Deep into the Infinite Stair

[Anastasia]

Silence then as you fly along amid the bones and tendons, suddenly words from the Queen again.

"You are powerful," she admits, "You survived!"

[Ebiris]

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?"

[Anastasia]

"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."

[Ebiris]

"It sounds like there's a lot more still to come," Alicia adds. "What tests were you subjected to?"

[Anastasia]

"...."

"I can't," The Queen finally says, "The Guardian won't let me."

[Ebiris]

"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."

[Anastasia]

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.

[Ebiris]

"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)

Spoiler: ShowHide

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

[Anastasia]

No response.

"Understand and control the sphere," Is what the voice of the Guardian demands, uncaring.

[Ebiris]

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.

Spoiler: ShowHide

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

[Anastasia]

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."

[Ebiris]

"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?

[Anastasia]

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."

[Ebiris]

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?

[Anastasia]

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?"