A new hill

[Ebiris]

Unless this is part of the test? She fears she's grasping at straws but even so Alicia gives the area a thorough look over in case things aren't as they seem. There's nothing lost by spending a moment on that.

Take 10 for 123 on perception with alter realitied divine insight and improvisation to buff it. Also alter realitied true seeing goes up. Taking 10 for 66 on spellcraft to ID the magic of any lingering auras or active spells.

[Anastasia]

There's several fading auras here. Things like fire storm and Gathgorian's fireball have been used liberally.

You don't see anything remarkable, unfortunately.

[Ebiris]

"I'm afraid so," she agrees with Queen after surveying the area. "I know of another we can try, it won't be nearly so easy, but... well, with you two here we might have a better shot than otherwise, and I doubt devils could reach it without considerable opposition."

For the record, lets roll planes with divine insight and guidance of the avatar for all the stuff I know about the spawning stone. Take 10 for 101.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 724/724
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 35), extended ray deflection (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 35), sensual blessing (CL 35), foresight (CL 35), keen edge (CL 35 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36)
Defences: AC 71, CMD 93, spell resistance 50, 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 51)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills/attack/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +2 insight AC/ref
Perceptions: Arcane sight, 3 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/15/8/9/15/9/8/4/8/7/5/7/5
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/21/11/7/14

[Anastasia]

Have you made this check before this game? I want to say someone has so this is purely  covering bases.

[Ebiris]

Nope, Alicia famously does not give a shit about slaad.

[Anastasia]

To the gnashing of Antenora's teeth, I see. Okay then.

The Spawning Stone is said to be where the slaad race emerges. While slaad can breed and reproduce in other ways, such as laying eggs, they come wholesale from this stone, and slaad are normally drawn to it.

It is said the Spawning Stone is restrained or imprisoned somehow. The details of this are not clear, but the sentiment of 'FREE THE SPAWNING STONE' is not an unheard one on the planes.

It is also said that Ssendam takes a great interest in the Spawning Stone, and other slaad lords likely do as well, barring the interference of Ssendam.

Ancient lore, found in Dweomerheart's libraries that none but Mystra's most favored servants have access to, mentioned that once the slaad were far less uniform. The details of why this changed is not clear, lost to endless ages.

It is said if a slaad reaches the Spawning Stone and touches it, they can change to whatever they wish. As to date, examples of a slaad that makes it to the Spawning Stone are vanishingly rare. Or perhaps those who do simply are wise enough not to talk about it.

[Ebiris]

Does she actually know where it is or how to get to it?

[Anastasia]

No. This is mostly because Limbo changes it up. The terrain around it changes wildly, the location changes or the distances to other places change.

This is more Limbo being Limbo than anything else, and particularly strong around the Spawning Stone.

[Ebiris]

"Let us depart for the moment, nothing is served talking here," Alicia adds, opening a gate back to Sylica, next to the doorway under that bridge leading to Queen's Infinite Stair.

[Anastasia]

It doesn't work. Not surprising considering where you are, you probably at least need to exit back through the black portal.

[Ebiris]

Bel and Gathgorian clearly didn't.

Is there a dimensional anchor in play here? As I understand it severed astral links don't interfere with deific planar travel, please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Anastasia]

It doesn't interfere if it's within your own divine realm. It doesn't help getting back to it if where you are isn't there and it's interdicted.

There isn't that you can tell, so something else is muddying the waters here.

[Ebiris]

Alicia pauses after her failed spell, hand still outstretched in the somatic gesture for a gate.

"Something doesn't add up. Bel was here after defeating the guardian's challenge in order to plant that flag, he wasn't set elsewhere by the guardian's power at the end. But it's impossible to gate or teleport out of here, and if he left by the same route we entered, the one outside would have seen him exit. He only said he'd seen the devils go ahead of us, not that he'd seen them leave."

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 724/724
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 35), extended ray deflection (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 35), sensual blessing (CL 35), foresight (CL 35), keen edge (CL 35 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36)
Defences: AC 71, CMD 93, spell resistance 50, 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 51)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills/attack/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +2 insight AC/ref
Perceptions: Arcane sight, 3 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/15/8/9/15/9/8/4/8/7/5/7/5
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/21/11/7/14

[Anastasia]

"Then what?" Queen asks, curiously. "A deception?"

"A deception by the devils or a deception by the Guardian?" Empress Sulia questions, "Unless they had some unknown means to escape this place."

[Ebiris]

Can I sense any movement or air pockets/other caverns around here with 4 mile tremorsense?

"Bel definitely got here ahead of us, we had evidence further back. If he failed but survived then this may be a bluff to deter anyone else from obtaining the prize. Either that or the guardian is using this as part of its test. Or finally Bel had some greater means to leave directly from here which we're not aware of. Can either of you manage a wish or miracle to interrogate the stone the way a druid would?"