Warming back up (Afina)

[Anastasia]

Slaves begin to go through. They are not the most energetic travelers ever, but they obey. As they begin to, Simmer comes in, "There was a well down there, one that produced a poison. I think it's what did it to them. It's burning now."

The rate looks to be about 5 per round. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40. It's then that there's a rumbling - the sky shakes, the ground cracks beneath your feet. The light of the burning sky dims even as the 45th slave reaches the freedom of Air.

[Ebiris]

Afina starts hasting the slaves because that is an abysmal rate of travel, and certainly not enough for her to get them all through on just one gate spell. "Good work, we should clean it out of them at Aurora," she says to Simmer. "But I don't think one gate is going to be enough for this many. Can you run through and fetch Tepen or someone else that can cast another gate?" she asks before looking up at the darkening sky. "I don't think we'll be unopposed for long."

Lets say I spend 5 hastes on hurrying things up. Affects 115 targets

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina 208+20/208, greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), shield (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23)
AC 64 (touch 46, flat footed 64), blindsense 30, spell resistance 38, immunity to fear, fire, disease, and water
Spell charges remaining: 4/7/9/7/9/3/5/5/5/7

[Anastasia]

Haste doubles the rate. 55, 65, 75. "On it," Simmer says, hurrying through the portal and away. Meanwhile, the sky darkens even more. It shudders and ruptures like a wound bursting its stitches. What comes through it is a massive wyrm that blots out the fire-light of the sky, plunging the ranch into near darkness. It is made of black scales with lines of lava-red running throughout it, providing faint light to see.

K:A checks here.

[Ebiris]

[17:51] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+35 arcana
[17:51] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 49 > [d20=14]

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina 208+20/208, greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), shield (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23)
AC 64 (touch 46, flat footed 64), blindsense 30, spell resistance 38, immunity to fear, fire, disease, and water
Spell charges remaining: 4/7/9/7/9/3/5/5/5/7

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+31 Simmer K:A
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 32 > [d20=1]
> roll 1d20+33 fairy dragon has K:A too
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 49 > [d20=16]

The creature before you is a pyroclastic dragon. A great wyrm in particular and it looks furious. They're noteworthy for having a breath weapon that deals either sonic and fire damage or disintegration. They have immunity to fire and sonic as well as an array of spell-like abilities along the same lines. They lack the draconic sorcery that metallic and chromatic dragons have, but many train in magic anyway, which just makes them even deadlier.

The majority of them actually live in Gehenna rather than Fire or Baator, but they're known to serve as mercenaries to any and all. They usually aren't (overly) violent except when they're really angry. Unfortunately for you, this one looks angry. Afina's internal musings are disrupted by the dragon roaring loud enough to crack the ground beneath the party.

Saves vs dragon fear. The slaves are too drugged out to feel anything like fear, so they're immune. Rolll init after, as we're going right into this. This is the slightly delayed effects of the dragon's appearance, just put off a post so that we can get knowledge checking done first.

[Ebiris]

Currently immune to fear thanks to greater heroism
[09:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+26 init
[09:05] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 40 > [d20=14]

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina 208+20/208, greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), shield (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23)
AC 64 (touch 46, flat footed 64), blindsense 30, spell resistance 38, immunity to fear, fire, disease, and water
Spell charges remaining: 4/7/9/7/9/3/5/5/5/7

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+31 Crystal Will save (+2 inner beauty)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 51 > [d20=20]
Hope is immune to a dragon's frightful presence as a fellow dragon.

> roll 1d20+11 Crystal init
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 31 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+14 Hope's init
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=19]

> roll 1d20+10 dragon init
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 22 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+9 ???
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 11 > [d20=2]

Initiative order is: Afina (40) > Hope (33) > Crystal (31) > Pyroclastic Dragon (22) > ???(11)

Open Afina.

[spoiler]

Simmer: 278/278 - Shield (+4 AC). 1 cantrip, 1st level and 1 7th level charge spent. CHANGED STATS: AC 44.
Crystal: 223+50/223 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22, Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. 1 2nd level ranger spell spent. 1 st level paladin spent, 1 3rd level paladin spell spent, 1 5th level paladin spell spent. 1 smite used. CHANGED STATS: AC 36, Hit+37, damage +2 more. +2 fort/will, +4 ref.
Hope: 484+50/484 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22. Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. Buffs: +5 AC, +4 Strength/Dexterity/Charisma. CHANGED STATS: AC 58, Hit+39, damage+2, ref+2.

[Ebiris]

Unfortunately Afina has to keep this gate in place until someone comes to put up a new one, so she can't chastise this dragon as she'd like. But that doesn't mean she can't help in her own way. Hasting herself along with Hope, Crystal, and a bunch of unfortunately drugged up slaves, she flies up towards the dragon and draws Afame for the extra defensive boost it can grant her. With the brand on her forehead she should present a good target and allow Crystal and Hope some free shots on it. "I even specifically tried to avoid dragons," she grumbles, preparing to dodge whatever it does.

Swift to cast haste, move to move and draw weapon, standard to concentrate on gate spell. Keeping at least 50 feet from the dragon and trying to get altitude so any breath weapons aimed at me won't hit the slaves.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina 208+20/208, greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), shield (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23)
AC 65 (touch 47, flat footed 65), blindsense 30, 50 miss chance (applies to attacks and single target spells), spell resistance 38, immunity to fear, fire, disease, and water
Spell charges remaining: 4/7/9/1/9/8/5/5/5/7

[Anastasia]

From the category of I should've included that in the last post, dragon's 500ft above the party. How far do you fly in light of that, Afina?

[Ebiris]

60 feet straight up is all I can manage so I'll do that.

[Anastasia]

Afina flies up 60ft, coming to 440ft of the dragon.

Crystal bristles, raising her sword to the dragon. "For Queen and Lifasa!" she calls, spurring Hope on. They fly 200ft straight up, the beginnings of a charge towards the dragon above. Both suddenly glint as if a mirror reflection, before multiple pixies and fairy dragons dance around one another.

Popping greater mirror image. Dragon is up.

> roll 1d4+6 8 max
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 7 > [d4=1]
> roll 1d4+6 8 max Hope
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 7 > [d4=1]

7 mirror images for both of them via share spell.

[spoiler]

Simmer: 278/278 - Shield (+4 AC). 1 cantrip, 1st level and 1 7th level charge spent. CHANGED STATS: AC 44.
Crystal: 223+50/223 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22, Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. 1 2nd level ranger spell spent. 1 st level paladin spent, 1 3rd level paladin spell spent, 1 4th level paladin spell, 1 5th level paladin spell spent. 1 smite used. CHANGED STATS: AC 37, Hit+38, damage +2 more. +2 fort/will, +5 ref, 1 extra attack on full attack. 7 images, 1 regenerates a round.
Hope: 484+50/484 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22. Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. Buffs: +5 AC, +4 Strength/Dexterity/Charisma. CHANGED STATS: AC 59, Hit+40, damage+2, ref+3. 1 regenerates a round.

[Anastasia]

The dragon hovers where it is, a roar that shakes the world around you. There's a potent surge in the air, Afina able to feel magic being drawn into the dragon. It then extends a claw out, a thin blue beam arcing for Hope.

> roll 1d8 mirror image 1 hits
<Serith> Sunshine_Ko roll for Serith < 1 > [d8=1]
> roll 1d20+44 touch AC
<Serith> Sunshine_Ko roll for Serith < 64 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+44 touch AC uh oh
<Serith> Sunshine_Ko roll for Serith < 52 > [d20=8]

No caster level check, as it can't fail the roll.

> roll 1d20+22 fort
<Serith> Sunshine_Ko roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=5]
> roll 80d6
<Serith> Sunshine_Ko roll for Serith < 307 > [80d6=307]

That is some marvelously bad luck for Hope. The disintegration was largely just seeing how the party would react to it, since mirror image is up and range is a concern right now. Sometimes you draw 4 cards and get 4 aces.

Crystal's trusty steed is hit dead on. Parts of it simply crumble to ash - a wing, part of its side, most of a leg. Blood gushes from the new wounds, pouring down below. Yet Hope doesn't stop, flying on at Crystal's shrill cry. But as this happens, ghostly, mostly invisible armor appears over the dragon. The dragon is girded like a warhorse in barding now.

'Aurora,' A silky voice rustles in Afina's mind, 'Surrender or be dragged into Baator for all time!'

Afina, you're up. Go. Spellcraft can be made on either spell if you care to.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Simmer: 278/278 - Shield (+4 AC). 1 cantrip, 1st level and 1 7th level charge spent. CHANGED STATS: AC 44.
Crystal: 223+50/223 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22, Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. 1 2nd level ranger spell spent. 1 st level paladin spent, 1 3rd level paladin spell spent, 1 4th level paladin spell, 1 5th level paladin spell spent. 1 smite used. CHANGED STATS: AC 37, Hit+38, damage +2 more. +2 fort/will, +5 ref, 1 extra attack on full attack. 7 images, 1 regenerates a round.
Hope: 227/484 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22. Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. Buffs: +5 AC, +4 Strength/Dexterity/Charisma. CHANGED STATS: AC 59, Hit+40, damage+2, ref+3. 1 regenerates a round.

[Ebiris]

Taking 10 for 47 on spellcraft

"Whatever they're paying you isn't enough," Afina grumbles, flying up another sixty feet while maintaining her focus on keeping the gate going.

Using Afame's swift action for +4 dodge AC

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina 208+20/208, greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), shield (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23)
AC 69 (touch 51, flat footed 69), blindsense 30, 50 miss chance (applies to attacks and single target spells), spell resistance 38, immunity to fear, fire, disease, and water
Spell charges remaining: 4/7/9/1/9/8/5/5/5/7

[Anastasia]

Afina can tell the first one easily enough. It's disintegrate. The second one's another classic, greater mage armor. Not only is it a dragon, it's now an armored dragon. That can't be good.

Meanwhile, Afina reaches to 120ft up, 380ft from the dragon. As she positions, "Forward!" Crystal calls, as they move to 100ft away from the dragon. Hope obeys despite his grisly wounds, and as he does, his body partially heals. Wounds cease to bleed and flesh regrow, fixing the worst of the injuries.

Heal mount on Hope, +150 HP to him. Dragon's up.

As Crystal continues to rise, the dragon stays still. Yet blue spellfire gathers around it in a tempest, slowly becoming a sphere. This sphere flies down at Crystal and Hope, exploding around the duo.

> roll 1d20+41 Crystal evasion
<Serith> Sunshine_Ko roll for Serith < 44 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+27 Hope improved evasion
<Serith> Sunshine_Ko roll for Serith < 42 > [d20=15]

But when the burst clears, Crystal and Hope are untouched, continuing their headlong charge at the dragon. As this happens, a shimmering field appears around the pyroclastic wyrm.

Afina's up. You can spellcraft if you please.

[spoiler]Simmer: 278/278 - Shield (+4 AC). 1 cantrip, 1st level and 1 7th level charge spent. CHANGED STATS: AC 44.
Crystal: 223+50/223 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22, Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. 1 2nd level ranger spell spent. 1 st level paladin spent, 2 3rd level paladin spell spent, 1 4th level paladin spell, 1 5th level paladin spell spent. 1 smite used. CHANGED STATS: AC 37, Hit+38, damage +2 more. +2 fort/will, +5 ref, 1 extra attack on full attack. 7 images, 1 regenerates a round.
Hope: 377/484 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22. Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. Buffs: +5 AC, +4 Strength/Dexterity/Charisma. CHANGED STATS: AC 59, Hit+40, damage+2, ref+3. 1 regenerates a round.

[Ebiris]

"Great, a dragon arch mage," Afina grumbles before calling out a warning, "Careful Crystal, it's magic is more advanced than mine!"

Not stronger of course, she just followed a different path in her studies. But all that speed is worthless with her chained to this Gate.

taking 10 for 47 on spellcraft and ascending another 60 feet.