.
"This way!" Alicia hurries them over when she spots it!
6 rounds of space compression to reach it, Alicia will cast a quickened time stop on round 5 before she does the last space compression to reach it.
"Hurry!" Jessica calls, flying along.
> roll 1d100 vs ??? Round 1
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 70 > [d100=70]
> roll 1d100 vs ??? Round 2
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 79 > [d100=79]
> roll 1d100 vs ??? Round 3
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d100=45]
> roll 1d100 vs ??? Round 4
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 48 > [d100=48]
> roll 1d100 vs ??? Round 5
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 76 > [d100=76]
Go! Closer and closer and closer - there! You cast time stop, a burst of speed as the platform is still there.
[20:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+1
[20:34] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 3 > [d4=2]
Unfortunately Jessica is left behind for the last step but with the compressed space between her and her sister she should still be close enough to be protected by the statue as Alicia steps onto the platform and examines it for magic first of all.
There is overwhelming magic here.
Spellcraft due to the rare situation.
This time she's prepared to focus more thoroughly on it!
[20:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+106 spellcraft with divine insight, guidance of the avatar, improvisation.
[20:52] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 121 > [d20=15]
It's not the Infinite Stair.
No, it is the Infinite Stair.
It's like a protrusion, of another Stair onto this Stair. A complex dimensional working, beyond anything you have seen, a beauty and form so complex as to be mind blowing to you. Another Stair within the Stair, besides it, connected to it. A moment of alignment with this Stair? You know not, but it is another. Merely stand on this platform and you believe it should take you along with it.
As she digests that, Alicia refreshes some of her spells while the time stop ends and hopefully it remains long enough for Jessica to join her.
What's the architecture like around the door on this platform, any clues from that as to where it might go to?
The architecture is plain, no sign of any decorations around the door at all. It's utterly barren of such things.
Chance to react to that in case it changes your calculus for the rest of your time stop.
Nope, time it out and wait for Jessica.
> roll 1d100 vs ?? Round 6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 66 > [d100=66]
Jessica makes it just in time, barely able to get out a, "Sister?" before reality seems to go wrong. There's a sudden, sharp LURCH and you're there and not there at once. Suddenly the Stair has many and varied stairways going in all directions from this platform, though the door is still undecorated.
"I'm not sure what happened," Alicia says at that lurch, seeing it now has all the expected stairs... has it changed location? Are the stairs and platforms that she can see for miles around the same as they were a moment ago?
They are not. Every door is unadorned here.
Jessica looks around, "What is this place, sister? It seems the same and yet not."
Alicia recasts sensual blessing. "We're on the stair that isn't the stair?" she wonders, sensing around for any further life.
Bindsight/tremorsense 3 miles to see if we're alone here or not.
Ah, you see. In the spaces between you can sense them - little clusters of ant-like creatures. Ant-humanoid hybrids perhaps, the size of dwarves. They float in midair without moving, clusters of 4 to 20 of them or so all about, unseen but sensed with your blindsight. They lie still, utterly unmoving and unreactive.
"Another side to the Stair? But why?" Jessica asks.
Any knowledge to identify what those things are? She'll cast see invis so she can see detail beyond just the blindsight perception.
They are like nothing you've ever heard of or seen.
They are grey-bluish and like a hybrid of a humanoid and an ant. Ant like features while having a humanoid body, as well as antennae on their forehead. There are distinct males and females, with the appropriate equipment there for procreation. Women are ever so slightly smaller, but it's negligible. None have a single weapon, armor, clothing or bit of equipment.
"There are insectoid humanoids everywhere here," Alicia tells Jessica. "I've never seen or heard of their like, they all seem to be asleep in clusters floating between the stairs. Every one naked as a newborn."
"Let me go see," Jessica says, "What a strange thing. Wait, between the stairs, like the lillend can?"
"They're not moving though, they're perfectly static," Alicia says, gesturing for Jessica to follow as she flies up to the nearest group of them and renders them visible.
Alter reality-ed invisibility purge.
It is a group of ten. They are unmoving and utterly still. Jessica examines one, gently shakes it. Nothing.
"Are they even alive? They don't breathe, but that means nothing with spirits," Jessica muses.
"Let me examine them..." Alicia says, spending a minute running through several detection methods.
Arcane sight to see what magic on them (take 10 for 64 on relevant spellcrafts), detect evil, detect good, detect law, detect chaos, and finally detect thoughts (presence of thoughts, intelligence scores, then DC 27 will for her to read surface thoughts if any).
No magic. No evil. No good. No law. No chaos. No thoughts. Nothing. Soulless husks, nothing more than bodies without a spirit. Nothing more than meat.
"They're mindless. Soulless even," Alicia says at last as all her divinations come up blank.
Are they alive? Can I perceive heartbeats or breathing or anything with blindsight?
They are living but not alive, there are no processes, yet no sign of rot or decay.
"It's as if...they were made but never awoken?" Jessica ventures as she studies another.
"Yes. It's like a clone spell," Alicia nods, looking over them for individual differences beyond the male/female split.
There are there. Some are a little taller or shorter, thin or muscular, prettier or plainer. Such normal things are all there.
"They're built like real people rather than clones though. What is this?" she wonders. "All the doors here look the same too. Lets see where one goes?"
They fly back to the platform they arrived on and Alicia opens the door without going through, just seeing what's on the other side.
On the other side is...the other side of the door. No portal, no passage. Merely an empty doorframe on a platform.
"Nothing?" Jessica says, "Are these...unused as those creatures are?"
"It feels that way," Alicia agrees. "Curious... I could expect that there was a backup stair, with these being put onto the main stair to fit new doors appearing across the planes and connecting, but the beings floating around I utterly can't account for. I'm going to try some more divinations before we go anywhere."
Alter reality for Legend Lore on where we are right now.
The spell fails.
No.
The spell worked.
The response you get is simple emptiness. A lack of purpose, a lack of will, a lack of anything.
A profound sense of emptiness fills you.
"Empty," she says at last. "Has no one been here before us? Who created this - these?" she gestures over at the floating humanoids. "I wonder what to do now. I suppose when you think of a stair's bottom you think of solid ground, but an infinite stair would necessitate something more metaphorical wouldn't it?"
Jessica sits down on the solid air, pondering the figures before her. She is silent a time, "Do you think that this is a..." a hesitation, "A leftover from the Incarnations? A backup? Another plan that didn't prove fruitful? I know not about metaphors here, but I wonder greatly."
"I think it's too great to have been created even by a god," Alicia agrees. "And if it were created by one, then legend lore would have spoke of such an endeavour. There... may be more here. Than we've seen so far I mean. But if it's as infinite as the other staircase I'm unsure about how to search - shall we at least try flying around a while and see if anything turns up?"
"Then let's go," Jessica concurs.
Any particular direction?
Down this time, why not chance it?
Gimme a d100. You're already on subtables here, for what it's worth.
[19:51] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[19:52] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d100=98]
You fly a little time - and come to a strange thing. A platform with no door, and great hunks of the stone platform torn out and away. Fairly smooth, jagged but showing signs of an obvious effort to make squares.
"Someone did something here," Alicia says as she and Jessica float above that platform. Is there any pattern to the removed chunks? Does it look like they were removed with tools or magic or claws or acid or...?
You suspect a crude tool - it has that look. There's no real pattern to it, about foot long and wide chunks of stone removed.
"But why?" Jessica murmurs. "It makes no sense."
"I'm not sure, the sections removed seem random. It was done manually too I think..." she looks for any scuffing on the stairs around the platform that might indicate stones being dragged away.
Give me Perception here, I think.
[20:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 perception
[20:04] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 91 > [d20=11]
There's faint, old scuffmarks by where the stones are removed.
Just around the holes, not actually leading anywhere?
Correct.
"Hmm. Can't see that the blocks were dragged anywhere. So whoever took them away was able to carry them all," Alicia says. Out of interest she flies underneath the platform to examine the underside of it for any clues.
Nothing unusual beneath the platform.
"Something strong," Jessica muses, "Physically able or magically adept."
She flies back up to the top side. How many stairways are connected to this platform?
Five total.
Too many options to try without any tracks to follow. Any magic around here?
There is no magic.
"I feel at a loss, Jessica," Alicia says. Just for the pure chance, she tries putting her arm through one of the holes just in case there's something more to them that's somehow hidden from all her senses so far. "We might just have to keep this in mind while exploring further."
It passes through as normal.
"I don't pretend to understand," Jessica agrees, "At least we know some other being has been here before."
"Yes. Lets keep flying around and see what else we can find," Alicia decides to leave this platform for now and fly downwards. "If we have to give up and go home we should bring Syala next time. There are druidic spells for gaining knowledge from stone better than I can manage."
Give me another d100, +3 modifier.
[17:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100+3
[17:54] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 65 > [d100=62]
After about twenty minutes of flight, you spy a platform about 3 miles to your left. This platform is decorated with dozens of crude, stone block statues. On a glance they rather resemble the ant-dwarves you saw previously.
"I found something else, this way," Alicia points to the left and compresses space a few times for them to flit over to the platform with the statues so they can take a proper look at them.
You arrive.
The statues are crude, of blocks put together and carefully, sloppily carved. They are given features like that of the ant-dwarves, dozens of them. Lords and ladies at a dance, stones still and unmoving.
"...why?" Jessica murmurs again, "Is this the suffering, mad fruit of some poor soul trapped here, sister?" She goes to one and looks it over, "The work's no good, but it makes up for it with effort."
"It's like they're dancing? It definitely shows some sign of culture," Alicia says as she carefully examines them. No clues like having them look in a certain direction or having their antennae pointing or anything like that?
Give me Perception, say.
[17:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 perception
[17:09] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 93 > [d20=13]
You notice not only are all of them looking to the center, that there's a small, worn out groove in the floor there. A long line several feet in length.
"Hello, what's this?" Alicia examines the groove. Anything on either end of it to indicate direction like an arrow? Anything in it? Any magic?
No magic. It's an even groove and...hello. You kneel and pick something up - a tiny bit of a greenish scale.
"Hmmm..." Alicia turns it around in her hand, examining it.
Lillend? Dragon? Sahaugin?
Knowledge to ID what kind of scale it is?
Sure, K:P.
[17:29] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+69 planes with divine insight
[17:29] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 84 > [d20=15]
It's a lillend's scale, you believe.
"Lillend scale," Alicia says. "Give me a moment, this could be a lead..."
Going to alter reality legend lore on the scale first of all.
Legends. Legends of the stone kingdom, where a single Queen rules over millions of subjects made by her own hand. A kingdom of rock and those who never lived, a kingdom that the Queen rules over well. It is said this Queen promises them, whispers to them that one day they will pay her homage. That one day she will overcome the last obstacle.
"Hmm," Alicia hums. "So there is a lillend here but she may have gone quite mad. Or is just very optimistic," she says. "These statues are far from the only ones, she's made millions. The fact that we've only seen these... well, this is probably as infinite as the other stair. Don't have a name, but I might be able to scry on her..."
Alter Reality scrying on her.
DC 32 base, +5 bonus to her will save because I've only got second-hand knowledge, -10 penalty because I have a body part, so -5 to her will save in total.
> roll 1d20+77
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 95 > [d20=18]
You recoil back in sheer shock. The will you slam into is unlike any other.
You!
'YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU!'
'COME AND PAY HOMAGE TO ME, YOUR ALMIGHTY QUEEN AND GOD! COME TO ME MY CHILD, COME TO YOU AND I SHALL MAKE YOU A PRINCESS AMID YOUR KIND, YOU SHALL KNOW ME AND SERVE ME IN THE GREAT WORKS TO COME!'
Alicia recoils back at the failure of her scrying, but some kind of connection has been formed. Exerting her divine will she attempts to talk back.
My name is Alicia Reynes. Where might I find your majesty?
"Sister?!" Jessica is there, holding you as you recoil, stopping anything more.
Who are you? Alicia Reynes, my first subject can already speak the proper way! Your words are beautiful!
"You are lovely." Aaaaah!
The stone below shifts, into a too large, stretched feminine face. It's a face far too large, larger than 3 or so faces would be otherwise. "Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow my voices, follow my song! You will be tested, my first children...children! OH! You, your name, my second child?"
Jessica exhales, "I am Jessica Reynes."
"Jessica Reynes. Follow my song as well. It will test and teach you as it did me, but such is the way to be exalted above all others of your kind! You will rule as...as..." A stop. "Where are they? The royal antennae? No, you're too tall! Too tall!"
"Ah, we're not from here," Alicia speaks normally, floating up to look down at the face in the stone. "We came from the other stairway, the one with doors that connect to other places. Do you remember what humans are?"
> roll 1d20+10
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 15 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d100=98]
The face twists as if in pain, "Hu...mans....humans....humans....humans....humans...HUMANS!" A cry of pain. Faces. More faces rise from the platform, fully three dimensional ones, double your height at width. "HUMANS! NO! NOT HUMANS! NOT HUMANS!"
They all cry that as they suddenly gaze at you, "Immortals. You are like me but different. You speak the proper way. Kneel to me. Kneel to me, humans, become my first disciples. Become the first disciple of the Queen."
"We were humans, now we are gods," Alicia says, shifting a bit to better face the... faces. "We come not as disciples but as emissaries. Will you treat with us? We have many questions, and would try and answer any of yours."
This needs a bit of a delicate touch, and honestly just playing along would probably be more productive but she can't really mislead the Queen. It just wouldn't be right.
You said something right. Give me a Diplomacy check.
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+59 diplo
[18:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 72 > [d20=13]
"Then...where are they? Where is the rest of your bodies?" The voice is shaky, "Where is it all? I don't see them anywhere." In the air veins are seen, throbbing blue. Tendons and muscles, bones. Feathers, scales. Faces. Hands. Eyes. Tails. The voice comes from all around you, "Where is the rest of you? You're so tiny."
Jessica is still a moment, "Oh Mystra..." she breathes out.
"This is it," Alicia spreads her arms (that statue still held in one hand) but she grows, as much as she can without hitting a stairway or platform or tendon above. "We have a divine realm that we're intimately tied to but it isn't a part of our body. We are sufficient like this."
"...you can project from it." The voice says, "I see! I get it! Can I? Can you show me how? I'd love to see your real bodies in your realm. They must be beautiful lands with so many worshipers living on and within you."
Alicia shrinks back down to normal size. "That's not quite it either. Rather than these," she gestures at her body, "Being a projection of the realm, it's closer to say that the realm is an extension of this," her hand pats her own chest. "It's called Sylica and it's very beautiful, with many people living there. Do you know where Ysgard is?"
I've met some weird stuff back in B1, like there was what seemed to be an avatar of Ysgard once shortly after Sylica was founded, and there was like weird monsters that appeared like an abyssal immune system during the Androlynne business, so is there some sort of precedent I can see for what's going on here?
Sure.
Near as you can tell, she hasn't projected a divine realm or made a divine realm her own. She's somehow merged with this realm. It's also glaringly wrong as far as you can tell. This shouldn't happen, this should not be.
"It showed me," The Queen goes on, "It showed me how to do this. Isn't it wonderful?" A girlish giggle before muscles tense and tendons snap, faces laughing and body parts moving and waving. "But I don't understand how to make my servants wake up. It says I might learn one day. Is it like that, your projection, where you're your realm but you aren't?"
"It's my realm as well," Jessica says, "What...what is the it you mention?"
"Did you create your servants or were they already here?" Alicia asks, nodding to Jessica after. "Yes, what told you that you might learn one day?"
"They were here, they awaited me," The voice giggles again, louder. "It showed me everything. It isn't like mortals, it sees beyond them. It showed me how to become part of this realm and become what I should be. It cares about me." More giggles.
"Is it still here? Does it have a name?" Alicia asks, tone turning a bit gentle at the increasingly insane giggles.
Diplo, -10 penalty. You said something right and wrong.
[19:25] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+49 diplo
[19:25] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 65 > [d20=16]
"It. It doesn't have a name, but it has a title. Guardian is the title." The giggles don't stop, "We're so tiny and meaningless, Alicia Reynes. It showed me how to be a little bigger. Can you believe none of us can create life? Such a simple thing and none of us can do it! Yet we can walk and call on magic, but to create life is beyond us, except with the system our body came with! We're so helpless, we're temporal! TEMPORAL! LINEAR! We can't look back! We can't move back! We have to have meaning, A has to follow B has to follow C or we break like a toy!"
Even more giggles as they give way to laughter, "Do you see how pathetic we are, Jessica Reynes? We weren't made to thrive, we were made to die. If I was worth anything, I'd make myself a queen in a moment! They'd all be alive because I'd create souls for them! We can't even will reality to change without limit. The most basic ability of all and what do we have? Nothing! We are blind fools with no idea how sad we are!""
"Most of us can't create life - other than with that system, yes," Alicia says, having taken a second to figure out what the Queen meant by that system. "But during Sylica's most recent expansion we created a great deal of life, plant and animal. As for the temporal limitation... that is only a limitation we have accepted. Only obedience to the Temporal Compact keeps us from violating causality."
The laughs stop.
"Then why...why can't I do it?" The Queen asks you.
"You're different than us," Alicia says, plainly but gently. "I'm not sure what the Guardian has taught you, but... you're not like anything I've ever seen before. Not a God, not a planar manifestation. You were merged with this realm, but I'm not sure if you or the realm were made for such a thing to happen."
"Why?" Is the answer, "It said it would teach me good things! Why are you different?!"
"I would like to ask the Guardian that myself," Alicia replies bluntly.
"You can't fight it," The Queen warns, "It's strong. Be careful. It attacks those who find it."
She never said anything about fighting! "Did it attack you?" she asks.
There is a longer silence before the faces all go still.
"Yes," The whisper comes from everywhere. "It doesn't fight like us. It doesn't have limits like us, but it pretends."
"But it didn't kill you. It taught you things?" Alicia asks, focusing on one of the faces in front of her even though the one she's talking to is all around.
"Yes," Another whisper, "It taught me so many things, and about how weak all of us are."
"Where is it?" Alicia asks.
"Here, with me," Is the answer. "Below. At he bottom. Where the roots support everything."
"How far is that from here?"
"A long distance," Is the answer, then giggles, "But worry not, the Queen's Throne can take you there!"
"Oh, of course we'd be grateful for you to offer us its use, your majesty," Alicia says with appropriate respect due to a queen.
Give me another Diplo, you said some things right.
[16:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+59 diplo
[16:43] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 76 > [d20=17]
"Down. Keep going down," The Queen says, "Follow the path."
Stone platforms move and shift, bones and muscles moving them to a stairway going down.
"Thank you, we'll follow it," Alicia agrees, starting to walk on the stairway that's been provided for them.
"Thank you," Jessica echos softly.
Then, after a moment, "I'll help you after this, if I'm able."
Alicia nods in agreement with Jessica's sentiments. The queen is clearly unstable but the good nature of her lillend origin is still apparent in there.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 6 > [d100=6]
As you begin to walk, you notice the faces turn away. There's no sound, but you catch glimpses of tears being shed.
She reaches over and takes Jessica's hand in her own, giving it a squeeze and allowing the queen some privacy without drawing attention to those tears.
You walk.
You walk.
You walk.
Silence is your companion as you travel down. You travel a long time, you travel on and ahead without pause.
"You approach." The voice is dry and disinterested, as if merely reciting facts from a page. "What is your purpose here?"
"I wish to learn what you've done to the one who came before us and why," Alicia says, pausing in her stride. That's not why they came here originally but it's her primary concern now.
"I have taught her what she requested," Is the answer you get.
"She requested to become part of this plane?" Jessica asks, bluntly.
"Yes." Is the answer, still disinterested. "It is the simplest way for her to gain power, if the plane is not awake and aware."
"You taught her because she asked, simple as that?" Alicia asks, her own tone dubious as she starts to walk again.
"Yes." Is the answer, simple and to the point.
"But why?" Jessica says, "Why teach her?"
"She was...pathetic." Is the answer, still emotionless. "I expected limited beings, but she was far weaker and more limited than I imagined. What is to smash a gnat?"
Quieter, voice tenser, "So you made her a part of this unused Stair."
"I taught her," The voice agrees.
Okay it might be speaking in an emotionless tone but it's pretty clearly an emotionally driven being.
"Are you proud of what you've wrought?" she asks, her own voice controlled. "Did teaching give you pleasure?"
"No. I simply did it," Is the answer.
"Why? You're a guardian aren't you? Your purpose is to guard, so why go to the extra effort of teaching?" she presses the point.
"I pitied her," Is the answer, plain.
She has a feeling this isn't going to go much further just yet, so she changes tack. "What are you guarding here anyway?"
"Apotheosis," Is the answer, "Ascension."
"A divine seed," Jessica asks, right to it.
"And so you taught the queen a twisted and wrong form of it," Alicia says, since that does circle back around again. "Were you created by one of the Incarnations?"
"I was created by the Incarnation of Balance," Is the answer, "I taught her what she asked for. What limited creatures do with it is not my concern."
"So reaches the extent of your pity," Alicia says dubiously. "What did the Incarnation task you with, then?"
"To guard and test any who sought this divine seed, once he made their presence known," Is the answer. "He did not say I must kill any who fail."
Well, Jessica heard a story so the presence is known. "What form does the testing take?"
"Whatever form I see fit," Is the reply.
That's a lot of latitude, isn't it? "How would you see fit to test the two of us?" she asks.
"To begin: do not die," The voice says, still utterly disinterested.
Alicia is of course alert for any attacks, not knowing when they'll be close enough for the guardian to consider doing so once it already started talking. In fact she ceases talking herself to better focus on that. They can perhaps talk more later after these tests have been sorted out.
A flash, a shimmer. The platforms around you are gone as Jessica leaps into the air, off of them at the last moment. You are surrounded by eight of them. Eight faceless, eyeless humanoids. They are nude, like dolls of skin with no features at all, no hands or feet, nothing but dolls.
"Jessica I need you to hold this," Alicia hands her the statue since she'll need both hands free to use her sword. Any magic on the figures?
[20:14] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 CL on arcane sight if needed
[20:14] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 42 > [d20=5]
There is no magic on the statues. As Jessica takes the statue, you see them change in spite of that. A dozen men at arms, a dozen warriors. Clad in armor and with sword and shield, they move in perfect sync, all approaching you at the exact same flying run.
Initiative.
Alicia has supreme initiative.
Distance to the figures?
She and Jessica would both have CL 34 alter reality greater heroism for the skill bonus up right now, no other combat buffs. So +4 morale to attacks/saves/skills and +20 temp hp.
Alicia HP: 704+20/704
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34)
Defences: AC 69, CMD 90, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/8/6/8/7/5/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
They're an even 50ft away from you each, spaced out equally.
Go ahead and go, I'll sort out init after.
Actually 50 feet away puts them just out of reach for her if she goes colossal (space 30/reach 30 suggests she can hit things 15+30 feet away from her starting square) so she will in fact wait for them to begin charging her before she takes her action.
So yeah, roll init for everyone else please.
> roll 1d20+28 Jessica
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=17]
> roll 1d20+10 men at arms
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 18 > [d20=8]
Init is Alicia (Supreme) > Jessica (45) > Men At Arms (18)
Jessica will hold to clean up, since it's not hard to guess your gambit here.
As one the soldiers advance and, all inward towards the two of you as...
Go.
Swelling to titanic proportions with only a single foot left on the stairs next to Jessica, Alicia's sword swings out in a lethal arc encompassing all of these doll-warriors before they can threaten her or Jessica while being careful not to hit any of Queen's manifestations.
[16:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+104 whirlwind attack, 6th level arcane strike, quickened true strike, channelled maximised flux grasp
[16:45] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 105 > [d20=1]
[16:45] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+51+15+2d6+6d4+408 last 408 is acid
[16:45] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 521 > [d6=5,3,3,5,1,5,1,4][d4=3,4,3,4,4,2]
DC 37 fort or take -10 penalty to armour and natural armour.
All actions expended.
Alicia HP: 976+20/976
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34)
Defences: AC 73, CMD 112, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception, +32 str, -4 dex, +16 con, +14 natural armour, -8 size.
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/21/11/7/9
One great swing cleaves through the men at arms as if they are nothing. They are torn apart, yet no blood falls. They simply vanish, as if toys with their purpose served.
...then a moment later, eruptions of sheer force come from each of them, eight death explosions engulf the two of you.
A fair OOC note: This wasn't planned on Alicia's strategy, the Guardian chose death explosions for an entirely unrelated reason. The circular formation around the two of you is a pretty big hint at that.
Need 8 Reflex saves, Alicia.
[17:08] <@Ebiris> roll 8#1d20+53
[17:08] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 72, 58, 73, 54, 71, 64, 72, 62 >
> roll 8#1d20+42 improved evasion Jessica
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 53, 47, 43, 61, 49, 56, 60, 44 >
DC on these is 50.
Alicia takes half on all.
Jessica takes half on 4 and none on 4.
> roll 20d6 force
> roll 20d6 force
> roll 20d6 force
> roll 20d6 force
> roll 20d6 force
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 68 > [d6=1,1,1,5,2,2,2,2,6,5,2,3,5,5,4,4,3,5,4,6]
> roll 20d6 force
> roll 20d6 force
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d6=5,2,1,4,2,1,6,4,6,2,2,4,4,4,6,3,4,2,5,4]
> roll 20d6 force
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 67 > [d6=6,1,4,4,3,5,1,6,2,3,4,2,6,5,3,3,1,1,5,2]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 73 > [d6=1,2,4,3,5,6,4,6,5,6,2,2,4,5,1,4,4,3,5,1]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 75 > [d6=2,2,2,6,2,4,3,2,5,6,1,6,2,6,6,3,3,5,5,4]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 74 > [d6=6,4,1,3,6,5,3,6,3,3,4,2,5,2,5,5,6,1,2,2]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d6=2,1,2,1,6,6,1,3,1,4,4,4,4,4,5,1,2,6,1,1]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 72 > [d6=6,5,6,6,4,1,1,4,2,4,6,1,2,4,6,2,3,1,5,3]
Both of you survive, so as I do the exact math, more.
"You survived," the voice says, rather disinterested yet. "She wouldn't have, not as she was before."
Alicia shrinks back to normal size next to Jessica, a bit battered but whole. Reaching over to her sister she provides her with some healing with a flow of silver fire.
+150 hp for Jessica."Is physical hardiness an important prerequisite for the divine seed that you guard?" she asks.
Alicia HP: 447/704
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34)
Defences: AC 69, CMD 90, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/21/11/7/9
"No," Is the answer as Jessica flashes you a smile. "If you broke that easily, there is no point to any further trials."
"What if you had killed us?" Jessica retorts right away.
"Then you would die," Complete disinterest, not a hint of anything at all.
"Is your time so valuable that you need to weed out applicants?" Alicia asks, starting to descend the stairs again while magic slowly layers around her and Jessica.
I'll start adding buffs now from my SLAs now but depending on how soon the next battle starts I may not get all of them so I'll run down the list and benefits when that next happens.
"That is not important," Is the dry answer you get back, "Only that you lived or that you died."
"Did the Incarnation instruct you on what to do after someone takes what you guard?" Alicia asks, deciding to probe a bit while they have the chance.
"Yes," Is the answer, to the point.
"Are you anticipating it? Dreading it?" Alicia presses in the face of that mono-syllable reply.
"...I merely await it." Is the answer at last, but there is a few moments pause before that.
But what is it? It could just as easily be 'kill yourself' as 'go enjoy the splendour of Creation' given how the Incarnations are.
Whatever it is it doesn't sound like the guardian is interested in sharing but she'll ask anyway. "What is it specifically that you're awaiting?"
"I am to leave this Creation," It says at last.
That seems rather harsh. "And go where? Did the Incarnation of Balance equip you to survive in the Beyond?"
"Yes," Is the answer, simple and to the point.
"That's something at least..." she allows. "The Incarnation of Balance has been missing for some time. Will you try and find it again?"
"Perhaps," Is the answer at last, "It did not forbid that to me."
"I'll wish you luck. Although I suppose we're getting ahead of ourselves..."
Silence then as you fly along amid the bones and tendons, suddenly words from the Queen again.
"You are powerful," she admits, "You survived!"
She'd wondered why the Queen was being so quiet, if she was intimidated by the Guardian or being compelled to not interfere.
"Thank you," she answers. "The death explosions were a bit painful but nothing we couldn't endure and recover from. Did you have to fight those as well?"
"Not those in particular," The Queen answers, "But you did it, you won!"
"We did," Jessica says as wounds are healed, "Hardly a true battle, just a test."
"It sounds like there's a lot more still to come," Alicia adds. "What tests were you subjected to?"
"...."
"I can't," The Queen finally says, "The Guardian won't let me."
"I understand, it's alright," Alicia says gently. "We'll face whatever's ahead and once it's dealt with all of us can talk properly."
Thus, your descent is silent. Down and down and down and as you go?
Go ahead and include any healing/prep OOC in the next post. You have time.
On one great bone ahead sits something that catches your eye. It is a glass sphere large enough to hold in both hands. A rainbow montage of colors swirl within it.
"What's that?" Alicia asks Queen, pointing to the rainbow sphere.
Both of us healed back to full between silver and cure wounds.
Spells for both of us:
Recitation (CL 34) +2 luck AC/attack/saves
Righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34) +3 morale attack/damage, extra attack as haste
Foresight (CL 34) +2 insight AC/reflex
Extended freedom of movement (CL 35)
Greater heroism (CL 34) +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +20 temp hp
Spells for Alicia:
Extended spell turning (CL 35)
Repelling shield (CL 34)
Extended ray deflection (CL 35)
Alicia HP: 704+20/704
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35)
Defences: AC 83, CMD 98, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +3 morale damage, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
No response.
"Understand and control the sphere," Is what the voice of the Guardian demands, uncaring.
Also add greater visage of the deity to Alicia's loadout.Nodding her head for Jessica to come with, they fly over onto the bone next to the sphere. Alicia's eyes glow blue as she studies it.
[17:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+106 spellcraft with divine insight, guidance of the avatar, improvisation.
[17:59] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 109 > [d20=3]
+1 more to that from the int boost of greater visage so even 110.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 86, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +3 morale damage, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
The sphere cannot be read. It is as if it simply isn't there. Suffice to say something beyond the norm is going on - you suspect it's simply impossible to read by the will of the Guardian.
Jessica eyes the sphere in the meantime, "It's pretty, like a toy from Limbo or a prismatic mage's trinket."
"It defies magical analysis," says the goddess of magic.
So that's a problem.
Is there any pattern to the colours swirling inside? Do they correlate to anything she can perceive outside of the orb?
On a glance, the colors seem to be completely random. No pattern you can discern - you're sure of it, down to your lawful bones.
"Your analysis?" Jessica frowns, "If there was any doubt of the Guardian's power, that lays it to rest."
Is the guardian itself a divinity? She supposes she'll know when they meet it in person.
"No pattern I can see to the shifting colours," she adds. Are all of the colours of the rainbow represented? No exceptions?
Yes, all colors can be seen as you study the orb that sits on the bone before you.
"I don't see any, either," Jessica admits. She reaches out for it but pauses, "Do you think it's safe to pick up?"
"I'm not sure - let me try, I can better endure if it's dangerous," Alicia says, reaching out and first laying a hand on top of the sphere.
The moment you touch the sphere, it turns a shade of sky blue with a few flecks of red within.
"Hmm... doesn't hurt or anything," she picks it up in both hands, studying the new colour and holding it out. "You touch it as well, and then take it off me?" she asks to see how the colours change with both of them and with just Jessica.
Jessica's touch causes the colors to swirl and change, until they settles into a solid, crimson red color.
Is that with both us touching or after she has it alone?
Both.
"So I'm blue with a little red, you're red, and both of us are red," Alicia says. "Let me try taking it from you?" she asks, reaching out so they're both touching it again and a moment later lifting it from Jessica's hands entirely.
You take it. The orb returns to blue with a little red.
"Hm, it's queued to us somehow," Jessica says, "Our auras or our souls?"
"I think so. Or... let me try something," she puts it back down on the bone to see if it goes back to randomly cycling colours again. Then she carefully rests the flat of her holy sword atop it and lets go of the sword, stepping back.
Once you put it down, it returns to rainbow colors. Placing your sword on it causes no change at all.
"I thought it might respond to alignments but no reaction to a holy sword," Alicia says, taking her blade and stowing it again. "The two of us make for a poor sample size. Your majesty?" she looks up and calls. "Are you able to tell us what colour it was for you?"
"Pale green and white," Is her answer.
"Thank you," Alicia says. "Hmm. I feel like it still must have something to do with alignments, just only for conscious beings and not for items? That doesn't necessarily help us control it however. I'm going to test the alignment theory a little more however..."
She focuses a moment and summons forth a large feathered serpent.
SMIX SLA to summon a lawful good couatl.
"Please can you rest your tail against that orb?" she asks once it appears.
The couatl bows as much as it can, "I will serve, divinity," it says, before it touches the orb. The orb becomes a mix of sky blue and pale white, a swirled blend.
"Thank you, that is helpful," Alicia says to the feathered serpent before she dismisses it. "Perhaps purer colours for divinity, the white for non-divine? That would have had a similar alignment as I do, now I'll try one close to your own," she says to Jessica.
SMIX SLA to summon a neutral good moon dog.
"Please can you put a paw on that orb?" she asks once it appears.
"I wonder...there's more to us than how we align for ethics," Jessica muses.
The moon dog does so without hesitation. Now it is a black color filled with bright yellow star-points within.
"This also discredits the theory," she says, having expected a pinkish white colour. "Thank you, you can go," she unsummons the moon dog. A firre eladrin is called forth next to repeat the process, Alicia expecting to see pale green and white.
The colors are fire red and ivory white, distinctly two halves of the same whole.
"Thank you," she unsummons it. "Lets see how it responds to elementals next?" she summons a medium fire elemental and asks it to touch the orb.
The orb stays flat gray throughout, not the slightest bit of color.
Alicia dismisses the elemental. "I expected something more... fiery," she admits. "That kind of elemental is a lot weaker than everything else we've had touch the orb so it may measure power or strength of will to a degree? Can we change it ourselves?" she picks it up again and focuses, willing the red flecks amidst the blue to gather together.
That doesn't happen, but it does change slightly - some flecks of steely gray fill the orb.
"Hmm. I'm trying to make the red gather together but that's just made grey appear instead," Alicia says. "You try making it change colour or something?" she asks, holding it out for Jessica to make an attempt.
Jessica takes the orb - and when she tries, the same flecks of gray appear.
"Why?" Jessica murmurs, brow furrowing. Yet more gray appears, spreading throughout the orb as she focuses on it.
"The grey is a response to willpower, or trying to force something?" she wonders. "It's a different shade than what the fire elemental had."
A wordless hm as Jessica focuses. Soon the orb is entirely steel gray, consumed top to bottom. Jessica's full concentration is on it, gaze locked in those gray depths.
Without saying anything, Alicia puts her hand on the orb without actually focusing on anything, just seeing if that prompts a change.
The orb immediately shifts to the same crimson red as before.
"There do seem to be rules to it," Jessica agrees. "Is it tied to blood? Intent? Emotion?" she muses on it, "It's too bad Antenora's not here, she'd have a stronger theory already."
"Keep focusing on what you were focusing on?" Alicia asks as she now asserts her own will towards the sphere, willing the blue to return.
Slowly the crimson red is replaced by gray. A few flecks of gray-blue begin to appear as well.
"What are you focusing on?" she asks Jessica. "I'm trying to make it blue."
"I'm focusing on any change at all," Jessica says, "Simply to make it change. Let me change it to..."
Suddenly the orb becomes a deep blue, spreading throughout it.
"That happened suddenly," Alicia says. "So we can make it change colour... try for green now?" she asks, focusing on making it green herself.
The orb becomes green with ease. A deep, dark green as a matter of fact.
"It responds to will, once properly channeled," Jessica says, "But one alone isn't enough to change it easily." She talks slowly, "So then there must be more to it. What determines the initial colors on touching it?"
"Also what's it good for? Being able to make it change colours... is that all 'mastering it' involves?" Alicia asks, letting go to see if it stays green or returns to Jessica's default red.
It stays green.
"There must be more to it," Jessica seconds. "Perhaps with two people? What if we try opposing visions, sister?"
"You go for blue and I'll go for red?" Alicia suggests, swapping their default colours as she puts a hand on the orb again and focuses on making all that green turn red.
Charisma check. This is an opposed check.
[17:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+16 cha
[17:55] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 26 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+9
<Penuche> ThanksgivingKo invokes Penuche's magic: < 21 > [d20=12]
The green and red war, red winning to your will. "Sister...?" Jessica says, voice a little odd. Hesitant. "...could you...stop?" she says, color coming to her cheeks.
Alicia abruptly stops. "Did it affect you as well somehow?" she asks, looking up from the orb.
"I gained memories of all sorts of love with you," she says, "Family love, the love of a mother to a child in both directions, the love of close friends, the love of...lovers." Clearing her throat, "It didn't go far!" she says quickly, radiantly red. Shaking her head as she firmly pushes the sphere into your hands, "Memories that never were."
Alicia takes the sphere for herself after Jessica gets rid of it. "Oh..." she says, blinking. What do you say to that?
"Is it because red? Red is love?" she asks, electing not to ask any questions about the specifics. "Can we risk trying with a different colour?"
"Yes, but only if you lose the struggle," Jessica says quickly, "How about we try somethings safer, like that gray we produced earlier?"
"Will it work if we both focus on the same colour though? Nothing happened when we both tried green - so you try for gray and I'll try for white, but I won't try very hard?" she invites, holding the sphere out again.
Jessica takes the sphere and...
Charisma check, unless you're choosing to lose it on purpose.
Choosing to lose if I can, yes.
You feel...determined.
You remember marshaling your will to resist Malcanthet's magic.
You recall the intense focus as you slid your blade out of the sheathe, the perfect timing for a flawless strike.
You can still feel the breath of the Muldarian soldier as his mental focus snaps, your own psionic energy flooding him.
A barrage of memories flare in your mind, all about moments of strong concentration.
Who is she in these memories? Is there more context she can gather from them?
It's indistinct, but as you hold it? A dozen fragments of identities and memories come to you.
Alicia Reynes, goddess, opposing Malcanthet.
Jorge of Rivers, your blade unrivaled.
Madolys Mindbreaker, as your psionics shatter the mind who opposes you.
She tries to focus more on the Jorge of Rivers memories. Who is she? How is her blade unrivalled? How did it become so?
The first thing that smacks you is he. He. That's different.
You remember...the first day of your sword training, father's steady instructions.
The goblins, the ogres, the worgs, the gnolls.
The blood. The blood you remember as you fought.
The taste of eating with a bloodied mouth, of salt and copper mixing with dried meat as you forced yourself to eat. It mixes with a memory of Lapi's touch and taste, her beauty a moment of light.
Laughing at a ribald joke at the tavern, as you rest your tired body and eat, this time with a mouth free of blood.
The Muldarians, the scandal where it was revealed they urged the traveling goblin tribes towards your lands, your father's lands. You remember how the people bowed to him, called him sir.
You remember a hundred battles, never once knowing loss -
...
...
It was the final battle. Bad luck, or perhaps Tymora being tired of you. An enchanted arrow in the chest, so much blood. You'd wanted to take Selnar's head yourself, but it wasn't to be. You remember managing a final, bloody smile as you dimly saw the barricaded doors to the Muldarian High Throne, as the glint of metal and blades came to embrace you.
Brow furrowed as she remains holding the sphere with Jessica, Alicia retracts her focus from Jorge's memories. The memories of Alicia fighting against Malcanthet... is that her? She's never actually confronted her in person, and even the avatar never actually attempted a spell or power. She tries to delve into those memories in the same fashion to see what they reveal.
The Razor Throne is before you as your blade comes down for Malcanthet - but her magic is a hair faster. A contest of will, to determine this entire war.
You remember your will, bright and radiant.
You remember Antenora's call, your sister at your side in an instant.
The sound of Oberuth's sword and Ebony's axe as the last remnants of the Radiant Sisters manage a desperate holding action, paying for it in blood.
The vicious warmth of the Multi-Faceted Charm burns against your chest, the memory of it and the Lord of the Seventh's power like a hellish inferno in your mind.
Together, they are enough. You push through and it's long enough. Enough for your blade and Antenora's scythe to slice into the Succubus Queen.
"How... bizarre," Alicia says at last, no longer focusing on it. "Memories of determination, but not yours and not all even mine. I remembered killing Malcanthet as myself, but I remembered being other people too. A warrior fighting and dying in a war. A mentalist in that same war."
"What IS this sphere, then?" Jessica says aloud, a note of exasperation in her voice.
"Try focusing on a feeling rather than a colour this time?" Alicia suggests. "I'm not sure if there's useful knowledge or not in those memories, but if so it could be productive - I'll try for 'amusement'," she volunteers something safe that won't give Jessica the same embarrassment as last time. "Do you want me to lose again?"
"Yes," Jessica says right away, holding the orb. "I'll go for contentment."
"Go, then," Alicia says, focusing on a feeling of amusement and humour through the orb... but not too hard.
You feel it as the orb turns gold colored.
You remember being held by Syala, lazy and sated and content.
You see your sons at play, your wife tending to them as you rest. Everything is how it should be at last.
The sheer relief and joy as they're all silent at last. All of them. Blood and flesh doesn't talk once you rip it apart and you did it to all of them. It's finally silent.
You go for another day at the job, but you enjoy being a tailor. All's right, and your assistant is almost ready. Your life's finally about right, soon you can retire.
Pure bile fascination has her try to focus more on that memory of being content after everything is finally silent.
You remember the voices. From the first memory you have they spoke to you. They showed you thinks, words of power and words that hurt the people who hated you.
They all hated you. Your scales instead of skin, your strength, your differences to them. The voices told you what they thought.
But they never stopped TALKING.
You couldn't sleep with the voices talking.
They kept talking about all the elves around you, tall and proud and hateful.
You remember the blood. You remember the sword and then the club.
You remember that blood and flesh don't talk.
BLOOD AND FLESH DOESN'T TALK.
You remember laughing in relief as the fucking voices finally had NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT.
...
Until they began talking about you.
Until they began talking about the one they bowed to.
Until they told you how you were one of Demogorgon's, now.
How unpleasant. As a palate cleanser she focuses on the one with Syala to see if it brings forth other differences from the reality she knows, and if they match with the Malcanthet scenario earlier.
You remember the heat of Syala's embrace, the warmth of her body and all that entails.
You recall how she held you after and you drifted, so content and warm. So happy to be held again, after what happened with Antenora, just before the Spark Hunters struck.
Syala's gentle whispers to you, of love and encouragement. No tears, not this time.
You remember how utterly content and happy you finally were.
What happened with Antenora? Can she ferret that out from the memory, dig deeper?
You feel yourself drawn in deeper - the Spark Hunters. You remember this battle, a battle on the streets.
Pain.
They're just too fast. Antenora's scream as she vanishes, a sound of terror unlike anything you've heard from her in a long time.
Seira. Her magic just in time, enough to save you if not Antenora.
And she still feels content and happy after that? Really? She pulls herself free of the memories to try and explore another set and see if it has a sting in the tail.
The tailor content with their job, can't be anything wrong with that, right?
You recall the tailor.
You see your young protege. She's a learner, you remember teaching her.
You remember the day you retired with money, no child to pass on. You and Mathyia were never so blessed, but you were content.
A simple life in a city, every day like the last. A life of gentle movements and flows, everything good and right. All's right with the world now.
No money? How would you live and eat then? How can you be content with that?
There is money, just no child. He did retire with money.
My bad, I misread that. Strike my last post then.
Well that seems blandly inoffensive enough. She withdraws her focus from the orb. "Contentment takes many strange forms," she says to Jessica. "I remembered the contentment of an insane murderer after he killed everyone around him. I remembered my own contentment being comforted by Syala after Antenora was killed. At least the tailor enjoying a quiet retirement seemed inoffensive."
"Does this bring us any closer," Jessica asks at last, eyes on the orb. "It seems capable of taking intent or emotion or some such and providing the memories of lives attached to it?"
"Yes, but there's still mysteries," Alicia says. "The memories you got earlier all involved me, but the memories I've received so far have had almost no relation to you - you were there in the memory of fighting Malcanthet but that's it."
"Hm. It may have to do with our will or our intent? For mine, you surrendered to my will on purpose," Jessica surmises. "Should you project harder and overcome mine, you'd use more force - and your force of will is already stronger than mine, sister."
"So where is it choosing the memories from?" Alicia asks. "Lets try again with the same feelings and see if I get the same set of memories?"
Which set, to be clear, since we're just back from the weekend?
Amusement for Alicia (which she will deliberately not think too hard for) and contentment for Jessica.
Memories again come.
The sated contentment of fullness after a long hunt, your prey downed by the entire tribe.
You see your sons at play, your wife tending to them as you rest. Everything is how it should be at last.
You remember being held by Syala, lazy and sated and content.
She doesn't dwell on them too much, lifting her hand. "Different memories," she says. "The one of myself was the same but others were different. Could a slight change in your thinking have caused that, or is it shuffled each time? What if you try and focus on a particular concept or event rather than just an emotion?"
"It could be," Jessica muses, "More than that, this orb seems to pull possibilities based on emotions, feelings and characteristics. Let me try an event. Which one do you want to try, sister, since you'll be seeing them."
"Think about making a meal?" Alicia asks. "I'll think about learning a spell, for what it matters." Her hand goes to the orb and as before she doesn't think too hard about learning a new spell, and the achievement and satisfaction and excitement that comes with it.
Thus it is done.
You remember cooking for Roald and Jessica, for their 10th anniversary.
The memory of fresh fruit and juice fills your mind, as you recall preparing a meal for Antenora, Latha and Syala.
The food you produced for the celebration after Antenora's ascension as One.
"One," The voice of the Guardian is heard. A disinterested tone, and yet it repeats, "One again?"
"Hmm?" Alicia lets go of the orb before focusing too much on any memories, a slight nod to Jessica to confirm that it worked. "Again? You know of another who achieved apotheosis through becoming One?"
Also means the Guardian knows what memories get fed through the orb, but only when they go through else it could have known when they first touched it.
"This Antenora has become One," The Guardian's voice is different now, a note of interest, "Another has followed Eblis?"
"How do you know of Eblis?" Alicia asks. "But yes, she has. She achieved it on her own, while Eblis also aided one of Asmodeus's lot into ascending with his knowledge."
"Tell me, what is the orb," The Guardian interrupts instead.
"I'm not finished," Alicia says, testy at the interruption. "But so far as we've learned so far it's a channel for conveying memories. Perhaps a repository, I haven't yet discerned if the memories not pertaining to Jessica and myself are stored inside or are being actively drawn from elsewhere on each use."
At that the Guardian does not reply, perhaps freeing you to continue.
"I got memories entirely of cooking that time," she says to Jessica now they're no longer being interrupted. "One was of me, the other two came from you. Lets see if we can learn from it - you think of hiding or sneaking, I'll think of painting. Do you want to risk it going either way or shall I submit again?"
Jessica frowns, "If it's safe I'll take it this time, sister."
She puts her hand on the orb and thinks seriously about painting. About carefully considering the scene and the composition, posing her model, selecting the right props, reading the expression and understanding the emotion of her subject. All that before she puts brush to canvas and with confident strokes captures the image of Marie for posterity.
[17:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+16 cha
[17:54] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+9
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d20=8]
Jessica is silent as you don't get the memories this time. "Sister?" Jessica says. "I got them this time. All of painting, though one I'm not sure was something that happened."
"Were all of them me?" Alicia asks. "I was thinking about painting Marie in particular, back when she was still a coure." Marie inside the classical fruitbowl made for an amusing and rather cute picture, her tiny figure surrounded by comparatively gigantic produce.
"Yes," Jessica agrees, "All of them were of you."
"So properly losing in the war of focus rather than yielding seems to ensure you get memories relating to the other person rather than extra ones filled in from elsewhere... what was the one you think never actually happened, then?" she asks.
"You painted an image of Pale Night," Jessica says, rather shortly.
"No, I've never done that," she says dubiously. "Did I have a live model?"
"It wasn't clear," Jessica shakes her head, "But I think you did." She eyes the orb, "Sister, do you think it's more about potentials, real or imagined?"
"Perhaps... did you get any insight from it? Do you feel like you'd be better able to paint with the benefit of those memories?" Alicia asks just to make sure it doesn't transfer over any kinesthetic skills.
"I...don't know," Jessica admits, "Can you make paints and a canvas for me?"
"Temporary ones that'll work for this, yes," Alicia agrees, it being easy enough to create a canvas on an easel along with a brush and palette with a decent selection of paints on it.
It's like watching someone who has an inkling. She starts to paint, moving right before she stops. "I didn't know how to do this before," she says, "But it's like I can remember doing it now."
"I wonder if it'll fade or not?" Alicia wonders. "It doesn't transfer true mastery - that's built on years of experience, not a single memory, but it still gives you an inkling from having remembered doing it yourself. So that leaves the mystery of the memories that never were. While the ones involving strangers we can't verify the authenticity of, we've seen ones involving ourselves that we know never happened. So what about forcing it to show a particular event that never happened?"
"If it's about possibilities," Jessica muses, "If we're to be divine or prove ourselves worthy of a seed, isn't it to show we can rule over what is possible? Perhaps we need to command it?"
"Also... do we know it needs two? The Queen came here alone," Alicia says. Holding the sphere herself while Jessica paints, she thinks very hard about fighting Daa-vid alongside Seira and Demedais at the conclusion of the trials.
Give me a Charisma check. This is an opposed check.
[19:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+16
[19:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 35 > [d20=19]
> roll 1d20+10
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 21 > [d20=11]
This time you feel something push against you - a mind, as if your divine will is resisted. Yet you push through after a momentary struggle and remember.
Blow after blow.
Demedais stands tall with the Third Resort, enduring gem-spells that tear at his body.
Seira's magic echos in your ears, while you dive by.
Your magic cuts into him, your blade as well.
Bloodshed. An arm and leg burnt away in a single spell, the pain of it an agonizing echo throughout your body.
So much blood.
Yet you stand there alert and alive.
You remember the look on his face as spell and sword bring him low, all three of you bloodied tremendously.
Arrows. Spear. Sword. Allies. Pollyanna, Antenora, Donald.
The sacrifices, the pain and the suffering.
You remember the hazy, glorious moment of triumph when it was at last over.
The pain pales in comparison to that moment of victory, as the Fairest Star rises up around the three of you.
She's set the memory in motion by purely thinking of the battle. Now, trying not to think about what she would obviously do with it, Alicia watches it play out to see if it shows what the three of them in the memory do with the Fairest Star.
It does not - it stops on the Fairest Star rising to meet the three of you.
There is silence from the Guardian as the sphere winks out.
"Sister?" Jessica asks.
"The sphere was a limited thing, in that it could not predict the movements and actions of greater beings. To cause it to do so was too much for it," The Guardian intones.
"Ahh, I'm sorry," Alicia says, flexing her fingers now they're empty of the sphere. "I should not have gone for such a portentous event. I had it show me a possibility of fighting Daa-vid alongside Seira and Demedais. It played out similarly to what we saw of Marianne, Lyris, and the commander, but I held the memory to see what we would do with the Fairest Star," she explains to Jessica.
"In any case I understand it somewhat. It shows possibilities, events that never were but could have been... I didn't test it thoroughly with impossible situations so I can't say for sure how it would handle those, but was my use of it sufficient to pass your test?" she addresses the guardian.
"Continue," The Guardian says, as stairs going down manifest before you.
"Come on Jessica, you can practice painting again when we get home if it interests you," she smiles at her sister and starts down the stairs.
A smile back from Jessica as she follows you.
Give me Perception real quick.
[20:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+82 perception
[20:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 95 > [d20=13]
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 86, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +3 morale damage, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
Far below you can see it. It rises from space - or more accurately, you can see tiny folds in space, hints of where reality moves and twists, much like your own spell. A great platform is below. Around and below it great tendrils of roots come out, weaving through it and spreading all about.
"Space is twisted down there," Alicia warns Jessica. "That's probably the site of our next test."
"Another trial?" Jessica says, "I wonder if it's three of them?"
"The Incarnations really like that number," Alicia says noncommittally, having no idea what it'll take to bore the guardian given this is all at its discretion.
As you walk, "You're coming to the outer bounds of the roots," The Queen says. "Do you see them yet?"
"I do," Alicia confirms, looking ahead to see where the roots go to as they spread out from that platform. What do they look to be made of?
They spread out everywhere before subtly fading into the darkness between the stairs. They look to be made of what roots usually are made of - plant stuff.
"Beware, beware, beware, beware," The Queen says, "It's coming."
"Thanks for the warning," Alicia says, a hand on her sword as she makes sure her and Jessica's protections are current.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 86, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +3 morale damage, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
Jessica readies her rapier as the voice of the Guardian is heard.
"Strength. Will. One." The Guardian says, "Yet you approach, with visions of a world enslaved against its nature. I see now what your inhuman ally chose to do with the Fairest Star. He chose life and freedom. Is that your choice as well?"
"Yes." Jessica answers right away, "The chance to live and the freedom to live the lives we choose. We have chosen those virtues again and again against evil."
"What was done to that world was an abomination," Alicia says with conviction. "The gods were fools to have concocted such a scheme, their greed blinding them to the great victory it handed to entropy even before Daa-vid laid hands on it."
"Your convictions need no test," The Guardian says at last. "I have seen you and yours now. Antenora stands as One as well, to further prove them."
Alicia nods wordlessly in respect to that. She doesn't know if that skips a test or if the guardian will just make a fresh test to fill out the numbers after all.
Down the two of you walk, down to that platform at last. Roots are everywhere here - but they part to reveal another stairway, heading deeper.
"We're getting closer," Jessica agrees, pausing to study one of the roots.
"Closer, but we don't know how far it is to go," Alicia says, pausing while Jessica examines the roots and making sure they have a safe path through the strangely twisted space here to reach those stairs before continuing down.
The path ahead looks safe and clear.
"What strange things. They seem identical to a tree's roots." Jessica opines.
"It's not very thematically consistent. We have stairs with brick and mortar architecture, and then arboreal roots. Wouldn't a foundation make more sense?" Alicia asks, leading the way down now.
"I'll be sure to complain to the Incarnations," Jessica cracks a faint smile. "What it makes me think of is Yggdrasil."
"When it comes to giant plane-defining trees that's where your mind would usually go," Alicia agrees.
"I wonder if Queen Morwel knew of this, and was inspired?" Jessica says as you tread down this new path.
"That rather diminishes Yggdrasil, doesn't it?" Alicia asks."Compared to a few scant roots at the bottom of a stairway..."
"I don't think it does, sister. Does Antenora's inspirations for the Opal Mountain diminish it, or do any of our inspirations diminish Sylica?" Jessica asks back.
"A little bit," Alicia admits candidly. "But that's taking inspiration from huge meaningful places, ones dear to our hearts. What could Morwel have possibly seen here that would move her in the same fashion? Mount Celestia isn't grand because it's a big rock, it's grand because of the people that live on it."
"And yet, those here are unrealized dreams," Jessica murmurs.
"Unrealized, forgotten..." The Queen says, voice melancholy, "Until I awaken my people and create my servants."
"Why was it unrealised?" she asks as much for the guardian as the Queen. "Why was this place made only to be put aside and a near exact copy used instead?"
It is the Guardian who speaks, "This was decided to be insufficient."
"Why was it insufficient, and why replace it with something so similar? Couldn't it just be altered?" she asks.
"They chose to begin again," Is the answer, disinterested. "They did not deign to tell me why."
Why even bother asking, right? "Do you know why this one was insufficient, then?"
"They were displeased with the creatures to patrol it," Is the answer, bored. "They found the qualities of ants to be tiresome."
"All three Incarnations found a particular race to be tiresome?" Alicia's stride breaks slightly at that. Really? Considering the wild differences between all of Creation's intelligent beings, what possible quality could these have had that merited non-existence?
"Yes," is the only answer you get.
Jessica frowns, "Perhaps the Incarnations are more selective than we imagined, sister?"
Then, after a moment, more comes from the Guardian. "Do not be surprised. Many deities were not the first of their kind created, unknown to any of them."
"I suppose... the Incarnation of Law seemed quite willing to kill Mystra and try again if she dallied too long on choosing a home plane. They don't like indecisiveness... which is rather hypocritical on any kind of closer examination," Alicia admits. "But a quality across an entire race that they found disagreeable... and why leave their mortal shells behind? It feels like there's more to it than that. Like there's some future payoff yet to be uncovered."
"I will be their Queen!" The Queen speaks up now, interrupting. "Give it to me, Guardian!" Her voice is high, frantic, "Before they reach it and take it!"
There is no reply to that. Instead, "Perhaps those that overcome my trials will rule here," The Guardian says at last, "I care little if they do or not."
"Peace, your Majesty," Alicia says gently. "I have my own realm I'm perfectly happy with."
Silence falls - and thus you walk on. The roots grow thicker here - and you notice that the clusters of ant-dwarves are thicker now. Larger, more of them. Down and down ou walk - and at last you see it ahead. A great bottom, a floor of roots and dirt. The steps come down before a simple building, barely the size of a small roadside shrine, just enough space to enter.
Well naturally they go to the building first, Alicia walking up and opening its door.
The door is opened. Within is a large, empty space. Packed dirt, no grass. An arena? Down to seats all around, rising up as you step in.
"Come."
The voice of the Guardian invites you ahead.
On the back wall dozens of faces of the Queen are there, chained. They stare at you from afar, silent all the while. Above and beyond the Queen is a stone pillar that rises high into the air, a rough and crude thing. Yet sitting atop it is a divine seed, the glow and radiance of it familiar to Alicia.
"You dreamed of a time of judgment you were denied," The Guardian's voice is heard. "A soul greedy for justice and power's dream. You hold much of Creation as wrong, for you believe you have your own Answer." Even now the Guardian's voice is disinterested, distant. "Step forward and be tested if you are worthy of the prize."
"No." The Queen's voice as a shape emerges from the stone. A wooden lillend, beautiful and of the same wood tone all over her bare body, as armor of wood covers it. "Not yet." She turns to Alicia, "Promise me some of that miracle's power and I will aid you in these trials."
Alicia stops and holds up a hand towards the arena, turning herself to face the manifested lillend doll. "If we're to fight together I would know your name rather than your title. Do you remember it?"
The Guardian is silent, at least for the moment.
"My name is...
> roll 1d20+12
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d20=5]
"...Queen? I don't," The Queen finally says, a note of longing in her voice. "It's been so long."
And that's with the fantastic willpower she showed pushing against Alicia's scrying earlier. "Jessica knows what it's like to forget your name," she says, prodding her sister to contribute.
"I built anew," Jessica agrees, "I created anew. I lost everything and I stand before you as I am now."
"Then...I will be Queen," The lillend decides, "Will you agree to my offer?"
"You've rather sprung it on us," Alicia admits. "But in truth I was thinking it may be the best solution in the end regardless. Answer me one more thing, if you can? Do you remember why you first came to this place?"
> roll 1d20+12
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 24 > [d20=12]
"It was...an accident," she says at last. "I remember...fire and magic and pain."
Not much to go on there. "And when you arrived? Did you simply happen on the guardian by coincidence?"
Now a laugh. A sour one, a long one, "No! I spend eons...wandering, learning. Eons, eons, eons. So many eons," she says, voice speeding up, "Until I found the Guardian. What's time? Time runs on and on and it never gets tired. Time is like tomorrow always being today, but without any hope because you know tomorrow will be the same."
"And there's no change here to even measure time," Alicia agrees. It does sound nightmarish.
But offer or not, help or not... she'd been mulling over whether to give the seed to Queen regardless. It's certainly a gamble to bestow divinity on someone unknown - she'd said as much when Latha relayed Tryll's complaints about not getting Io's godseed.
But it feels right. Like the natural conclusion to how this should go, to give this place a proper deity of its own, someone who clearly cares for it. Someone who could be a goddess to the lillend in a broader sense.
What had Valnala asked back when she started this? To treat any sisters of hers with love and compassion?
She really should have a chat with Bredanalundalum about the purpose his spell drives its questions towards...
"I'm willing to accept your help, Queen. Jessica?" she asks to make sure her sister is on board.
"I'll accept it," Jessica says, "It's the right thing to do. This, all of this? This was Hell. You didn't deserve that." Jessica then turns ahead, blade readied.
Queen's eyes widen. She shakes several moments, "Thank you," she says, turning to gaze at the seed. "Finally..."
"Then all three of you will perish," The Guardian declares, as it manifests before you. A withered old man leaning heavily on his staff. Ancient, broken, reed thin. His hair is stringy clumps of white, his gaze milky white as well. His staff is an old, broken hunk of wood, undecorated.
Above and behind the old man is a beautiful angel, a celestial woman of magnificence and glory. A solar, wings fanned out white. She forever whispers gentle words into the ear of the old man, Words of Creation that tingle your ears to hear. Her arms wrap around his front, in an embrace.
At the feet of the old man it clings, a whispering thing. A faceless daemon, an ultroloth. Both hands hold sharp daggers at the ready even as it clings, avoiding the old man's flesh through space itself yielding to them. It is a blot and a shadow, one that whispers to him as well. Words of the Dark Speech, vile and painful to even ear indirectly.
They are 40ft away and stand there, as the Guardian intones, "Begin!"
Initiative.
Alicia has supreme init.
[17:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 CL on arcane sight
[17:31] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 49 > [d20=12]
What magic do they all have on them?
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 86, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +3 morale damage, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
The three are utterly nonmagical, even as they utter the Words of Creation and Dark Speech.
Obviously it's the same trick as with the orb earlier. You're dead certain now they aren't using the Weave.
Okay. Carry on with initiative then.
> roll 1d20+24 Jessica
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 25 > [d20=1]
> roll 1d20+18 Queen
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 36 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+33 Old Man
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 35 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+21 Angel
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 37 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+18 Daemon
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 36 > [d20=18]
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Angel (37) > Daemon = Queen (36) > Old Man (35) > Jessica (25)
Open.
[spoiler]
Jessica
HP: 653/653+20
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Telepathic Block 20ft (Stops telepathy/summons) Magic Circle Against Evil 10ft (Protection from Evil)
Bonuses: Attack+7 (+4 morale, +3 luck), Damage+3 (+3 morale) AC+5 (+2 insight, +3 luck), Saves+7 (+9 Ref) (+4 morale, +3 luck), Skills+4 (+4 morale), Checks+0 Extra attack as if hasted.
Resources: Defensive Roll 1/1 Plane Hop 1/1 Superior Invisibility 3/3 Ghost Form 3/3 Shadow Form 2/2
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Recitation(CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful(CL34), Foresight(CL34), Freedom of Movement(CL34), Greater Heroism(CL34)
Notes: +4 bonus to people who flank with her instead of +2.
The daemon is closer, it's more innately objectionable, and it's weak to what Alicia is best able to dish out. So it's little surprise that Alicia focuses her attacks there. Swelling in size to dominate the battlefield and put all foes within her reach. "Defeat the supporters first," she advises Jessica and Queen as she commences her attack, intending to switch up to the angel should the daemon fall to her blows.
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+87+16 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 109 > [d20=6]
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+87+16 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 109 > [d20=6]
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+87 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 95 > [d20=8]
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+87 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 90 > [d20=3]
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+82 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d20=16]
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+82 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 83 > [d20=1]
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+77 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 96 > [d20=19]
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+77 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 78 > [d20=1]
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+72 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 87 > [d20=15]
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+72 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 85 > [d20=13]
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+77 blinding speed, 13th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, smite evil CRIT CHECK
[18:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 82 > [d20=5]
If the daemon dies, attacks will swap to the angel. If the angel dies attacks will switch to the old man.
Many moments of prescience will be used for a +30 bonus if the first attack on a target misses and will be used up until I've exhausted all 4 uses of it.
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+38+13d4+408+2+2d6+2
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 512 > [d6=4,4,6,5,5,1][d4=1,4,1,3,3,4,1,1,1,1,4,2,4][d6=2,5]
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+38+13d4+408+2+2d6+2 (2+2d6+2 is smite evil/evil outsider bane so won't apply to other targets)
[18:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 508 > [d6=3,5,5,6,5,4][d4=2,1,2,1,4,1,1,1,1,2,2,3,3][d6=4,2]
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+38+13d4+408
[18:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 500 > [d6=3,2,6,3,2,2][d4=4,4,3,3,2,2,2,3,3,4,3,2,1]
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+38+13d4+408
[18:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 508 > [d6=5,6,5,5,6,4][d4=1,3,1,3,1,2,4,2,2,3,4,4,1]
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+38+13d4+408
[18:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 503 > [d6=4,5,6,3,2,1][d4=1,3,4,4,3,3,1,3,3,4,2,4,1]
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+38+13d4+408
[18:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 504 > [d6=2,6,1,3,3,6][d4=4,1,3,4,4,2,4,4,2,2,3,3,1]
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+38+13d4+408
[18:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 501 > [d6=1,5,4,5,3,2][d4=1,2,4,2,2,3,1,2,4,4,2,4,4]
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+38+13d4+408
[18:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 505 > [d6=6,6,6,3,1,5][d4=2,3,3,2,2,2,2,1,4,3,4,2,2]
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+38+13d4+408
[18:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 495 > [d6=3,4,5,2,2,2][d4=2,4,3,4,2,4,2,2,2,1,2,2,1]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 12d6+76+13d4+816 If 96/82 is a crit
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 956 > [d6=2,4,2,1,3,4,4,3,5,3,1,3][d4=4,1,2,1,4,1,3,1,1,1,2,4,4]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+38+13d4+408 if it isn't
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 492 > [d6=2,1,4,4,1,1][d4=1,4,1,1,2,2,3,4,3,2,2,4,4]
Also one swift left depending on how this ends.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 89, CMD 123, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +3 morale damage, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
MoP used up when the 78 misses, 1 left.
You rip, tear and strike. Spell and sword sunder daemon and then angel apart. The two cry out as your blade brings the end to both of them, leaving the old man alone, his companions shorn away from him. They do not bleed, but are simply ripped apart like images torn akin to paper.
Go with the swift.
"Queen, take some of my power," Alicia urges now that they have the real foe still to contend with.
Last swift used to make her my familiar.
Bab becomes +34
Gets all of Alicia's skills at base rank, probably irrelevant here
Gains limited wish twice as an SLA at CL 34
+17 natural armour
Intelligence at 22 if it's not higher.
Spell resistance 39 if it's not higher.
Improved evasion.
Also we have an empathic link to feel each other's emotions. Alicia is currently feeling all resolute and confident, but a little concerned at how easily the daemon and angel went down.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 89, CMD 123, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +3 morale damage, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
Moments of prescience left: 1
Noted and added.
You feel Queen's emotions - sheer, ragged hope and desperation. A great wave of both, mixed together.
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Angel (37) > Daemon = Queen (36) > Old Man (35) > Jessica (25)
Queen is up.
The Queen rises up off the ground, chanting away, words of power that resonate through everything here. Words of desperate hope, words of inspiration. Yet as she does, she weaves as second song through it, a song of longing and sheer, timeless desperation. All about mouths form in the arena's stone surfaces, wooden lips repeating the same song behind her.
Inspire Courage, +10 morale to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls and saves vs fear. Inspire Heroics, +8 morale to saves and +8 dodge to AC.
Old Man.
The old man raises his staff up high. The Angel and the Daemon return instantly, as if never gone. He then extends his staff out with the greatest care, no words, no incantations, no channeling the Weave. Instead, a blast of pure force hits the party.
"He can reju-" Is all Jessica can manage, before...
Reflex.
[spoiler]
Jessica
HP: 653/653+20
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Telepathic Block 20ft (Stops telepathy/summons) Magic Circle Against Evil 10ft (Protection from Evil)
Bonuses: Attack+13 (+10 morale, +3 luck), Damage+10 (+10 morale) AC+13 (+8 dodge, +2 insight, +3 luck), Saves+11 (+13 Ref) (+8 morale, +3 luck), Skills+4 (+4 morale), Checks+0 Extra attack as if hasted.
Resources: Defensive Roll 1/1 Plane Hop 1/1 Superior Invisibility 3/3 Ghost Form 3/3 Shadow Form 2/2
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Recitation(CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful(CL34), Foresight(CL34), Freedom of Movement(CL34), Greater Heroism(CL34)
Notes: +4 bonus to people who flank with her instead of +2.
Inspire Courage, +10 morale to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls and saves vs fear. Inspire Heroics, +8 morale to saves and +8 dodge to AC.
[19:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+63 ref
[19:00] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 81 > [d20=18]
Can I tell if the angel and daemon are coming back via temporal recursion and if it's an effect that can be ended or an instantaneous one?
Alicia HP: 1044+20/1044
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 137, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
Moments of prescience left: 1
Your hunch is right - that's exactly what the Guardian is doing.
> roll 1d20+51 improved evasion Jessica
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 61 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+83 improved evasion Queen
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 86 > [d20=3]
> roll 80d8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 351 > [80d8=351]
Alicia halves and the other two negate.
The blast is enough to momentarily stagger Alicia. Amid it she sees Jessica blur ahead, through it as her rapier is held low. Queen merely fades into the stone, emerging out a second later. It's just in time, enough to hold things in check for the moment as Jessica...
Jessica will hold a moment, she wants to get in his face without those in the way, because she suddenly suspects attacking him with those up is a bad idea. Maybe it isn't, but she has some suspicions now. You're up.
A straight up dispel probably won't work because he's not using the weave, but it probably still interacts properly with targeted magic... Alicia sends a silent mental thanks to Chrona 42 as she formulates her response here.
Using alter reality, is there any sort of 'temporal balance' spell or effect I can manage to basically work like an antimagic sphere but for ongoing chronomancy effects?
Alicia HP: 889/1044
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 137, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
Moments of prescience left: 1
Sure, that's reasonable enough. Didn't a spell like that come up during all of that, or was it Seira's?
I can't recall all the specific ones and there's a lot of logs to go through, but we did have to undo and counter a wide variety of temporal effects. Some of it did just get dispelled though.
Asserting her will to suppress any temporal effects within a ten foot radius of herself, Alicia walks closer to the old man and his friends to bring them into reach of it...
So that's standard and move, two swifts left after seeing what this does.
The two wink away as you step closer, leaving the old man abandoned again.
She may as well test if he's vulnerable to negative energy. Yes most things protect themselves from it as a matter of course, but this is a test rather than a true battle.
Quickened enervation first.
[19:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+60 ranged touch
[19:39] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 69 > [d20=9]
[19:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 SR
[19:39] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 57 > [d20=20]
[19:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels
[19:39] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 4 > [d4=4]
Alicia HP: 889/1044
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 137, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/8
Moments of prescience left: 1
No good - it ripples right off of him to no effect.
She follows that up with a quickened perfect summons on the area. She hasn't used that spell in a long time but if he tries summoning fresh allies now that temporal recursion is out, any fiendish ones will instead be uncontrolled angelic ones!
done.
Alicia HP: 889/1044
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 137, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/12/9/8/6/8/7/5/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/8
Moments of prescience left: 1
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Jessica (38) > Queen (36) > Old Man (35) > Jessica (25)
Jessica goes.
Like a dart Jessica lunges ahead, that one open moment enough as her rapier seeks your foe's throat.
Jessica is using superior legedemain to sneak attack and auto-flank for +4 bonus to her attack roll.
> roll 1d20+70 (+13 various, +4 flank)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 82 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d6+42+23d6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 114 > [d6=1,2,3,2,1,6,5,3,5,5,1,4,3,5,5,6,2,1,1,2,1,1,2,5]
A direct hit, right into the old man's throat. She pulls the blade out, no blood - only a soft hiss of air, the wound there and yet not telling. Yet a moment later...
> roll 1d20+93
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 109 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+93
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 110 > [d20=17]
> roll 1d20+93
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 99 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+93
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 108 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+93 crit?
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 110 > [d20=17]
> roll 3d8+31+5d8
> roll 3d8+31+5d8
> roll 3d8+31+5d8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d8=2,1,5,6,2,6,2,1]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 63 > [d8=1,6,6,3,3,4,8,1]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 60 > [d8=3,5,1,4,3,4,5,4]
> roll 9d8+93+5d8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 162 > [d8=7,1,3,4,3,8,2,6,1,7,4,8,8,7]
A four some of great wooden spikes erupt from thin air, impaling the old man from all directions. He hangs there as if a forgotten doll, before he gestures with his staff and suddenly Alicia's body shakes and...
Fortitude.
[20:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+83 mettle
[20:10] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 99 > [d20=16]
Alicia HP: 889/1044
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 137, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/12/9/8/6/8/7/5/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/8
Moments of prescience left: 1
You feel as if you might crumble to nothing, yet you endure this odd and unpleasant sensation. It leaves you feeling unpleasant but nothing else.
Go.
Is that staff just an affectation or is it needed to channel the guardian's power? Alicia isn't sure but she's content to try more than simple violence here given he endured her initial attack well enough. So her giant hand reaches out to pluck the staff from his grasp!
[20:25] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+87+30 cmb to disarm, moment of prescience
[20:25] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 125 > [d20=8]
Alicia HP: 889/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 137, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/12/9/8/6/8/7/5/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/8
You snatch the staff away with one deft move. It is a plain wooden stick as far as you can tell, but now it's your plain wooden stick.
Got it. Anything else this turn?
Tossing the staff behind her gigantic body so it's out of reach, Alicia swiftly restores her prescient spell!
Quickened many moments of prescience.That done, she bolsters her magical capabilities with Seira's handy spell!
Quick cast Seira's Arcane Thesis.
Done now.
Alicia HP: 889/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 137, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/12/9/8/6/8/7/5/3/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/8
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Jessica (38) > Queen (36) > Old Man (35) > Jessica (25)
With this chance, the old man unmoved, Jessica strikes with her full wrath, rapier a blur.
> roll 1d20+70 (+13 various, +4 flank)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 88 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+70 (+13 various, +4 flank)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 88 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+65 (+13 various, +4 flank)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+60 (+13 various, +4 flank)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 77 > [d20=17]
> roll 1d20+55 (+13 various, +4 flank)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 65 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+70 (+13 various, +4 flank) crit 1
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 82 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+65 (+13 various, +4 flank) crit 2
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 73 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+60 (+13 various, +4 flank) crit 3
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d20=11]
> roll 1d6+42+23d6
> roll 1d6+42+23d6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 132 > [d6=6,1,6,3,4,6,3,3,3,5,2,4,6,2,6,6,3,2,1,5,1,3,6,3]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 118 > [d6=2,3,2,4,4,2,3,4,1,4,1,5,5,5,6,1,1,3,1,3,5,5,3,3]
> roll 2d6+82+23d6
> roll 2d6+82+23d6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 169 > [d6=3,3,6,1,4,4,2,3,6,1,6,5,4,6,4,5,4,5,1,1,1,5,1,2,4]
> roll 2d6+82+23d6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 168 > [d6=4,4,3,6,1,1,1,1,5,5,2,6,6,2,3,2,6,6,2,6,5,2,1,5,1]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 168 > [d6=1,3,3,3,6,6,4,3,3,5,3,3,4,3,5,4,3,6,4,1,1,2,4,5,1]
Blow after blow lands - and the creature shifts. You're suddenly 70ft away from it, just at the entrance to this arena. The old man is now a beautiful woman of ice and snow. A moment of memories of days past with Seira flares under her cold gaze.
"Continue," The Guardian's voice, "Continue to prove yourself worthy of existing."
Init is now Alicia (Supreme Init) > Jessica (38) > Queen (36) > Jessica (25)
Queen is up.
Queen holds her position, her song becoming one of learning, of music and warmth. Summer's warmth, trees ablossom as tiny, leafy blossoms gather over all of you.
Song of Nature's Embrace, party is immune to cold now.
Queen is up.
The Guardian gestures as you hear a loud, sharp sound behind you. A glance shows that a whirling maw of hungry, black nothingness is now behind you, back the way you came. It reminds you of an Eye of Shar, of one of the Blackballs that consume everything it touches. The winds blow intensely and heavily, screaming winter's invectives.
Alicia, go.
To clarify, was the blackball summoned by the queen and is on our side?
Yes. The Guardian is 70ft away from you, you're back at the entrance to here. The hungry nonthingness is 20ft away from you, straight back behind you. So it's:
Guardian----70ft-----Heroes--(20ft)--Hungry Nothingness.
Isn't Queen next to us?
Are you using Queen to refer to both our lillend pal and the icy woman?
No, just a really stupid typo that's fixed.
Guardian----70ft-----Alicia+Jessica+Queen--(20ft)--Hungry Nothingness.
Okay, but to go back to my original question - what side is the hungry nothingness on? The description made it sound like Queen summoned it.
Fixed THAT typo, too.
This reminds me of a certain frostwind virago, who in turn always felt like a queen to me. My brain get confuzzled.
"Jessica I'm making a path for you," Alicia says, compressing space between her sister and the frost-maiden while she slashes out with her sword to strike both of them at once!
free action to space compress between Jessica and the guardian's back. This also puts the guardian in my melee reach so whirlwind attack go.
[17:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+116 whirlwind attack, 10th level arcane strike, quickened true strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 125 > [d20=9]
[17:34] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+63+17+2d6+10d4+408 last 408 is divine, the 17 is fire
[17:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 537 > [d6=2,1,4,4,4,1,4,3][d4=1,2,4,3,1,4,2,3,4,2]
DC 44 fort or -10 penalty to armour and natural armour.
Will use last swift on seeing result of this. +83 fort with mettle and can't fail on a one if any saves are prompted from hitting the ball.
Alicia HP: 889/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 137, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/12/9/8/6/7/7/5/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/8
Only the first part of your action goes through.
The moment you twist space, you feel it. Another force twisting space, another one changing it. With a sharp, electric jerk space is not twisted either way - it's now a simple 70ft to the Guardian.
"Space manipulation," Jessica calls, "Trying to trap us into oblivion!"
Continue with the rest of your turn from there, revise as needed due to interruption.
Okay, that does change things. Will full attack the sphere instead.Alicia tuts at that. "Fine, I'll deal with the orb first then," she says, turning fully to engage the threat at their rear and rending it apart into nothing with enchanted blade and divine all-consuming acid!
[17:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 blinding speed, 10th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:46] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 101 > [d20=11]
[17:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 blinding speed, 10th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:46] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d20=8]
[17:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 blinding speed, 10th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:46] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 99 > [d20=9]
[17:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 blinding speed, 10th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:46] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 97 > [d20=7]
[17:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+85 blinding speed, 10th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:46] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 92 > [d20=7]
[17:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+85 blinding speed, 10th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:46] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 90 > [d20=5]
[17:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 blinding speed, 10th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:46] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 99 > [d20=19]
[17:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 blinding speed, 10th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:46] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 81 > [d20=1]
[17:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+75 blinding speed, 10th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:46] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 80 > [d20=5]
[17:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+75 blinding speed, 10th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[17:46] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 85 > [d20=10]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+2d6+10d4+408+3d6 last 3d6 is holy
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 527 > [d6=2,2,3,6,2,3,6,6][d4=3,2,2,3,4,2,2,3,4,1][d6=6,6,3]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+2d6+10d4+408+3d6 last 3d6 is holy
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 515 > [d6=2,3,6,3,4,6,3,4][d4=1,3,2,1,4,2,3,2,1,1][d6=5,2,1]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+2d6+10d4+408+3d6 last 3d6 is holy
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 521 > [d6=5,1,5,4,1,2,3,6][d4=3,4,1,2,4,4,2,4,3,2][d6=2,1,6]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+2d6+10d4+408+3d6 last 3d6 is holy
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 510 > [d6=1,1,6,6,6,2,3,6][d4=1,3,2,1,3,2,1,1,3,1][d6=1,2,2]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+2d6+10d4+408+3d6 last 3d6 is holy
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 515 > [d6=2,6,6,4,4,1,2,3][d4=3,1,2,2,3,1,1,3,1,2][d6=4,4,4]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+2d6+10d4+408+3d6 last 3d6 is holy
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 521 > [d6=4,1,4,4,4,6,4,1][d4=1,3,4,2,3,4,3,2,1,3][d6=6,4,1]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+2d6+10d4+408+3d6 last 3d6 is holy
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 523 > [d6=5,6,3,4,5,3,4,2][d4=1,2,1,4,1,2,2,2,4,3][d6=4,3,6]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+2d6+10d4+408+3d6 last 3d6 is holy
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 514 > [d6=6,3,1,3,2,3,2,5][d4=3,3,3,1,1,2,3,4,1,2][d6=4,2,4]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+2d6+10d4+408+3d6 last 3d6 is holy
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 530 > [d6=3,3,4,6,5,5,5,3][d4=2,1,4,3,4,4,1,1,4,4][d6=4,5,3]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+2d6+10d4+408+3d6 last 3d6 is holy
[17:47] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 525 > [d6=1,6,3,2,2,2,5,6][d4=1,4,2,2,3,4,4,1,3,4][d6=5,6,3]
DC 44 fort or -10 penalty to armour and natural armour.
If the first 2 attacks miss i'll use many moments of prescience for +30 on the next 4 of them
Alicia HP: 889/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 137, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/12/9/8/6/7/7/5/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/8
Blow after blow tears into the nothingness. You manage to shred it apart, ripping it asunder from top to bottom. It fades away, the way out revealed again. The air hums low, heard faintly beneath the icy winds coming against you all the while.
No many moments needed. Anything else for your turn?
Alicia follows that up by sending a bolt of divine lightning at the guardian to signal her displeasure!
Quickened/maximised/vivacious moonbow.
[17:56] <@Ebiris> roll 3#1d20+60 ranged touch
[17:56] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 62, 78, 66 >
[17:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+47 SR
[17:56] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 58 > [d20=11]
Each hit does 60 divine damage.
Alicia HP: 889/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 137, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/8/9/12/9/8/5/7/7/5/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/8
The moonbow flies well - but the wind deflects it at the last minute, the ranged attack blown aside.
Do you have anything that would prevent this, like a power or anything? I don't think so, but enough moving pieces that I'll check real quick.
No, ranged attacks aren't really Alicia's thing.
Jessica barrels forward at this, coming at the icy foe before her in a deft blur, gliding over the ground. She goes to meet it head on, not allowing a single chance for matters to go wrong.
> roll 1d20+66 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 76 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d6+42+23d6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 122 > [d6=2,2,6,4,3,5,4,2,2,4,1,2,2,4,4,3,4,4,3,1,4,5,6,3]
Jessica stabs out, a blow into your foe's arm. It draws icy blood as the Queen calls, "Be stronger!"
Spell of Queen's Might. +8 morale Strength both of you.
The frozen woman reaches out for Jessica and...
> roll 1d20+56 touch AC Jessica
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 65 > [d20=9]
> roll 44d12+44
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 314 > [44d12=270]
An icy touch - Jessica begins to shatter, frozen, but the ice melts. She is bloodied all over, cracks all over her, but not broken. The little leaves all over her warm her up, stop a worse fate.
Go. Wasn't ID despite appearances, but it's still nasty.
[spoiler]
Jessica
HP: 359/653
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Telepathic Block 20ft (Stops telepathy/summons) Magic Circle Against Evil 10ft (Protection from Evil)
Bonuses: Attack+13 (+10 morale, +3 luck), Damage+10 (+10 morale) AC+13 (+8 dodge, +2 insight, +3 luck), Saves+11 (+13 Ref) (+8 morale, +3 luck), Skills+4 (+4 morale), Checks+0 Extra attack as if hasted.
Resources: Defensive Roll 1/1 Plane Hop 1/1 Superior Invisibility 3/3 Ghost Form 3/3 Shadow Form 2/2
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Recitation(CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful(CL34), Foresight(CL34), Freedom of Movement(CL34), Greater Heroism(CL34)
Notes: +4 bonus to people who flank with her instead of +2.
Inspire Courage, +10 morale to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls and saves vs fear. Inspire Heroics, +8 morale to saves and +8 dodge to AC.
It still seems perfectly vulnerable to melee, so Alicia surges over to join Jessica while she summons several devas to heal her sister!
Quickened lightning leap to get into melee, quickened SMX to summon 1d4+1 hollyphants.
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+1 hollyphants
[18:38] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 5 > [d4=4]"You heal me, the rest heal her!" she quickly orders them before attacking with a flurry of now fiery sword-slashes!
4 heals on Jessica for +600 hp, 1 heal on Alicia for +300 hp (since she has sensual blessing to double it)
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 flanking, blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 92 > [d20=4]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 flanking, blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 91 > [d20=3]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 flanking, blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 105 > [d20=17]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 flanking, blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 101 > [d20=13]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+83 flanking, blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 90 > [d20=7]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+83 flanking, blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 84 > [d20=1]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+78 flanking, blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d20=20]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+78 flanking, blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 88 > [d20=10]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+73 flanking, blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 85 > [d20=12]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+73 flanking, blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 86 > [d20=13]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 crit check
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 101 > [d20=13]
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+78 crit check
[18:42] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 88 > [d20=10]
[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+17+2d6+6d4+80+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[18:43] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 203 > [d6=2,1,5,3,6,3,6,6][d4=3,4,4,2,3,1][d6=2,6,1]
[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+17+2d6+6d4+80+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[18:43] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 185 > [d6=2,3,1,1,1,4,4,5][d4=3,1,3,1,1,1][d6=5,2,2]
[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+17+2d6+6d4+80+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[18:43] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 201 > [d6=3,1,5,2,1,3,2,6][d4=4,4,3,3,3,4][d6=5,3,4]
[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+17+2d6+6d4+80+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[18:43] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 196 > [d6=1,4,1,3,1,5,2,3][d4=4,4,4,1,4,2][d6=4,4,4]
[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+17+2d6+6d4+80+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[18:43] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 206 > [d6=6,2,6,5,3,2,6,4][d4=3,2,2,1,4,4][d6=4,5,2]
[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+17+2d6+6d4+80+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[18:43] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 203 > [d6=4,3,5,4,3,1,3,4][d4=4,2,2,3,3,4][d6=1,6,6]
[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+17+2d6+6d4+80+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[18:44] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 191 > [d6=6,1,1,1,4,2,2,6][d4=4,3,1,2,2,1][d6=4,1,5]
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+17+2d6+6d4+80+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[18:44] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 191 > [d6=1,3,6,4,3,1,1,5][d4=2,1,1,2,3,2][d6=4,6,1]
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 12d6+96+34+2d6+6d4+160+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine if 105/101 is a crit
[18:44] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 363 > [d6=4,3,3,6,6,5,4,3,6,1,6,1,3,6][d4=1,1,1,1,4,2][d6=2,2,2]
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+17+2d6+6d4+80+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine if it isn't
[18:44] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 193 > [d6=3,6,1,2,1,6,4,3][d4=1,1,1,2,4,2][d6=5,1,5]
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 12d6+96+34+2d6+6d4+160+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine if 98/88 is a crit
[18:44] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 357 > [d6=3,1,1,2,1,5,4,4,5,3,3,3,1,6][d4=2,1,1,4,4,1][d6=4,2,6]
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+48+17+2d6+6d4+80+3d6 last 3d6 is holy, 17 is fire, 80 is divine if it isn't
[18:44] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 194 > [d6=1,5,5,5,2,1,2,2][d4=3,4,2,3,4,1][d6=3,2,4]
+4 attack and damage on all of those. Forgot to add Queen's latest buff in.
Alicia HP: 1044/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/7/9/11/8/8/5/7/7/4/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/8
Quick Fort save, Alicia.
[spoiler]
Jessica
HP: 653/653
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Telepathic Block 20ft (Stops telepathy/summons) Magic Circle Against Evil 10ft (Protection from Evil)
Bonuses: Attack+13 (+10 morale, +3 luck), Damage+10 (+10 morale) AC+13 (+8 dodge, +2 insight, +3 luck), Saves+11 (+13 Ref) (+8 morale, +3 luck), Skills+4 (+4 morale), Checks+0 Extra attack as if hasted.
Resources: Defensive Roll 1/1 Plane Hop 1/1 Superior Invisibility 3/3 Ghost Form 3/3 Shadow Form 2/2
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Recitation(CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful(CL34), Foresight(CL34), Freedom of Movement(CL34), Greater Heroism(CL34)
Notes: +4 bonus to people who flank with her instead of +2. +8 strength in case it matters, but she's dex based.
Inspire Courage, +10 morale to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls and saves vs fear. Inspire Heroics, +8 morale to saves and +8 dodge to AC.
[18:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+83 mettle
[18:53] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d20=15]
With blade and might, Alicia cleaves apart the foe. Snow and blood are sent down as she slices - and for a moment, as she falls, all the cold in the multiverse feels focused on her. Yet the feeling subsides and you stand firm. All of you are together now, the sky above dark and empty - save for one distant star, radiant.
"Continue," The Guardian intones. "Continue to try and survive. You have not yet impressed me."
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Jessica (38) > Queen (36) > Star (35) > Jessica (25)
Anything else on your turn now, Alicia?
all actions used
Jessica gazes up, "Now the heavens themselves rebel against us," she says, "Sister, can you speed us along?"
"We'll make it," Queen says, "We'll make it, this time I'll prove it to you, Guardian!"
Distance to that star?
More than 3 miles, the limit of your divine vision.
"Lets see if this works again..."
Space compression to link a spot between us with one 3400 feet up.
It's not your turn yet, Jessica's just asking if you plan to use space compression so she can stay put if needed. She'll hold if asked.
Strike then.
"I'll try."
"Hold, Queen," Jessica waits, as Queen does the same.
Yet above is not silent. It lances down - a single strike of light that explodes amid the three of you, like the smiting power of a deity.
Reflex all.
[19:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+67 ref
[19:57] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 70 > [d20=3]
Alicia HP: 1044/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/7/9/11/8/8/5/7/7/4/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/8
> roll 1d20+51 improved evasion Jessica
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 58 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+83 improved evasion Queen
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 86 > [d20=3]
> roll 100d4
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 253 > [100d4=253]
Alicia half, the other two evade.
Yet the burst of light hurts, burning and biting and clawing. It's like many things at one, leaving Alicia bloodied but intact.
Go.
"Lets see if this works now..." Alicia says after enduring that, attempting to compress a point placed between her and Queen with one about 3400 feet up in the air.
Alicia HP: 918/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/7/9/11/8/8/5/7/7/4/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/8
Success. The link is established without any difficulty.
"Follow me," she says to the others, running over and then seemingly vanishing as she warps straight up!
Still too far to do much she then prepared to counter any light strikes coming down at her with a blast of silver fire!
So free to warp space, move to move, then standard on a readied action. Not using swifts this turn.
Jessica follows, and then Queen is there. She touches you, your wound gone.
Heal, +150 HP.
The star is still out of your range of vision.
Like clockwork another blast comes, Jessica ready to dodge. "Now, sister!"
Go ahead.
She had practice with this back when they attacked Avernus, and so a silver lance shoots up from her hand to burst that oncoming light apart!
[20:13] <@Ebiris> roll 40d10 silver fire damage if relevant
[20:13] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 204 > [40d10=204]
Alicia HP: 1044/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/7/9/11/8/8/5/7/7/4/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/8
> roll 100d4
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 245 > [100d4=245]
The two bursts meet, and from them neither continues, both stopped. The impact is silent, no noise but plenty of light as the two do war to the end. Success!
Go.
It's possible they could do this a lot faster just by teleporting, but Alicia frankly doesn't trust in-combat teleportation. Not after what she did to Lixer's avatar.
So she remaps space, a spot between where they are connected with one further up towards that star by another 3400 feet.
Exact same routine as last round, readied action to pop the next light burst with silver fire.
"Up, keep going!" she urges.
Thus you all go up again, bracing and ready. It's still not within range, another blast fired as...
Go ahead and try to counter.
[20:28] <@Ebiris> roll 40d10 silver fire damage
[20:28] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 219 > [40d10=219]
> roll 100d4
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 261 > [100d4=261]
Again your shot stops it, Jessica looking on. "Distance won't stop us, Guardian. We'll go until Creation is another billion years old if we have to, and we won't stop."
Go.
"Same routine as before, keep going," Alicia says, warping space and going through first, braced to shoot back at any other bombardments.
Does the star at least look any closer now?
It's not in 3 miles sight yet.
Thus you advance again.
Now it's just under 3 miles away - a single point of radiance, a young man emitting all that light. No older than 21 or 22, clad in white and throwing bolts down, another one coming your way.
Go ahead and counter.
[20:48] <@Ebiris> roll 40d10 silver fire damage
[20:48] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 221 > [40d10=221]
> roll 100d4
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 250 > [100d4=250]
Another bolt stopped, countered smoothly.
Go.
Effectively 5 rounds at current pace before we're close enough for melee, though could manage long range spells after 4 if anyone cares to try.
"Keep going, we won't change if he doesn't," Alicia says, twisting space and zipping through it before she prepared to counter with more ever-reliable silver fire.
Now that it's known, give me four counter checks.
[21:00] <@Ebiris> roll 4#40d10 silver fire
[21:00] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 231, 208, 249, 235 >
Four more times. It's done, one more step should take you to him. The young man isn't alarmed, but continues on with steady patience.
Go Alicia, your turn.
"The next one takes us right to him," Alicia warns before it happens, and she's the first one through making her attack on him in a flash!
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[21:05] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 96 > [d20=6]
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[21:05] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 108 > [d20=18]
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[21:05] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 96 > [d20=6]
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[21:05] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 99 > [d20=9]
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+85 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[21:05] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 91 > [d20=6]
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+85 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[21:05] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 86 > [d20=1]
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[21:05] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 83 > [d20=3]
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[21:05] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 90 > [d20=10]
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+75 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[21:05] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 76 > [d20=1]
[21:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+75 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust
[21:05] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 81 > [d20=6]
[21:06] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious combust crit check
[21:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 110 > [d20=20]
[21:06] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+6d4+80 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[21:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 191 > [d6=6,2,3,2,1,6,6,2][d4=1,2,2,1,4,4]
[21:06] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+6d4+80 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[21:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 194 > [d6=2,2,5,5,3,5,6,2][d4=1,1,4,4,4,1]
[21:06] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+6d4+80 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[21:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 198 > [d6=4,3,6,3,6,1,4,5][d4=1,2,4,3,4,3]
[21:06] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+6d4+80 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[21:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 195 > [d6=5,1,5,2,4,4,4,4][d4=4,2,4,4,1,2]
[21:06] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+6d4+80 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[21:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 191 > [d6=6,4,4,3,5,3,1,1][d4=3,3,1,1,3,4]
[21:06] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+6d4+80 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[21:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 191 > [d6=3,2,4,4,4,2,1,6][d4=3,2,2,4,3,2]
[21:06] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+6d4+80 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[21:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 205 > [d6=6,6,2,5,4,6,5,2][d4=4,4,2,4,4,2]
[21:06] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+6d4+80 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[21:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 187 > [d6=4,6,2,6,1,1,2,2][d4=4,3,3,2,1,1]
[21:06] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+6d4+80 17 is fire, 80 is divine
[21:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 194 > [d6=4,2,4,4,5,4,4,1][d4=4,3,3,2,3,2]
[21:07] <@Ebiris> roll 12d6+104+34+2d6+6d4+160 34 is fire, 160 is divine if 108/110 was a crit
[21:07] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 368 > [d6=2,2,5,4,4,6,1,2,2,6,5,4,4,6][d4=1,4,3,4,3,2]
[21:07] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+6d4+80 17 is fire, 80 is divine if it wasn't
[21:07] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 200 > [d6=6,5,5,2,5,4,5,6][d4=2,3,1,2,1,4]
Will use moments of prescience on the next 4 attacks if the first 2 miss for another +30.
2 swifts left.
Alicia HP: 1044/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/6/9/10/8/8/5/7/7/4/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/8
No MMOP needed.
Your blade is a relentless hunter, the young man slashed asunder like a pit fiend before your power.
A blink.
You are back in the arena, about 40ft away from a glowing sphere. A prismatic sphere, radiant and shielding something within from sight. You know this spell, even if it looks as non magical to you as a rock in a field.
Continue with the swifts.
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Jessica (38) > Queen (36) > ??? (35) > Jessica (25)
No use for them right now, turn over.
"Sister, can you take down that sphere," Jessica asks right away, "Queen?"
"I'll try a disjunction, that usually works," Alicia says. Otherwise having to go through the spell chain will be a long and laborious process.
Jessica and Queen hold then.
From within the sphere they emerge - a great barrage of a familiar spell, magic missiles slamming into the three of you.
> roll 1d20+38 this one is actually mimicking a spell enough to have this apply
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 47 > [d20=9]
SR?
49
Alicia HP: 1044/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/6/9/10/8/8/5/7/7/4/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/8
Yet the missiles do nothing against any of you. Instead the three of you endure them, no more from the sphere for now.
Go ahead.
Alicia proceeds to cast Mage's Disjunction!
Casting from SLA. Spell description suggests it just automatically takes out prismatic sphere but I'll roll CL if it's needed.
[17:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 CL
[17:12] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 48 > [d20=11]
> roll 1d20+38
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 47 > [d20=9]
CL of your spell is 37, so DC to counter it is 48. So close.
A jolt of magic rocks your spell, yet yours powers through. A deity of magic will not be stopped, not like that. The sphere collapses in on itself, gone in an array of prismatic light. Beneath it is a woman in robes, a crystal wand in hand as she chants silently, no ta sound from her.
Anything else with your turn?
She links a spot next to the woman with one next to Jessica with space compression. "You have a path, sister." One that will remain even if the sphere goes back up. In the meantime she'll try another enervation on the off chance the immunities change between forms, a quick ray of crackling black energy sent out.
[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+60 ranged touch
[17:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 73 > [d20=13]
[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+47 SR
[17:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d20=12]
[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels
[17:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 3 > [d4=3]
Quickened enervation, one swift left after which I'll keep back for counterspelling which I can do with Arcane Thesis up.
Alicia HP: 1044/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/6/9/10/8/8/5/7/7/4/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/7
The enervation hits to no avail - but Jessica steps forward slightly, rapier thrusting out all the while.
> roll 1d20+66 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 84 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+66 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 84 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+61 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+56 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 72 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+51 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 66 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+66 (+13 various) crit 1
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 80 > [d20=14]
> roll 1d20+66 (+13 various) crit 2
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 70 > [d20=4]
> roll 1d20+56 (+13 various) crit 3
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 74 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+51 (+13 various) crit 4
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 66 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d6+42
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 48 > [d6=6]
> roll 2d6+84+23d6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 179 > [d6=4,3,4,3,2,4,4,5,1,5,6,1,5,1,4,6,4,3,2,5,2,4,6,6,5]
> roll 2d6+84+23d6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 151 > [d6=3,1,4,4,2,2,4,3,1,3,1,3,1,2,5,5,2,5,2,5,2,2,1,3,1]
> roll 2d6+84+23d6
> roll 2d6+84+23d6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 167 > [d6=3,3,2,2,4,1,4,3,4,1,6,3,3,5,6,1,2,3,6,2,2,2,3,6,6]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 164 > [d6=1,3,2,4,2,4,5,2,6,1,1,2,4,1,4,3,2,2,4,6,6,6,1,5,3]
The woman is gone.
!!!!
All three of you stand in the center of the arena. All around you are thousands, on the ground, in the air and in the stands. Warriors one and all, identical humanoids in armor and with heavy blades. In an instant an entire army surrounds you, but Queen smiles.
"GUARDIAN, YOU THINK A QUEEN CANNOT DEAL WITH AN ARMY?" she calls.
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Jessica (38) > Queen (36) > Army (35)
All about the roots spread, the Queen's thorns becoming great spears, lashing out everywhere at this army.
> roll 1d20+93
> roll 1d20+93
> roll 1d20+93
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 109 > [d20=16]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 107 > [d20=14]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 97 > [d20=4]
> roll 3d8+31+5d8
> roll 3d8+31+5d8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d8=8,6,2,2,2,2,3,3]
> roll 3d8+31+5d8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 69 > [d8=5,6,3,4,6,6,2,6]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d8=2,2,2,8,2,2,4,2]
It is a rain of blood, for the warriors are instantly stopped. Each and every one is impaled, ran through, broken by the Queen's power. Before you a thousand becomes none, save for a sea of corpses.
Then they are gone.
Silence. For long moments there is silence. Then he stands there - a man of no age, no features. A man who is not a man, a man and yet with nothing that makes him as a man. A presence of a man without any body perhaps, yet you can see one ahead, 20ft ahead. From his mouth comes the voice of the Guardian, "Now it ends for you," he says.
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Jessica (38) > Guardian (36) > Army (35)
Guardian is up.
The merest look at Alicia before a splash of pale, dark liquid hits you - !
Fortitude. This is an epic poison being used, but being a deity at least mitigates most of the problems there, so the save's basically a normal fort. This does bypass divine immunity so you need a save, though.
[17:41] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+83 mettle
[17:41] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 100 > [d20=17]
Yet Alicia is able to endure, even as her armor discolors in an instant from the contact, before a brush of divine will washes the poison away. A blackened patch is there, the metal scarred from a moment's contact.
Go.
Sorry Latha, hopefully that'll brush out later!
"I'll keep us safe from poison, keep pressing!" Alicia warps space to give Jessica another path to the rear target while a thin purifying mist spreads out from her, Alicia positioning towards his front so Jessica can flank with her.
Dance of the unicorn SLA, purifies non-magical poisons/contaminants. +4 save bonus vs magical or supernatural gas effects.After asserting her will to make that happen, she follows up with two quick spells, sending a crackling staccato burst of lightning towards him!
Two quickened/maximised/vivacious moonbows.
[17:55] <@Ebiris> roll 3#1d20+60 ranged touch
[17:56] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 76, 79, 70 >
[17:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+47 SR
[17:56] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d20=8]
[17:56] <@Ebiris> roll 3#1d20+60 ranged touch
[17:56] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 73, 71, 79 >
[17:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+47 SR
[17:56] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 57 > [d20=10]
That's 60 divine damage per hit.
Alicia HP: 1044/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/6/9/10/8/8/3/7/7/4/3/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/7
"That's useless."
With two words the Guardian ignores your attacks utterly, not a single speck of impact on him at all. A moment later Jessica is there, striking at his back.
> roll 1d20+66 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 80 > [d20=14]
> roll 1d20+66 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d20+61 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 62 > [d20=1]
> roll 1d20+56 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 70 > [d20=14]
> roll 1d20+51 (+13 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d20=4]
The Guardian doesn't even turn. "A waste of time," he says, as the rapier fails to pierce him, fails to do anything at all.
A loud cry, a cry of desperation and anger, as thorns erupt out at the Guardian.
> roll 1d20+93
> roll 1d20+93
> roll 1d20+93
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 106 > [d20=13]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 101 > [d20=8]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 111 > [d20=18]
"Worthless," The Guardian intones, the thorns cracking against him, not the slightest impact on him at all. Instead, he gestures his hand out at all of you.
> roll 1d20+80
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 86 > [d20=6]
AC?
97
Jessica's AC is 88 and the Queen's fine too, if just.
Yet this blast is withstood, none of you crushed by a sudden torrent of power.
Go.
[spoiler]
Jessica
HP: 653/653
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Telepathic Block 20ft (Stops telepathy/summons) Magic Circle Against Evil 10ft (Protection from Evil)
Bonuses: Attack+13 (+10 morale, +3 luck), Damage+10 (+10 morale) AC+13 (+8 dodge, +2 insight, +3 luck), Saves+11 (+13 Ref) (+8 morale, +3 luck), Skills+4 (+4 morale), Checks+0 Extra attack as if hasted.
Resources: Defensive Roll 1/1 Plane Hop 1/1 Superior Invisibility 3/3 Ghost Form 3/3 Shadow Form 2/2
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Recitation(CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful(CL34), Foresight(CL34), Freedom of Movement(CL34), Greater Heroism(CL34)
Notes: +4 bonus to people who flank with her instead of +2. +8 strength in case it matters, but she's dex based.
Inspire Courage, +10 morale to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls and saves vs fear. Inspire Heroics, +8 morale to saves and +8 dodge to AC.
"Such arrogance is unbecoming," Alicia says as his own attacks fail to find any purchase on them just as much as theirs failed on him. She'll have to go all out though, given what she's seen of him enduring Jessica and Queen's strikes, magic and power channelled into her titanic blade as it swings down to break him!
[18:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+98+20 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, quickened true strike
[18:18] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 133 > [d20=15]
[18:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+98+20 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, quickened true strike
[18:18] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 131 > [d20=13]
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+98+30 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 137 > [d20=9]
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+98+30 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 142 > [d20=14]
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+93+30 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 134 > [d20=11]
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+93+30 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 128 > [d20=5]
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 108 > [d20=20]
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 106 > [d20=18]
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+83 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 90 > [d20=7]
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+83 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d20=15]
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp - crit check
[18:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 100 > [d20=12]
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 flanking, blinding speed, 12th level arcane strike, channelled maximised/vivacious flux grasp - crit check
[18:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 108 > [d20=20]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+12d4+408 17 is fire, 408 is divine
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 544 > [d6=3,6,3,6,1,4,6,5][d4=3,4,2,3,2,2,2,4,3,1,3,4]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+12d4+408 17 is fire, 408 is divine
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 537 > [d6=1,6,4,3,4,6,3,6][d4=3,1,3,3,2,2,2,2,4,3,1,1]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+12d4+408 17 is fire, 408 is divine
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 540 > [d6=2,2,5,6,5,5,5,4][d4=1,2,1,4,4,1,2,3,3,1,4,3]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+12d4+408 17 is fire, 408 is divine
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 536 > [d6=2,6,1,4,3,2,5,3][d4=2,3,3,4,3,1,3,2,3,2,4,3]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+12d4+408 17 is fire, 408 is divine
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 526 > [d6=3,1,4,1,6,4,1,5][d4=3,2,2,3,1,1,2,2,4,1,1,2]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+12d4+408 17 is fire, 408 is divine
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 530 > [d6=1,4,3,1,4,1,5,6][d4=1,4,2,2,1,3,3,1,4,4,1,2]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+12d4+408 17 is fire, 408 is divine
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 541 > [d6=2,5,5,6,2,6,2,5][d4=3,3,1,4,2,1,2,4,3,4,2,2]
[18:21] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+12d4+408 17 is fire, 408 is divine
[18:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 529 > [d6=5,1,6,3,1,2,4,6][d4=2,1,3,2,3,1,2,2,2,1,4,1]
[18:22] <@Ebiris> roll 12d6+104+34+2d6+12d4+816 34 is fire, 816 is divine if 108/100 was a crit
[18:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1031 > [d6=6,4,6,5,3,1,3,1,3,4,5,5,6,1][d4=1,1,1,4,2,2,1,2,3,2,1,4]
[18:22] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+12d4+408 17 is fire, 408 is divine if it wasn't (guaranteed hit for 20 at least)
[18:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 540 > [d6=5,1,6,1,6,5,5,1][d4=4,1,2,2,3,2,4,2,3,3,4,3]
[18:22] <@Ebiris> roll 12d6+104+34+2d6+12d4+816 34 is fire, 816 is divine if 106/108 was a crit
[18:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1031 > [d6=6,4,3,4,1,2,5,5,2,1,6,2,3,1][d4=4,4,4,2,4,2,2,2,1,2,4,1]
[18:22] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+52+17+2d6+12d4+408 17 is fire, 408 is divine if it wasn't
[18:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 525 > [d6=4,2,1,3,3,4,1,1][d4=2,3,1,1,2,4,3,3,2,2,2,4]
Also DC 44 fort or -10 armour/natural armour penalty after any hits.
Alicia HP: 1044/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/6/9/10/8/8/3/7/7/3/3/1
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/18/11/7/7
"You are nothing against me," The Guardian says, as not even Bonds can strike true. It fails to wound him in the least. You hit him and nothing. It should cut, it should burn, it should slay. Yet your blade does not harm him in the least.
"You cheat," Jessica snaps, "What does a creature like yourself ignoring our attacks prove? We know the Incarnations made you on a level above us!"
"That you do not deserve this divine seed," The Guardian says, voice still disinterested even now.
Anything else this turn?
Used both my swifts on true strike, all done.
Jessica strikes again and yet..."It's worthless," the Guardian says as she stabs him.
Queen screams, hands out as dozens of sonic blasts erupt around him. "Is that it," The Guardian says as they hit him. "Nothing."
Then another gesture of his hand, a look of boredom.
> roll 1d20+85
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 99 > [d20=14]
Hits everyone, I believe.
100 damage all three of you, DR does not apply.
Pain. Bright hot pain, pain and agony as not a wound appears on you. Yet you feel less, hurt all over. Injury without injury, a weakening to you.
Go.
[spoiler]
Jessica
HP: 553/653
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Telepathic Block 20ft (Stops telepathy/summons) Magic Circle Against Evil 10ft (Protection from Evil)
Bonuses: Attack+13 (+10 morale, +3 luck), Damage+10 (+10 morale) AC+13 (+8 dodge, +2 insight, +3 luck), Saves+11 (+13 Ref) (+8 morale, +3 luck), Skills+4 (+4 morale), Checks+0 Extra attack as if hasted.
Resources: Defensive Roll 1/1 Plane Hop 1/1 Superior Invisibility 3/3 Ghost Form 3/3 Shadow Form 2/2
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Recitation(CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful(CL34), Foresight(CL34), Freedom of Movement(CL34), Greater Heroism(CL34)
Notes: +4 bonus to people who flank with her instead of +2. +8 strength in case it matters, but she's dex based.
Inspire Courage, +10 morale to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls and saves vs fear. Inspire Heroics, +8 morale to saves and +8 dodge to AC.
First of all Alicia needs to restore her many moments of prescience with alacrity!
Quickened many moments."Simple strikes won't avail us at all here," Alicia says, not bothering with further attacks. Instead she gives herself a little more time to think. And manipulate the environment.
Quickened time stop.
[18:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+1 time stop
[18:54] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 3 > [d4=2]
Does it function normally or do I have guests?
Alicia HP: 1044/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/6/9/10/8/8/3/7/6/3/2/1
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/18/11/7/7
The Guardian merely watches you as time is stopped, but says not a word.
Go ahead.
Alicia transforms the arena floor underneath the guardian into mud!
Alter reality for that, that's a standard action.
"A creature unable to levitate, fly, or otherwise free itself from the mud sinks until hip- or chest-deep, reducing its speed to 5 feet and causing a -2 penalty on attack rolls and AC."
Does he sink?
The Guardian does not sink. Instead he says, "Worthless," as you cast it, his silence broken.
Continue.
"Yes, you've been very vocal about that," Alicia says in irritation, managing a quickened true strike and then just to show her irritation slapping him with a curse.
Quickened true strike and quickened greater bestow curse.
[19:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+60+80 melee touch
[19:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 160 > [d20=20]
[19:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+47 SR
[19:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 66 > [d20=19]
DC 40 will or suffer a 25% chance of being able act normally each turn, otherwise doing nothing with said turn.
Alicia HP: 944/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/6/9/10/8/8/3/6/6/3/2/1
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/17/11/7/7
As you touch the Guardian, "Pathetic," he says, as nothing further happens at all. "All you will earn here is oblivion if this is all you can do."
Continue.
We're onto round 2 then if he hasn't taken any action."Muzzle it," she says as a titanic hand closes around him and forces him face down into the mud with another quickened true strike uttered!
[19:30] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+111 cmb true strike grapple
[19:30] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 115 > [d20=4]
Alicia HP: 944/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/6/9/10/8/8/3/6/6/3/2/1
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/16/11/7/7
How exactly are you trying to grapple him with the hand?
Basically grab and smoosh downwards. The actual smooshing won't really happen until next turn when I can progress from grapple to pin, admittedly.
The hand grabs the Guardian - and he tries to speak, but his voice is muffled by the hand trying to press him downwards. It manages to press him down into the mud, holding him there.
Go.
Finally. Pinning him down deep into the mud, Alicia yanks her hand back once he's immersed and turns it back into rock!
Swift for quickened true strike on cmb, standard to pin, free action to release grapple, then swift for a quickened limited wish on transmute mud to rock.
[19:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+111 cmb true strike grapple to pin
[19:43] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 131 > [d20=20]
Alicia HP: 944/1044
Active spells: Extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), extended spell turning (CL 35), extended freedom of movement (CL 35), keen edge (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), many moments of prescience (CL 34), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 141, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills, +25 competence perception, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +9 shield AC, +36 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour, -8 size, +10 morale attack/damage, +8 morale saves, +8 dodge AC, +5 spell DCs, +10 SR checks, +8 morale strength
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/11/6/9/10/8/8/2/6/6/3/2/1
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/17/11/7/7
Thus the Guardian is entombed.
Your time stop ends and the Guardian is entombed.
"Did you do it?" Jessica asks, a long moment.
The Guardian emerges, stone no barrier to its return. He regards all of you well, "Enough. Muzzle me, indeed," he says, a hint of...not quite interest, but not the boredom he's shown until now. You are back in the arena you first arrived at, the divine seed above you on its resting place. "The trial is complete."
A wave of her hand to flick the mud off of it to the side before Alicia returns to her normal size. "What, would a silence spell have been enough?" she asks. "Perhaps I overthink things on occasion."
"...it was his words," Jessica says after. "Merely his words?"
"It would have been," The Guardian agrees. "Even a hand over my mouth."
Queen stares, "We won? We can take the seed?"
Alicia chuckles ruefully, cleaning her hand off properly and stowing her sword at her back. "So we've won, together," she agrees. "What of you then, guardian? Are you to leave Creation immediately?"
"Yes," Is the Guardian's answer, "This treasure is yours. Do with it as you wish."
"Before that, if I can ask... do you know what the Arbiter is?" Alicia asks. It would've come up in her thoughts regarding Daa-vid's judgement after all, and the link between Arbiter and Incarnation of Balance remains unconfirmed.
The Guardian answers with, "It is a superior being. It is akin to an Incarnation. It feels of Balance, but it is not as strong as Balance. It is not all there."
Interesting. "You can tell it's weaker.. how much weaker?"
Were Alicia a betting woman she'd say a third.
"I do not know," Is the answer, "The Incarnations are beyond me to compare, but it is less."
"Very well, thank you for indulging me," Alicia nods. "Come then Queen, sister. Lets see what we've won," she floats over towards the godseed, examining it without touching. Is it like Asmodeus's one-use one, or like Io's with multiple charges?
Like that, the Guardian is gone.
Queen hurries to it as you approach. The seed is there - you feel it. There are three charges in it, like Io's.
Jessica does the same as you, "Such a treasure," she whispers, "We have a promise to fulfill first, then we must decide on the rest, sister."
Queen reaches forward for it, hand shaking as she does.
"There are three of us, and it possesses three charges. This is entirely equitable," Alicia says, smiling at Jessica and at Queen, even if she and Jessica may not use them both themselves they can decide what to do with them later.
"Take what you're owed, Queen," she gestures invitingly, letting her go ahead.
Contact. Hand on seed.
In that moment Queen cries out as from her, a great wave of warmth and life goes forth. To Alicia's wizened mind she knows the touch of life itself, spreading throughout everything here, as if the entire plane was so infused.
"AH!"
Queen's voice from horizon to horizon, as before you the arena is gone. Queen's form is everywhere, the tendons and muscles, bones and blood, so much and more endlessly part of the plane. Yet this begins to recede, as magic flares, a flare of magic from her dissolving. Dark and terrible magic, a curse. A curse fulfilled and released at last on apotheosis, an abomination freed from her torment. All about you are the roots and ground now, as a whisper from afar, "My children, my servants. Your Queen has at last arrived."
Before you now stands a lillend of flesh and blood, no longer of wood. She is clad in the armor of a battle maiden, her face beautiful and wise. Her eyes shine a deep, rich green that matches her scales. "It's....so much was wrong and now all is put to right! My mind is clear for the first time in a thousand eons."
Was she an abomination? It didn't feel the same as the Neverborn, but perhaps... perhaps?
In any case, Alicia breathes a deep sigh of relief at seeing this apotheosis, this correction.
"I felt that would be the right thing to do, and I'm glad it came to pass. You passed the trial with us and earned this, Queen."
"All is right. My children," Queen closes her eyes, hands to her chest. "Thus I will make you all right."
Jessica watches with a gentle smile, "We all did," she concurs, "Now what, Queen?"
"I will stay here until all of my children are awake and aware," Queen says, eyes still closed, "I will mother them until they can stand on their own. When that day has come...I have many sister lillends to meet."
"We still owe you a tour of Sylica, but should you wish to remain here and help your children re-awaken, it should be safe and unnoticed by the evils of Creation for now," Alicia says. "I hope too that we can count on your friendship in opposing those evils. And if you need any help in mastering your new divinity or navigating the politics of the gods, we only await your word."
"Thank you, Alicia." Queen extends her hand, "My friend."
"Friends are a precious thing, and I'm proud to be yours," she reaches out to clasp the newly ascended lillend's hand.
Once done, "I believe - no, I know I can send you safely home now." Queen offers, "Would you like me to send you home?"
"Let me take this," Alicia creates a heavy burlap sack and places the godseed within. She considered putting it in her portable hole but something makes her reconsider - it's served well for all her storage needs for years, but even the chance that someone, anyone, is capable of a dimensional intrusion to steal from it makes her wary of putting something so precious and tempting within. "We'll decide what to do with the remainder back in Sylica. Now yes - please send us home, my friend."
With that a portal is opened and thus you return home. As you stand in Sylica Jessica takes a long breath.
"Now we have choices to make, sister."
"Yes," Alicia agrees, feeling the weight of the bag she's carrying in both hands as they stand in Sylica's wilderness. "Do you want to use your portion yourself or grant it to another? I fear we can't hold onto this for long, the risk of it being discovered and stolen is too great, so we must decide and act swiftly."
Also this should satisfy Jessica's node goal and then some.
"I..." A moment, a sensation. A connection to Jessica, bright as a star in that moment.
Node update.
Alicia isn't particularly comforted. It means Zaphkiel knows what they have. Mystra surely knows as well, given all the magic that was thrown around in their efforts to acquire it. Those are both friendly yes, and can be trusted not to come steal it. But who else might now be casting their eyes towards something precious in Sylica?
"Yes, I felt it too," she says briskly. "But we can't tarry on this, Jessica. I'm thinking of giving my portion to Latha. There are upsides and downsides to it, but overall I think it for the best."
"To Marie or for myself," Jessica says, "Call her to us, sister. I must ask her a few questions to determine if she wants this, and if it is the right choice."
Alicia sends their location to Marie and Latha alike through the proxy connection, calling them forth.
Marie appears a second later. "You're back, how'd it go?" she asks, looking between them.
Latha likewise appears, "Is all well, Alicia?"
"We succeeded," Jessica states plainly, "It's in the bag sister holds. A seed with two charges."
Alicia takes it out of the bag so they can see. "I won't be using it myself. There are consequences to spreading divinity amongst us, the attention we attract could well be unbearable. But in the long term it will pay off enormously as we all grow strong enough to support each other. Latha, I would like you to use this divine seed left behind by the Incarnation of Balance."
Marie just stares.
"Marie. Marielle," Jessica gently puts her hand on Marie's shoulder, "I'd like to offer you my charge, but only if you're willing and able to accept such a burden. This choice - it will change you, it's already changed me and will change me further. I have begun to become an ideal, a focus, a purpose in Creation. It's the answer to your wildest ambition, but also the greatest responsibility Creation has to offer."
Latha bows her head to Alicia, "I'm humbled, Alicia. I will accept this, for the sake of tomorrow and our needs of victory against darkness. So that one day we will stand triumphant in a Creation that no longer fears what lies in the night."
"Then you are no longer my proxy," Alicia rests a free hand over Latha's head, taking back that borrowed fragment of her divinity before she offers Latha the seed and it's far greater potential to grow the same.
"Ah... well... I mean..." Marie stammers a bit, wide-eyed and totally unprepared. It's been joked about a few times but never with any serious expectation on her end, especially not that anything could happen so soon. "I don't have time to think about this, do I?" she asks nervously, looking over at Alicia and Latha.
"This is dangerous," Jessica says, "If anyone knows we hold one, if word spread? Sylica would be like a gold rush of the powerful and ambitious. There's time, but precious little in case greater beings have discerned our treasure and our victory. Such a thing could even cause the greater powers to perhaps risk war on the spot." A long breath, "Sorry, Marie. Io was wise to bestow his seed on us in a place beyond notice."
It is meanwhile done. Latha takes a breath and waits one moment for Marie.
"Then I'll do it," Marie nods, squaring her shoulders. "I'll help you all, and Mystra too! I'll be a great goddess!"
"Thank you, Marie. We'll be glad to take you with us... in that case," she reaches over towards her once familiar and current proxy, withdrawing her divine spark. "You are no longer my proxy. From now on you must stand beside me."
"I'm ready," Latha nods, solemn as meanwhile Jessica exhales heavy.
"Both of you, good luck ahead." Jessica smiles after, as Latha reaches out for the seed. A flare of light as she becomes, a moment of will as reality itself adjusts to her presence. There is a sense of her, a sense of more as she stands there, silent. "Then let the dawn come," she prays quietly. "For I will bring it."
Latha gains divine rank zero. I'll update her sheet tonight, it's minimal since her proxy sheet has DvR0 written in besides a few adjustments.
"Welcome, goddess of the sun Latha," Alicia smiles at her while Marie nervously shifts on her feet and waits for her turn.
Latha nods...and hugs Alicia openly. "That deserves more than a smile," she laughs, bright and carefree and happy.
"Marie," Jessica gently prods. "It's time."
Alicia passes the seed to Jessica before accepting that hug from Latha. "We'll celebrate properly in a minute, once it's all done," she promises, giving her a squeeze and then turning to watch as Marie reaches for the seed with both hands, focusing on drawing out its remaining power for herself.
It's a smooth jolt and a sense of movement. It's a sense of your mind being many times larger. It's like falling into fire and ice at the same time. It's like reality is there and not and high and low. Everything changes, changes in a way beyond any words Marie has to describe. It's a moment after becoming but before became, a moment of every dream and reality crystallizing within her.
As this happens, the seed crumbles to dust and then that dust is gone, nothing left behind.
Marie gains divine rank zero.
Alicia looks a bit disappointed that the seed leaves no remnant afterwards.
"Ohhh... it feels so different from being a proxy," Marie says, eyes wide.
"I have no words for it," Latha says in open wonder. "Do you, Marie?"
Jessica watches with a gentle smile.
"I understand Antenora struggling to describe it," Marie nods. "But I'm not sure if this is the same or different as her... wow. So what do we do now?" she asks.
"A good question," Alicia admits. "You'll both have to introduce yourselves on the stage so you can gain worshippers, compete, and grow into your divinity just as Jessica and Antenora have been doing. But it means we're going to attract a lot more scrutiny than we did before."
"There's another matter that deserves consideration before we focus too much on that, as important as it is." Latha says, "You see, Seira visited. They've found Sylvie."
What follows is a lot of exposition I know you don't need, so I'm going to dodge the dreaded label of exposition bitch and handwave it.
I'm sure Rei-chan's metal teeth gnash at it even now.
"So it actually did turn out to be a safe portal after all..." Alicia says thoughtfully. "Does this mean she's taken all her skills and power back from Calley, or is that waiting until we complete all these trials of hers?"
"It's complicated, Seira and Moore could tell you more," Latha admits, "I heard this secondhand from Antenora, who was there when Syala and Antenora received Seira. As far as I know Calley still has his powers."
"Lets go catch up with Syala and Antenora first then," Alicia says. "Then we can go talk to Seira about all this."
Okay, so what's your plan here, Alicia? Mainly if you need/want to talk to them IC first or if you want to go straight to Seira.
Just trying to organize rooms here.
Can just go straight to Seira, I'll send my avatar over.
We'll be chatting over ramifications and plans with the gang in Sylica but that can be offscreen so we can focus on the adventure stuff with Seira.
Okay, I'm going to move you over to Seira's thread in a bit then.