Infiltrators (Surraruthru, Tryll)

[Anastasia]

The sphere is charged with a tremendous amount of magical energy - or another energy source, like souls. It's powering all the magic here.

[Yuthirin]

The rest of my questions? Can I tell?

[Anastasia]

You believe you'd need to target the sphere directly to take it all down at once. In fact, studying it, you note it looks like it's designed that way. It should be...easier than usual to dispel them all at once?

[Yuthirin]

Sounds like it will explode once I dispel it. Any part of those circles a containment ward?

[Anastasia]

Make another Spellcraft check, and then a K:P check.

[Yuthirin]

Taking tens, 51 on Psicraft, 37 on K:Planes

[Anastasia]

Fuck.

The circles are a diagram of the Nine Hells. They all point inward to the smallest, innermost circle: Nessus. Studying carefully, you can see that there is a subtle, powerful magic woven into that circle. It's almost perfectly hidden by the sphere's magic and is a dimensional focus. If a great burst of magical energy engulfs it, along with an offering of souls, it will open a rift to Nessus itself. Such a burst of magical energy could well come from destroying the sphere nearby.

It would be a wound that poisons the world and spreads the world wide for the denizens of that infernal place to gush through. Hellfire would gush out like water and spread everywhere, while darkness would consume the sky. On a world already compromised by Hell, the results would be cataclysmic. The entire city could well be consumed by the rift.

[Yuthirin]

'Uh, possibly. The anchor is ALSO trapped with another explosive. This one would instead open a portal directly to Nessus. And kill everything nearby. Also, it appears the central spehere is full of...souls? Yes. Possibly. The array here is a diagram of the Nine Hells. I'm working on it. I think the sphere needs to be removed without dispelling or destroying it. Or remove the souls.'

More studying! Can it be removed by physical or magical means such as telekinesis? How are the souls bound?

[Ebiris]

'Can you dimensionally anchor the portal?'

[Anastasia]

You can tell the sphere can't be removed easily, it's bound directly to the magics there. Removing it would cause a catastrophic collapse, which would likely bring down all the spells and shatter the sphere, triggering the circle.

The souls are bound insight by mighty magic. Epic magic you're fairly sure, the entire sphere is a receptacle for a number. You can't say how many for certain, but probably 999 of them based on the magic and your planar knowledge.

[Iron Dragoon]

'Secretus used a similar tactic. He engulfed the portal to his realm in a Sphere of Annihilation. If it is that spell, you may be able to control it and move it. There may be a lock or something on it that fights you, though.'

[Yuthirin]

'I don't normally have that ability. A wish-equivalent could create the effect, but it may put me out of commission for an inconveniently long period and it may not work.'

[Iron Dragoon]

'I can dimensionally anchor it, if need be. But yes, removing the souls should be a priority. They may even have been given to the devils from Secretus.'

[Yuthirin]

'Note that this may also set off the ward and destroy the sphere. The sphere needs to be removed or neutralized with as little magic as possible.'

[Yuthirin]

What IS the sphere? Is it a sphere of annihilation or a physical object?