The Assault on Avernus

[Anastasia]

Latha nods slightly, 'Then shall we join this fight?'

[Ebiris]

'Yes, we're going to help them,' Alicia confirms. 'I only teleported at a distance to avoid suffering the same fate as Lixer's avatar. Now lets go!'

She flies up and into battle!

[Anastasia]

As you fly in, the battle comes to a pause. The avatar of Glasya waves cheerfully as you do, voice booming over the icy battlefield. "Alicia Reynes! It's good to meet you! I know you couldn't resisting seeing how my dear brother has made an impact on Avernus, could you?"

"Took you long enough," Donald calls over, "I've been saving you a few devils to kill!"

[Ebiris]

"I see you can't resist either!" Alicia calls back, content to banter a bit with the arch-devil as it serves to buy time for all concerned. "Of course he doesn't have the same advantages you do further down on Malbolge, but that should only encourage him to try harder!"

[Anastasia]

You feel Glasya's will, unhidden. Silence surrounds the six of you, as helflire curls around Duke Malphas, cloaking him.

"Well, my brother is always trying so hard and can't quite succeed," she smiles sweetly, all sugar. Beautiful. Absolutely stunning, alluring and intoxicating. "But you don't choose the family you're born with, you know?"

"How droll," Empress Sulia remarks coolly, "So I presume you're at least one step above Belial and Fierna?"

"Many steps, do keep up," Glasya retorts with a sharp smile, sharp as a dagger's blade. "Really now, I'm sure even my brother can handle Seira Aryn inside of his stronghold. Really, what do you think that dog and pony show there accomplished? You two are as thick as thieves, one follows the other."

[Ebiris]

That diabolical beauty does remind her a little of Antenora, though Alicia doesn't get nostalgic over it. She deals with enough overly pretty faces hiding monstrous hearts not to be too swept away, for all that she can't deny it is easier to converse when they're like this.

"He hasn't had that long to properly decorate his stronghold, even if I do spy him cheating the clock on things like avatars... it reminds me of when I was first establishing myself in Sylica, so much work to do getting everything ready to entertain guests. It's important to set the proper tone from the outset, wouldn't you agree?"

[Anastasia]

Glasya sits back, floating on empty air, dress white and gauzy, virtually see through. It only draws the eye to her more as she says, "Oh, how is Sylica? I've heard you've entertained a few flies there," The Princess of Hell says breezily. "But I hope you decorate better than them. Flies are always so...so....unfocused. They start one thing and move on, but I suppose you benefited this time from it, hm? It's alright to need his help of course, not everyone can overthrow a previous ruler and take over."

[Ebiris]

Alicia floats in the air herself, though she's more poised about it, as if ready to lunge at a moment's notice. Not that she doubts Glasya's the same, but that sort of relaxed confidence takes work. "Well you know what they say, perfect is the enemy of good. Though help was in short supply during its time as a furnace before I made it my own; Mystra likes me, but not enough to gift me my own plane after all. These things have to be earned or they don't really matter, do they?"

[Anastasia]

"Oh, absolutely," Glasya continues, her smile sweet as sugar and twice as tempting. "You really do have to stand on your own, without a patron guiding you by the hand, hm? Or a lover, I suppose. Oh, and speaking of, how is Syala? I was hoping she would be with you, but Empress Sulia's a pleasant surprise."

"If only I could say the same thing about you, but I so dislike lying," Empress Sulia retorts, "Oh! Speaking of such matters, tell Kaessa that if she ever wants to discuss what happened on Falinor, she can drop into Brightwater any time. Martan makes a wonderful conversational companion, I'd be glad to invite him."

[Ebiris]

Alicia smiles as Sulia gets her barbs in. "It's not even any kind of surprise, actually. For all you two bicker and snipe, it would be so sad if you didn't have your brother there to spar with. What loving sister would miss out on cheering for him as he fights for his new domain? Still though, you've put in a good showing, might be time to make a graceful exit before things turn costly?"

[Anastasia]

"Funny," Glasya smiles, making your knees momentarily weak. "I was going to suggest the same thing to you. Seira's forfeited her life, she has no hope now. But you can walk away, you've made your showing. Return to your Syala, your pet erinyes and all your friends there. Have a tea party, pat yourselves on the back for a job well done."

Then with a sidelong glance at Empress Sulia, "Oh, I heard all about that. Your little Martan was so terrified of Kaessa that he plane shifted himself to Brightwater instead of face her.  I suppose not everyone has brave, strong men drawn to them. Oh! Unless Alicia counts."

[Ebiris]

Stupid knees. She wonders if she or Sulia have that sort of effect on Glasya, but then they're not really trying as hard are they? "Aren't we all being so generous with our merciful offers here? But I suppose none of us will be satisfied without blood, so lets get back to the festivities shall we?"

Banter stage is done, rolling init.

[17:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+25 init
[17:10] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+25 init --> [ 1d20=15 ]{40}

[spoiler]
Alicia: 624/624
Active spells: Extended nondetection (CL 31), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 31), foresight (CL 31), true seeing (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 31), greater heroism (CL 31), miracle (diseaseimmunity, CL 31), vision of the omniscient eye (CL 31), energy resistance x5 (CL 31), spell turning (CL 31), fortunate fate (CL 31), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 31), good hope (CL 31), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 30), dance of the unicorn (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), greater visage of the deity (CL 30), extended repelling shield (CL 31), master's touch (CL 30), sensual blessing (CL 30), ghost touch weapon (CL 30), ghost touch armour (CL 30), consecrated ward (CL 31), many moments of prescience (CL 30)
Defences: AC 73 (touch 37, incorp touch 56), CMD 107, spell resistance 45, energy immunity (fire, cold), energy resistance 30 (all), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affection, fear, dazzled, blinded), freedom of movement, nondetection (DC 46)
Stat buffs/penalties: +2 insight AC/reflex, +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 insight perception, +3 morale damage, +2 morale ability checks, +2 luck attack/saves, +4 Str, +2 Dex, +4 Con, +2 Int, +4 Wis, +4 Cha, +1 natural armour, +7 shield AC, +4 insight skills, +25 competence perception
Perceptions: Darkvision, scent, low-light vision, blindsight, tremorsense 1 mile, true seeing, perception +83
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/8/8/4/4/3/4/8/6/7/4/4/4/1
Duskblade spell slots: 6/12/11/10/9/3
Modify message
[/spoiler[

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+8 LAtha
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+8 LAtha --> [ 1d20=7 ]{15}
> roll 1d20+5 Donald
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 Donald --> [ 1d20=18 ]{23}
> roll 1d20+11 Sulia
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 Sulia --> [ 1d20=10 ]{21}

Init is Glasya (Supreme Initiative) > Alicia (40) > Duke Malphas (25) > Donald (23) > Sulia (21) > Latha (15)

Glasya opens.

"Alicia, Alicia, Alicia," Glasya tsk-tsks, "I gave you a chance. Now...come here, I'll instruct you personally."

Opposed rank check to push past your immunity to mind-affecting, any other immunity she has a bypasser for. Make a rank check, Alicia.

[spoiler]

Donald
HP: 313/543
Spells Active:
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Latha
HP: 505/505
Spells Active:
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Legion's Gate, Vivacious Fire Storm, Energized Sunlance, Mass Heal.

Sulia
HP: 714+20/714
Spells Active:
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Never surprised or flat-footed (Foresight)
See through everything within 120ft (True Seeing)
Immunity to death effects, energy drain and negative energy/negative levels (Mass Death Ward)
Immunity to poison and fear (Heroes's Feast)
Immunity to disease (Miracle)
Gain 20 temp hp (Greater Heroism)
Immunity to dazzled and blinded (Vision of the Omniscient Eye)
Energy Res 30 (all)
1d4+6 spell levels are turned on original caster/spells that have you as a targets/not melee touch spells (Spell Turning)
Casts Heal on you if you are killed/taken to -30 or below (Fortunate Fate)
Interplanar Telepathic Bond (Miracle)

+15 insight to any single skill check (Divine Insight)
+25 to stealth (competence, circumstance, racial)
+20 to disguise (untyped)
+10 insight bonus to Perception (Vision of the Omniscient Eye)
+10 insight to all knowledge checks (Lore of the Gods)
+4 morale to all skill checks (Greater Heroism)
+4 competence bonus to Escape Artist (Shadow Form)

+4 untyped to init (Sign)
+2 insight to AC and Reflex (Foresight)
+5 sacred to AC and Reflex if you have and are using a shield (Shield of Warding)
+5 racial to natural armor (Spiderskin)
+4 morale on attack and immunity to fear and 20 temp hp (Greater Heroism)
+2 morale to damage/ability checks (Good Hope)
+5 morale to saving throws (Conviction)

Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (extra attack like haste, +3 morale to attack/damage), CL 31
Recitation (+2 luck to attacks/saves (+3 for Alicia worshippers), CL 31

Speaking of, alter reality for ghost-touch weapon on everyone.
Ghost touch armour of course.

[Ebiris]

[17:40] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+1
[17:40] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+1 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{6}

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{7}

You get a +4 bonus since the avatar is only DvR0 and a strata below you, so your resistances hold.

Yet nothing happens as you clash with Glasya, a moment of divine power meeting before you shrug it off.

With a little smirk, "Come then, Alicia. Show me how strong and mighty you are. You look and act mannish, prove it to me."

"Says the tomboy fighting her," Donald cat calls, bracing his shield for more.

You're up.