Anvil (Afina)

[Anastasia]

Helga steps forward as Afina settles in, the nameless humanoid joining her. The two gaze at each other as they prepare, then combat is joined with a rush. Helga's quick on her feet, charging right at him.

Nameless humanoid chooses not to contest init, Helga goes first.

> roll 1d20+23
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=10]

But in moments, her movement slows and stops. She staggers and wobbles in the air, like a punch-drunk fighter. She holds her head in her hands, shaking it back and forth. All during this, the humanoid makes no move at all.

[Ebiris]

Shouldn't Alanna be next? Oh well, if the demons can manipulate their order of battle with a 'nameless champion' so can the archons.

Not a great start for Helga though. Ranged attacks would probably serve best, unless he can match Zina's skills at avoiding and redirecting those.

[Anastasia]

Whoops, honest mistake. We'll roll with it.

> roll 1d20+23
<Penuche> Ko-NitorisLabrynth invokes Penuche's magic: < 33 > [d20=10]

Helga just floats where she is, wobbling. Her nose begins to leak blood, a groan coming from her as she struggles in vain.

> roll 1d20+23
<Penuche> Ko-NitorisLabrynth invokes Penuche's magic: < 26 > [d20=3]

But it's for nothing. She can't seem to move or do anything but wobble there, seemingly trapped.

> roll 1d20+23
<Penuche> Ko-NitorisLabrynth invokes Penuche's magic: < 28 > [d20=5]

Helga thrashes now, blood coming out from her mouth as she coughs and gasps. Her nose is pouring blood now, her eyes rolled up and bloodshot. She's twitching, trashing - things clearly don't look good for her, at least to Afina's eye.

[Ebiris]

She's not going to insult Helga by shouting for her to yield even if it looks her best chance for survival. Afina can only watch and hope she gets her act together.

[Anastasia]

Then, suddenly, Helga gestures wildly. It's a desperate move, a slashing motion across her throat. A moment later she's let go, sent flying back to your side by unseen forces.

"Victory," the pit fiend bellows, "That champion was woeful and weak."

The throne archon looks on calmly, saying, "Do you see a weakness on this foe?"

[Ebiris]

"I'd favour ranged attacks, " Afina answers. "It appears to be a defensive aura of some sort. I've seen undead with similar abilities. Unless you can make yourself immune I'd play for distance."

A shame her plan to give the archons something to cheer about only saw their champion humiliated. Hopefully Alanna can do better; though the nameless champion is certainly meant to sweep all aside. She's reminded of how she used Smrgol in that tournament she put the giants to.

[Anastasia]

"As I surmised," The archon agrees, flying forward now. She glances back, "Can you tend to Helga?"

[Ebiris]

"I'm no healer," Afina says, but she flutters over towards the red-cloaked woman's side regardless. "How do you feel?"

Concerned Alanna might not be up to the task either, she casts detect magic and keeps half an eye on the battle so long as they stay within range at least. Hopefully the throne archon can last long enough for the spell to return anything useful.

I'll take 10 on spellcraft for 51 on any magic around the nameless champion, knowing I won't get results for 3 rounds

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina: 197/208, heroes feast (CL 20), greater mage armour (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23), shield (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), fires of purity (CL 23)
AC 76, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, freedom of movement, miss chance 50% (applies to targeted spells as well) immunity to fire, water, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/10/7/6/3/2/3/0/0/1

[Anastasia]

Afina begins to detect ma-aaaah! She's sent fluttering ass over end, flipping round and round. As she does, she can see the rift is contracting, collapsing inward rapidly. Virtually everyone else is in the same state, knocked to and fro as the Silver Sea shakes.

[Ebiris]

Well, looks like they finally hit the centre! Flapping her wings by reflex even though it's a wasted effort here, she exerts her mental will towards stabilising her orientation but rather than turn and look towards the hopefully collapsing rift she puts her back to it and keeps her eyes on the demons in a show of confidence!

[Anastasia]

Zquujaj's face doesn't change expression. He merely looks on at the collapsing rift with controlled interest, before uttering one word, "Retreat." His forces begin to fall back - in a controlled retreat, not a rout.

Cheers - this time even louder, even moreso. The rift is gone and the debris-littered Silver Sea can be seen instead.

[Ebiris]

Afina watches the demons retreat in good order, content to let them do just that. Once they're all moving however she turns around, "Come on Helga, lets get you back over to Domiel," she encourages her fellow champion, starting their own retreat.

[Anastasia]

Okay, we're in wrapup now so I'm going to lock this topic. We'll have a short wrap up thread for everyone once all the threads are done and then go into solo stuff.

If there's something still here to do, say so in nagging and I'll factor that in, Eb.