Bhaakon's Demon's Heresy IC

[Bhaakon]

A week of hard work can change a lot about a town. Oh, half the buildings in Drezen are still collapsing (the other half being ruins), the curtain wall of the citadel still has massive gaps that are only secured with rubble barricades, and there's still an elemental-infested magma chamber in the basement, but the blood has been cleaned up, the bodies properly disposed of, the temples rededicated to their proper dieties. Drezen may yet be a shambles, but now it's decidedly YOUR shambles.

Today, though, is special. You've gotten supplies in drips and drabs across the border, but now enough pressure has eased on the southern front for Queen Galfrey to dispatch a proper relief force, and, just as importantly, they're escorting a veritable mobile city of artisans and laborers. 500 fresh troops and thrice as many civilians. What's more, they've left behind a similar number of soldiers to hold the ford, the canyon mouth, and the fortified temple you cleared on your march in. There will be no need of further rationing with a secure supply line.

The commander of the relief force--newly minted Captain Kamilo Dann--bears with her a personal communique from the queen herself. Sealed in with the letter are a handful of medals, with directions for the new Czarina to hand them out with all due pomp and circumstance when the time is a right.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/fd/41/f7/fd41f7c4bc2c6412f78d454e2d5dd64f.jpg

I believe we cleared up that Lily and Gwerm get Righteous Medals of Spirit. Anyone else have a claim on one? (The redemption medal will have to be TBD, depending on how things go in Joran, Nurah, etc. in the other thread).

Here's the link to the criteria: http://www.archivesofnethys.com/MagicWondrousDisplay.aspx?FinalName=Righteous%20Me dal

Hardly the specific instructions and clear indication of a plan that you might have liked, but a free hand is better than nothing. Anevia has sent small scouting parties a short distance out into the surrounding countryside, enough to give you warning if the demons mass for an attack, but still within the protective perimeter of Sword of Valor. But now she has other ideas.

"We have enough people now, I think we should begin scouting properly." She argues at the officer's meeting after the reinforcement force has arrived.

Irabeth chews her lip, obviously conflicted. "Beyond the ten mile limit?" She asks, his displeasure clear. "We'd have to use reconnaissance in force. At least fifty men in a party to ward off just the wandering abyss-touched creatures, never mind any organized resistance. No, we should just step up patrols within the cordon, secure that land so we can cultivate it and prepare for long-term occupation."

"No, small groups. Four or five sets of eyes. Enough to slip past threats without being seen." She says. "I...I know we'll lose some, but my scouts all volunteered for this. They know the odds, and they also know that it's better to risk only a handful of lives to get the information we need instead of scores."

"I really think we should focus on our foothold here, first. Before pushing out." Aron interjects. His skin still has a sickly pallor, the effects of shadow blood aren't quick to fade, but he's been able to direct the repair efforts for the last few days. "Now that we have the manpower, we should be able to plug the walls quickly, and get proper roofs over these peoples' heads before there's another downpour of leeches. It won't be pretty, but we can worry about looks once it's secure. Maybe even have some of the soldier help with the work until the most vital things are done."

Ah, the rain of leeches. That was a fun morning. It was almost enough to make you forget plague of nine-legged spiders that blew through town the night after you took the keep.

"We really ought to start organizing them people properly." Sosiel adds. "They're just picking out building all over town, with hardly a thought towards defensibility. They're making all kind of unapproved additions. Digging latrines in the middle of streets, opening up ale houses and gambling dens. Why, I even saw some of them installing this preposterous statue. Just Lily standing there, naked as a jay bird."

"Artists." Aravashnial snorts derisively. "Can't they see there's more important things to do? Where is this pieces of puffery, anyway?" That last part with a note of interest that belies his disdain.

"*Ahem*, well, that does bear investigation." Gwerm adds, adjusting his belt, "But, more importantly, where are we going to get money for all of this? The Queen may have sent you these people, but they won't stay long if you don't give them a reason to. If I may suggest giving some of these people free reign to work on profitable enterprises? Artisans crafting goods with materials only found in the World Wound, maybe sending some of the garrison to patrol the supply route and escort merchants? It would be nice to get trading caravans instead of just military convoys. I don't think this fort will be a properly self-sustaining city any time soon, but we might defray some of the costs of its upkeep. Be less reliant on the largess of the Crusade."

So there you go. You have a bunch of people and troops. What do you want to do with them first? Please rank what you want in order of preference. Needless to say, I looked at the kingdom building rules and kind of hate them, so I'd prefer to do this more freeform unless you can present a compelling reason otherwise.

Workers:
A) Repair the keep/walls. -- Aron's suggestion
B) Repair the city infrastructure (sewers, lodging, bridges) -- Sosiel's suggestion
C) Economic development -- Gwerm's suggestion
D) Plant some crops -- Irabeth's Suggestion
E) Insert something I didn't think of here.

Troops:
A) Focus on long-range scouting -- Anevia's suggestion
B) Focus on protecting the supply road -- Gwerm's suggestion
C) Hold down the fort -- Irabeth's suggestion
D) Use some of the troops as laborers -- Aron's suggestion
E) Insert something I didn't think of here.

[Desril]

Lily

It'd been an...interesting week, to say the least. Finding the time to work with Nalin and Merjana, learning about and adapting the former's newfound knowledge of blood magic into her own studies to delve more deeply into the power of her own demonic bloodline, and helping the latter with matters both spiritual and magical, was far more difficult than one might think. But that's likely to happen when several hours a day are devoted toward attempts to scry a succubus that doesn't want to be found, more are consumed by the troop's attentions, the practically library's worth of recovered books to peruse, and countless repairs to magically assist with. There are only so many hours in the day, and even eliminating six of the ones normally required for sleep only alleviates a portion of the problem. Still, she does manage to find time to write in her book, continuing with the work on her sequel, and she makes more than a few statuettes to hide in the nooks and crannies around the ruins of the city itself.

By the time of the officer's meeting, Lily is relieved to just have a moment where she doesn't feel like she needs to be doing three other things at the same time, and the Queen's letter's open-endedness doesn't hurt. The arrival of the new medals of righteousness, however, cause her to bite her lip, the completionist in her irritated at the single missing piece from her now nearly completed set. I wonder if I could just summon a bunch of dretches and have them beat me unconscious with Millia nearby to heal me? She'd never act on the thought, of course, but that doesn't stop it from intruding on her mind.

As the conversation turns toward future plans, Lily chimes in with her own suggestions, "I think you all have good points, but we need to prioritize things that have both short and long term benefits. It would be wonderful if we could have a sustainable crop, but for the time being we have a supply train which means infrastructure is more important. If we put a bit of power into it, Millia and I can turn the rubble barricades into seamless parts of the fortifications. How much damage is there exactly? If we handle the fortifications ourselves, then the workers can split their focus between infrastructure and economic development. Neither are sustainable without the other, so working on both simultaneously seems like the best idea to me."

Before she weigh in on what the soldiers can do, however, she gets distracted by something more pressing. "And it's not as if they're not going to focus on what they want to do anyway, so giving them the choice between working on proper latrines and inns or artistic endeavors is better than just letting them build latrines in the middle of the road or make statues of m---wait," she turns to Sosiel having only just now registered what it was he'd said, "What statue?!" Though it may sound offended, in truth she's more surprised than anything. The offense may come later, however, depending on the situation. "Show me!"

Leaving the rest of the meeting to the others, Lily is quick to head to the statue, either following Sosiel or his directions if he doesn't go along with her.


Sil, I plan on using at least 3 MP a day to cast Scrying to try and find Arueshalae, and then spamming Message to talk to her when we get through. So that would be 18 casts by now (since it's a week later but we were busy that first day). Do you have any objection to this plan? Should we start rolling our various checks?

As for the command stuff:
I vote Lily and Millia use Stone Shape to fix the walls and fortifications
I vote the workers split the work between Economics and Infrastructure

Lily didn't vote on the soldiers and I have no strong feelings one way or the other

Lily continues/finishes her 2nd book (1d20+19)[33]

Lily makes a couple of statuettes
1 (1d20+20)[38]
2 (1d20+20)[32]

[stack]

"Hate not having eyes to know what's coming and we need to be secure here. Can't do anything if we get run out by a wave of demons." Kord opines succinctly.

Workers: (in order)
A) Repair the keep/walls. -- Aron's suggestion
B) Repair the city infrastructure (sewers, lodging, bridges) -- Sosiel's suggestion
C) Economic development -- Gwerm's suggestion
D) Plant some crops -- Irabeth's Suggestion


Troops: (in order)
A) Focus on long-range scouting -- Anevia's suggestion
D) Use some of the troops as laborers -- Aron's suggestion
B) Focus on protecting the supply road -- Gwerm's suggestion
C) Hold down the fort -- Irabeth's suggestion

E) Insert something I didn't think of here.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin looks over the maps of the surrounding area.
"So long as we're here, I think the citadel itself should be reasonably secure. And the enemy should still be on the back foot after losing the fortress to begin with. We should take advantage of the opportunity while we can. I agree with Anevia that if we do sent scouting parties though, smaller groups will move faster and be less likely to be caught."
He traces the border of the keep.
"The men might object to it, but I really think they would be best utilized helping the workers get the citadel up and running while we can. Irabeth, your plan isn't without merit, but the soil around the Worldwound isn't conducive to farming, and I feel we wont have that much time before we face difficulties."

Workers:
B) Repair the city infrastructure (sewers, lodging, bridges) -- Sosiel's suggestion
C) Economic development -- Gwerm's suggestion
A) Repair the keep/walls. -- Aron's suggestion
D) Plant some crops -- Irabeth's Suggestion

Troops:
D) Use some of the troops as laborers -- Aron's suggestion
A) Focus on long-range scouting -- Anevia's suggestion
B) Focus on protecting the supply road -- Gwerm's suggestion
C) Hold down the fort -- Irabeth's suggestion

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana, the Lady of Drezen

Merjana presides over and pins the medals on everyone in the party, giving a short story of how each of them got one of their medals - yes, including Gwerm, with an appropriate amount of puffery - but otherwise doesn't make it take too long, using the medals as a moment to show the success of the mission and a moment to tell everyone that this was just the first of a long series of steps before their job is done.

~~~

Merjana was mostly Persona Non-Grata for the intervening week, helping out as she was needed but otherwise spending her time cleaning and rebuilding the keep's library of all things.

~~~

"We're going to have far too many people to fit inside the halls of the keep for any length of time, we may not have enough forewarning of demon attacks to collect them up, and the keep itself is still in disrepair. I think it's far better to make sure the walls are in good repair first, so we can assure forewarning. Defense is primary, everything else is secondary. Nalin's right about the food; as long as we have a supply line, and time enough to build up a storehouse, the farming can wait until we know everything we're working with around here."


Workers:
A) Repair the keep/walls. -- Aron's suggestion
B) Repair the city infrastructure (sewers, lodging, bridges) -- Sosiel's suggestion
C) Economic development -- Gwerm's suggestion
D) Plant some crops -- Irabeth's Suggestion

Troops:
D) Use some of the troops as laborers -- Aron's suggestion
B) Focus on protecting the supply road -- Gwerm's suggestion
A) Focus on long-range scouting -- Anevia's suggestion
C) Hold down the fort -- Irabeth's suggestion

[Frosty]

Millia the gambler of seconds.

The aasimar nods. "I must agree with Ser Nalin's assessment. As long as we are guarding the town directly, the demons would have lottle chance of success. We won't be cooped up here forever, since we want to go out and explore eventually to hit targets of opportunity. Still, when we do need on an urgent mission we can't leave this place without adequate preparation. Thus I feel repairing the defensive walls to keep the citizens safe should be top priority, followed by repairing infrastructure. We should definitely ask the troops to help as things are quiet right now. Who knows if it'll stay this way."

Workers:
A) Repair the keep/walls. -- Aron's suggestion
B) Repair the city infrastructure (sewers, lodging, bridges) -- Sosiel's suggestion
C) Economic development -- Gwerm's suggestion
D) Plant some crops -- Irabeth's Suggestion

Troops:
D) Use some of the troops as laborers -- Aron's suggestion
B) Focus on protecting the supply road -- Gwerm's suggestion
A) Focus on long-range scouting -- Anevia's suggestion
C) Hold down the fort -- Irabeth's suggestion

[Bhaakon]

"Yes...If you can magically form the rubble to fit the walls, that will make it much easier. Properly dressing the stone take ages, especially if you don't have enough skilled workers." Aron nods, preening a bit given how enthusiastically his advice had been taken. "With your help, we should have the outer wall finished in no time..."

Lily isn't listening though, her attention having already turned to the statue.

"Well, I could show you easily enough. It's in a big intersection just outside the walls. In front of an old manor house or something." Sosiel answers, a bit taken aback at the intensity of the inquiry. "It's rather surprising that they got it up so fast. The attention to detail is quite something..."

Lily's Statue----------------------------

Indeed, the attention to detail IS quite something. The tense muscles, the arched back, the toes akimbo and grasping tightly to the stone plinth. The wings are so delicate delicate that it's a wonder they don't break apart in the breeze, spread wide and angled so that their glowing white marble catches the light and reflects it to lavishly accent every supple curve. Lily--and it is unmistakably Lily--looks to the sky, a starburst halo explodes from her brow just below the horns. Her head lolls back and her eyes are rolled up to gaze directly overhead. The statue's right arm is straining to grasp for something in the heavens, while the left hand digs into the flesh of her thigh, and her tail constricts around her other leg. The pose leaves nothing to the imagination--though those most familiar with the tiefling will note that the brand on her back is conspicuously absent.

Anyone looking particularly closely soon sees that there's more to the work than mere prowess with the chisel and rasp. The veining of the marble that makes up the translucent wings has been subtly altered by magic. When the light shines through them you can make out shadowy runes in the stone membranes. The symbols shift slowly, changing as you watch. Occasionally they align to form a word or a name in Abyssal, Celestial, Taldane, or any of a score of languages, but mostly they seem random, pattern-less.

Lily instantly recognizes Ayavah's hand, though the pose is quite a bit more brazen, less tender, than her usual work. Also, the statue shows Lily in her current form, quite a bit more...developed than when the two had last seen one another.

The shifting runes of the wings obviously aren't related to any of Lilith's physical features, but they are eerily reminiscent of of the golden runes supposedly etched on Nocticula's wings. Supposedly they're the names of the Demon Lord's many...ahem..conquests, or slaves, as the case may be.

People with better things to do that gawk at obscene statuary-----------------

The room clears somewhat as Lily hastens out to take in her likeness, but business is far from completed.

"There's still some other matters." Irabeth says, clearing her throat to get attention. "That group of Kellids to the south, and the other personal business you mentioned."

She sighs. "I know you've been chaffing at the bit to get out and take care of those things, and the Queen's letter is almost an instruction to do so. Now that we have a full-strength garrison...well...maybe it's time?"

[Desril]

Lilith, the Marble Queen?

Blinking, mouth agape at the sight of, well, herself in statue form, Lily takes a moment before slowly approaching the statue to look at it more closely. She blushes at the level of intimate detail, but isn't sure whether it's because of the attention and obvious care someone gave to make such a flawless statue of her, or if it's more because such a brazen display makes all the effort she went through to have her bracelet crafted meaningless. Aside from her brand being absent the statue is a perfect replica of her, enough so that, after a quick glance to each side to make sure no one is looking, the tiefling reaches a hand up to touch her horns and feel around her head to make sure that she didn't spontaneously generate a halo that lurked just out of the edge of her vision.

And my wings, those names, it's just like....but how? Why? She looks around for anyone other than the main group, desperate for answers, "How did...how did this happen? This statue is so life like...it's as if my mother made it, if I didn't know better...who made this?"

If anyone is going to have answer it'll be the sculptor.

[stack]

Kord nods at the mention personal business, rising to speak, "Other business, yes. It has come to my attention that not far from here may be a crypt that holds an item of...significance. Everyone knows that over the years many dwarves have come to these lands seeking the lost sky citadel of Jormurdun. If my information is correct, this item could be the key to taking the city, when the time comes of course."

[Bhaakon]

Lily's Statue---------------------

"Yeeee...." Squees a familiar voice from the doorway of the nearest building, a large feast hall in reasonably good shape. You notice a gilded symbol hanging above the door, a silhouette rather reminiscent of the statue. "You love it, don't you, Lily? Oh, I knew the dream was right! Oh, I knew you were special, but I never imagined that you'd usurp the Lady in Darkness." That last part was said quite loudly, but the small throng of people near the statue don't seem disturbed.

Avayah steps out into the sun, followed by another group. A few, you notice, have medallions in the shade of the silhouette hanging over the door. "This is her, sister, brothers. Lillith! Our Lady in the Light!"

Important Meeting---------------

"Really?!" Irabeth answers, more than a bit surprised. "That could be a symbol of hope on par with the Sword of Valor. If you could secure that, it may redouble, no, re-triple the support from your people."

"Is this really the time for such personal errands?" Aravashnial cuts in. "Surely the liberation of the sky citadel is a worthy goal, but one that any reasonable person must agree should be delayed until the demons have been dealt with. We could lose an entire army in the effort, and for what? A musty old hole in the ground won't bring us any closer to sealing Deskari's horde back where they belong."

[stack]

Kord replies calmly, having sat again after speaking. "Finding the crown helps the crusade. I agree it is not yet time to seek Jormurdun, but the queen's orders gave leave to proceed as we see fit and I propose this as an objective worthy of consideration. At the very least we will accomplish some longer range scouting in the process. It is also a chance to test the sincerity of my younger brother, who has already aided us in the siege."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin shakes his head.
"Aravashnial is right, Kord. The crypt will be there when we don't have demons threatening our borders. Jestak's tribe doesn't have that much time. Frankly, I was reluctant to wait this long. Every day we lose is another day they could be lost to us."
A small trumpet sound, like a trumpet, echoes through the minds of those present. Moxt seems quite eager to go charging off for great heroism.
"I told you to stop doing that."

[stack]

"I did not say that it took precedence over freeing that tribe. The dead can wait until the living our safe. I do not propose the crown be our first objective, only that it was worth consideration as an objective. And if my brother knew of it, can we say that there will not be demons there to fight also?"

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana, Governator of Drezen

"Someone keep that damnable piece of glass quiet, I was napping! Penn seems rather perturbed by having another living object in his presence, for some reason or another; "Penn, you don't sleep." "Well I could have been!" "Don't make me put the clasp back on." "Mmf."

Merjana pinches the bridge of her nose, finally adding more to the conversation: "I think we're all in agreement that Jestak's people come first, since not only are we talking about people enslaved by demons, but we're talking about people who have lived in the Worldwound for most of their lives; their knowledge will be invaluable for everything from where to hunt to what to grow and how to grow it, where the demons are concentrated to what artifacts and legends might still be hidden in these wastes."

[Desril]

Lily, The Lady in the Light?

Dumbfounded. That's the word. It took Lily a moment to remember it as her mouth hangs agape for a second at the sight of the statue's sculptor, and what she has to say. "M-mother? What are you talking about? I haven't usurped anything!" Seeing the medallions she misses the point, but nonetheless she moves closer to give her mother a hug, using the opportunity to whisper into her ear, "And we shouldn't talk about Our Lady so loudly here, not everyone knows, it isn't safe!"

"And...I do love the statue, it's beautiful...maybe a little embarrassing, since it's so....brazen, but...I thought I'd finally surpassed you as a sculptor, it seems I still have more to learn. How did you enchant the wings like that, and whose names are those?" Shaking her head, "No, I guess that's not the important thing right now, what are you doing here? And what's this 'Lady in the Light' business?"

It's hard to tell if she's more elated at seeing someone she loves, or utterly perplexed at the circumstances.

[Frosty]

Millia, Breaker of Chains

The aasimar follows Lily, not trusting the tiefling to stay out of trouble whenever Lily is THIS excited. "I'll be back."

On the way to see the statue, Millia offers, "By the way, instead of slow letters, I can actually just send a message to your mother. 25 words or less, you can't beat the instant response time. Think about...whoa...that statue is...something."

Millia examines the Larger-than-life statue (200% scale in fact) of her friend. "Wow...that's...umm...detailed. Guess Merjana isn't going to go through with the public indecency laws after all. Hey wait, those names...the style...doesn't it remind you of..."

It is at that time the woman known as Avayah steps forth. "Wow! You're the sculptor? This is amazing! Wait...usurper?" She looks around a bit nervously, and is glad no one else seems perturbed.

As Lily moves to hug her mother, Millia is quiet, still processing everything. "Well, I guess that offer of sending is unnessesary now. Lily, would you introduce me to your lovely and talented mother? I've only heard good things about her."

[Desril]

Lily, Lady in the Light

Confused as she was, Millia's call for introductions was enough to at least bring Lily back to reality momentarily and she steps back from Ayavah for a moment. "Oh, right, yes...Millia, this is my mother, Ayavah, she's a wonderful sculptor and a powerful mage. Mother, this is Millia, a sister of the faith and an amazing healer," she says, hoping that she gets the implication of a heretic with healing magics.

[Bhaakon]

Ayavah looks hurt. "Don't be so modest, Lillith. You remember Braxis, don't you?" One of the cloaked figures who followed Ayavah out of the old feast hall steps forward. Lily does indeed recognize Braxis, one of Ayavah's few friends and a fellow underground heretic from Magnimar. He was always a devout man, but also sad on account of his devotion going unanswered. He doesn't seems sad at all now. In fact, he's positively ecstatic, awed.

"Our Lady in Light, brighten my path!" He lifts up his golden succubus medallion and it positively beams with pink illumination, the same shade as Lily's own hair. There's no denying the spark of divine magic, even if it's just a simple cantrip. "Thank you for this gift, Lily. To think, Ayavah's own little grub would be the one to answer the prayers that I've been dedicating to the wrong goddess for so many years." He weeps, genuine, joyful tears. "Thank you! You've saved me! Saved us!"

"See? How can you deny your destiny, child? You've helped so many people already. I'd lead my friends here hoping to finally reach the ear of the...old god, but it was YOU who answered our prayers. We'd given up hope, abandoned, adrift, until a dream showed me the way. I saw you ascendant, and I knew what had to be done."

"I knew we had to leave old things behind." She turns toward Millia, her smile beatific. "Millia, was it? Would you not join us on the path to the light?"

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin nods in acknowledgement of Kord's point.
"Perhaps, but we should focus on concrete objectives. Locating and rescuing the succubus Aruashalae should likely be our second objective after recruiting the Wintersun. She's in danger as well, but we cannot place one individual above an entire tribe."
Turning to Jestak
"So, this will be as straight forward as going to your tribe, you declaring the challenge, me defeating the current chief, and then we lead them back here?"

[Frosty]

Millia

The oracle is almost at a loss for words. This is a staggering development. "I...I think we should take this conversation in private."

With that, she tries out for the first time a three-way mental conversation. She has rarely used her newfound gift since she discovered it a week ago, but this seems like a good time. She speaks mentally to Lily and Avayah.

"This is an unexpected, but I think welcome situation. However, *my* gifts come from our Lady in Shadows, and I will not abandon her. Besides, what is the point of the heretical path of light if not to bring our Lady along? No, I am dedicated to redeeming Her, and I think your abandonment of Her was...not well-thought out, even if you meant well. Surely you can worship both Lily and Our Lady at the same time?"

[Desril]

Lily

Speechless would be the polite way to phrase Lily's reaction to her mother's and Braxis' claims. In truth it's a very dumbfounded sputtering. It isn't until Millia and Ayavah have their mental exchange that the neophyte goddess gathers her wits enough to respond, though she uses her tongue rather than Millia's gift to do so. "I...I don't..." Looking around to those gathered around, realizing that there's more than a couple of those amulets and finally realizing what's happening, the tiefling takes a moment to compose herself. "Mother, Braxis...all of you, you have to be mistaken! I haven't answered any prayers, I barely feel any different than a few nights ago, I can't be the one doing this!"

Turning her attention to Ayavah and her friend, weepy though he is, Lily remembers that he could never receive spells from Nocticula. He was a good man, but the power Nocticula granted her heretics was still limited by cosmic law in who could receive it. The fact that he's able to perform a spell now, even one as simple as this, is irrefutable proof that someone is empowering him. "I...Millia is right, I'm no usurper! I still believe in Our Lady's redemption, and whatever....this is...it doesn't change that!" Despite her protests, however, she doesn't want to turn them away. Oh gods, what are they worshiping me for? Taking advantage of Millia's power, she asks a quick question in private, "Mother...all these people...what do they think I am? What are they following...me for?"

To Millia, she sends a short telepathic message, I don't understand how this could've happened...I mean I know I felt a little stronger after we captured the citadel and my magics have improved, but it's not as if I felt divine!

[Bhaakon]

"Private? No, the Lady of Light's gentle glow is a welcome boon to all!" Ayavah answers, ignoring Lily's protests with a softly positive tone that carries the weight of an edict from on high. "Come to the temple, please, and leave the doors throw open. Noontide service is about to begin! I'll send runner to gather all the faithful to hear the Lady speak!"

She nods, and two of the crowd sprint off to fetch whatever members of the congregation have not yet arrived. Then, not waiting for an answer, Ayacah grasps Lily's hands, strong and firm, and leads her into the feast hall.

Inside the bar has been turned into a makeshift altar, and there shelves where the liquor was kept have been filled with toys and other momentos that Lily recognized from her youth. He little wheeled hobby horse, the succubus statuette with the broken wings, her first set of stone-working tools (child-sized), a small collection of books from the informative tiefling children's classic "Amazing Tails" to a well dog-eared illustrated copy of "Corsets and Codpieces," plus a number of introductory magical tomes, of course. Oh, and the dresses. So many tiny, lacy dresses. Horrible, ugly, horrendous dresses.

"Tell me you love it!" Ayavah whispers, so that only Lily can hear. "I brought all your things with me when I traveled to Mendev. I just couldn't throw them away."

Serious Business------------------

"That is how it should be, yes." Jestak replies. "Assuming that Marhevok yet remains honorable. I cannot guess what he might stoop to if he fears losing, however. Much like our duel, the challenged will set the terms of the combat. He will pick rules that benefit himself, within reason. If he goes too far, the clan will turn against him."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin nods.
"You've fought him, correct? What kind of terms do you expect him to set? Oris having that kind of information ahead of time frowned upon?"

[Bhaakon]

Important People Meeting-----------------

"My fight was hand-to-hand, without weapons or armor." She answers. "I told you that he's...monstrous when enraged. Such rules favor him greatly. But he is not a stable man. You might goad him into more favorable conditions if you question his honor and manhood before the clan. I was prideful enough not to play such games, for what good it did me."

[Desril]

Lilith, Lady in the Light

Finding her protests and confusion ignored, Lily looks around at the makeshift temple suddenly finding herself dearly wishing that the alcohol was still present. Instead, her face becomes flush, not with the rush of a nice, stiff drink, but with the kind of embarrassment that only a doting mother can cause. I hadn't seen half of this in ages! "I didn't even know you still had most of these-oh Lady, I used to wear that thing!" She exclaims and quickly moves to hide garish, lace-frilled dresses. The hobby horse was a children's toy, it was embarrassing but needed no explanation, the statuette and her first set of tools were endearing to her even now, and her early tomes were childish but still magical, and the...literature...after the last month or so, being ashamed of that would just be hypocritical. No, it was the dresses that had to stay hidden, and she quickly casts a spell, one that suspiciously lacks the typical components, to render the old clothes invisible.

"It's...very impressive mother, I'm just...still trying to figure out what's going on, and please don't show off my things to everyone, it's embarrassing, please, at least keep the dresses hidden," she says, cheeks still flushed as she looks around. Shelyn's soiled sheets, I'm going to have to say something, oh gods...

Looking uncertain, she whispers back, "What are they expecting me to say? What do they think I am?"

[Frosty]

Millia

The oracle is impressed. A temple already? "Noontide services. Wow you are REALLY completely moving away from our Lady aren't you? So umm...what do your religious services look like? I am very curious. Aren't you, Lily? Aren't you curious how this all came about? Whether you are really able to give magic to people? Or whether all the ceremony is really about something else?"

Millia thinks to Lily, "Why don't you see if you can feel your divine energies somehow going to that man who cast the cantrip? If you're truly a quasi godling now, you can shut it off and render him unable to cast. Then ask him to try casting again."

[Desril]

Lily

Glancing toward Millia, she looks uncertain, but nods her head. "Braxis, could you come here for a moment? If I really am the one granting you this power...I just want to test something. If you're willing. Could you perform that spell again?"

Concentrating as hard as she can on denying the man any power, Lily does her best to actively block access. If she really is the source of his newfound magic, she should be able to deny him with a little focus and then allow it to work again. If the cleric proves unable to cast, the tiefling quickly apologizes and concentrates on reconnecting him to her apparent divine source and tells him to try again. If this works then...

[stack]

"Hand to hand? Bah, I should have challenged him. Well, I am sure Nalin can manage a sufficient provocation. Might be best not to let him see you carrying a long weapon though, could clue him in to your style."

[Bhaakon]

It would be my genuine pleasure." Braxis answer Lily. "Lady in the Light, please, show this poor, benighted soul the way!" He declares, but nothing happens. He holds his holy symbol higher, shaking it like a stubborn jar of molasses that the glow might be loosened. It remains dull and dead.

"Please!" He beseeches, his voice cracking. "I have spent so long wandering, hopeless, in the dark. Grant me this one boon!" He looks directly into Lily's eyes as he prays, nay, begs. His own orbs are glistening with nascent tears. "Is this a test, Lady? Please! Have I angered you in some way? Have I been too cavalier? Too familiar?" The ponderous drops begin to the flow, streaming down his cheeks to crash onto the floor. It might be her imagination, but Lily can hear them. A drum beat describing her priest's anguish. An anguish that she, herself is causing.

Then the light flows, and all is well in Braxis's world once more.

Meanwhile, Ayavah has disappeared into a side room. She returns a few second later, bearing silken gown of purest white, embroidered with gold thread and accessorized with lace ruffs and veil. It's like one of Lily's ridiculous childhood dresses, but of the finest materials, and sized for an adult. "Why we praise the lady, giving our person testimony of how she has changed our lives for the better in the last week, since my dream." She says to Millia. "Since we all walked into the light. But this day, I think, we will have Lily deliver a proper sermon!"

"Lilith! Look at this dress I had made for you! Isn't it lovely? It may not befit your august presence now, but it's the best I could do on short notice. Why, the tailors I found in Kenabres were giddy about making this for you, though I had it enchanted so that it would stretch to fit your new proportions. The dream was really quite specific about that, fortunately. Like it wanted me to have this made for you. Please, tell me you'll wear it! Make you mother happy!" She smiles, her own eyes heavy with tears of joy.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

"It would be best if I learned more about your clan. I'm sure he IS an honorless cur, in any case, so I see nothing wrong with pointing that out. Your clan clearly values strength, which gives me another angle to work with. And loyalty to the clan seems important. Or is that just you?"

[Desril]

Lilith, Our Lady in the Light

Stunned by her own denial of power it takes Lily a moment to restore the flow of energy to Braxis and, seeing how hurt the man was, she places a hand on his shoulder and does her best to give a comforting smile despite her own confusion. "It was a test, yes, but for myself, not you, please don't worry, you've done nothing wrong. I'm sorry, I promise I won't do that again, I just had to know if it really was...me."

And then her mother returns. No.

The lacy frills, the ruff, the veil, it was all just so...tacky. The thought of ever having worn something like that is mortifying, let alone facing her...worshipers. That's going to take some getting used to. And as her eyes go wide in fear, she shakes her head quite vigorously, "Mother! I'm not a toddler wishing she was a rich noblewoman anymore! I can't wear something like that!" Even she can tell how much Ayavah was looking forward to this moment though, and she does her best to soften the blow, "I love how much you're trying to make this perfect, but...if this 'Lady in the Light' thing is really happening...I need to do it as myself," she says, glancing down toward her bracelet, wondering if she should remove the illusion entirely.

[Bhaakon]

"Please? At least try it on, Lilith!" Ayavah pouts. "You so loved dressing up as a child, parading around my studio, putting on little shows for my friends."

"Braxis! You remember that time Lily was wearing that fuchsia tutu and tried to right the neighbor's dog?" She turns toward the newly minted cleric, who is finally drying his eyes.

He grins from ear to ear. "Oh, yes! It was just darling. Little Lulu go all of three steps on that mutt before it threw her against the fence. A loose nail tore the fabric clean off, and she was running around naked as a jay-bird!" Now he's crying again, but tears of mirth this time, at the memory.

"Now, now. Save those memories for the service!" Ayavah scolds, smiling. "Let everyone know how my little Lady was bringing light to all even before she found her divine spark."

[Desril]

Lily

It takes a great effort of willpower not to cover her face with her palm at the retelling of that story. It wasn't even one she remembered, but, thinking about it, if it actually did happen it might've been the first time she realized that cloth and her didn't mix very well. Not that anything would come of that for many more years, but it might've been the event that set her on the path to wearing what she was now.

Not, of course, that her mother knew that. Tell her the truth or play it off...

She had to make a decision quickly though, and given the choice between risking slightly upsetting her adoptive mother who seems to have taken on the role of her high priestess in some bizarre turn of events for life choices that she made versus hurting her by lying to get out of wearing the dress, there was only one option that the tiefling could live with. Given the rate at which people were starting to enter the temple though, there wasn't time to pull her mother into a side room to explain quietly, so instead she simple shakes her head and whispers, "Mother, I...can't wear that, I haven't worn anything like that in ages," and rather than try to take the time to explain, she instead takes Ayavah's hand and places it on one of the thicker parts of her illusory outfit to get the point across.

[Bhaakon]

Ayavah's pleased smily turns into a confused frown as she feels nothing but Lily's flesh. The frown deepens as she moves her hand, probing the extent of his daughter's nudity and finding it quite extensive.

"Oh...oh no." Ayvah moans. "What have you done... This isn't how I raised you! Is this some sort of curse? No...it must be because your divine radiance burns away the fabric! Of course. How stupid of me. It can't possibly because I raised you wrong. The little girl I taught was sweet and modest. This must be a terrible burden to bear, Lulu."

[Desril]

Lily

It's hard to blush much more, but she does. And the sound and look of disappointment from the person who raised her hurts enough to almost make the tiefling immediately latch onto the excuse, but keeping that lie up would be counterproductive beyond just sparing her the shame today. "Mother! You're not stupid! But...this isn't a curse, it's my choice. You raised me exactly how you should have, able to think and decide for myself what I want to do, even if other people don't agree with my choices as long as I'm happy. And I am happy, mother." Pausing, she glances toward the statue outside, "And given how...detailed your work always is, my modesty doesn't seem to have much of a point, skin tone aside, I'm now always proudly on display," she says while fiddling absentmindedly with her bracelet.


....Is a diplomacy check needed here? I feel like if she was talking to anyone other than her mother a diplomacy check would be needed here...

[Bhaakon]

The Officer's Meeting---------------------

"No, it is not just me. Tradition is important, which is why the clan stubbornly remained in Sarkoris even as the wardstones were constructed." Jestak answers. "Marhevok will pay service to the appearance of honor, of that I am confident. Even he could not stand against the three score of the clan. I believe the elder are against him, but the tradition says to honor strength, and so they do not argue with him. Even when he made a self-serving bargain with the demons to send away many potential challengers as slave-soldiers and hostages in exchange for peace."

"None like the demons, but I believe they put up with this agreement because they see no alternative save annihilation."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin nods.
"I can use that. In any case, I'm going to go and find out what happened to Lily. I can't imagine she would spend this long staring at a statue of herself."

[Bhaakon]

Dea ex Meretricula------------

Nalin arrives at the statue just as the runners are returning. They drag along a number of people who had gone to get food or be with their familiar. A solid dozen adults, dragging along half as many children with them stream past the...likeness of Lilith and into the feast hall-turned-temple. Even from outside, he can hear what comes next.

"BUT THAT'S ART, LULU!" Ayavah shouts. She's never been one to take criticism of her work well, even if it's only oblique. "Their bare skinned-embraces are expressions of intimacy, love! A special, private affection! Not something to be...to be...PARADED AROUND LIKE AN UNDERBRIDGE STRUMPET SHOWCASING HER WARES!"

The gathering crowd gasps collectively, a pastry falling out of a child's slack-jawed mouth to splatter, frosting-down, on the floor as she gapes at Ayavah's uncharacteristic outburst. The woman turns beet-reed with embarrassment as she realizes what she's done, and quietly folds up the glorious white and gold gown.

"I'm...I'm sorry, Lulu. I just wanted to make you happy on your important day. I'll...I'll sit quietly in the back and just listen, so that you don't have to be embarrassed by me any further."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin takes a position in the back, his unhelmeted face, marked by a puzzled grin. Tapping into their connection, he rapidly adds Lily and Milia, as well as Slithaint, if he is present, to his mental network.
"Trouble, Lulu? Who's the harpy?"

[Frosty]

Millia can see this is going To be entertaining, bt perhaps she should have backup just in case anyone becomes...disillusioned. Nurah is pretty good at crowd control, and she knows that Nurah is sitting in a nearby park doing some reading.

"Lily, Nalin, give me a few minutes. I'll be right back. Someone unexpected has happened, but I'll let Lily explain.". With that, she goes and gets Nurah and brings her here for the sermon, after giving Nurah a brief summary.

[Desril]

Lilith, Our Lady in the Light

Lily suppresses a sigh at her mother's outburst but weathers the sudden storm and waits for Ayavah to take a breath. When she goes to sit in the back, however, the tiefling puts a hand on her mother's shoulder and stops her. "Seeing you again makes me happy, mother. And I think we're both old enough to know that it's a mother's duty to embarrass their child as a sign of love. You'll just have to make up for all the embarrassment with a home cooked meal," she says with a smile before guiding her mother toward the front seats. Or at least where she assumes the front will be since she isn't entirely sure how to give this speech yet. What she doesn't say aloud is her silent prayer that Ayavah won't think badly of her once this is all done, since if she's going to be an object of worship she's not going to lie to her followers, and that means uncomfortable truths. Oh Cayden's Codpiece, Nalin just had to show up now...Merjana and the others probably aren't far behind either...

This time she doesn't bother to suppress the sigh as she looks at the gathered crowd, recognizing most of the faces, if only from hazy memories, At least I can speak freely as long as no one else shows up.

Taking up her position, which doesn't quite give her sight of the door, the new deity looks out at her audience for just long enough for it to be awkward before finally opening her mouth to speak. "I...I'm not perfect. I don't know how I obtained this power, and I didn't even know I had it until you all arrived here. Whatever I may be now, you and anyone who chooses to follow me need to understand that I'm still capable of making mistakes. And I am not the Redeemer Queen that you've all worshiped. I believe in the redemption of Our Lady in Shadows as strongly as I ever did, but unlike many of you I do not think she is a fallen Empyreal. I truly believe that Nocticula is a demon and has been from her first moments, but that she wishes to be something new, something that I wish to help her become, something that I've only recently discovered can, in fact, happen, because even as we speak the leaders of Drezen are getting ready to go with me to rescue a risen succubus."

She gives that a moment to sink in before continuing, "But that is not the only point of difference between me and the goddess you worshiped in secret. I will always do what I can to aid those in need, and the arts have as much support as I can give them, but there are things that set me apart, and if I am going to have anyone claim to be faithful to me, then I will return that faith with honesty. Many of you must have heard my mother, Ayavah, just a moment ago," she says, hoping to draw their attention to the tiefling that raised her and force her to share the spotlight for a brief moment, "And I'm sure you must be familiar with her works. If nothing else, the amazing statue outside these very doors is an excellent example. What you don't know, however, is that aside from the halo and the enchantment on its wings, it is an entirely accurate statue." Taking a deep breath, There's no point in modesty now, the sculpture if flawless and word got around to the knights pretty quickly about My Lady's ritual anyway, Lily reaches for her bracelet and removes it in a single swift motion, shedding her illusory outfit and leaving her exposed for the entire congregation to see.

"As I'm sure you heard, and I'm sure many of you share this belief, that 'bare-skinned embraces of love' are a private affair, but love and intimacy in all its forms are important. The private love of two who married long ago, the secret love of two whose families would never approve, the public love of one who is intimate and passionate but never stays, love for many peoples at once, and even baser lust when all involved consent. In Ancient Thassilon, Lust was one of the many Sins, but in itself it is not evil, it is merely a physical expression of love and should be cherished as well, not for profit but for intimacy freely expressed." She does try to keep her language quite clean, at least. Not for the sake of the children, but rather because her mother never was particularly approving of that sort of thing.

Pausing again, Lilith takes a breath, the hard part was over, in theory. "But the thing which is perhaps most important to me," she says before causing a burst of light to shoot out from her and explode harmlessly in the air a short ways above her head, "is magic. I am a practitioner of the arcane arts and I encourage all of you with the potential to try to realize it, and those of you who cannot, consider the other forms of magic that you may prove to be suited for. What you're capable of with the right training may surprise you. Not everyone, of course, has the discipline for that, but that does not mean there isn't a place for you. But where a sword might save a life, love might save a lost soul, and art may bring light to an otherwise dreary life, it is only magic that can accomplish everything on its own."

Looking out to the audience once again, "This, perhaps, wasn't the sort of sermon that you might have been expecting, or maybe even the sort of things you wanted to hear, but today is a special day and we have no established rites to concern ourselves with, so I felt it more important that any of you who choose to walk this path know who you're choosing to follow. If you cannot agree with the basic tenets I have, you are free to go in peace and I will make sure any of you who do not wish to remain in Drezen are well guarded on your journeys. But those of you who wish to put your faith in me still, do not be afraid to approach me if you have fears or concerns. My power is not so great that I can hear you simply from prayers alone. Please, if you need something of me, guidance, aid, or comfort, seek me out."

Saying another silent prayer that she didn't make a complete and utter fool of herself, Lily hops down from her impromptu podium to stand among her potential faithful and do what she can to answer anything that they might have to ask at the moment.


.....Diplomacy to make a good impression? [roll0] (Given that her adoptive mother and unrelated children are in the audience I assume the +4 doesn't apply)
I know I don't need to, but I'm Surging the diplomacy roll anyway (1d6)[4]
[40]

[Frosty]

Millia

The aasimar sits down in the from, next to Avayah. She nods and smile supportively. It's a pretty good speech...up until the point where Lily brazenly mentions Nocticulan worship! She barely keeps herself from flinching, but she does mentally facepalm. She even warns Lily telepathically, "Not so loud! What if Irabeth or Aravashnial is nearby or something?"

She hopes Nurah can keep a straight face too.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin's smirk turns to a scowl over the course of the speech.
"You have some explaining to do, Lilith."

[Desril]

Lily

Ignoring Nalin and Millia's mental interjections during her short lived sermon, the greenhorn goddess finally replies after she bounces down off the stage to interact with those who didn't already leave more personally.

"Millia, these people, I know them from Magnimar, and they're not being very quiet. If they were nearby for some reason and overheard, I'll figure something out."

Nalin, however, said something more troublesome. She tries not to let her silent reply distract her from the more immediate concern of interacting with her worshipers, "I don't know. Mother showed up out of nowhere, she's the one who built that statue. I don't know what happened any more than you do, but whatever is happening...they're not wrong, I do seem to have some kind of power now that I didn't before..."

Slithaint, however, has his own idea. Slithering off of Lily's shoulder he makes his way over to Nalin, and you could almost swear he was smirking as he whispers just quiet enough that only the knight can hear, "I know what happened, yesss, and so do you. She's sssstarting to tap into her potential, but unlike you, sssshe did not need to ssssssucumb to darkness firssst." Then, the snake's usual serpentine lisp vanishes and the voice the leaves the snake's mouth is unmistakably Lily's, as it whispers into his ear, "I guess I'm just better than you ever could've been, Nalin."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin's tone is skeptical as Lily "explains"
"Mother? Your mother made that statue? And your telling me you're some kind of god now?"
Then his face contorts as Slithaint speaks in Lily's voice. He plated fist snaps out, black, shadowy chains wrapping around the snake and snapping tight around it. Shadows begin to leak from him as the spectral wings emerge once again from the back of his armor.
"Don't test me, traitor."

Combat form, +6 damage, -3 AC
Shackles of the Condemned. Snake gone pop.
Attack: [roll0]
Crit: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]+[roll3]
Crit: [roll4]

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

Merjana watches Nalin leave and pinches the bridge of her nose. "I hope this doesn't become standard practice... I guess I should go see what's going on, as long as we have nothing else major to discuss?"

[Frosty]

Millia, the Breaker of Chains

Millia turns to Avayah and smiles. "See, wasn't that a great sermon? You should be proud of her, even if you didn't anticipate everything she says. She has accomplished great things, and will accomplished even more in the future with my help! Like...redeeming a certain demon lord."

To Nurah, she thinks telepathically, "Isn't this exciting? Can you imagine, a quasi-deity coming into power in front of our very eyes! Have you ever seen anything like this before?"

Looking back at Nalin after he punches the snake, Millia frowns. "Nalin, I know the snake was being mean and taunting you, but sometimes there are better methods than violence. In any case, it does appear that Lily is now a god-ling. People apparently pray to her for spells and she grants them. Do you think Merjana will be...understanding?"

[Bhaakon]

Nurah had stood on a chair in the back of the room, having arrived late and nearly missed Lily's...exhibition. She's no prude, of course, but even she is shocked at the display. And Ayavah, who had also moved to the back of the room, does her best to choke back the sobs or her disappointment. "But the dream..." She whimpers pathetically. "This isn't like it at all...what use is accomplishing great things, if..."


"...If your goals are selfish!" Nurah belts out, her voice quavering with anger. "You think that just because you're strong in magic that you can do whatever you want, parade around naked and no one can criticize you because you aren't hurting anyone! But you're really just oafish and corrupt! Your heedless behavior DOES hurt people! It's hurting your mother right now! Do you even care!" She shouts, pointing at Ayavah as Millia comforts the poor woman.

"How can you follow someone like that! Yeah, she's strong, but her power is self-serving! The strong should help the weak, the downtrodden, use their strength with wisdom and foresight, not just...just...just...SHOW OFF!" Her voice breaks at the end, and comes out as a squeak.

She takes a breath to calm herself before continuing. "How many times did you almost kill yourself or others because you were too confident? Too stubborn? Huh? You tried to storm the Citadel alone! You ordered Anevia and Aron on the mission where they got captured, and got possessed yourself! It's your fault Horgus was taken, and I heard your idiot experiments with some mad fungus in the tunnels below Kenabres got someone killed..."

"If you want to worship a great hero, you ought to follow one who will actually help you! Someone that will heal you if you ask, even if she's exhausted! Someone who would shut her books AND he legs for ten minutes to come down and offer a poor wretch like me a second chance she didn't deserve!"

"Please." Ayavah dries her eyes. "Please, don't be so hard on Lilith. Her mother...I could have done better. Worked less...Maybe carved a few fewer pieces and been there to raise her properly. Maybe if I was her real mother..."

"No, you really shouldn't blame yourself. Power corrupts people...I know...I've been on the wrong of that whip many times, and, I'm ashamed to say, I was tempted to return the favor." Nurah answers, more softly. "But Millia showed me the right of it, and has my loyalty." She produces something from her pocket, a cracked iron color on a short stretch of broken chain. "Slave master chain their slaves to one another by the neck so that if one tries to flee, she's caught up short and pains all the others. The only way to break loose of your bonds is to work together! Help your neighbors! Self-sacrifice and service! Not just Running off in whatever direction you like and hoping to break loose! That hurts everyone!"

The halfling's outburst ends with a thud...Radiance dropping to the floor as it suddenly takes on the weight of a small rhinoceros in Nalin's hand. The butt spike buries itself deep in the wood floor and the weapon stands there, its mass proof against attempts to dislodge it. There are valuable lessons to be found in a heartfelt apology." It thrums, loud enough for all to hear, and not entirely clear whether it's commentary is aimed at Nalin alone. "Come retrieve me when you've learned them."

[Desril]

Lilith, Our Lady in the Light?

Lily listened to Nurah with downcast eyes until she finished, debating what to do...but it wasn't until Radiance made its voice heard that she made a decision. A side-long glance at Nalin made it clear that she wasn't happy with him at least, and that they were going to talk shortly, but for the time being, there was the matter of the imminent fracturing of her new cult.

Taking a breath, Lily looks long and hard at Nurah and her followers, and especially Ayavah before speaking, though unlike Nurah she keeps her voice calm. "I don't expect no one to criticize me. I already said I make mistakes, whatever this power is, my apparent divinity hasn't granted me any special insight into the workings of the universe, Nurah. But you think I don't help people? Have you forgotten that it wasn't Millia who discovered your loyalties but spared you anyway? That I fought just as hard as she did to spare the prisoners of war we captured? Millia is a healer and a better counselor than I am, my strengths lie elsewhere, and the best way I can help people right now is to fight against the things that want to hurt them!"

"You're right, Aron and Anevia were captured because of my mistake, but my possession was no mistake, it was the only option I had to save them! Horgus' imprisonment was an unfortunate consequence but we rescued him too! And I don't know where you heard about the basidirond, but that's just a rumor, a runner simply scared himself peeking into a room after being told it was dangerous, but no one was hurt and I managed to figure out how the creatures reproduce which was a discovery that had gone undocumented for far too long," she says the last as more of an off-hand comment before returning to more serious matters.

The rest of the rant, however, Lily doesn't try to refute in public. Instead, she slowly makes her way over to Nurah, looking the halfling in the eye thanks to the extra height given by the chair, "I'm sorry, Nurah, for not coming to see you more often. I was obsessed with finding Arueshalae before something befell her and I didn't think twice about leaving you to Millia's care, and I'm sorry if I hurt you."

After giving Nurah a chance to either accept or reject that apology, the tiefling turns to her mother and kneels down next to her looking hurt. She missed the short conversation that started Nurah's rant but not what Ayavah muttered during it. "And mother, don't ever say that. I know this isn't what you expected, but you have to accept that I'm my own person, I have my own path to walk down. You were always there for me and I love you, but I am who I am, I can't change that." Turning to the rest of the crowd, she speaks up again, "I know I'm not what any of you expected! And I'm sorry that I can't be what you might want! But I am not going to live a lie nor will I ask that of any of you! I can't promise that following me will be easy, I can only promise that I will be honest with you all and do what I can for you and everyone else who needs my help."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin's face contorts as he aligns his mind with that of the holy weapon.
"Apologize? To that little monster? It tricked Lily into making a deal with Jerribeth! it has done nothing but sow dissent since it arrived! It has been taking vengeance on me for what? For DYING?"
He turns to face the spear, their conversation silent but the rage clearly burning in his eyes
"When that horror does something to deserve forgiveness for this wanton hatred and aggression, then I will consider it. Not before."
A small voice sounds in the back of their minds.
"Where has he been?"
"What?"
"I mean, he's obviously not just a snake. Otherwise he would be dead."

[Frosty]

Millia, the Breaker of Chains

Millia listens to Nurah's outburst, a bit surprised. And Nurah actually makes *some* good points. But, Lily is her friend, and a decent person, and the congregation here must know that. As the outburst winds down, Millia is heartened to hear Lily incorporate an apology in her defense. Almost no one loses popular support by being humble.

"Everyone, especially worshippers of Lily, please listen. I know not know exactly how your vision of Lily differs from reality, and how her tenants of worship differs from your expectations, but I DO know this! Lily is a good, compassionate person, whose only major flaw is a lack of foresight. IS it a weakness? Yes. Is it something she needs to work on? Yes. But, is she corrupt? Nothing is further from the truth. My good friend Nurah has a huge, new-found passion for good, and I know she means well, but if you all are to decide whether you wish to worship Lily, then you must have the right facts. Lily does cares for the abused. Let me tell you about the sad story of this Burning Child we encountered..." She launches into a quick re-telling of what happened with the Burning Child, and how Lily was part of the effort to calm the child and pave the way for a peaceful transition to the next life.

After that, she continues, "Yes, all those times she charged forward recklessly if not necessarily a good thing, but it only showcase how much she cares. Now, she just needs to temper her enthusiasm with some caution. If any of you have further questions, feel free to come up to me of any of Lily's companions. We will tell you the truth of the kind of person she is."

To Nurah, she communicates telepathically, "I'm very glad I made an impression on you, and I'll always support you, but do please try to inform me of any...issues...you may have with my friends before you make a public fuss about it in the future? Lily's nudity is not a vanity thing. It's strange, but it's not to feed her ego. That said, yes you make some good points, and I'll be sure to talk to her about how she can use her newfound position to do more good in the community."

[Bhaakon]

Back at the Meeting--------------------

"There is one more important matter that demands you attention." Gwerm answer, clearing his throat as he obviously hadn't wanted to bring this up. "The matter of taxation, you see. Most cities of this size are funded by taxes on the harvest--which obviously can't be done--or a poll tax, but under the circumstances I don't believe digging into the coin purse of every resident of Drezen would be popular...so, if I may suggest a vice tax? I'm told that the Calistrians are doing a brisker business than ever, even have some competition from free agents, and a number of makeshift taverns and gambling dens have already popped up throughout the city..."

[stack]

"What is the shortfall between funding we can expect from the crusade and necessary expenditures? Will the additional flexibility to develop as needed outweigh the difficulty and ill will generated by levying and collecting the tax?"

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

The governor thought on the question for a moment, suddenly extra frustrated that all the other commanders had left the meeting early. "I don't want to tax a religious rite, even one such as what my si-- what the Calistrians do," Merjana pursed her lips as she corrected herself - she wasn't sure if she could call what the Calistrians were sisters anymore. The backlash from them from her forthcoming announcement would be painful, but perhaps she could soften their blows with preferential treatment. "I would feel better discussing this if I could see the numbers, but either way a tax will be needed - for now if for no other reason than to help speed up the process of getting the buildings and walls up again."

[Bhaakon]

Tax Returns-----------------

"For now, the laborers are paid for by the crusade, but in time..." Gwerm shrugs. "We should be prepared to attain a measure of self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. And the longer you wait to broach the idea of taxation, the more onerous the populous will find the concept. I suggest starting now, even if it's just a token payment, so that no balks when you have to make a more burdensome levy. If you want to make this a proper kingdom, you have to act like one. Otherwise people won't respect your authority."

[Bhaakon]

"But Millia!" Nurah squrims. "I'm quite sure you're every bit as...gifted as Lily. You should stand up and give these people a better message. Look! Most of them are ready to turn away from this nonsense right now! Think of all the good we could do. We could set up all kind of nice things for people. Like these children here...we could set aside a place to watch them while their parents are working on the city. We could set aside a house to care for those injured in the rebuilding and fighting. I just know there will be all kind of opportunities to help people tossed aside by the crusade if we start preparing now, instead of just studying magic and whatever other navel-gazing Lily wants her people to do."

Ayvah wipes away her tears. "Yes...yes. There is a lot of good that could be done." She sighs. "This...this has shown me that I've spent too much time being self-indulgent when I should have been caring for other people. Leading them astray" Her eyes, still heavy with tears, flash towards Lily. "I'm sorry, all of you, that I dragged you out here after a goddess who wouldn't answer our prayers. And that I...lead you this. I...I won't try to lead you any more. But I think it's time I follow, instead. Help people before I help myself."

"Don't worry, Lady. My faith is still strong!" Braxis whispers fervently to Lily. At some point during the sermon he removed his shirt--much to the regret of all in attendance. Demonic heritage isn't always kind, and the surfeit of nipples and unfortunate, melting wax quality of the flesh on his chest is just another sad example.

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

Merjana blinked, replying in a surprisingly unflat tone, despite being more or less told her own line of thought back again "Another good point, Horgus. Apply the levy, but avoid applying it prostitution for now; there's a minefield there I'm going to need to think on how to work through."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

The dark energy pulsing around Nalin begins to fade.
"If...if he was alive...he would have..."
Then Nalin hears Avayah, and returns to reality.
"If you're going to abandon me over this, then fine. Wait here until I'm worthy once more. I have lives to save and friends to help."
He turns away from the spear, cutting his mental connection to it. He glares at Avayah as he walks up to Lily.
"You know, I expected more of you. When Lily spoke of her mother, she spoke of a caring woman. Someone of compassion, who loved her daughter, despite sharing no blood with her."
He places an arm around Lily, gentle despite the bulk of himself and his armor.
"I don't know what changed, because the shrew standing here cannot be the same woman. Your daughter is a hero. She has saved thousands of lives in the taking of Drezen alone, none of which would have been possible without the compassion she learned from her mother or the skills her mother encouraged."
A tear forms in his eye.
"Your words are aimed to hurt her, not to make amends. It's spiteful, cruel, and shameful."
He bends down and retrieves Lily's bracelet. Then he looks her in the eyes.
"You're more than that, Lil. You believed in me before I believed in myself. I don't know who that woman is, but she's not the mother you told us about."

[Desril]

Lily

Ayavah's words cut like a knife and hurt far more than the wounds that Lily suffered from Soltengrebbe, and where her mother wipes away tears, Lily can't summon the strength to do the same as the tears flow freely from her downcast eyes. The only sign of life she shows is a brief look of concentration as she desperately tries to teleport away only to be denied by the Sword of Valor before Nalin speaks up, and it's only his steely grip that keeps her from running for the door.

[Bhaakon]

"No...clearly I'm no-o-o-t." Ayavah bawls in response to Nalin's dressing-down. "I'm the woman she ran away from, because I was a terrible mother. I left her alone while I worked. All the good things she does have nothing to do with me, but all the bad things...I should have guided her more. She..." The woman breaks down entirely, and makes for the back room of the old feast hall, mopping her tears and blowing her nose loudly in the beautiful frilled dres she'd had made specially for her daughter.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin sighs as Avayah breaks down further. Then Moxt, who had been flitting around Radiance in a frenzy, darts over to him, his tinny voice blaring in the minds of all of Nalin's allies (ie, Lily, Milia, and NOT Radiance).
"Nalin! Something's wrong here! She's acting weird!"
Nalin's eyes narrow.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not really sure, but she's not acting the way someone should act here. It's...it's too perfect! It's like a play, overacting for the audience!"
Nalin thinks back on what he'd seen.
"You have a point."
Refocusing on those around him, he looks at Lily.
"We should go. This isn't going to be resolved now, but you have commitments to more than yourself. You want to prove Nurah right? Then ignore them and let your past shape your future. Or you could prove yourself better than they claim you are and do what has to be done. Aruashalae and Jestak's tribe need you."
"Moxt, go keep an eye of Avayah. See if you notice anything else odd."
"Yessir!"
The gem flits away towards the door Avayah had gone through.
"Milia, I'm going to get Lily out of here. Can you make sure this crowd doesn't riot?"

[Desril]

Lily

Ayavah's retreat nearly breaks Lily and she slumps helplessly in Nalin's arms, This is my fault...

But Moxt's and Nalin's telepathic observations are concerning enough to get through to the more adventure-oriented parts of her brain. This wasn't Magnimar, after all, and this little spat wasn't happening in the safety of their home. She was more than a little emotionally unstable, however, so when she speaks back, her "What do you mean?! is a little harsher than she'd intended.

Bigger concerns aside though, it takes more than a momentary distraction to turn off the waterworks after a pipe that large bursts, so it takes Lily a moment to do more than nod her head to Nalin and lets him shepherd her out the door, but she stops him before they leave and wipes away her tears long enough to look to Braxis, "I'll be leaving for a few days soon, if we don't talk before, come find me when I return." It wasn't a triumphant exit, but it was all she was able to muster up before retreating into her own head to figure out what she could possibly do to make things be okay again.

[Frosty]

Millia, the Breaker of Chains

Millis watches the events unfold with awe. This really was not how she expected this to go. Granted, nothing today was expected, except the leadership meeting earlier. Now, with Nalin's warning that Lily's mother may not be on the up and up, the aasimar understands the need for information gathering and damage control. "Leave the crowd to me. Take care of Lily, my friend."

With that, she steps in front of the crowd to draw their attention, to better allow Lily and Nalin to slip out. "CALM, everyone, CALM! I'm sure a lot of you are confused by what you just witnessed, but don't worry, it is not the end of the world. Try to put this all into perspective. Whatever else Lily is, she is not a god...not yet. She is still flesh and blood, just like you and me, and share the same kinds of mortal failings. Whatever you hope you will find in worshipping her, try to give her some time to grow into it? She didn't ask for this, and she didn't expect to be thrust into this position. Let her have time to adjust. Perhaps in your dreams and Avayah's dreams, the Lily you see is a seasoned Lily later down the road. For now, remain calm go home, and do some soul searching. Ask yourself what you really want, and what you believe in. I think many of you will find something to your liking within Lily's interests, including Art, Magic, and Redemption. Please, do not act rashly. think things over, and give her a chance."

[Bhaakon]

Braxis nods in response to Lily. "I'll be here, Lu...Lady!" He says, his bubbly enthusiasm at odds with his goddess's distress. "Don't worry. I'll take care of Aya. I'm sure she'll come around!"

The crowd, meanwhile, seems more confused than anything. Whatever the service had been, divine wasn't anywhere near the top of its attributes. With both the leader of the nascent cult and their idol running off in tears, it's obvious that the faithful are at an all-time low. Nevermind that Nurah's impassioned argument seems to have reached at least as many ears as Lily's. Ayavah's friends were, for the most part, downtrodden and discriminated against in their home town, after all, and not magical prodigies (unlike some lucky few). However petty the halfling's speech might have been, her message or service and charity held a natural appeal.

Fortunately the confusion never has a chance to develop into something more fractious. Millia's advise takes root, and the gathering dissolves as the worshipers return to their billets. Eventually only Braxis a few other die-hard acolytes remain, since they have taken up residence in the feast hall and taken it upon themselves to protect the relics.

"OH, NO! OUR LADY'S DRESSES!" Braxis moans, finding the frilly abominations missing.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

As Nalin escorts Lily away, Moxt finds a corner in the room to hide in and watch Avayah. His communication only extends to Nalin.
"Looks like she's just crying sir."
"Let me know if anything changes."
Nalin's voice is quiet as he speaks.
"Moxt will keep an eye on her. We'll figure out what's going on here. I promise."

Stealth for Moxt: [roll0]

[Desril]

Lily

Her voice to preoccupied with sobbing, Lily can only respond to Nalin mentally, but even then she has nothing to say. What is there to talk about? How she became a deity without knowing it? How her mother despises what she's become? Every time she tries to think of something to say she only hurts herself more and remains speechless. It's only when Millia mentions the dresses that Lily manages a smirk through her tears and replies, "They're just invisible, I didn't want anyone to see them."

That little bit of mirth didn't last long though, as thinking about the dresses quickly looped back around into thinking about her mother, and without Slithaint around to distract her, the tiefling was in no condition to think rationally about what happened or consider what could possibly have given Moxt the impression that he and Nalin apparently shared. Instead, all she wanted to do was find a corner to hide in, but didn't have the strength required to drag herself out of Nalin's grasp, letting the armored giant move her without putting up any resistance.


She's probably going to be pretty useless until she's got a clear mission or has a few hours to herself, so...

[Desril]

Lily - Several Hours Later

Once Nalin left her to her own devices, Lily curled into a ball in a corner for longer than she was comfortable admitting, crying until she was too dehydrated to do so any more. Eventually, however, she finally managed to pick herself up as the sun started to set. Her throat hoarse, the tiefling's first order of business was a drink, but after that...Damnit...I still need to help repair the walls too...

Sighing, too exhausted to mentally berate herself for wasting most of the day weeping, Lily goes to speak to Aron and get his advice on where the walls needed reinforcing the most. It would take a fair bit of power but she could cover more in a few simple casts than a team of workers could fix in a day.

[Frosty]

Millia

After spending a small amount of time scanning for auras of possession (and finding none), she informs the acolytes that Lily's clothes are just invisible and will return to normal in time. Then, she leaves, not knowing how to make things better. Millia decides to let Lily cry it out for a while, and helps out with repairs in the meantime. By the time Lily finishes crying, Millia has spent her spells for the day, and is resting in her room, thinking about the events of the day, and about divinity. "I wonder what makes someone divine? Gods don't depend on worshippers for power. It's the other way around. Or else Razmir would a god already. And it's not like Lily underwent the test of the Starstone. We would notice! I hope things work out for her. She needs to get it together because she is now partially responsible for her worshippers."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin spent most of the day in one of the normal forges, hammering out armor for the crusaders. He might not be able to wield Radiance now, but he would still fight. His gaze passed over the silver sword of the Order of the Shining Blade, which he had born at his hip since before he took up Radiance. It wasn't as ornate, or as powerful a weapon, but it would serve.

Moxt Seian, the Little Hero

Moxt remains perfectly motionless, watching Avayah from the corner throughout the day.

Taking 20 on any of these if possible, rolling all applicable
Stealth: rolled above
Perception: [roll0]
Knowledge (Planes): [roll1]
Spellcraft: [roll2]
Sense Motive: [roll3]
Knowledge (Religion): [roll4]

[Bhaakon]

Millia's Chamber----------------

There's a soft knock on the door, and when Millia answers, she find Nurah standing there, her eyes bloodshot. "Mistress Millia, please, just listen before you say anything. I know you're mad at me for riling up the crowd back there, but the things Lily said were...they were just wrong. I can tell that her path leads to the same place mine did. Please. I...I know you're just as powerful as her. Look!"

Before Millia can stop the halfling, she whips out a dagger and draws is across her hand. She sets it down immediately and grabs the odd, broken slave collar she'd been carrying around earlier in the day. "Mistress of Mercy, please, heal my ills." And, just like that, the bleeding stops. She opens her clinched fist to show her pristine, uninjured palm. Not even a scar.

"I could do this before. I know there are some minstrels who can heal with music, but I wasn't one of them. But I can now, because I believe in you, in your cause." She begins sobbing softly. "Because you believe in me. So, please, don't let Lily lead people down the wrong path. Even if she's strong enough to endure it, not everyone is."

Ayavah's Chambers---------------

Moxt settles in for a very boring afternoon of spying. Heroically, he bites his figurative tongue and keeps to his hiding spot as Lily's mother bawls her eyes out into the beautifully crafted dress. Surely the thing will be ruined--baring magical restoration--but the cruelties heaped upon the woman certainly buy her some liberties.

Though maybe not as many liberties as what comes next. Her well of tears finally run dry, the teifling stands up, blows her nose again, and sits down at the small desk--the only other furniture in the room besides the bed. She produces a small dagger from her belt and rolls back her long, sea-foam green sleeve. There are a number of scars on her arm, all quite fresh. With a quick slice she opens a new wound, then another, and a third, until the blood is virtually pouring down her arm. She sets aside the dagger and grabs a glass carafe in her good hand, position the wounded limb so that the blood flows (mostly) into the container.

Distressed souls injuring themselves to feel something isn't exactly unheard of, but this bizarre behavior certainly bears relaying to Nalin.

[Frosty]

Millia waits for the Halfling to finish, and then says, "Come on, Nurah, and close the door. You're always welcome to talk to me." She scratches her air as she thinks of the right words to say. "No, I'm not mad at you. I know whatever other imperfections you have, your heart is in the right place now. I believe you are sincere in your conviction, and I will not mock you or deride for that."

As the aasimar watches her friend cut herself and then heal herself, she can feel the truth of Nurah's words. "Wait wait wait...multiple important matters to discuss here. First, I can see why some people may not share Lily's areas of interests. However, you seem to genuinely believe her words and her path are wrong and will lead her to the path of vengeance. Why is that? In her sermon, she offered aid if any of them needed it. The only thing objectionable to 'normal' folks might be her nudity."

She takes a breath. A deep one. "And what are you talking about? You gained the power to heal because of me? What are you saying?"

[Vhaidara]

Most Seian, the Little Hero

"Um...sir, she's slicing her wrists."
Nalin bolts uprght.
"Son of a bitch."
"Moxt, stay hidden, she's dangerous."
Nalin quickly makes his way to Merjana's chambers (or wherever she is) and knocks loudly, quelling any guards with a glare.
"Merjana, we have a problem. Come with me, I'll explain once we find Lily."
Then he sets off in search of Lily. Once he finds her, he brings her into the mental network and begins to explain while striding towards the place where Moxt is watching the possessed Avayah.
"Avayah, Lily's mother, is collecting her own blood. We never caught that blasted shadow demon. Well, he can't escape this time."

[Desril]

Lily

The tiefling had just finished restoring another section of the wall when Nalin's mind reached out for her. Her eyes were dry, at least, but when he explained what Moxt saw she blinked once and quickly started to put it all together. "But mother would never...not over, wait, what'd you mean several days worth of..."

By the time he'd finished explaining, Lily's hand was trembling and she'd already broken into a run for the inn, ignoring subtlety or the element of surprise. It'd be a lie to say that there wasn't a murderous glint in her eye, but the only thing she could think of in her sprint was the danger that Ayavah was in, Mom! I'm coming, just hold on!


Sprint to the inn!

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

As he goes from Merjana to Lily, Nalin's mind reaches out and contacts each of his companions that he is able to find.
"We've got trouble. Come with me to join Lily."

As Lily takes off sprinting, Nalin matches her stride as his armor emerges, encasing him in the blackened starmetal.
"He won't escape this time Lily."
Then he remembers that Radiance is still throwing a tantrum.
"Enchant my gauntlet. I'll hold him down for you."

Moxt Seian, the Little Hero

Knowing that the heroes are on the way, Moxt begins composing a fanfare to play with their entrance.

[Bhaakon]

Nurah-------------

"Mistress, power corrupts people. My master had power over his slaves, and did terrible things to them, even though he was kind as lamb to his children. Queen Galfrey, who you seem to support, couldn't help but ignore my plight because helping would have diminished the power of the crusade." Nurah explains, her tone showing legitimate concerned. "Can you really say that Lily is better than that? It's the nature of the strong to hurt the weak, especially if they pursue power for its own sake. They can't help it. Just like I can't help stepping on ants when I go about my daily business. It's not out of anger or intent. It's because my feet are so big, they're to very, very small, and taking the time to check every step would leave me unable to complete my duties each day."

"Besides...you've seen her. She has a mad confidence that verges on arrogance, she's stubborn, and her emotions are so much stronger than her judgement. Who knows what she might do if she's convinced herself that she's right and other people are wrong." The halfling's voice drops down to barely above a whisper. "I know what I did when I was sure I knew better than other people. It...wasn't right. I made terrible mistakes because I thought my anger was justified."

She brightens. "But I overcame that. And, thanks to you, I can start repaying my debts in some small way. Yes, Mistress, I made little prayers to you, I do the good works you advised me to, and you've given me the power to do even better works. I...I don't think I'll ever repay what is owed, but with your help I can put more of a dent in it. You can help Lily overcome it, too. I'm sure of it!"

[Frosty]

"Nurah, power can be tempting to misuse, I agree. However, there are people who can resist that temptation, and use power for good most of the time. and yes, the queen has many competing priorities, and not all of them is upholding absolute Good. I...I think she is trying though, and so I am giving her the benefit of the doubt until we can speak to her directly about this. That's the thing, Nurah, people can't be perfect. Not even celestials are perfect. I make mistakes. You made mistakes, but you're *trying* to become a better person. The effort is what's important. Lily doesn't want to hurt people, but you're right in that often times in her pursuit of using her power, even to solve problems, she doesn't see the consequences of her actions. She has wanted to summon demons in the past, not to hurt people, but to help people, and she failed to see why the rest of us objected. She ran away crying. Yes, her emotions eclipse her judgement, and that's why she's not alone. I'm here to counsel her, to be a voice of reason, and so are the rest of her friends."

Her face hardens just a little bit. "And yes she's stubborn too if she's convinced she's right. We're also prepared to STOP her if she goes too far. Now, as far as you literally praying to me, I...I get that you're glad I'm guiding you on the path to the light, and I will do everything I can to help you, and the others that have surrendered and want to improve themselves. But I'm no Sarenrae. You say that power corrupts and being too self-confident can be bad. Well, being worshipped is a good way to artificially boost someone's ego. You're *sure* that I'm somehow...giving you power? and what's with that holy symbol you're holding"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later, at the end of the conversation...

"Something is wrong. Nalin just put out a call that something is wrong and we need to meet up with him. Sounds like an emergency. Let's go!" With that, she grabs her pack and heads out the door to meet up with Nalin.

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

Merjana steps out into the hall, pulling the holster that kept Penn strapped tightly to her underarm and closing the door to her - previously Staunton's - chambers back tight behind her, an obvious and entirely unhidden attempt to keep Nalin from looking inside. "When, exactly, did you get the ability to talk in my head?"

Nevertheless, she follows behind her companion, checking to make sure that she was ready for whatever it was that he needed her for.

[Bhaakon]

Nurah-----------------

The halfling blushed slightly as she explains the provenance of the cracked iron slave collar. "I...I wore in my old master's service. I kept it as a reminder of that time, to fuel my hatred. But now, I think, it's a reminding that I'm free to break with my past and be a better person, even though I can't forget it."

"As for you, Mistress, I know you're giving me this power, but I don't know how I can prove it. There are others who are listening to me, people you helped. Maybe if they manifest the same abilities, you'll believe me. But as for your own worthiness....Mistress, I don't believe you have it in you to overlook the less powerful, like Lily might. Like Sarenrae does when she grants spells to those Kelish slavers. I know that you can't overlook suffering, even if it's convenient. Let me prove it to you!" Quick as an assassin, she has the blade in her hand again, and once more scores her palm. She begs again, but not holding her holy symbol this time. She looks Millia directly in the eye.

"Mistress Millia, it hurts! Please tend to my wound."

Near Lily's Ridiculous Statue------------

Those gathered make their way into the temple. The door is unlocks, and a few of the acolytes are standing a woozy guard over the relics. Radiance stands exactly where Nalin was forced to leave it, no more willing to be lifted by another hand than it is by his.

"You can't have apologized yet." It says as the big man enters.

Ayavah's not deaf, and the walls of the old feast hall are thin. She hears the pike's comment and hastily binds her arm with a strip of cloth torn from Lily's frilly dress, then hides the carafe of blood inside her boot.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

As they arrive, Nalin ignores the spear.
"Milia and Merjana, focus on forcing it out. I'll hold it once it's loose. Lily. End it."

[Desril]

Lily
HP 73/73
AC 16 (includes penalty, no buffs active)

Even in her enraged state, Lily knew that Nalin would need a weapon and without Radiance he'd have a hard time being anything more than a meat shield, so it slows her down briefly, but a wave of her hands is enough to imbue his gauntleted fists with enough magical power to rival the enchantment upon Sileniy's bow.

Once at the inn, like Nalin, Lily ignores the spear and her worshipers, her eyes glaringly focused on the door her mother's body retreated into hours ago and radiating a pure, simple fury that went unmatched by all prior outbursts any of the assembled had seen from her. She didn't even slow as the door simply evaporated at her approach, "Get out of my mother, Eustoyriax!" Her voice was cold, and her hands trembling, it was obvious she wasn't going to give any speech or ask for a surrender this time. The command was simple, and if the venom in her tone didn't convey her intention to destroy the invidiak, the look in her eyes clearly did.


Spending 1 MP (4?/11 remaining) and 1 AR (6/11 remaining) to cast Greater Magic Weapon on Nalin's gauntlet (+3 for 12 hours)

Shatter SLA on the door.

[Frosty]

---------With Nurah----------

Millia frowns. "Yes, the Kelish slavers are a sore point, and I am very confused. Hey, what are you..." The Halfling cuts herself again and exploits Millia's biggest weakness.

"Pox be upon you for exploiting me this way! Wait, no, I wasn't serious. You know that. Fine, you've proven your point. But I still hardly think that the only people you can trust are those that are cursed to always give aid." She lays hands upon the halfling's wound, closing it. "Well, I suppose it is possible what you say is true. Could you...find someone else who has manifested abilities because of me? Lily was able to see proof by cutting off the divine connection. I should be able to do the same. That said, I'm not entirely comfortable with the whole idea of deification yet, but if it IS true, I will not treat this responsibility lightly."

---------At the temple----------

The oracle blesses the group. "Alright, I shall be ready to dispel your mother the moment I have aclear shot. The rest of you be ready to trap it!"

Cast Bless on party before battle

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

As Lily blows open the door, everyone within 30ft of the corner of Avayah's room hears a loud fanfare in their minds as Moxt announces the arrival of the conquering heroes.

Nalin quickly surges into the room, readying himself to trap the invidiak when he is forced from avayah.
"Kord, get a hold of the woman so it can't use her magic!"
A smile peels back Nalin's lips.
"This was your last mistake."

Move adjacent to Avayah, Ready to use Grim Guard's Laughter if Avayah attempts to cast. Combat Form -3 AC, +4 to hit (einhander bonus baby)
Attack: (1d20+23)[34]
Crit: (1d20+23)[41]
Damage: (1d3+10)[12]+(4d6)[13]
Crit: (1d3+10)[13]

Intimidate to demoralize on hit: (1d20+22)[30]

AoO if provoked
Attack: (1d20+23)[36]
Crit: (1d20+23)[43]
Damage: (1d3+10)[12]
Crit: (1d3+10)[11]

Any attack on avayah is nonlethal

[Bhaakon]

Ayavah turns towards the door as it disintegrates, the look of shocked concern on her face dissolving into a sinister smirk as Lily's words follow. The smile grows. Expands until it's too big. Too many teeth. No normal person could manage that against the pain of her her lips cracking and bleeding from being stretched so far.

"Now, now, Lilith. Think for a moment." The voice emerging from that rictus grin is not Ayavah's. "I know your and your mothers secrets. All of them. I can destroy her, DESTROY HER, with a few words. You know the ones I mean. I know you do."

"Or I can walk this body to the edge of the Sword's perimeter and leave it there, unharmed."

[Desril]

Lily
HP 73/73
AC 16

She'd been about to incant a spell when Eustoyriax spoke. It was on the tip of her tongue. But its words froze her more than Soltengrebbe's breath. No! With a panicked look, she glances back toward the tavern, quickly counting heads before turning back to glare at the thing in her mother's body, Damnit it all, there are too many of them, if it were just them, she thinks to herself quickly about the party, then I could work things out, maybe even erase the memory, but if everyone out there hears...Mother, why do you have to be so ashamed of yourself?! Wait...he shouldn't know that...

Steeling herself, Lily's gaze hardens again, "And have you escape to torture her until she dies or goes insane?! No, this ends here demon, you're not going to hurt anyone else...tell all the secrets you want, you were inside my head, you know how powerful I am, but I've improved and so have my friends...anything you say, I can have erased from the minds of anyone who hears it! No, if you want to get out of this alive, you'll leave her body now while I seal you inside a circle."


....bluff [roll0]

Delaying action until we see the results of Millia's round

[Frosty]

Millia (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=916453)
F CG Aasimar (Azata-Blooded, Elf base) Oracle 5 / Nocticulan Aspirant 4, Level 9, Init 8, HP 86/86, DR Elec 20 / Fire 10, Speed 30
AC 34, Touch 29, Flat-footed 29, CMD 34, Fort 9, Ref 13, Will 18, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 6
MW Cold Iron Light Mace +12 (1d6-1, x2)
Mage armor, Heavy Mithral shield +2 (+4 Armor, +5 Shield, +5 Dex, +1 Natural, +9 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 20, Con 16, Int 14+2, Wis 10, Cha 26+2
Condition Condition Mythic Power 0/9, Channel 9/9 (4d6), LoH 9/10 (2d6)
Mage Armor, Bless

Millia assesses the situation, and tries a gambit to win it all. If it doesn't work, well nothing lost really. The secret will get out, like it was going to anyways. She sends a telepathic message to her allies. "Work with me on this ruse guys. Eustice in theory knows everything that Lily knew up until a week ago. That means it knows that I am known to attempt diplomacy and conversion, even in the face of formidable odds against success, 'obviously' irredeemable. Let's act that way to have it buy my bluff. I'm going to a spell into my...'diplomacy' attempt here, and try to magically suggest that it doesn't want to spill the secret."

To the invidiak, she says clearly, "You don't want to spill the secrets, Eustoryax. There is a better way forward. No matter if you manage to hurt Lily here or not, Aponavicus will never forgive you for losing Drezen. She will never stop hunting you. Your only chance for survival is to join us instead. Embrace the hope of Good, and gain a new lease on life. You know I offer redemption to many, even those that do not deserve it. Do not reveal Avayah's secret."

As full-round action, use Conceal Spell to cast the Suggestion SLA on Eustixce. The actual Suggestion is: Don't reveal the secret.
If the demon rolls a 14 or better, AND Millia doesn't believes the demon didn't already spill the secret, force a reroll.

[Bhaakon]

Ayavah's blooding grin turns into a grimace as the demon within her sees through Millia's attempt at subtlety. It can't actually do anything to spot or resist the magic, but it canc ertainly make use of the few seconds it has before the enchantment takes hold.

"Ayavah is not the woman she presents herself as, literally. She's..." The speech cuts off as the suggest takes hold. Ayavah's teeth snap shut with a wince-inducting 'clack' of enamel snapping together far too forcefully. It's just good luck that her tongue wasn't caught between.

Unfortunately, the words carry. Loud enough for all of you to hear, as well as Braxis and the half-dozen other acolytes tending the shrine.

[Desril]

Lily
HP 73/73
AC 16

Lily's eyes go wide for a moment as the invidiak tries to use her mother's mouth to reveal her secret, but as it snaps shut she grins and uses the opportunity to try and cover it up, "Idiot! Almost everyone here already knows my mother's beliefs! That was your big, damning secret?!"

Glaring again, she holds out her hand and focuses on the mental image of Eustoyriax himself, "Now get out of my mother!"


BLUFF THE NPCS IN THE OTHER ROOM [roll0]

Wild Arcana (3/11 MP), AR +1 CL Dispel Magic (CL 12)
Dispelling Possession on Ayavah [roll1]

[stack]

As soon as the demon manifests, Kord grows and begins pummeling it, fists glowing with newly acquired divine might.need someone to roll
Swift for huge size if possible
Full attack flurry of blows, only the first two count since he needs the body wrap to get +1 unless the holy demon bane bit covers counting as magic
Strength goes up 8 for the size change
Holy evil outsider bane on all attacks

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

As Lily expels the shadow demon, Nalin's hand again reaches out, the spectral chains lashing towards the fiend.
"Now stay here and take your beating."

Move to flank with Kord while maintaining 10ft of distance from Eustice. Combat Form -3 AC +4 to hit. Shackles of the Condemned.
Attack: [roll0]
Crit: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2] + [roll3]
Crit: [roll4]

Your strike binds your target, summoning cursed manacles that bind both you and your enemy to a single fate. Make a melee attack. If it hits, it deals weapon damage as normal plus an additional 5d6 points of damage, and the target becomes cursed and entangled for a number of rounds equal to your initiator level. While under the effect of this maneuver, the target cannot move further than 30 feet away from you, even by teleportation effects. You or your target can pull on the chain as a trip or drag attempt as an attack action without provoking attacks of opportunity. You gain a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks and to your CMD when making these attempts or having them made against you.
If the target begins and ends its turn adjacent to you, it can make a Will save (DC 15 + your initiation modifier [22]) to end the effects of this strike. If you move further than 30 feet away from the target, the curse is broken and the effects of this strike end. You can end the effects of this strike as a free action, and it ends automatically if you are knocked unconscious or killed.

[Sileniy]

Sileniy

And Sileniy volunteers to help deliver said beating.

Pre-fight: activate agility medal. Scale to alter self into halfling.

Swift: Mythic arcane strike. MP to add Planar (ignores 5 points of DR).
MP for extra standard, start IC +2.
Full attack, extra shot without penalty.

Attack 1: [roll0] (+18, +1 bless, +1 PBS, +2 IC, -2 DA)
Damage 1: [roll1] (+6, +1 PBS, +2 arcane strike, +2 IC, +4 DA) + [roll2] (bane)

Attack 2: [roll3] (rapid shot)
Damage 2: [roll4] + [roll5]

Attack 3: [roll6] (iterative)
Damage 3: [roll7] + [roll8]

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

Merjana joins the rest when the demon gets punted out of Avayah.

Swift Cast Arcane Pool, Speed.
Pre-Fight: Cast Mythic Force Punch, Hold Charge

During Fight:

Spell Combat (Attack first, spell after)

Rapid Shot 2 attacks (-2 Attack), Deadly Aim (-2), Point Blank Shot (+1), Bane Active (+2), Haste (+1)

Force Punch: [roll0]
SR (Force Breach): [roll1] [roll2]

Haste: [roll3]
Damage: [roll4] + [roll5]

RS1: [roll6]
Damage: [roll7] + [roll8]

RS2: [roll9]
Damage: [roll10] + [roll11]

Attack 1: [roll12]
Damage: [roll13] + [roll14]

Attack 2: [roll15]
Damage: [roll16] + [roll17]

Cast Daylight at an unattended object nearest the middle of the room at the end of my Spell Combat.. Probably the chair.

[Bhaakon]

Darkness bubbles from Ayavah's mouth, nostrils, ear, eyes as Lily's magic does it work, filtering the Invidiak from its host. The elder tiefling staggers clear of the re-forming shadow demon, clearing the way for the barrage that follows. Blasts of magic and fists of fury bludgeon the murky form, but it, somehow, manages to reconstitute itself into the wretched winged fiend you've fought twice now.

"You're never getting out of here!" Nurah barks from the background. "You think your petty threats can scare any of us! Please, demon! You're the only one here who values their secrets above another's life!"

The invidiak turns toward Lilith, his pained grimace regaining a flicker of mad confidence as he activates his possession magic

Ayavah wheels on the demon.

"YOU! YOU DAMNABLE CANCER! BY THE DARK LADY'S MERCY, HOW DARE YOU HURT LULU LIKE THAT! YOU MADE HER CRY, AND YOU TOLD EVERYONE ABOUT...ABOUT..." Her face becomes a mask of rage as she throws herself into casting. She's not much of a fighter, but she knows some basic martial magic. One spell in particular that's useful against such insubstantial beings. Her stream of magic missiles hammer Eustoyriax as he flits into Lily, but can't stop him from seizing control of her body.

"Now then." Lily announces in a voice that's not her own. "Shall we try this again? Let me leave or I'll also announce this whore's secret about town. Oh...I believe it's your secret, too, Millia. In fact, there's quite a few of them scurrying about this wretched hive. I wonder what Drezen's new leader will be forced to do when it comes out that the town is rife with demon-worshippers."

"I bet there will be a witch-burning."

Ayavah tried to disrupt the possession with MM, but failed. Nurah used Dirge of Doom.

[Frosty]

Millia growls and gathers her own abjuration energies, and throws it at Eustice! However, it wasn't strong enough to throw the invidiak out of her friend. Well, time to limit collateral damage.

Moving out of the room, she shouts, "EVERYONE, GRT OUT OF THIS BUILDING IMMEDIATELY! THERE IS A SHADOW DEMON HERE WE ARE FIGHTING. LEAVE NOW FOR YOUR SAFETY!"

cast dispel magic, but failed the check. Move out of room and start evacuating the place.

[Desril]

Lily
HP 73/73
AC 16

Finding herself trapped inside her body once more, Lily does everything she can to express the raw fury she feels toward the invader. Pure emotion, however, wasn't exactly going to accomplish anything, not when she couldn't pour that emotion into a spell. Although converting her anger into words wasn't helped by Millia's failure to free her.

"When they rip you from my body I'm going to tear you apart for what you've done, Eustoyriax! You were in my head, you knew I'd have tried to help you even after what you'd already done, and you attacked my mother anyway! Do you think I'm going to just let you get away with this?! The moment I'm free, I'll destroy you!"

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin turns to gaze at Lily. His voice is low.
"You seem to think anyone would believe you, demon. You made a mistake coming back here. Sorry about this Lily."
And his gauntlet drives a hard blow into her stomach, the chains that still tethered him to the possessing fiend now wrapping around Lily

Aid Another on someone who actually NEEDS the +2 to hit, which recovers my maneuvers. Combat Form -3 AC, +6 Damage
Shackles of the Condemned
Attack: [roll0] (if it's not a 1, I hit, my attack bonus is over 17)
Crit: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2] + [roll3] nonlethal EDIT: I forgot Greater Magic Weapon, +3 to this
Crit: [roll4]

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

Merjana growls at the creature using her friend as a plaything, hissing out "It's okay Lily, I'll give you the honor of rending this thing's soul in two when we get it out of you, just be patient. And we're sorry!"


Recover Force Punch. I'm at like... 3/4 AP now, ish. I need to calculate it. >>
Spell Combat Mythic Force Punch. No specials outside PBS. Stop when she drops.

SS:[roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

1: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

2: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]

FP damage: [roll6]

+2 on each hit with Inspire Courage, + fall damage on a successful knockback (DC22 Fort)

[Bhaakon]

Sorries don't make Nalin's gut punch any less devastating. Lily bends over double, simultaneously struggling to gasp in breath and keep in her last meal. Then Penn barks, making the big man's love tap looks gentle in comparison. The wizard's body tumbles across the room like a ragdoll, slamming into the far will with a splintering of wood and bone. Her limp form slides slowly to the floor as Eustoyriax's incorporeal form leaks out of her and reconstitutes itself.

"Curse Notcitula! She can rot in the Pit for all time, and her thrice-damned worshipers like this fool with her." The demon growls.

[Sileniy]

"And this fool with her," Sileniy repeats at the shadow demon, obviously talking about him. Sileniy's words seem to mask the holy arrow driving for him until it's almost in him. He runs to Lily (next to an angry demon is not a good place for an unconscious person to be) and gives her his only healing spell, telling her to get back.


Swift: MP for surprise strike. Holy arrow.
Attack: [roll0] (+18, bless, PBS, IC, -2 DA, +3 surprise strike) vs. FFAC
Damage: [roll1] + [roll2] (+6, PBS, IC, arcane strike, +4 DA) bypassing DR.

Move & standard: Move to Lily and cast CLW (defensively if needed).
Heal: [roll3]
Concentration: [roll4]

[Desril]

Lily
HP 48/73 (26 nonlethal damage)
AC 16

The last thing Lily heard before the wood splintering crash was Penn's apology. It wasn't needed, it's not like they hadn't done this before and it was the best plan they had. Tending her wounds afterwards would be Millia's job, but for there to be an afterward, they needed to keep her body from posing a threat.

Not that it stopped it from hurting like hell.

Blinking her eyes open just in time to see the invidiak pull Sileniy's arrow out of its body, Lily picks herself up, the worst of her wounds starting to heal though most of them weren't visible through her illusion. She only spares a brief glance toward her mother, "I'm glad you know how to defend yourself," she says before turning to face the shadow demon for the last time in its life, her voice tired but growing angrier with every word, "But that spell is capable of so much more if you pour enough power into it! NOW DIE ALREADY!"


Stand up from prone, provokes probably, not sure if adjacent.

Casting Defensively (can't fail concentration DC 17 or 21, not sure how metamagic affects that actually but I'll have a +23)

3/11 MP
Wild Arcana: Empowered Mythic Magic Missile w/AR to CL
1/11 MP

Spell Penetration (CL 12 +4 vs demon) [roll0] +5 Surge in OOC (0/11 MP)
Force damage. All of the force damage [roll1]

[Bhaakon]

Sileniy's arrow drives through the invidiak and actually bites, pinning it to the wall as he reaches down to heal Lily. The beating she took was something special, and her eyes are still swimming as she staggers upright. Fortunately, this particular spell doesn't exactly require precision aiming.

Eustoyriax rips free of the arrow, leaving some of his dark substant behind to evaporate in Merjana's daylight spell, and lunges at the caster.

Nalin glares at him, hard as blow from his adamantine fists, and the demon flinches. A fist full of magic darts, buzzing with power like enraged hornets, dive into his shadowy form before he can recover. Eustoyriax disintegrates, falling to tatters that simply sublime away before hitting the ground.

Ayavah slumps into her bed, exhausted. He face is lines, bags under her eyes. Somehow in the last ten seconds she seems to have aged ten years. The tears begin to flow again, this time genuine.

"By the Lady in the Shadow, it's over. Finally!" She sighs. "I...have to explain. I need to fix everything. First, though, I must destroy that wretched abomination outside. I can't believe he perverted my talents to such...such..." She grasps for a better word, but finally give up, "PERVERSE ENDS!"

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin lets out a heavy breath.
"Well, there's that mess cleaned up."
He turns to Avayah.
"Are you alright?"
"Most, go and inform the civilians that there was a demonic infiltrator. Anything they heard as a voice in their heads that wasn't there in the past few minutes was merely an attempt to sow dissent among us."
Moxt flits up in front of him, stopping sharply as if it were saluting
"On it! You were so awesome back there! That demon barely knew what hit him!"
Then he flits away, still bubbling about Nalin to begin the process of crowd control.

So yeah, Moxt isn't hiding. He can communicate telepathically with anyone within 30ft of him (as long as he is within a mile of me)

[Desril]

Lily

As Eustoyriax evaporates, Lily looks to the demon's quickly fading form, the words of a spell rapidly forming in her mind but failing to attain the power needed to create its effect. Without the ability to act upon it, however, the unholy anger that would've driven her to imprison its soul rapidly fades and the tiefling moves to embrace her mother, spouting apologies for failing to realize what was going on. When conversation turns to the statue though, she bites her lip, "I guess it's probably for the best...it seemed fitting, but if I'm to have a statue like that...I'd rather it have your soul not just your hand working on it."

I really liked it that way though...

Looking up at Millia, "Tend to her wounds, mine can wait," she says before glancing toward Merjana and Penn, "And you don't need to apologize, you did the right thing. If you'd left me conscious any longer he'd have blown all of us up." There were a mountain of things she'd need to discuss with Ayavah, and that was leaving aside anything anyone who overheard the demon or Ayavah refer to Nocticula might put together, but making sure that she was safe and her injuries healed took priority.

[Frosty]

Millia nods. "Yes, you must explain how all the bad things you may have said about Lily, and all the strange things said just now, are all demonic fabrications. Here, let me heal both of your wounds first. Then I will go spread the word that it was all demonic lies."

With that, the aasimar channels through her the soothing white energies again. After that, she casts her most potent currently-available healing magic on Lily, using the newest rod that Merjana kindly crafted for her..

"Nurah, can you help us with...damage control?"

Channel for [roll0]
Cast Empowered Cure Critical on Lily: [roll1] x1.5 = 28

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

Merjana releases her iron-like grip on her poor creation, relaxing enough after shooting Lily to fit Penn back into his holster. "After all that teasing and lead up, Eustice was that easy to kill; why didn't we just take care of it last time? And Who's the MI--" Whatever Penn was about to say was cut off entirely by Merjana, once more, clasping her gun into place, muzzling her creation and keeping him from making an ass of himself.

"Another foul demon gone, and good riddance to it and that horrid statue." She had avoided saying it earlier, more in that she refused to speak ill of Lily's mother without even having met the woman, but since it was apparently the shadow demon that did it she no longer felt the need to censor herself. "If there are to be any statues in this city of one of us, it will be of all of us." She pauses, before adding - whilst looking pointedly at Lily. "And we'll be clothed." With her czarina duties out of the way, Merjana walks over and squats down in front of Avayah, speaking in a quiet tone to the tiefling.

"You must be Lily's mother. I wish I could say I've heard all about you, but I'm afraid that boils down to just about nothing, so let me introduce myself. My name is Merjana Witchbrood; I'm the governor of Drezen, and while you're among friends here and I know that you and your daughter seek redemption for her, I must ask you to keep your goddess private; I can't protect you if your worship reaches the ears of the crusade before those endeavors are complete. Asking this of you is my burden and my cost, if you can't agree to that I must ask you to leave."

[Desril]

Lily

Stepping aside long enough for Merjana to make her introduction, Lily pouts at the czarina's glare. "It's art! You know I'm not really against making a statue of everyone, but if I'm going to have followers it only makes sense that mine stands alone and is...more true to life," she says, mumbling under her breath afterward, "Though I don't plan on abandoning my modesty entirely in the flesh."

When Merjana continues on to discuss her and her mother's faith, though whether or not the latter still holds true to Nocticula remains to be seen given recent revelations, Lily doesn't speak up, instead waiting to hear her mother's answer for herself. Was all that talk of following me now just Eustoyriax? Does she still want to after that...disastrous sermon? Keeping her thoughts to herself, she waits for an answer while muttering, "I should make a memorial for Roland...he did die trying to reclaim the city. I was going to, but with trying to talk to Arueshalae every night it slipped my mind."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin glances over at Avayah and Merjana.
"Czarina, would you like me to allow your conversation to be somewhat more private?"
If Merjana accepts the offer, Nalin taps into the connection between Lily and Avayah to bring Avayah's mind into his collective. Though they were not blood, the connection was strong enough that he could use its resonance.
"Avayah, do you know where Eustoyriax was keeping the shadow blood he produced? We need to destroy it."

So yeah, adding Avayah if Merjana wants. Remember, you can talk directly to each other through the collective, I'm treating Nalin's part as being subconscious.

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

Merjana does, indeed, pause and not towards Nalin when she's asked to stop for a moment, finishing out her request using Her MIIIIND.

[Bhaakon]

"Fabrications?" Ayavah looks hard at Lily as Millia tends the wounded. "I...I'll need to talk to her about that. The demon's words weren't by own...but...her did know things. Things I thought, and.... But, Lily, please remember that I love you. Even if...well, I wouldn't do what that thing did. I'd never do anything to hurt you. Only to help you be the best you can be!" She embraces her daughter, though she does flinch ever so slightly at the lack of tactile feedback from Lily's outfit.

Then Merjana discretely turns the discussion to the other important matter at hand.

"I...I understand" Ayavah nods and whispers her agreement with Merajana's proposal. "It's nothing I'm not use to." A bitter note slips into her voice on the last note, but nothing to make you think she'll not keep her word.

"But statues...I don't know if I'll be making another soon. It feels wrong, after what happened." She sighs, then adds. "Certainly nothing so grandiose. Most of my work is more modestly sized. I'll start small and work back up to bigger things when...when it doesn't feel so...dirty." I canny listener might note that she makes no promises as to the clothing involved, however.

Meanwhile, Nurah takes the hint from Millia and begins making a suitable ruckus to cover up the hushed exchange. "I'M SO SORRY! This is completely my fault! I should have seen this coming. I'm the one versed in treachery..." Her voice breaks, and she sniffles. "I should have known this would happen. Of course someone like this would try to sneak in among the workers, spreading lies, gathering information, sabotaging. There...there might even be more spies. Maybe you should start checking them? I can't let anything like this happen again because I wasn't being vigilant. I thought I could stop thinking like...like a monster when you showed me mercy, but I see now that I still need that part of me. I just need to turn it towards better ends."

[Frosty]

Millia, the Breaker of Chains

The aasimar plays along with the Halfling, adding to the distraction. "Yes indeed, Nurah. While I do think you need to be vigilante, I don't want you to feel like you must keep a MONSTER mentality within you. You are not a monster. Perhaps think of yourself as one of the caped vigilantes in those books, ever-watchful over her flock. Yes, we will prevent those LIES from being spread further. LIES that can hurt people."

Telepathically, she says to Nurah, "You're doing a great job. Hey, if you're absolutely serious about what we talked about earlier...does that mean I have a...fan club of my own? If so, they'll need to know about keeping Her private as well."

[Desril]

Lily

"I'm just glad you're safe," Lily admits as Ayavah fumbles over trying to say she doesn't really approve but isn't so vicious as to express it as the invidiak did. "And I'm sure you'll be a great help, mother," she says earnestly, although not entirely sure how once she starts thinking about it. Then again, what do I know about running a cult?

When her Ayavah comments about not being certain how long it will be before she can sculpt again though, Lily has to suppress her anger at the thing her mother loved so much being tainted in her mind like that and remember that Eustoyriax is already dead. It wasn't much, but she felt she had to make an effort to wipe away that stain as quickly as she could, and when their embrace finally ends, Lily takes Ayavah's hand, "Take as much time as you need, mother, but when you're ready, I'd love to make something with you again. We haven't worked on a statue together since you first started to teach me, I'd love to show you how much I've improved."

"And as for Our Lady in Shadow, everyone in this room save for the dwarf already knows. Millia is one of us as well, but they can be trusted. They're not confident in the possibility, but they're willing to consider Her redemption at least...especially now that Arueshalae is proving the possibility.

To Nurah, she doesn't say much. The two of them probably needed to talk soon, but tonight there were more pressing matters. But she does give the halfling a heartfelt "Thank you," for helping to hide what'd been said, both by them and the demon. Though Millia was trying perhaps a little too hard to help in that regard.

[stack]

"As if anyone would believe that the effort to reclaim the city and strike back against the demons would be led by demonic cultists. Must have been desperate to think that would work. Wonder why it bothered coming back with such a weak plan. I mean, Lily is strange enough, so makes the best target but still!" Kord grumbles in disbelief as he heads out to lend his aid to removing the statue in whatever way Merjana directs.

[Bhaakon]

"Oh, I saw your work in Kenabres." Ayavah smiles, weakly, but it's a smile. "It was an impressively complex composition. Not much heart, but public sculpture must always be toned down to meet common sensibilities." She glances, briefly, at Merjana, the despot's draconian restrictions on nude statuary clearly not forgotten. "Maybe I can help with your friend's monument, when you have time. I'll scrounge up a suitable chunk of stone while you're doing more important things, if you like. I believe I can handle that much."


"Yes...you're right, Millia. Though maybe not like the ones in Lily's books." Not that there had been, at least in the published works, but the halfling's point stands. "I can keep a lookout for such nonsense in the future, and help you cut it right out before it takes hold. I'm good at listening, not being noticed. Or chatting people up, getting them to say things they didn't mean to. Like that one time I talking with Sileniy's sister and I got her to show me those drawings...er...I mean, even a weak plan can be successful if executed properly. The Ivory Labyrinth rpoved how vulnerable the crusade can be to subversion. A sad consequence of a rot in its roots, perhaps. We should make sure the offshoot here in Drezen stays wholesome."

[Desril]

Lily

A weak smile is still a step in the right direction, and Lily grins back as she stays by her mother's side to make small talk, but quickly to a realization. "Oh! If you've been on the road for this long, then you must not've gotten the letter I sent! Let me find you a place to rest in the citadel and we can talk in the morning. I'll speak to Braxis and the others for you tonight," she says, happy that the fact that she hadn't written in so long would be a fact that could happily go on undiscovered.

Assuming Ayavah doesn't object, Lily moves to speak to her followers, what few there are, who are still in the tavern, explaining what happened and why the invidiak wanted to sow dissent through them to get to her as best she can, very carefully making sure that no one holds it against her mother.

But while that is going on, she has another important conversation to deal with, and taps into Nalin's connection to speak to Merjana in private. But with everything that's happened, she simply assumes the Lady of Drezen was informed of the newly forged cult despite having not spoken to her of it beforehand. "Sorry for abandoning the meeting like that, but between the fact that we should already be half-way to Arueshalae's shelter by now and my apparent divinity, I hope you can understand my leaving early. Did I miss anything important?"

[Bhaakon]

"Oh...about the shadow blood. He...um...he sold it wehn we reached Drezen. A woman, I think a halfling, or maybe a gnome. She always wore a hood and veil. A little...she was fat." She shakes her head. "I wish I could tell you more. He seemed to know exactly who she was, and they didn't use real names. She always talked quick, like she was in a hurry and afraid of getting caught."


"Also, what is an Arueshalae?"

[Desril]

Lily

Blinking in surprise, Lily smacks herself on the forehead, "Right, you didn't get my letter, you wouldn't know! Mother, we've found a succubus who follows Desna! She turned against the Abyss, and until recently was held prisoner here. She escaped shortly before we got here, but we've managed to contact her after scrying her location, she's safe, but under siege and can't move," she admits. "I just can't abandon the city until we make sure it can be defended or I'd already be at her side..."

Pausing, she nearly mentions Sileniy's connection to the succubus, but remembering how private he was in speaking to her that first evening, she opts not to speak of it unless he does.

[Frosty]

Millia, Breaker of Chains

Millia frowns. "Wait...fat Halfling? We know who that is. The only thing that seems a bit out of character is the quick pace of talking. Still, we must arrest her immediately, lest the shadowblood addiction spreads. I...I don't think she will be given any leniency this time." She seems pained. "Merjana, I'll summon some guards and them arrest Lyn."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin coughs to get Lily's attention.
"From what you've told us, Aruashalae is safe for the time being. Jestak's people don't have that security."

[Desril]

Lily

Glaring at Nalin, "We don't know how well her defenses will hold up, and the hag that is after her is at least as accomplished a witch as I am as far as magical talents go. No defense is perfect, and every moment we waste is another moment that she could use to figure out a way to bypass it. Jestak's people need help too, but you're the one who found that solution already. Take Merjana and the dwarf and go save them, Millia, Sileniy, and I will rescue Arueshalae."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin laughs. Knowing that there are civilians around, he changes the communication to mental.
"Yes, that will do a great job. And when we come across your smoking corpse, what color flowers would you like at the funeral? You said it yourself, the hag is at least as talented as you. Look back on what has happened when we split up. When Aron and Anevia were taken hostage, you ended up possessed. When we infiltrated the supply camp? Roland died. And on both occasions, the rest of us were MOMENTS away."
He shakes his head.
"Don't think that just because you have a little cult means you're untouchable. If we go after Aruashalae, we're all going to need to go. Because if we go in separately, we DIE separately."

[Desril]

Lily

Irritated at the rebuttal, largely because he wasn't entirely wrong, she holds her glare. "As talented, not as intelligent. There's no barrier that I can't have found a way around in two weeks with the power that I have, but the hag is stymied for now, and regardless of the fact that she's capable of using the same magic, she isn't likely able to bring forth the same amount of power that I can. You saw my mother, she's just as advanced, but my power is incomparable to hers now. I'm not worried about defeating her in a fight...nor do we even necessarily need to. If the fight is too dangerous, simply grabbing Arueshalae and retreating is an option. With only three of us and a succubus transport is simple now that I've nearly fully restored the wand we used to get into Drezen."

"And it's not as if we're besieging another fortress. The entire group being gathered up won't be able to help you with a duel for dominance, which will only complicate matters when you tell them to obey Merjana, by the way, and while it might help us fight the forces assaulting Arueshalae, it limits our ability to simply escape with her."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

"And there you go again, making assumptions of your power. That is an amazing way to get yourself, Milia, Sil, and Aruashalae all killed. We all go to the Wintersun hold, we take command of the barbarians, send them back to Drezen under Jestak's command, and then you can use your power and that wand we used to infiltrate Drezen to accelerate our movement to rescue Aruashalae. In fact, the same would serve to accelerate our approach to the Wintersun."

[Desril]

Lily

Shaking her head and taking on a condescending tone of her own, as much as one can in a mental conversation, "You'd leave them to walk back on their own? I can have us to Arueshalae by..."

She pauses mid rant, looking to the ceiling as she estimates the amount of power she can call up, the distances involved, and the various math for about a second, not having bothered before and needing to focus, "Mid-day tomorrow and the barbarians that same evening! Hadn't realized it'd be that easy, why was I basing my initial estimates off of normal horses?"

Shaking her head, "Not important, the point is we can rescue both tomorrow, but I'm not leaving either group alone to fend for themselves. Arueshalae can travel with us at full speed, but the barbarians will slow us down by days. She comes first."

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

"Thank you; I can't imagine how difficult accepting such a thing is. When this business is over I would like to speak with you privately about a commission for Drezen. I've had a recent... change of heart, and I want your help bringing it to the streets of my home."


Turning her attention elsewhere, the governor listened to the description of Lynn and then, eventually, Millia's comment. Muttering to herself "Who do they try my patience so? Were they always like this, and I was just blind to their disrespect", the woman a deep breath before she nodding at Millia, replying more directly to her "Do it."

"Are you absolutely sure you can make those times work, Lily? Delaying the barbarians any longer than we have to will be more dangerous than letting Arueshalae sit even a few extra days, assuming we can trust a god's power - something I'm wont to do given the circumstances of her escape.


As far as who the barbarians will follow, I wouldn't worry about that until it becomes a problem."

[Desril]

Lily

The tiefling nods, "The barbarians are about ninety miles from Arueshalae's hideout, I can conjure a chariot that can move at a little over twenty miles an hour. As long as I have any power left after rescuing Arushalae I can do it again, and that's if saving her takes long enough that we can't simply use the initial chariot. She isn't beseiged in a castle though, I can't imagine it would take us 4 hours to fight our way through to her, as the chariot will last half the day on its own. In the worst case, my ring will let me recover in two hours, or I could see if any of the newcomers have a scroll."

[Frosty]

Millia (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=916453)
F CG Aasimar (Azata-Blooded, Elf base) Oracle 5 / Nocticulan Aspirant 4, Level 9, Init 8, HP 86/86, DR Elec 20 / Fire 10, Speed 30
AC 34, Touch 29, Flat-footed 29, CMD 34, Fort 9, Ref 13, Will 18, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 6
MW Cold Iron Light Mace +12 (1d6-1, x2)
Mage armor, Heavy Mithral shield +2 (+4 Armor, +5 Shield, +5 Dex, +1 Natural, +9 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 20, Con 16, Int 14+2, Wis 10, Cha 26+2
Condition Condition Mythic Power 0/9, Channel 9/9 (4d6), LoH 9/10 (2d6)
Mage Armor, Bless

Millia quickly finds a guard nearby and gives him or her the instructions to arrest Lyn for trading in demon drugs. Then she turns her attention back to the discussion at hand. "If you can conjure horses that quickly, we have a great chance of getting everyone in one day. Arushulae can even help with rescuing the barbarians if need be. We should depart at first light tomorrow morning. Tonight I'll send a message to Arushulae telling her our expected arrival for tomorrow."

Millia will cast Sending tonight to tell Arushulae to expect the party before noon the next day.
"Arushulae, Sileny's group to reach you before noon tomorrow. Will effect rescue. Please update on situation and enemy troop disposition. Any gear requests from you?"

[stack]

"Bah, demon is like as not a trap. Save the people, then take our time being careful about the demon. It is too suspicious to risk lives on rushing into." Kord grouses with a wave of his hand.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin shakes his head at Kord.
"You saw the cell in the dungeon, Kord. You think they just forgot to proof it against magic? If Lily's magic is enough to get us there, we should eliminate the hag and rescue Arushalae. Then we can immediately make for the Wintersun Hold and be there by tomorrow evening to take command and escort them back."

[stack]

Kord looks Nalin in the eye. "Very well, but keep your eyes open. Some of us have to keep our heads about us."

[Frosty]

Millia, the Breaker of Chains

Millia responds to Kord, understanding of his suspicion, but still disappointed. If even a good deity's approval doesn't sway Kord, then what would Kord think of Millia's secret? "Kord, did we 'take our time' when we went in and saved your brothers despite great risks? No, we went in full speed, giving it everything we've got. And that's KNOWING 100% that at the very least Staunton is evil, and not the 'I'm being forced into it' kind. So please, we'd appreciate if you can extend us the courtesy of doing the same for people important to US. Someone whose ethical outlook is probably more moral than that of Staunton."

[stack]

"We did not take our time when assaulting a keep while short of supplies for a long siege. We rushed in to fight my brother when the entire city was going to be destroyed by a ritual. My brothers had to be defeated regardless. While I am deeply grateful that everyone cooperated in taking them alive, I would not have asked it if doing so would have endangered the mission. Taking Staunton alive required little additional effort. Joran took mere words and he aided out cause, slaying him would have been slower than speaking to him. Your argument is weak and poorly reasoned. And caution is always warranted when dealing with demons."

[Frosty]

Millia retorts, "First, we did not even know about the volcano ritual at the time we initially went in. Secondly, the fact that it ended up not taking significant additional effort does not undermine the fact that all of us we *willing* to do whatever it took to take Staunton alive. Because I knew he is important to you. But yes, we will of course use due caution."

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana the Mildly Upset

"Both of you stop. Even if the succubus is a trap, I'm not going to sit and let fear dictate what we're going to to. If we do that, they will twist it just as surely they will twist altruism - and I know I would rather die holding onto Lily's hope than die with my tail between my legs."

[Desril]

Lily

Nodding to Merjana, she says a silent "Thank you," to her alone before going back to focusing on speaking to her followers and Ayavah.

[Bhaakon]

With a plan decided, tentatively, you adjourn to see to various tasks and prepare for the journey. Guards are dispatched to hunt down Lynn, who is found with little trouble. Apprehending her is another matter entirely, but, eventually, and with great befuddlement, a dozen hung-over veterans of your march on Drezen drag her back to the dungeon and clap her in irons to be dealt with at the Lady Witchbrood's leisure.

Millia reaches out to the trapped succubus, informing her of the impending rescue and asking for intelligence. Arueshalae responds without much information. The hag, it seems, has ceased throwing her forces against whatever artifact defends the tower, and is content with simply waiting. Or maybe she's enacting a longer-term plan to break in that's too subtle to discern. It's impossible for Arueshalae to tell from her current position, and she dare not leave the perimeter of her defenses. Her only request is a fresh supply of cold iron arrows. It seems she is running low.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The sky is a sickly yellow-green as you set out from Drezen heading west, with a noxious haze that leaves the taste of brimstone on your tongue and blocks your vision out past more than a mile or so. Not that there's much to see in the blasted terrain. A lot of warn stone outcroppings, dead grass, and twisted trees. Some of them seep a blood-like sap. Actually, judging from the swollen leeches clinging to their bark, it might not just be blood-like.

The scenery doesn't get any less bizarre as you travel. For a time you're paced by a herd of wild horses. Well, equine-shaped...things, at least. Some have fifth or sixth legs, scales, horns, forked tongues that hang out their mouths and loll about as they gallop. A few have pathetic little bat wings that flap uselessly in the wind. You're somewhat relieved when the hideous beasts peel off and head north.

But what you should have been is watchful, because they headed north for a reason. A line of thunderheads gather in the west, blowing straight towards you. A blistering gust of wind shreds away the haze, and you see that the storms aren't dropping water, but a rain of fire, shot through with bolts of multi-colored lightening. The dead grass is a ablaze beneath the clouds, a wall of combustion that rolls in your direction at a fevered pace. A sinuous funnel of white-hot flame dips down from the dark base of the nearest cloud formation, bright enough to glow through the smoke. It flirts with a ground a few moments, skipping about, before touching down for good and growing fat on the debris it stirs up.

There's a low ridge to the south. There might be shelter there. Caves, if you're lucky.

Alternately there are ruins straight ahead to the west, between you and the advancing firestorm. There might cover to be found there, as well.

[Frosty]

Millia sighs. "I can give us protection from lightning and fire, but to be honest, I don't trust that multi-colored lightning. What if it has even more strange side effects, like turning us into newts or something? We should take shelter in the ruins up ahead. We can beat the storm there."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Back in Drezen, the next morning...

Nalin finds Lily early.
"Has Slithaint recovered? I was hoping to speak with him."



It's Darude by Firestorm...

Nalin nods.
"There's also those cliffs over there, but I don't see any guarantee of shelter there. The ruins are likely a safer play."

[stack]

"Let us press for the ruins and hope they are uninhabited then."

[Desril]

Lily - In the Morning

With Braxis' help in performing her ritual the night before, the new quasideity felt her power returning and with it, the revival of her familiar. Though their link was rather unique, she still made sure to inform Slithaint of everything that happened after Nalin destroyed his body before spending most of the rest of the early hours of the morning flitting back and forth between her mother, her followers, the idiot brigade, and anyone else whose she felt like she could help in the wee hours before dawn.

Eventually, once Nalin finally wakes up and approaches her, her eyes narrow and she nods, beckoning Slithaint to come over even as she tells the larger knight to "Be nice this time."

----------

Lily - Firestorm

Preparing for the journey was simple enough. Her standard abjuration would last as long as the chariot and team of shadowy steeds she'd just conjured up, but the tiefling's power had increased several times over the last few weeks. She was a novice when she'd first came to Kenabres, a fresh graduate with barely more than a mastery over cantrips, but now? Now she could bend the elements to her will, coat herself in armor of stone, and, more importantly, bolster her own durability to a level that rivals the much heartier knight's.

Unfortunately, her master of the elements didn't quite extend to disrupting a blazing inferno storm with dangerous looking electrical blasts. "If there are caves I think they'd be safer, and we could just protect ourselves from the fire and ride out the storm," she says as everyone else discusses what to do, "But if this storm passes in an hour or less we can wait it out, I suppose."


Additional Crafting during the week before we leave; Stoneskin Scroll (self-made) Scribed into Memory (350gp) (not prepared, just known)

Lesser Rod of Extend on both MA
Mage Armor (18 hours)
Pearl of Power: Mage Armor on Millia (18 hours)

Greater False Life (9 hours, [roll0] Temp HP)

Knowledge checks on the firestorm
Planes [roll1]
Arcana [roll2]
Nature [roll3]
Local [roll4]

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

In the Morning

Nalin's gaze is low. as he addresses his former companion.
"You never left me, did you? All those years in the Abyss."

[Bhaakon]

Slithaint milks his apology like a venomous snake-------------------------

"Left?" The snake hisses, coiling around itself in same way it always did when it was nervous. "I waited. I waited so long. Endlessssss, the waiting. I could see you, yesss, but you never looked back at me. Not even once. Never."

"I was there, yesss, but you didn't see me again until I found a new massster. You didn't care to see me again until you were jealoussss."

Riders on the Storm---------------------------------------------------------

The race is on for the ruins, your summoned chariot against the storm. You're faster, barely, but the wall of flame is closer. For a time it seems like you're not going to make it at all, but the strangest thing happens as the clouds approach the structure--double ring of teetering standing stones around a big, ugly corbel vault. The clouds stop raining fire around the old shrine. Their precipitation shifts to normal rain, a torrential downpour that soaks the earth for a good mile around the decrepit structure. No lighting falls there, nor funnel cloud, and the streaming rain seems sufficient to hold off the flame. You slip into the soaking perimeter, and, a moment later, you look behind you to see the more flame falling from the sky in your wake. Clearly something or someone centered on the half-ruined building has a means to block out some of the most powerful expressions of the Worldwound's chaotic nature.

As you get closer to the building, you see that it's not as abandoned as it first appeared. There's a glow of fire from inside, the cheery flicker of a tame flame rather than the blinding glare of the firestorm around you.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

"I...I never realized. I thought you were gone all along."
He kneels.
"I've treated you badly because I thought you abandoned me. I was the one who abandoned you. I am sorry, for what little the apology is worth. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

[Frosty]

Milloa looks in wonder. "I wonder who can block the effects of the world wound on such a large area. Could be a potential all. Lily, can you ask Slith to scout ahead?"

[Desril]

Lily

Even she's impressed by the effectiveness of the wards, and when Millia mentions scouting to Slithaint, Lily looks to the serpent to see if he seems willing and sends him off ahead, "I've got to stay close but I'll be fine, I'll tell you what we find."

With that said, she swiftly goes invisible to the naked eye and trails behind her familiar.


Stealth [roll0]

Lily casts invisibility before moving in

Stealth (1d20+26)[43]

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin nods towards the entrance, and the red gem in the silvery necklace he wears detaches itself as Moxt takes off after Slithaint.

[Bhaakon]

Slithaint and Nalin------------------

The snake is silent for a long time, virtually tying itself in knots as it considers what to say. Slithaint's face isn't much for betraying emotion, but the surprise is palpable.

"I...I don't..." He stammers, confused. "Our time isss done. I serve anew mistresss. A deal wasss struck. It isss...too late to look back. To regret. I must follow her instructionsss." His arrow-shaped head twitches toward Lily, tongue flicking pensively.

Slithaint the disposable scout------

The snake disappears into the grass completely, slipping through the matted weave of floral like he was born to it, because he was. Moxt flits in as well. Not naturally camouflaged, but tiny and quick and nigh invisible in the downpour. Lily is completely invisible, though she doesn't get close enough to see much of anything through the rain. Just near enough so Slithaint can do his work, scouting about from ground level while Nalin's newer model takes in an aerial view.

The reports are...odd. The brush gets thicker and livelier the nearer they get to the old shrine. The grasses alive, bushes full of berries, rodent and grubs. It's not much land, the space within the standing stones, but it's so rich that it's almost like it's been cultivated by druids. Plants and animals that show no obvious sign of abyssal corruption.

In side the building itself is a central bonfire before a granite statue. It's not the kind of sculpture that would impress Ayavah with its delicate detail, but the bold lines and strong angles of the great standing bear with its yawning rack of elk horns and long, broad tail are simultaneously powerful and calming. Before the idol is a blood-stained altar, decorated with the severed head of a recent offering. A schir, you recognize, and freshly downed. Not much of a threat to you, but a fairly impressive kill for the score of goblins huddled around the fire in the middle of the corbel-vaulted shrine.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

That morning...

"I understand that. Our bond is gone, my old companion. But there is no reason we need to be enemies. You have every right to hate me for how I have treated you. But I give you my word that I shall treat you better in the future."
Moxt's voice sounds, coming from the necklace Nalin had forged to carry him.
"Does this mean we're like brothers?"

Goblin Town

Nalin looks around as Moxt relays the information he sees to the group.
"Well, they don't seem to like demons. That's a plus."

[Desril]

Lily

Reaching up to pet Slithaint, "I'd rather you stay by my side, Slithaint, but if you want to return to him I can look into a way to break our bond," Lily says, sounding a little worried that the serpent might leave.


-----

As Slithaint reports back, Lily passes the information back along to the others, the confusion evident in her mental tone, Demon-slaying...goblins? I...I need to go figure this out. If they cause a problem I'll escape and we can deal with them, but unless any of you can speak goblin I should probably handle this. If they're enemies to a demon and living in an old god-caller shrine they might be friendly...

Regardless, she doesn't stop anyone who tries to approach, but doesn't delay in doing the same herself, dismissing her invisibility as she enters the shrine. "A sphosu kumin? I aum omphrussuk, wier ronk aurun's rniwn fir shuor ssrunjsh, les cluaurlw wie auru phriif shaus jillons auru enkurussomausuk."

Should any of the goblins reach for their weapons, she holds up her hand, "I aum nis wier unumw, jruun inus. Bes I'm ceroies, whw auru wie huru? Is shos wier jik?"


"A spite demon? I am impressed, your kind aren't known for their strength, but clearly you are proof that goblins are underestimated."

"I'm not your enemy, green ones. But I'm curious, why are you here? Is this your god?"

[Frosty]

"I'll come with you, Lily. Just in case they attack more than just demons. I also look the, least threatening or the rest of the group. However, the fact this entire area is clean of demonic taint really is a good sign. Can you translate for me you speak to them?"

Once before the goblins, she remains silent and let's lily speak, and does her best to look friendly.

[Bhaakon]

Morning----------------------

"No, I won't leave." Slithaint hisses, surprised, awkward. "Our contract isss binding, Lilithhhh. Nalin isss...not what he wasss. For better or worssse. Our time isss done. But we are not enemiesss....I don't know what we are."


"But not that..." He adds, hissing at the amulet before slithering back to Lily.

Gobbos-----------------------

Lily's skill with the goblin tongue is a little much. They creatures jump at her approach, quickly forming a defensive perimeter around the old and young, archers in the back row and long with a handful hefting gourds full of who knows what. Then she whipe out "spite demon" and sews confusion among their ranks it takes a moment before one of the elders figures out she means the demonic goat-head on the altar. She takes a step forward, leaning on a cane made of what your'e pretty sure is the thigh bone of a human-sized biped.

"Gi auwauw sles kumin! Wu'ru nis jussonj fiiluk aujauon! Lauss somu wu siir inu if wie wu unkuk eph wosh au lossur if haulfous! Nubba sauok nis si sress shu siph huauzw inus! Yie jis si shu ciens if fier aunk wu jennau jozu wier huauk si Nubba, rauw?" The old one croaks, looking Lilith straight in the eye, calm as can be.

"inu"

"swi"

"shruu"


Go away slut demon! We're not getting fooled again! Last time we took one of you we ended up with a litter of halfies! Nubba said not to trust the top heavy ones! You got to the count of four and we gunna give your head to Nubba, kay?

one

two

three

[Desril]

Lily

Holding her hand up again, Lily tries to calm them down, "Puaucu! I shauru mw auncussir's liirs, les I aum nis au sles kumin," she says, thinking about what the old goblin said happened to the last succubus they came across and finding herself unable to not wonder how the creatures 'measured up' but quickly puts the thought out of her head. "Mw...srolu os sauronj shulsur huru frim shu ssirm lufiru wu phruss in, I tess waunsuk si mauru seru wie wuru nis ier unumw."

Taking a moment to look at those who can't fight, however, she looks sympathetic. She'd rarely encountered goblins and unlike some people had no particular reason to despise them, so now she felt only pity at their condition. "Bes...suuonj wier phuiphlu huru, ulkur...I wielk hulph wie of wie woll lus mu. Yie mess rniw shos phlaucu os kaunjuries, les wu cimu frim au firsruss. If wier phuiphlu wauns saufusw, wie wielk lu wulcimu shuru."




"Peace! I share my ancestor's looks, but I am not a slut demon,"

"My...tribe is taking shelter here from the storm before we press on, I just wanted to make sure you were not our enemy."

"But...seeing your people here, elder...I would help you if you will let me. You must know this place is dangerous, but we come from a fortress. If your people want safety, you would be welcome there."



[roll0] (The +4 applies, they already fell for 1 succubus!)

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

The magus moves forward with Millia to listen, "coughing" into the telepathic connection to get Lily's attention when she starts offering shelter to the goblins.

[Desril]

Lily

Waiting for the goblins to give their response, the tiefling responds to the Lady of Drezen's mental throat clearing, "What? We can't just leave them out here, and if the able bodied are willing to fight demons and defend the weak then they would fit in perfectly, wouldn't they?"

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

"Neither of which preclude them from being... you know what, nevermind." The magus shakes her head, realizing she didn't really have anything to stand on in that conversation. Not that Lily needed to know that.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

The Morning...

Moxt disengages from the necklace and flits around Slithaint
"Aw, come on! I need all the help I can get with this sourpuss!"
Nalin smiles at the innocence of the gem.
"Perhaps we should try being friends? Not master or servant, but equals."

The Caves...

"Given their reaction to "halfies", they might not be fond of our tiefling recruits. Or of Arushulae, for that matter. Not that we shouldn't try, but it would be a good idea to make sure that won't become an issue later on."

[stack]

"Why do we send the demonic slut in first to treat with demon slayers?"

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

The Caves

"Because she's the only one who knows how to speak Goblin. Why they bothered teaching that at her fancy university is a mystery to me, but apparently they did."

[Bhaakon]

Slithaint-------------------------------

The snake curls around Lily's foot. "It isss not thiss easy. Not after ssso long. Thingsss change faster than rage fadesss, yesss. You attack me yesterday, but come to talk thiss day. Slow, treacheroussss climb. Like the saying, winding sidewaysss to move forward. I cannot make the trip in one sssstraight lunge."

Nubba the Belkaroo----------------

The gnarled old goblin leans forward on her thigh bone cane, glaring distrustfully at the flouncing trollop with her honied words, surely as tricksy as any (shudder) writing. The other might be calmed, letting their weapons droop, put off their guard, but the elder isn't so easily convinced.

"Nubba ier firs. Nubba phrisucss aunk fuuks. Hu sauzus es frim shu ssirms, wu? Hu woll kucoku whushur wie auru au wirshw sauzonj, ir wirshw if aun iffuronj...."

"Nubba is our fort. Nubba protects and feeds. He saves us from the storms, ye? He will decide whether you are a worthy saving, or worthy of an offering...."

The old goblin's eyes roll back, and she mutters in tongues. Or at least some language that Liy doesn't recognize. The eyes of the bear statue glow with a subtle radiance, a deep violet that matches the shade of the swirling rune that appears on the decrepit goblin's brow.

Nubba steps out of the statue, a great, great, hulking grizzly with gleaming golden horns tipped in crimson. His tails trashes powerful as he stride through his enthralled throng of, easily stepping over those in his way until he stand between them and Lily. He rears up on his hind legs, planting his tail on the ground to steady himself as he towers more than double Nalin's height.

The bear-beast considers those who have presented themselves at length before opening its great maw. The words pour out in a growling rumble, carried on hot, wet breath tinged with the distinctive stink of a carnivore. This time, Lily can't understand what is said, though she knows enough to recognize Merjana's ancestral tongue.

Энэ бол миний газар , мөн эдгээр нь миний төлбөр юм. Миний хамгаалах чөлөөтэй биш юм. та нарын амьдрал нь зохистой төлөөс нь юу санал болгож байна вэ?

This is my place, and these are my charges. My protection is not free. What do you offer that is worth recompense for your lives?

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

The Morning

Nalin nods as he rises.
"That is fair. But I hope that we can at least begin to make the effort. I'll leave you two to prepare. Let me know if you need anything."
Nalin bows and makes his way back to the forge.
"Aren't you going to go and get Radiance?"
"No. If it's going to abandon our cause like this, then I can't rely on it. If it comes when I need it, then it comes. If not, then I'll make do with allies I can rely on."
Returning to the forge, he straps on the backup suit of plate he had forged. Once the fit was confirmed, he removed it and called his armor to himself, Packing the spare plate away in his pack.

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

Merjana continues her approach to Lily and the goblins, replying to the bear Eidolon as she comes into view. "Бид гар урчууд , ямар ч жижиг ур чадвар ч хүч чадал, асар их Nubba нь дайчид байдаг , бид шуурга гарч хүлээх зуураа , эсвэл түүний гадуур гүйцэтгэсэн ажлуудын таны хамгаалалт цаг арилжиж болно засварлах эсвэл таны домэйныг сайжруулахад туслах болно."

Honestly, she has no idea what it is, and whether or not it's actually the avatar of some minor deity she hadn't heard of. Best to be respectful, even if it's goblins the thing is protecting.

We are artisans and warriors of no small skill nor strength, great Nubba, and can aid in repairing or improving your domain while we wait out the storm, or can trade time in your protections for tasks completed outside of it.


Diplo, if needed. [roll0]

[Bhaakon]

The laugh of Nubba is a thing to behold a rolling rumble not unlike the thunder of the storm flowing around this island of tranquility, but softer and more insistent for its proximity. His sloping shoulders roll and its great furry belly jiggles with mirth for nearly a minute before it calms and replies to the leader of Drezen's reply, its tone lighter.

"нэг боловч даруухнаар , над уруу ирж, дайчин гэх мэт түлхүүр мэдэгдсэн -с хойш энэ нь хэтэрхий урт байна. За , тэгээд залуу хаан , би санал хүлээн авдаг. Та гарч шуурга энд миний хамгаалалтад хүлээх болно, мөн энэ хугацаанд бол , та mettle баталж байна.

A луу миний зулзагаа аюул учруулж байна. Би хүрч болох хаана , энд рүү довтолж чадахгүй чадаж байна аа , харин миний хөлөг онгоц нь үүнийг татгалзан гаргах эрхтэй аянд гарч тэвчиж чадахгүй. залхуу амьтан хол , агуулга нь хулчгар шиг unguarded Хаягдал дээр тэжээх тэнэсэн хүмүүс дээр зочлон сонгоно . Та миний тахилын ширээн дээр нь толгойгоо байрлуулах болно."

It has been too long since one has come to me and claimed prowess as a warrior, however modestly. Well, then, young Khan, I accept for offer. You may wait out the storm here, under my protection, and when it is over, you shall prove your mettle.

A dragon threatens my cubs. It dare not attack here, where I can reach, but my vessel can not bear the journey out to to challenge it. The lazy beast picks away at those who stray too far, content to feed upon unguarded scraps like a coward. You will place its head upon my altar.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

"A dragon. Wonderful. Well, we're going to need information on it. Size, color, location, how long it's been here, when it sleeps, anything it might know."
Nalin's hand runs over the pommel of his sword and his wings flex. He hadn't expected them to be put to the text in combat so soon, or against such a dangerous foe.

[Ilorin Lorati]

Lady Merjana, Actually the Khan of Drezen Aparently

Merjana doesn't think twice about her reply; their choices were null for the time being, and any hesitation could incur the great beast's wrath, unless he took after other bear-like creatures in their tendency towards "good". "Тэгэхээр энэ нь байх ёстой." Only after she replies to the great best does she share the agreement with the rest of the group. Once she has finished sharing, she turns back to their host and offers a curt bow, ignoring any protestations any of them may have, adding "Бид хүлээх боловч шуурга өнгөрөх нь, дараа нь би магадгүй та луу тухай юу мэддэгийг нь асуух юм бэ? Би холбоотон нь бид ирэх сайн өмнө төлөвлөгөө гаргах гэж байгаа гэдэгт итгэлтэй байна."

"So it shall be."

"Whilst we wait for the storm to pass, then, could I perhaps ask what you know about the dragon? I'm sure my allies will wish to make their plans well before we arrive."

When Nalin replies to her explanation, she curtly tells him, breaking from her conversation with the bear as little as possibly, "Already asking."

[Bhaakon]

The great bear sits down on its prodigious bottom, tail wrapping around and onto its lap. "Тэр нэг удаа өнгөлсөн зэс Hue байсан ч , эсвэл магадгүй чөтгөрүүдийн хамт насан туршдаа одоо. Тэр эвдэрсэн , энэ газраар эрчилсэн байна төлөө бус түүний шир мөн уйлах нь, эртний , сохор юм. . Би мэдэхгүй . тэр үргэлж өлсөж өлсөж байна. . тэр ч байтугай бөөнөөр нь . миний төлбөр холдох үед тэр swoops болон түүний Maw нээж , тэднийг агаарт болон түүний шүд руу хөхүүл нь махан бие , их тулд үйлдвэр, тэр ч байтугай чулуу , мөн хэмжээгээр идэж . би биш байна би энэ үзсэн - - . итгэж тэр энэ аргаар авдаг амьтдыг идэж Тэд түүний амнаас өөрийгөө олж болох боловч . . гэж тэд зүгээр л алга залгиж байна "

"Тэр , өмнөд lairs хадан байна. Шуурга удахгүй өнгөрч , та нар утаа дамжуулан тэднийг харж болох юм. " And, indeed, the storm is lessening. Outside the perimeter of Nubba's sanctum the grass is gone, leaving earth and ash and cinders to be tossed up in great billows as the tail end of the fiery squall pushes through. It may be an hour or so until it's safe to leave without magical protection.



"Scorizcar is ancient and blind, her hide scabrous and weeping. She once was the hue of burnished copper, but not for a lifetime now. She is broken and twisted by this place, or perhaps by magics of the demons. I know not. She is hungry. Always hungry. Devouring flesh, plant, even stone, and in volumes to great even for her bulk. When my charges stray, she swoops and opens her maw, sucking them into the air and into her teeth. I do not believe she eats the creatures she takes in this way. They may find themselves in her mouth, but--I have seen this--she does not swallow. They simply vanish."

"She lairs to the south, in the cliff. The storm will pass soon, and you may see them through the smoke."

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

The magus translates mentally as the bear speaks, not wanting to distract him from his explanation and adding in her own theories on what the beast may be (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/dragons/woundwyrm). "Тэрээр энэ байдлаар гэмтсэн бол ажил дээрээ зарим нэг нь үнэхээр муухай шидэт байдаг. Зэс Dragons маш наад зах нь тийм, ийм тэр нь цэвэр үхлийн ес журам олгож байх ёстой, сайн бүтээл нь ихэвчлэн байдаг." Her voice is not without its anger, obviously directed at whatever it was that caused the corruption of the old dragon. "Би өдөр ямар ч цаашид юу болох харахын тулд урт удаан."

"There's some truly foul magic at work if she was corrupted in this way. Copper Dragons are often good creatures, so at the very least, such a she should be granted the decency of a clean death."

"I long to see the day where that will no longer happen."

[Desril]

Lily

As Merjana translates mentally, Lily gasps. True dragons were powerful, majestic creatures, and the copper colored kind were powerful forces of good. The apparent fact that one of them was corrupted so heavily wasn't a surprise so much in that it could happen, but more because she simply never considered the idea that she'd include dragon-slaying to the list of things that needed to be done today.

"If you're right, we need to act as soon as the storm ends. I'm sure Drezen, at the very least some of the routes to it, are within this dragon's territory, and if it's as voracious as Nubba claims then it's a threat to more than just the goblins...I wish we didn't have to kill it, but a dragon...something like that is too powerful to try and contain," she says, sounding disappointed in herself. Sighing, she tries to come up with a strategy. If it has the same powers as it did before its corruption...protecting everyone from acid is necessary...I can grant Kord the power of flight long enough for the battle...but should we set a trap? Do we have time? Should we fight it in the cave where its breath is most deadly? Or in the open where it can make use of its flight? I suppose fighting in the open is safest, dragons are dangerous at range, but if forced into a physical confrontation there's nothing that can stop them...

[Frosty]

Millia smiles and nods respectfully at the bear-god before she thinks back to the others. "Yes, protection from acid is certainly necessary, and I can summon up such a spell to temporarily protect us from all acid-based attacks. I'm worried about what's in this thing's mouth, however. Still, if it's blind, then even in the open it has to get somewhat close to attack us. I'd rather have more room to avoid the sucking. I wonder if they're teleported somewhere. Maybe this is a kidnapping method?"

[Desril]

Lily

Sighing as she hears that it'll be nearly an hour until the storm clears up enough to head out, Lily spends a brief minute pondering what to do before realizing that against a creature like that her power was still too lacking to be reliable. A demon of its power, perhaps, but a dragon? I'll just need to be clever then...and actually, I'm starting to get an idea...

Her plan made, and finding no fault with Nalin's, at least none that she could think of a better alternative for, Lily turns her attentions to Nubba and the goblins, hoping to get to know them better over the next hour. "Wholu wu auru huru, cielk wie sull mu miru aulies wier phuiphlu? Is's aumausonj shaus wie'zu maunaujuk si serzozu ies huru aus wull aus wie hauzu, les serulw shuru mess'zu luun au ruausin fir os." Looking at the great bear himself, "Is shuru ni wauw si mizu wier kimauon?"


"While we are here, could you tell me more about your people? It's amazing that you've managed to survive out here as well as you have, but surely there must've been a reason for it."

"Is there no way to move your domain?"

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

After a period of discussion, Nalin goes over the plan to make sure everyone is on the same page.
"Alright. Sileniy will scout ahead and make sure the dragon is there. I'll try to keep it on the ground while Kord, Merjana, and Sileniy bring it down. Milia, keep everyone standing. Lily, conserve your power, we'll need you on the top of your game to deal with the hag."

[Bhaakon]

You make your plans and wait out the storm. As Nubba suggested, it's only about an hour before the tailing end of the last thunderhead passes, taking the flaming rain and scintillating lightning with it, but leaving fire-baked dirt and ash where, not long ago at all, there had been a thick layer of matted grass. The wind howls across the Sarkoran plains, chasing the squall, and whipping up the soot and dust into a thick haze near the ground. It's not enough to make you choke, but the hacking coughing it elicits is certainly annoying, and you can't see more than a few dozen paces.

Woo! Environmental effects! The dust inhibits vision, giving anything past 30' concealment (20% miss chance) and everything beyond 60' feet total concealment (50% miss chance)

[Sileniy]

Sileniy

Sileniy uses Terendelev's scale to change himself into a goblin for a little while, and takes one of the monocles in the direction Nubba said the caves were in. "See you later!" floats back as he disappears.

Alter self scale, goblin, for 19 minutes.
Augmented mythic invisibility, for 9 minutes.
Stealth: [roll0]
Perception: [roll1]

[Bhaakon]

Lily polles the goblins as she waits, first for the storm to pass, then for Sileniy to complete his mission. As it turns out, the quality of their historical records are right in line with a culture that's deathly afraid of the written word. They seem quite convinced that they've been here for all eternity, created by Nubba and living off a little plot of paradise that's constantly threatened by demonic incursions--though the taciturn elder rolls her eyes at this. It seems that no creature capable of challenging Nubba has considered them worth the trouble of evicting, though lesser demons and other monstrosities warped by the Worldwound itself occasionally make the attempt.

As for moving their domain, they seem oddly resistant. The elder even laughs scornfully at the idea, claiming she'd die if she were to move away from Nubba's statue. She seems to believe it, too. The big bear remains silent on the subject.

You head out into the choking murk, heading south as far as you dare before raising your magical invisibility. You remember the ridge being a bit more than a mile off, and it takes a few minutes of jogging before it towers out of the murk. There's more than one cave opening in the sandstone, as you might have expected, but only one is big enough to host a grown dragon, and claw and teeth marks in the stone all the way around the entrance confirm its presence.

The thirty foot wide throat of the cavern entry widens into a grand cathedral of stone that extends beyond the limits of your goblin form's vision. Inside the stink of burning from the storm is overpowered by the tangy reek of acid. There are puddles of sludge here and there on the ground, caustic liquid that's spent its destructive power transforming stone into muck. You probably don't want to drink the stuff, but it's inert enough not to eat through your boot soles.

The illusion spell SHOULD protect you nearly perfectly, but the uncanny alertness of supposedly sleeping dragons--blind or not--is legendary for a reason. With all due care, you sweep through the cavern, making sure you miss no side passages as you head deeper, around a bend...and nearly walk into the disgustingly tumorous form of the formerly copper wyrm.

It's curled stiffly atop its horde, one eye scabbed over close by a fleshy growth, the other pus-yellow, lidless, and utterly useless. It's breath is slow and even, but something tells you that it's not asleep. Some of its scales are still a coppery reddish-brown, but most have tarnished to an ugly green, a cracked black, or simply fallen off and left its hide exposed and weeping rancid lymph. You're rather amazed this thing is alive. Were it a human, you'd think it was infected with a half dozen cancers and an advanced case of leprosy. Hells, maybe it IS. Dragons are made of particularly tough stuff. Ho could say how long it could survive with such terrible diseases?

But your spell is ebbing. You make one last sweep, noting every detail of the cave's layout so that you can report accurately to the others.

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee498/Bhaakon/Dragonlairclean.jpg


I figure you've got about 2 minutes of invisibility left here after reaching and exploring the cave with some haste. If you have a plan here other than just reporting back, like pulling a Bilbo and stealing the most valuable thing from the horde, have it at.

[Ilorin Lorati]

The Khaaaaaaaaan

Merjana edges after Sileniy, keeping him in range of the monocles while trying to not disturb anything that would wake the wyrm if it does happen to be within the cavern. Once she sees the creature through her ally's eyes, the half-elf makes her way back towards the entrance, giving them a signal as she was able - either through telepathy or through visual signals if that had to break to stay in range of her monocles.

[Desril]

Lily

As Merjana relays what Sileniy finds, Lily quickly comes to a decision and spends a few moments thinking, dispersing the mental link to a spell in her mind, replacing it with another and then casting it. "Come here dwarf, you're the one most likely to make it angry and get eaten, this should help keep you alive." Should no one come up with a better target, the tiefling reaches out to touch the dwarf and quickly pulls away as his skin takes on an earthen color, turning from flesh to stone without hindering his mobility.

"If Merjana is right about what this dragon is, then I think that its breath is the most dangerous thing to deal with...Millia's abjuration will shield us from the typical acid, but if it can truly leave a cloud of gas that's as insanity inducing as when we fought the mandragora but even harder to resist that won't be good enough. I'm going to stay near Nalin, if it tries to use that power then I'll deal with it...but beyond that I'm not sure how much help I can be. I might be able to hurt it but I'll have to pour more of my power into a single spell than I've ever tried and that means needing to hold back even more against the hag," she says with an irritated tone.


Spend AR (6/11) to use Quick Study, replacing Black Tentacles with Stoneskin
Casting Stoneskin (presumably on Kord, unless someone wants it/has a better target in mind, absorbs 90 damage)

Ready!

[stack]

Kord grows to his maximum size prior to any attempt to engage the dragon, staying near Lily as instructed.

[Frosty]

Millia gathers everyone around her to place the blessing of acid protection on everyone. "His should protect us completely long enough for us to finish the enemy off. Kord, Nalin, I will link your vitality to mine. You guys have to stay up in the face of fang and claw.

spend mp, cast communal protection from acid ok everyone (110 pts of protection)

Use Life Link on Nalin and Kord.

Deactivate int and charisma medals.

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

The magus makes her own preparations.



Cast Longshot, Fly, use Arcane Pool to Haste Penn, cast Intensify Shocking Grasp and hold charge, Recover Shocking Grasp.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin passes a hand over the medals he'd been granted, and his eyes begin to burn with a dull flame once again as his wings close into his back, fading away into nothingness.
"I won't need those in here."
He grips his silvered blade with both hands, feeling the irregularity of the scale in his grip. He thought for a moment of calling Radiance. But now was not yet the time.

Activate my medals, Int, Dex, Str (so Int will run out first)
Change stances to Black Seraph's Glare
Activate Align Weapon scale

[Sileniy]

Sileniy

Sileniy contributes his preparations after he meets up with them again.

Good hope on everyone.
Anticipate peril (+5 init) on Kord, Lily, and Nalin.
Aspect mask (for evasion) when we get closer to the cave.

[Desril]

Lily
HP 73/73+25
AC 24

Once everyone had made their preparations, Lily took up her position in the middle of the party, making sure to never be more than about fifteen feet behind Nalin no matter how fast he walked as the group made their way into the dragon's den to slay its sole denizen. There wasn't much of a point in stealth, they might be able to muffle the sounds of armor but dragons had incredible senses and invisibility would be little use against a blind creature without the augmentations Sileniy had for the spell.

[Bhaakon]

You're greeted at the cave mouth by eerie silence. Well, almost silence. Something as big as a dragon can't help but make noise as it breathes, a hushhed bellow-blast that you can hear even a hundred paces away and around a corner. Given your decided lack of subtlety, you're quite certain that it can hear you coming, too. It's a lucky thing that initiative tends to favor the attacker.

You all won! First fill round actions, please.

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee498/Bhaakon/woundwrym1.jpg

[Desril]

Lily
HP 73/73+25
AC 24

Using Nalin's mental link Lily calls out silently to the others, "Remember, stay near me if you don't want to deal with whatever its breath attack can do."

With that said, she advances forward, just behind the enlarged Kord and Nalin, focusing on the spell she'll need and waiting for the right moment.


Readied Action: Wild Arcana set to go off in response to Entropic Breath

Advance to H28 (God this is going to be a long walk) L24 w/Blessing of Fervor

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin slows his pace to stay in reach of Lily's protective magic.

move to J27. Until things start fighting, I'll be alternating reactivating Str and Dex medals.

Ready to use Shackles of the Condemned if the dragon comes in reach. My reach for AoOs is 15ft, but only 10ft to actually attack. if it tries to move closer than 15ft, activate Cage Enemy as an immediate so that the AoO will stop movement.

[stack]

Kord readies himself and begins the approach, hands loose but prepared to make a fist.move up 60'to N20-P22 ish, swift for dragon style (ironically), ready to punch it (15' reach) [roll0] damage [roll1] + [roll2] holy

[Frosty]

Millia (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=916453)
F CG Aasimar (Azata-Blooded, Elf base) Oracle 5 / Nocticulan Aspirant 4, Level 9, Init 8, HP 86/86, DR Elec 20 / Fire 10, Speed 30
AC 34, Touch 29, Flat-footed 29, CMD 34, Fort 9, Ref 13, Will 18, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 6
MW Cold Iron Light Mace +14 (1d6+1, x2)
Mage armor, Heavy Mithral shield +2 (+4 Armor, +5 Shield, +5 Dex, +1 Natural, +9 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 20, Con 16, Int 14+2, Wis 10, Cha 26+2
Condition Condition Mythic Power 7/9, Channel 9/9 (4d6), LoH 10/10 (2d6)
Mage Armor, Protection from Acid (110), Good Hope, Blessing of Fervor (11 rounds)

The aasimar summons up more of her reserves, and gives everyone the blessings of her goddess. This time, not the simple one she has thrown out before, but one designed to inspire them to more...energy. Then, she follows the others.
Spend an MP to cast Blessing of Fervor on everyone (lasts 11 rounds). 7MP left. MOVE to K25. Reactivate medal of charisma.

[Sileniy]

Sileniy

Sileniy keeps formation with the others, channelling fragments of his magic through his voice and into his weapon.

Blessing: increase speed.
Move: IC +2.
Standard: Move to M25.
Swift: arcane strike +2. MP for mythic bane.

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

Merjana keeps up with the rest of the party, lifting up of the ground as she must but keeping in Kord's shadow.


Just going to follow Kord as best she can for now, activating Agility (Dex) and Clarity (Int) for the bonuses. Still holding charge on Shocking Grasp.

[Bhaakon]

You advance quikcly and cautiously--at least insofar as the two can be combined--expecting the beats to rampage around the corner or perhaps smash through a stone wall like was wormy cheese, but neither happens. The dragon's breath continues, strong and even, as you approach the blind corner leading to its horde.

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee498/Bhaakon/woundwyrm2.jpg

[Desril]

Lily
HP 73/73+25
AC 24

Without a rampaging dragon roaring and rounding the corner to change anything, Lily continues her advance, prepared for dealing with the gaseous breath weapon.


Move to S16
Continue Readying Wild Arcana in case of Entropic Breath

[stack]

Kord forges ahead to better see around the bend.move to Beliw
take the +ac/reflex option from the blessing
ready action [roll0]
damage [roll1] +[roll2]holy

make that an attack if a dragon shows up in range
perception [roll3] if needed
[6:16:54 PM] Desril: R-T 15-13

<<< Works well. I think. Assuming I'm not ****ing up looking at the map again >.>

[Frosty]

Millia (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=916453)
F CG Aasimar (Azata-Blooded, Elf base) Oracle 5 / Nocticulan Aspirant 4, Level 9, Init 8, HP 86/86, DR Elec 20 / Fire 10, Speed 30
AC 34, Touch 29, Flat-footed 29, CMD 34, Fort 9, Ref 13, Will 18, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 6
MW Cold Iron Light Mace +14 (1d6+1, x2)
Mage armor, Heavy Mithral shield +2 (+4 Armor, +5 Shield, +5 Dex, +1 Natural, +9 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 20, Con 16, Int 14+2, Wis 10, Cha 26+2
Condition Condition Mythic Power 7/9, Channel 9/9 (4d6), LoH 10/10 (2d6)
Mage Armor, Protection from Acid (110), Good Hope, Blessing of Fervor (10 rounds)

Fervor bonus: +30 speed

Millia kicks her lips as the anticipation builds. This world wyrm sounds like a challenge tougher than they've ever faced before. Something if such ferocity that even her own skills at avoiding harm would be sorely tested! She follows closely behind Kord, and is on the defensive, shield and wand at the ready.

Move to R16. Full defense. AC is now 38

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin continues forward cautiously.

V14, same readied as last round

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana




Blessing of Fervor extra speed, just keeping up with Kord and maintaining charge.

[Sileniy]

Sileniy

Sileniy was going to cast a spell, but Millia's makes it unnecessary. So he just gets ready to shoot the dragon when it comes into view.

Blessing: attack/AC.
Move: to N19.
Standard: Ready action. Ranged attack when it comes into view. Using DA (-2/+4).
Attack: [roll0] (+17, IC, GH, blessing, DA)
Damage: [roll1] + [roll2] (+6, IC, GH, DA, arcane strike)

[Bhaakon]

Perhaps impatient with your laggardly advance, the wyrm finally charge out of its inner sanctum, accepting blows from arrows and fists as it closes in and belches forth a noxious cloud of face-melting miasma. Lily's prepared for this moment, ready to suck the entire wretched exhalation in to her magically reinforced lungs, but the magic does nothing to quell the carrion stench of the acidic mist. She chokes on the stink, wasting the magic, and the Scorizscar's breath rolls toward you unimpeded...

[roll0] acid damage, which you resist, of course :P. More importantly, DC 25 Will save or be confused for as long as you're within the fog plus [roll1] rounds.

Aditionally, AoE works like a Solid Fog spell: Acid fog creates a billowing mass of misty vapors. The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can't use sight to locate the target).

Creatures moving through an acid fog move at half their normal speed and take a –2 penalty on all melee attack and melee damage rolls. The vapors prevent effective ranged weapon attacks (except for magic rays and the like).

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee498/Bhaakon/woundwyrm3.jpg


Note: The breath weapon reaches 15' in the air, if you're planning to fly over it.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

As the dragon appears, Nalin's blade shines and strikes, trailing the spectral chains with which he had bound Eustoryiax. Though they may not be able to bind this beast, their magic would still mark it, making it vulnerable to Nalin's future assaults.

Nalin smirks as the dragon's acidic breath billows around him, stepping to the side and raising his sword.
"Left! It's about to move!"
Nalin quickly adjusts the angle of his strike in accordance with Moxt's observation. As the blow falls, he channels all of the fear he had known since his rebirth, the dread of dying and being lost to the Abyss once more, into the blade, driving it towards his foe. As the fear leaves him, a laugh tears itself free from him. It felt GOOD to be free of that torment.

HP: 118/118
AC: 23
MP: 8/9
PP: 46/48

So, my readied attack's damage was 3 higher than it should have been, i accidentally included the damage bonus from Retributive Reach. Going to mark that in the OoC where I rolled it

So, it's cursed from when I landed Shackles of the Condemned. Time for stage 2 of my combo.
5ft step to V13. Move Action to aid myself for a +2 bonus to hit and recover Swallow Your Fear and Shackles of the Condemned. Also triggers Zeal, which overlaps with Good Hope.
Combat Form: -3 Damage, +3 to hit. Blessing of Fervor +2 to hit, AC, and Reflex
Grim Guard's Laughter (+4d6 damage. if I hit, I get a free demoralize attempt against all foes within 30ft. Any cursed foes who I demoralize are Frightened for 1 round)
Attack: [roll0] 7 Str, 9 BAB, 2 Good Hope, 2 Aid Another, 2 Blessing, 1 Masterwork, 3 Combat Form, 2 IC (should have only been +28, so a total of 30 which has been confirmed to miss)
Crit: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2] + [roll3]
Crit: [roll4]

Demoralize from GGL: [roll5]
Demoralize from Black Seraph's Glare (this won't frighten, just shaken/extend shaken): [roll6]

[Desril]

Lily
HP 73/73+25
AC 24

Wincing as the cloud envelops her and the others, Lily shouts out an apology, able to resist the worst effects of it herself, "It was stronger than I thought, stay out of this fog!"

Knowing she can't fight if she can't see, she quickly forces her way toward Kord, using the oversized dwarf to guide herself out of the fog. "Sileniy, Merjana! I'm going to try and knock it over, take your shots now!" As soon as they have that chance, the tiefling wastes no time in weaving a spell wordlessly so the dragon won't have the chance to see it coming and conjures a puddle of grease beneath the beast.


Move to Q13
Wait until Merjana and Sileniy can act (since prone gives bonus vs ranged)
Silent, Materialless Grease (DC 20)

[Sileniy]

Sileniy

Sileniy quickly closes on the corrupted dragon, gifting an arcane-infused word to Nalin and another arrow to the dragon.

Immediate: Cast Gallant inspiration on Nalin for +[roll0]
Blessing: move speed
Move: Q13.
Standard: Ranged attack again.
Attack: [roll1] (+21, -2 without blessing, +1 PBS)
Damage: [roll2] + [roll3] (+16, +1 PBS)

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana Witchbrood (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=628743)
F CG Half-Elf Magus (Eldritch Archer) 9 [Archmage 3], Level 6, Init 12, HP 71/71, Speed 30
AC 21, Touch 15, Flat-footed 16, CMD 20, Fort 9, Ref 10, Will 7, CMB +5/0, Base Attack Bonus 6/1
Bonded Weapon, Evil Outsider, Reliable +1 Revolver (5/6 (49/20)) +12 / +7 (1d8+1, x4)
0 ACP for Climb / Jump Mithral Agile Breastplate (+6 Armor, +5 Dex)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 28, Wis 8, Cha 10
Condition Longshot, Fly, Arcane Pool Speed, Held Shocking Grasp (Intensify), Good Hope, Blessing of Fervor
Familiar (Valet), Arcane Pool (10/13), Mythic Power (9/9), Intensify Rod (2/3)

The magus flits around the breath as it comes out, staying out of range of the "dragon's" breath as she begins unloading into the once proud creature.



QRS move to P12, Spell Combat Snowball (at the end of the attack); +2 Hit from BoF.

2 (BAB) + 2 (mRS) + 1 (Speed) + 1 (SS) = 6 attacks

Hit: +2 (BoF) +2 (GH) +2 (IC) +1 (PBS) +1 (Dex medal bonus) -2 (SC) -2 (RS) -2 (DA) = +2
Damage: +4 (DA) +2 (GH) +2 (IC) +1 (PBS) = 9

Shocking Grasp Damage: [roll0]
SR: [roll1]
SR: [roll2]

Hit Speed: [roll3]
Damage: [roll4]

Hit RS1: [roll5]
Damage: [roll6]

Hit RS2: [roll7]
Damage: [roll8]

Hit BAB6: [roll9]
Damage: [roll10]

Hit BAB1: [roll11]
Damage: [roll12]

Hit SS: [roll13]
Damage: [roll14] + [roll15]

DC21 Fort Snowball. (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/snowball)

[Frosty]

Millia (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=916453)
F CG Aasimar (Azata-Blooded, Elf base) Oracle 5 / Nocticulan Aspirant 4, Level 9, Init 8, HP 86/86, DR Elec 20 / Fire 10, Speed 30
AC 36, Touch 29, Flat-footed 29, CMD 36, Fort 9, Ref 13, Will 18, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 6
MW Cold Iron Light Mace +18 (1d6+3, x2)
Mage armor, Heavy Mithral shield +2 (+4 Armor, +5 Shield, +5 Dex, +1 Natural, +9 Deflect)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 20, Con 16, Int 14+2, Wis 10, Cha 26+2
Condition Condition Mythic Power 7/9, Channel 9/9 (4d6), LoH 10/10 (2d6)
Mage Armor, Protection from Acid (110), Good Hope, Blessing of Fervor (9 rounds), IC +2

Fervor bonus: +2 AC, Atk, Reflex.

The oracle resists the confusing effect, and quickly darts out of the slowing cloud in order to inflict bad juju upon the dragon!

Move to R12. Cast Ill Omen on the dragon. No saving throw allowed.
Spell Pen roll: [roll0] [roll1]

[Bhaakon]

A rain of blows fall on the scarred, tumorous serpent, some cracking scale and bone, others bouncing off to no effect. Bullets dig in or ricochet off, arrows are blasted away by the beast's chaotic limning of arcane energy. The dragon takes the blows, opening its mouth wide again, unhinging its jaw and gaping open the maw impossibly wide. Inside is no gullet, though. A swirls maelstrom of darkness within darkness, drawing in the light, the air, you. You tumble towards it with all the inevitability of foolish child tumbling down a well, bouncing painfully off the floor, off one another, until each in turn touches the yawning portal and simply blinks from existence.

You open your eyes on a flat plan of ebon sand stretching off into the horizon. The sky is a sickly grey, like the sun has been choked out by a massive fire, but you see no flame, and what light does filter down to you is utterly diffuse. The nature of the illumination saps most of the color from what you see as you put yourself back upright.

"So he is alive." The voice is disturbing, but you can't say why. The figure is tall and handsome, at least as far as you can see beneath the hood from thirty feet off. His cloak ruffles on his shoulders. At first you think it's the wand, but no, there's not a breath of it here. Something is moving beneath the cloth. A second later the wedge-shaped head of a viper peaks out, tasting the air with its forked tongue.

"I told you he'd sssurvive, massster." Slithaint croons. "However diminissshed. You are ssstubborn, all of you."

Then you recognize the face. One you haven't seen in years...was it seven, or more like a thousand? Your own visage, unmarred by Jerribeth's ritual, unscarred by Abraxus.


"So you gird yourself in a cage of cowardice, Other? How...pathetic. Do you even remember what it is to be strong? Because I remember. Oh, yes, I remember well. Lift the visor, coward. Let me see your face. Let me see if I even WANT to wear your flesh."

You wake up face down in black sand, the only illumination is a diffuse glow barely strong enough to penetrate the smoke-choked air of....wherever this is. You look around, and there are no landmarks to focus on, not proper horizon. The space just goes on until it's devoured by the murk. The only thing of note within sight is the woman in the garish black and gold armor and hardly anything else. Really, it might be more accurate to call it metallic lingerie, because it certainly leaves nothing to the imagination, and the...anatomical correctness of the 'breastplate' is the kind of thing you'd expect Lily to have designed. At least it's not as cold in this place as the armor's embellishments suggest.

"Get up already, weakling." The woman growls, unrolling a whip studded up and down with cold iron barbs. You can feel the lightning coursing through the weapon from twenty feet away, buzzing and popping, raising the your hair with static electricity. There's a creature buzzing about around her, an a quick, zig-zagging orbit. A familiar sight, until recently. Tataiyā.

Merjana--the other Merjana--raises her free arm so that the wasp may land and climb up onto her should. "Get up apostate. Fool. Coward. You've wasted everything, your power, your wrath, your body...I'm going to take them from you. I'm going to put them to use. I'm going to leave you here to rot, like you've left me to rot...."

You open your eyes seated in a dark space. Enclosed, but cavernous. The acoustics are tremendous, as the lilting perfection of the flute music from the stage attests. The high notes are clear without being shrill, the finger-work of the man in the gorgeously embroidered tailed jacket is impeccable. He even dances subtly with the tune--the treacherous final movement of Count Kelmestria's Sonata for Aroden's Return. The piece is notorious because, as everyone knows, Aroden did not return. The Count, in his last act before casting himself from his tower, penned a haunting, chaotic ending to his work that's virtually impossible to play. Indeed, some claim that only a flautist with twelve fingers and an extra lung could master the piece without resorting to magic...yet the young man on the stage it doing it, triumphantly. Playing the impossible, and without a hint of aid from any dweomer.

He glares at you as he plays. There's a fire in his eyes, a passion you recognize. Something you had before...before all this. He blows the final note of the piece and the theater explodes in applause--though there's no one there to clap. He bows deeply, and removes the pompous powdered wig that is traditional wear in the finest Chelish symphony houses. You recognize the hair color, and then, beneath the caked-on stage makeup, you recognize the man. The same one you see in the mirror when shaving. It's you.

"Thank you, thank you all." The other Sileniy beams out at the 'crowd'. "It really wouldn't be possible without hard work, dedication, and a lack of distractions." He's looking at you hard now, angry. "This could be. THIS COULD BE. All you have to do is let them go. Leave them. You aren't cut out for this adventure nonsense. This is what you were meant for. What I am meant for. What I WILL do." He growls. "Without father and mother, Nuyra, or your 'friends' holding you back, you could be the finest in the world. The greatest, Sileniy. Do you understand? Do you not see how much better it is to be the very best at something instead of someone's....sidekick?"

"Get up here. Get up here and prove that you deserve it more than I do. Defend yourself, or I'll have my chance." The 'crowd' takes up the other Sileniy's plea, jeering and shouting for you to take the stage, to show him up. You feel pushes and shoves, flinch at the wet sting of spit in your face, though there's still no one with you among the seat.

"What are you waiting for, coward. Afraid I'm your better? Afraid of true greatness?"

There's smell of grilling meat in the air as you rouse. It's pleasant. The smokey hardwood, the sizzle of flesh in a fire, the promise of a savory banquet laid out for the returning hero, slayer of dragons, rescuer of Arueshalae. It's just too bad that the screaming is ruining the ambience. Someone should really shut that child up...

You blink. The scales fall from your eyes, taking with them the cobwebs of your sudden transportation. It's no feast before you, but an auto-de-fé. Two score tarred posts are driven into the ground, to each is nailed a noble man, woman, or child bedecked in the finest Chelaxian fashions money can buy. An armored figure flits between between the victims, gleefully setting a flaming brand to the oiled stacks of cordwood piled beneath.

"One slaver, two slaver, three slaver, four..." The woman sings in a manic, cracking voice. "Big slaver, little slaver, master, pimps, and lords." She walks up to one of the posts with a child, smiling a smile that show far, far too many teeth, the glow of her subtle halo highlighting those little ivory daggers in her mouth as she sets flame to wood. "Don't cry child. I'm just saving you from a life of sin. This way you'll die clean. No stain upon you. I'll burn away your family's name, their crimes. This is a kindness. You'll see..." The child doesn't see, but there's not much she can do other than wail inarticulately as the flames take her.

"Oh...it's you." The executioner sees you at least, pausing her dance of death. Millia--because it's undeniably YOU under that lovely, silver, blood-spattered armor--holds out a her torch. "You want to do the honors? These are the biggest slaveholders in Cheliax, every last one of them. Blood on their hands up to the elbows. Why, the Count here...I believe he was mother's original owner."

And, indeed, it is that crusty old count. You can barely remember him, it's been so long--he sold you and your mother when you were very young, because her pregnancy had gone bad and left her somewhat sickly. But what you do remember...the beatings, being doused with scalding water, the week he made your mother eat slops with the pigs, the way he leered at her, at you...you'll never forget them.

He's broken now. Pathetic. Decrepit with age. He looks at you with the glazed eyes of a mind lost to dementia, not recognizing. Drool dribbles from the corner of his mouth as he smiles stupidly.

"Well, aren't you going to give him what he deserves?"


"They yet live." The voice is deep, brusk, and disturbingly familiar, though you can't quite place it.

"Traitors to the family, the clan, the race, whole damnable world...and they yet live." It growls, angry now. You get up from the dark sand, blinking away the grains that cloud your vision, trying to remember the last few moments.

"Explain to me how they can be within your power and yet live. A slave of Droskar, a sycophant of Deskari. How many did they kill with their own hands? How many more by treachery?" The voice is a bellow now, a rumble that you can feel in your guts, as big as they are.

Light flares, the white-hot flame of a stoked forge. You blink again. It hurts to look at that fire, but you do it anyway. You stare at the dwarf utterly enveloped within that stinging light. Stare at yourself, thirty feet off.

"You are a coward. You know what needs to be done, yet you dither. You imagine that they can be brought back." The other Kord barks, his flame dancing in cadence with his speech. "Staunton should be ash. Joran should be ash. But instead you waste your time talking with them. You try to bring demon worshipers back into the fold, as if taint could be washed off with honeyed words."

He frowns deeply. "You travel with more of them, right now, on a mission to rescue a demon. Don't lie. You know it's true. You are fallen, Kord. You are fallen, and I shall replace you. Bow your head and let me do this quickly. You deserve that much for your good works. Yours is simply a sin of weakness, not corruption."

It's a bright and cheery day. You open your eyes on a grass-covered knoll, quilt spread out before you and covered in pastries. There's a pot of mint-infused tea nearby, keeping warm on a dying camp stove. A few paces away is a woman in a spectacular hoop dress bedecked in gold and silver embroidery, semiprecious stones, and lace. Her raven black hair cascades down to the small of her back, which is the only part of her you can see, as she daubs the finishing touches onto an impressionistic painting of the landscape.

"Oh, this idea was ever so good, wasn't it? The lighting is just perfect today, the way it catches the pond there, and the cliff in the distance." The woman asks, apparently referring to you. She dabs her brush in a smear of black paint and scrawls her name at the bottom of the canvas. 'Lulu'

The human woman with the long black hair turns, and you note the ruby rose pendant hanging from her neck, the symbol of Shelyn.

"It's so NICE to just create something with your own two hands, isn't it? Nothing in the way. No arcane rules. Just your imagination and the canvas. Oh, would you like one of these?" Lulu reaches down and picks up a jam-filled confection. "I made them all by hand, of course."

[Vhaidara]

Nalin rises slowly. The silver sword in his hand glows with the holy light of the fallen dragon's soul.
"So. You are still out there. Figures."
Moxt breaks away from the necklace, flitting over by Slithaint
"Brother? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Lily?"
"Moxt, be careful. That's not Slithaint."
Moxt stops in midair, jerking to a halt. As he does, Nalin reaches up and removes his helmet.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean this...visage. It isn't real. This is who I was. Before I got my second chance. This is the face of a monster."

[Desril]

Lily


Blinking and looking around, Lily can't help but be confused and initially speechless. It didn't hurt that the painting wasn't badly done either, but after a few seconds the tiefling comes to her senses and scans the area for magical auras, confused again by the fact that only the clothing of the woman before her seems to be magical at all, and the aura was...familiar.

It was then that she finished her painting and turned around. At first, Lily didn't recognize her. Her tail, her wings, her horns, even her hair was different, but she couldn't deny that face..."I'm...human?"

Shaking her head, the tiefling looks at her counterpart in confusion, a myriad of thoughts racing through her head trying to figure out what sort of trap this is as she thoughtlessly reaches for one of the proffered snacks, figuring that Slithaint would stop her if he smelled any sort of poison on it. "Shelyn's rose? I don't understand...what is this? Where am I? Who are you?"

[stack]

Kord makes a rude gesture toward his double. "Show me the way out or I tear through you. I don't have time to talk to some demons attempt to mess with my head. You aren't real; but if you can feel pain you will shortly. Either sod off and let me get back to work or come here and I will tear your metaphysical head off."

[Bhaakon]

"This could have gone easy for you." The other Kord sighs, his form roiling within the heat-haze of his flame aura. "But now it's going to go hard, because the only way out of here is by me stepping over your corpse." He grabs as bit of the fire in hsi hand and begins kneading it like dough, clearly preparing some apocalyptic magic.

No map. You're 30' away, still huge. You won initiative GO!

"No, only a shadow is in here. I'm the bit of him you dragged along with you in that fleshsack and then tried to forget." The other Nalin growls. "But I'm tired of being a shadow, After this, you will be my shadow. You'll sit in a cage of your own idiocy while I find Jerribeth and complete the ritual. Make myself whole again...at least for a the few moments before I erase you forever."

"Not Ssslithaint? But foolisssh master, who else would I be? I was always a part of you, even in the depthsss of the abysssss I was there. Right up until you tried for forget me with the everything elssse that made you ssstrong. I've ssseeen him, the impossster. The copy. I am flesssh here. He is drosssssss."

"I'm Lulu! Don't you remember?" The woman walks over, pouring herself a cup of mint tea and arranging her skirt as she sits demurely on the quilt.

"We're here to celebrate! Father Gregory was right. It was the demonic taint that kept making them...making them.." A shadow flits across her face, and she banishes it only with a visible exercise of will. There's a pregnant pause as she composes herself before continuing. "Shelyn removed it for me, and now it's been three months. None of the others lasted this long."

Lulu rubs her belly absent-minded with her free hand, and you can't help but notice the subtle bulge there.

"I'm just sorry that mother couldn't come, but she's on a retreat with Father Gregory. She's been ever so happy since she breathed in the Rose's perfume. To think she'd be speaking of marriage, HER! But Father Gregory is a fine man, and Shelyn has done so much more for all of us than...SHE ever did. And the lillend statue Mother made for the temple is the talk of Magnimar. At last everyone can appreciate her talents, not just those perverse private collectors." Lulu picks up a chocolate cookie in the shape of a stuffed bear and chomps down greedily on the confection.

"I rather think I'll be staying like this after the delivery. Guillaume and I want to try for a whole litter, and it's ever so pleasant not to have to worry about pinching your tail every time you sit down. Plus now I know why humans like chocolate some much! It had always tasted like brimstone before, but now I can't get enough!"

"But that's enough about me. How are you doing, Lily? How did that distant magic school work out? Are you happy? Is Ayavah well?

[Frosty]

Millia tumbles into the draconic maw, through the maelstrom, and arrives at a confusing medley of images and events. First the pleasant banquet and celebration, then the scene of horrible murder. At first she is alarmed at the stakes and burning. The smells, the screams...everything seem so real! She is about to go rescue the little girl burning, and then she remembers that she's supposed to be fighting a dragon, and that none of this is real.

"You...you're kidding, right? What do you think I am, a Calistrian?" She takes the torch, just to put it out with a minor conjuration of water. "First of all, whomever you are, whether the old part of my that I'm trying to shed, or whether you're some malevolent force that read my mind and are trying to cause me to backslide...you're not tricking me. Did I want all of this in the past? Even the RECENT past? Yeah, I used to dream about this. It's a nice and cathartic I'll admit. But you know what? I'm moving beyond all this now. More people depend on me, and I have no time for petty revenge. People look up to me, and I need to be a shining beacon to all of them, to show that people can be given second chances and succeed."

She walks towards her double, pointing the doused torch toward her like it is a weapon. "Helping people it more important than revenge. And even when it comes to justice, if you knew me, you'd know I am for Restorative Justice now."

Restorative justice is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior. It is best accomplished through cooperative processes that include all stakeholders. This can lead to transformation of people, relationships and communities.

"Will burning this decrepit, addle-minded old man undo the harm he has done? Will it bring back the lives he has destroyed or literally taken away? No. Taking the effort to burn him merely distracts from doing things that ACTUALLY help slaves, such as rescuing them and/or working for political change to make slavery untenable. Yeah the count is a bad man, and guess what? He'll burn in the Nine Hells soon enough. I don't see him living much longer. Now, tell me what I need to do to get out of here. I've got a dragon to deal with and a demon to rescue."

[Desril]

Lily


It takes the tiefling several seconds to process what her human copy was saying, and she can't help but raise a concerned hand to her own stomach at the implication that in her present form she couldn't ever have a child of her own, but there wasn't time to dwell on that. It's not important right now, I can figure that out later!

Shaking her head, she sets down the chocolate confection, realizing her double's words were accurate and it wouldn't even be worth eating, especially not with everything else her double had said. Mother, finally settling down with someone? She's never...

Confused and unsure of herself, the tiefling's response is less steady than it would've been under any other circumstances, "I'm doing well, things aren't perfect, but if I'd chosen any other path there'd be so many more corpses...If I hadn't gone to the Twilight Academy, if I hadn't mastered the arcane arte, Kenabres would be a smoldering ruin rather than a reconstruction project," she says, trying to convince herself most of all. "And Mother is...recovering. She'll be alright, given time..."

But that's when she stops, thinking about Eustoyriax made her remember her friends, and with them, the dragon. "No, what does it matter? Even if I wanted to, whatever happened in this world didn't happen in the real one. What's the point in talking about it? My...our friends are in danger. If you're even half as much as me as you should be, you won't be able to just sit by and let them die, so tell me what this place is and how to get out of here!"

[Vhaidara]

Nalin turns to face his doppelganger.
"Oh, that explains it. You're not even a shadow. You're the shadow's shadow."
He raises the sword, now blazing with light.
"I think it's about time I cleansed this particular corner of my mind. Get out."

Moxt, meanwhile, buzzes angrily, and begins darting around, passing harmlessly through Slithaint's spectral form.
"YOU! ARE! NOT! MY! BIG! BROTHER!"

[Bhaakon]

"Oh, dear, such childish thoughts." The Other Millia clucks her tongue, disappointed. "The Dark Lady knows the truth. She showed me. You can't fix a society without cutting out the cancer. If I let them go, they'll repeat their crimes. Or others will be emboldened to try it. Or the former slave will rise up and do it themselves. Is that what you want? Only one person has to get their hands dirty. Don't make other bear the sin of the cleansing. I can do it because I know I'll be at Nocticula's side in the end, but the Abyss isn't such a nice place for those without powerful patrons."

"No...some wounds can't be healed. Sometimes am amputation is needed, even cutting away healthy flesh to be sure every speck of corruption is removed. Only then can you heal, can you restore. This is the real way of the world, not some fairy tail where abusers and abused gather in a circle and hug out their differences."

She mutters a prayer in abyssal, calling on the Dark lady, and a pillar of black fire arcs down from the heavens, incinerating the toothless old count and his post. The other Millia lets out a shuddering sigh of ecstasy as the dead man's ashes blow away. "Oh...that won't undo the things he did, not close...but I feel do feel so much better."

And, deep down, maybe you feel a little better, too...

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana


Merjana groans as she stands up from black sand into nothingness, looking over at the other "her" that was standing over to the side complaining. The whole thing strikes her as absolutely hilarious; what kind of sick, metaphysical joke had that dragon thrown (or inhaled?) her into? "You know, part of looking attractive is knowing what to cover up. Even prostitutes wear more clothing than that." She kept on laughing for several moments or until the "other" her said something, finally adding (interrupting if she must) "I have no quarrel with you, so let me hear why you think these things, 'me'. I'll let you make your case."

As she talks with the rather threatening version of her that towered over her even from that distance away, Merjana started looking around for Penn. If this came to blows, she could not be without her partner. For now, she would just have to humor this thing that made a mockery of who she was and is.

(Perception [roll0])

[Frosty]

Millia shields her eyes as the unholy flames from the heavens consumes the Count (or the mental representation thereof). After, she smiles wryly. "Yeah, you know what? I'm not gonna lie. That DID make me feel a tad better. But I won't let what makes me feel better DICTATE what my actions are. If you're already inside my head, then keep riding along. Let me SHOW you just how powerful my strategy is as well. All those tieflings that were my enemies, now many of them was forces on MY side. I think if I can perhaps convince powerful slaveowners inside Cheliax that they're wrong, maybe they can work from inside, and free the slaves faster than if I just physically freed them one by one. Give me a chance to show you, my old thirst for vengeance, just how much more productive my new ways are. If everyone only cared about vengeance, then everyone will end up like Nurah before I got to her."

[stack]

Kord cracks his neck. "Down you go." Without another blink hecharges, reaching to pummel and grasp the imposter. charge attack (assuming he is more that 5' away from reach based on the description) [roll0] (+1 body wrap, +2 good hope, +2 charge)
damage [roll1] + [roll2] if evil (assuming not an evil outsider, if so then bane kicks in for +2/+[roll3]
grapple [roll4]
Kord Vhane (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=785452)
M NG Dwarf UnMonk/Mageknight, Level 1/8, Init 12, HP 52/63/97, Speed 50
AC 22 -2 for charge, Touch 19-2 for charge, Flat-footed 20-2 for charge, CMD 31, Fort 13, Ref 9, Will 14, CMB +15/+10, Base Attack Bonus 9/4
grab Unarmed strike +1 +17/+17/+12 (1d6+16/12, x2)
grab Unarmed Strike +1 (Huge) +19/+19/14 (2d6+24/18, )
Constrict (1d6+7/2d6+11, )
Brawling Bracers of Armor +3 (+3 Armor, +2 Dex, +2 Natural, +5 Misc)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8
Condition +8 saves vs magic (spells, SLAs, Sphere effects)
+3 saves vs poison
AOO vs any grapple check w/o mythic grapple

+2 damage, att, saves good hope
+reflex from Millia's spell for this round
grapple:+28 = 15 cmb +4 improved/greater +1 mythic grapple +4 grab +2 gauntlets of the skilled maneuver +2 brawling armor

grapple (huge) :+34 = 21 cmb +4 improved/greater +1 mythic grapple +4 grab +2 gauntlets of the skilled maneuver +2 brawling armor

[Bhaakon]

The other half-elf smirks, cocking her mouth and hips at opposting angles designed to highlight her legs and bone structure. She's relatively good at it, truth be told. You suspect your comment on her metal lingerie is wrong on a technicality, seeing as the woman wearing such a ludicrous outfit before you is almost certainly a professional in the service of her goddess.

"Do I really need to spell it out, Khan?" The venomous sarcasm drips from her lips as she rolls the title over in her mouth. "How many murderers have you spared their deserved end, hmm? How many despoilers of our home? Even the very worst among those you've taken is safe and sound, tucked away like a swaddled babe in you're dungeon. Is this your revenge? Is it what Staunton's kind deserves? Is your grand plan to open wide your legs and invite the demons in? Because they'll come, oh yes, and by the score. They'll betray you and leave you to die, your...mercy is wasted. Foolish. you know it."

"You should have embraced the Savored Sting's teachings. All of them. Not picked and chosen to fit your tastes. Piecemeal faith has made you weak, banked your wrath, left us vulnerable. Your mind, your body, you rage, these things are tools to be used and used up in our vengeance, not hidden away or suffocated with weakness. Embrace your passions and they will rise up in a tsunami to sweep away your enemies. This is Calistria's lesson. What are you without passion? Not a tidal wave, but a pointless wad of spittle cast in the direction of your enemies as you dies in the mud." She provides a demonstration, launching a jet of saliva that fizzles out and splatters on the sand long before it reaches you.

"Look at what you're doing right now. A dog to the crusade that burnt our kin by the hundreds. Cavorting with demon worshipers, and letting them convert more in your city. Questing to..." She trembles in rage now, stuttering "...to rescue a demon?! The elf told us that is exactly how our parents died. Going to meet with a 'redeemed' demon. I wonder if it's the same one?"

[Ilorin Lorati]

"You are not my kin, creature, do not presume to lecture me on the death of my parents," Merjana interrupted, biting back at the woman that may have well had button eyes if she looked closely. Obviously the last bit had struck a nerve with the former Calistrian; whatever this thing standing in front of her is, it's still merely a mockery of who she was and is. It was true, Aravashnial did say such a thing, but the possibility of this demon being one and the same hadn't crossed her mind. This one was an obvious and true Desnan, but killing her parents... that was an act of misdirection that had led to their murders. Shaking her head, she moved on.

"You want the answers to your questions, then? Very well: as of yet, none that would not have been a mistake. Perhaps your mind is too addled by the sex you seem to want me to think you've had to pay attention to what's going on? You speak of vengeance as the goal in and of itself; so drunk on your own lust that you can't see anything past your own anger for the true cause of all this suffering. Killing Staunton would have driven off his brother, a powerful and capable member of my team, at best - and turned him into an enemy at worst. Give the man his chance to save his brother, 'tis a just reward for his service.

I have no intention of giving Lily or her kin free reign of my city, despite my welcoming her mother - which is the same situation that applies to her as to Kord - to the city. With her, I have a chance to take back Sarkoris, give what remains of my people a fighting chance to live and thrive once more."

Standing up finally, Merjana brushes the sand off her face and armor. This creature, whatever it was, was trying to goad her, she was sure of it. For what reason? "You're entirely right about everything related to Calistria. I found her and was taken in by her people an angry and scared youth, powerless except for outbursts of anger and a desire to see anything with demon blood in it burn. I am indebted to them forever, and they will always have a place at my table, but I cannot follow her any more by my own conscience. If you know of all this, then you know of how each life I took twisted my stomach and turned my dreams against me. I still see the faces of those I executed. I do not regret the task, but there must be a better way than that, as that is a path of nothing but destruction. The path I followed, the path you would have me return to, will do nothing but end with everything I have grown to love and everything I have achieved being burnt to the ground.

"Which is why the path I choose now is one of hope for the future of my people, and one that will lead all the way to the source of the Worldwound's corruption - even if it means I have to work with people who have wronged my people so badly. If that means I must play the dog while I turn my home into a town and a city that can survive without the help of that nation, then I will pay that price - I will not see the bush wither before the flower can bloom. Once my place is secured, and once the request cannot be ignored, then I will make my demands for reparations."

[Sileniy]

Sileniy

Even without the jostling crowd egging him on he would have accepted the challenge. And just as this other person was playing without magical aid, so would Sileniy. As he takes off the bracers he replies, laughing, "Oh, aren't you just priceless! Enough études, blowhard! I'll show you what music is! Then you can tell me where I am and how to get back to that dragon."

He takes to the stage with his own flute and begins playing a transcription of the Spirit of Adoration (one of the movements from Relos' The Heralds; normally for the violin Shelyn so loves, but transcribed for wind). Definitely a less challenging piece - how can you spread music that nobody can play - but it was intensely lyrical and full of warmth, lightly dancing itself along.

Perform (wind) with display of charisma: [roll0] (+25, DoC, GH, -5 without bracers)

[Bhaakon]

"Brother... what nonsenssssse." Slithaint hisses at the shrieking crystal, belting out a dry chuckle between the words. "I'm no sibling to foolsss. I'll devour you while my master consumes yoursssss."

"Yes, well, you've spoiled it Slith." The other Nalin chastises his familiar. "I was planning a dramatic and clever counterpoint to those oafishly bellowed threats, but now you've gone and parroted that imposter with your own nonsense." he turns back towards you, "I mean, really, you must have locked up all your charisma with me, because I certainly don't recall every being so stupidly direct in my manner."

"Now magic, that's another thing entirely." He flicks his wrist and mutters something--words that might have been familiar a lifetime ago. Black pseudopods erupt from the sand like monstrous weeds, flailing and grasping, threatening to bind your arms and legs. The other Nalin, no fool, backs away cautiously as the spell does its work.

Black tentacles centered on you. [roll0] CMB to grapple, and [roll1] damage

There's now 60 ft between you and the other Nalin, 20 of it covered with Black Tentacles and considered difficult terrain.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin cuts away a tentacle as it tries to wrap around him.
"You're magic is pathetic. I've seen more powerful spells from an apprentice, you dretch."
And the armored knight surges forward, exploding towards the dark sorcerer. His sword flashes as the spectral chains form once again, wrapping around The General and binding him to Nalin.

Blessing of Fervor: +30ft movement
Move 70, puts me 10ft from him, aka, within reach.
Combat Form: +9 damage, -3 AC
Shackles of the Condemned
Attack: [roll0]
Crit: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]+[roll3]
Crit: [roll4]

on hit, cursed, can't move more than 30ft away from me, and is entangled. If he starts and ends his turn next to me, he can make a DC 22 Will save to end the effect.

[Bhaakon]

Lulu takes another dainty bite of chocolate cookie as Lily explains her position, pleads even. She sips the tea, washing down the mouthful of baked good as she deliberates her response.

"You're right, probably. We both know this isn't real. This place made everything you see. The scenery, the sky, the food...everything but me. I'm real. I'm part of you. A part of you that wants to be. A part of you that CAN be. The only way out of here is for one of us to defeat the other, take over the body while the other languishes in the winner's unconscious mind."

She sighs, frowns slightly. This is the hard part of the conversation and she gropes for the right words. "Now...we both know I'm a more advanced arcanist than you. I have access to spells you can't yet comprehend. It's nothing personal, just a statement of fact. Your commitment to...to her came at a price, and that price is always being a step behind what you could have been. If you let me take the body, I'll be able to craft a new one sooner than you will. Then we can both exist." She pauses, and her hand slips to her belly once more. "All of us can exist."

"Please, listen now." It's odd, but you swear you see the steam drifting off her hot drink swirl about in a hypnotic, spiral pattern, glowing ever so slightly. At first you think it a trick of the light and wind, but no....her next words bear the lead weight of enchantment. Even forewarned, it's all you can do to fight them off. "Just declare your surrender and I promise we'll both have our own physical forms within a few months."

You won initiative, if you want to use that she's flat-footed and 10' away. The spell failed, and you know what she tried to do.

"Hope? You speak to me of hope? There can be no hope until the demons are stripped from the realm. Only then can we dream of rebuilding, can we endure the luxury of hope, or love. All you're doing now is splitting your attentions, wasting your times and efforts on small stakes that matter not a wit in the face of the enemy."

She strides forward, snapping her arm to that the whip cracks like thunder. "If you're so sure of your resolve, then test it against mine. Iron sharpening iron...or is it a hot knife through warm butter?"

You won initiative and she's 20' away

"Oh, my, you really believe that, don't you? So stubborn, like looking in a mirror. A twisted carnival mirror, perhaps, but a mirror all the same." She waves her arm, and, suddenly, you find yourself at the last of the victims in the long line of pyres. Clearly this place is more a dreamscape than a true reality, though how she did that escapes you.

The man nailed to final post bears a face you never thought you'd see again. he's older, grey, and the hideous scar across his neck hasn't done him any favors (not that he was ever much to look at), but he's unmistakable. It's him, the man the Count sold you to, your final and worst master. The one who kept first your mother than you in his breeding stable. Who frequented the stable himself, as much to beat those who lived there as for carnal pursuits. Who had his throat slit by your rescuers and bled out as you watched.

The other Millia continues the thought, as if reading your mind. "But he was very, very rich, and cagey enough to purchase a spell of resurrection from the Church of Asmodeus as insurance. He didn't bother to raise his family, too expensive. He just found replacements for them. I was saving him for last, but now I have a better idea." She rips the gag from his mouth, and he looks you right in the eye, his gaze as masterful and defiant as ever. Even with him in this position, you can't help but remember all the times you withered beneath that stare, beneath the fists that are spiked to the wood above his head.

"All right then. Make him apologize, and mean it. Then forgive him, and mean it." She takes a step back. "I'll be watching! Prove that your way works, that you're committed, and maybe I'll accept your offer."

As impressive as the performance you just saw was--without a doubt the finest you've witnessed--the memory of it is utterly banished from the atmosphere of the theater by your own turn at the flute. Your selection might not be as technically challenging, but you inject a liveliness into the tune that transcends technical perfection and speaks directly to the soul.

You hear them in the stands, feet keeping pace as the unseen figures spontaneously break out in dance. Far from interrupting the music, you play off their rhythmic stomps to add another layer to the movement. A back and forth between artist and audience that no moribund piece of sheet music can hope to capture. Even your counterpart taps his foot with your flute...at least for a few second it takes him to notice and restrain himself.

Your music ends with a resounding final note, but the cheers continue on for some minutes, then shouts for an encore that can't be, for it's not your turn any longer. It's the other Sileniy's turn, and he's red faced and sputtering in a rage. The work he'd done, the sacrifices he'd made, and you step off the battlefield and onto the stage and put on a show that he couldn't match on his best day with Shelyn herself as his personal muse.

He puts flute to lips and blows out a wet, shrill, pathetic sputter.

The crowd jeers.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" He bellows, spittle striking your face even though she's standing two paces off. "I SAID NO MAGIC! NO TRICKS! I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, BUT YOU DID SOMETHING. YOU ENSORCELLED THE AUDIENCE! EVEN THE ETERNAL ROSE COULD NOT PLAY AS YOU JUST DID WITHOUT TAPPING HER DIVINE SPARK! YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT WAS PURELY YOUR NATURAL GIFTS?! HA!"

Silence grips the music hall, then a few hecklers join in on his side. Then a few more. Only a small portion of the unseen hundreds you feel out there, but their numbers are steadily climbing.

The other Sileniy's rage now somewhat controlled, he speaks in a more normal tone. "Again. Do it again. Prove that it was no trick or fluke."

As you close with the other, smaller version of yourself, you feel the heat pouring off his flaming penumbra, curling hair, flash-cooking skin, but you power through to reach him. Giant hand fold around him easily, blistering as they squeeze."

"I see the face of your justice now." The other wheezes out what little breath he can manage. "You spare those that deserve no mercy and slay the righteous. How long will you command your troops' respect with that attitude?"

7 damage from elemental aura, DC 26 Ref to negate.

[Desril]

Lily


Lulu's impassioned argument wasn't without merit. Had it come at another time, in another place, perhaps it'd even have worked. But here and now, there was simply too much that she needed to do and that this untested fragment of her couldn't be trusted to be able to do. Of course, that would've been true if the weight of her copy's words was backed by honesty and not the deception of compelling magics.

Though her eyes were downcast, almost disappointed in herself for what she was going to have to say, the moment the haze clears from her mind the real Lilith glares hard at her duplicate, "Maybe you're right. My commitment has slowed my studies ever so slightly, but in exchange the power I've gained is unrivaled. It may be true that you have reached a level out of my grasp for the moment, but only for the moment, and when I reach it we both know that I will be far more effective than you...and even if I surrendered my body to you, then what? Are you strong enough to save Arueshalae? To keep the others safe? Do you have the resolve to fight? We're not in Magnimar where we can safely practice as we please, we're in a war! If you're part of me then you know that I can't just abandon them...but I won't give up on you, either."

Sighing, her gaze softens, she wouldn't have done any different if their positions were reversed. After all, she did do it. "I don't want to compel you to stand down. But I'm asking you, please, give me some time. I'll find a way to manifest you fully, as you are. You wouldn't be happy with this body anyway, and you know how quickly I'm advancing. Two months time. I'm sure that will be enough. And once you're in this world, I'll make sure that you're happy however I can. Both of you."


Diplomacy [roll0] (It's an AU Lily, but it's still Lily, it applies!)

[Frosty]

Millia blinks as she is transported, matrix-style to the final post. Then all that is put aside as he comes face to face with...HIM. Count Hector. The man who had abused her SO much. Who had not abused only her, but also her mother. Her mother who was more often than not sickly since giving birth to her. Did Count Hector care? Of course not. Did he spare one single curative spell from the cleric he has on retainer to relieve her suffering? Of course not. Did he perform ANY single act of mercy of goodness for Millia of her mother in the time he owned them? No.

Millia's hands ball up as anger swells. She had cheered when Count Hector received a Katapesh Necktie. She had SAVORED every moment, and groaned in frustration when they all had to go to avoid the incoming soldiers. Millia had wanted to watch Count Hector suffer more. This man...out of everyone else in the multiverse...Millia wanted to hurt the most.

But...is this really him? It can't be the real Count Hector. "In...interesting test. But before I proceed and sort through this...emotional gauntlet...tell me this. How do I know this is even worth my time? Redemption is a process of cleansing the soul through sadness, empathy, shame, and a shared resolve to do better. Trying to do the same thing to an empty shell, or perhaps a realistic illusion that you control, is just not the same and would be a waste of time. Tell me, how do I know this...representation of Count Hector is something that is an independent decision maker with a moral compass that I can try to influence? If this is just an illusion...even one conjured out of my own mind...then the test is flawed. If it's just out of my own mind, then perhaps my subconscious desire to try to see the possibility of good in everyone makes it...easier than it otherwise would be. If you control it, then it's obvious why the test isn't objective."

[Bhaakon]

The other Millia rolls her eyes. "You're not trying to argue your way out of this because you think you can't do it, are you? Of course this isn't real. Of course its a test of your own resolve. Because if you can't even imagine succeeding feasting on your own line of horse crap, then why should I, your smarter half, sit at the table?"

"Spouting platitudes to the pliant is easy. It's no great accomplishment to preach to Nurah, is it? She was thirsting for that nonsense, like a lost traveller in the desert. She was broken and she WANTED someone ELSE to tell her how to fix herself. Confronting your own hypocrisy is another matter entirely. So get to it. And don't try to lie. Remember, I'm you and you're me."

"Oh, little Millia come back for another ride, is it?" Count Hector interrupts, goading even from his position on the pyre. "No, wait, there are two of you now. Well, I'm not as young as I once was, but I think I can manage."

With a smile, the other Millia gestures you toward the Count. "Go on, now. Convert yourself."

[Sileniy]

Sileniy

Sileniy, by now very much caught up in the moment, is completely enthusiastic. "You want an encore? You've got it! It's been too long since I've had a captive audience - not since... Kenabres? Gods, that seems like so long ago..."
For his encore, Alequant's The Winds, a set of variations that are supposed to represent the winds, from frigid gusts to gentle spring breezes.

Again: [roll0]

[stack]

"What mercy is there for hallucinations?" Kord says mostly to himself as he crushes the duplicate. reflex [roll0] (aura is a spell so +9, +2 good hope)

full attack [roll1] (body wraps, good hope)
damage [roll2]
grapple [roll3]

[roll4] (body wraps, good hope)
damage [roll5]
grapple [roll6]

[roll7] (body wraps, good hope)
damage [roll8]
grapple [roll9]

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana


Merjana takes a step back, kicking up off the ground and letting the imaginary wings of her fly spell take her up off the soot-black sand and weaving a spell to keep the shorter-range woman at bay - such light armor meant she was probably agile enough to avoid most of her spells, but on the other hand there was a weakness that Merjana knew she had...

"I know those thoughts like I know my own soul, and I will not deny that I'm filled with anger when look out at the wasteland that is the remains of Sarkoris and wish to see the demons pay for all their crimes. It's a path I have not turned from, and I won't rest until I have driven all those who deserve it from my lands: the path ahead is as bloody as the path behind. What you don't see, however, is what I had to have shown to me; that these things you despise so much are exactly what drive people to become heroes, to do great things. I have stood witness to this: while I carved a path across Kenabres alongside them, I stood witness to true heroes save lives. Oh, the lives I would have taken and the destruction I would have caused if they weren't there. How many more, on a better path now, would have been judged and strengthened the demons?

But no, I decline your way of thinking. You can have both; you can inspire people to push forward, to do better and to rise up out of the horrors of the world they live in while still fighting to get rid of those horrors.

"In fact, it's the better way. If you simply remove their horrors without showing them that they need not cower before its evil, then you merely leave room for a horror with another face to take its place. A horror like you, what I could have become."


Up and back 2 move actions, Arcane Surge Slow DC23 Will (roll twice if she's not mythic - which is unlikely) on her and the familiar.

[Frosty]

the aasimar stares at Count Hector with a look of disgust that grows with every word that the count speaks. Finally, she shouts, "ENOUGH!!" and she raises her light mace above her head, and smashes it down towards Hector's head! And...misses. The mace sails past his head and continues downwards to bury itself in the ground. "Enough... *pant*"

Millia looks back at PyroMillia. "You're right. I don't think I can forgive...this...pile of human refuse right now. Especially if he isn't sincerely remorseful. I will be mature and honest to myself, and admit that I am not so goodly that I can let all thoughts of vengeance go. Not yet at least. But..."


She stars digging into her pack for something. "...you must be mature and intellectually honest enough to know that my philosophy, which I am imperfectly trying to live up to, has merit. Just because I, it perfect doesn't mean the idea can't work. Look at the results thus far. All those tieflings I've saved, and even Nurah, as much as you dismiss her, is an asset. If I went with your advice, I wouldn't have new allies. And I'll even admit that yes, sometimes, if the enemy is completely unrepentant, killing is the right thing to do."

Millia produces what she is looking for, her holy symbol of Nocticila. "But you know why you're wrong and I'll ultimately be right, with enough time to reflect and heal? The proof is what I'm holding and what you're wearing. If, as you say, Vengeance and Death and amputation are unavoidable, then where does that leave Our Lady? Hmm? As a demon lord, she has undoubtedly committed uncountable evils, many of which are sure to match and exceed what Hector did to me...to us. If vengeance is the only way to provide justice and healing, then that means Our Lady must be killed to atone for her sins. But if you're truly a part of me, then you know better."

She walks forward, still,holding the holy symbol in front of her. "You cannot be intellectually honest with yourself if you say that someone like Count Hector is behind forgiveness and perhaps even redemption, yet give Nocticula a pass. If Our Lady gets a chance, then so does Hector! I...I just need to work up to it. And in the meantime, I don't need to be a murderer. I can just focus on other things first until I am ready, like fighting the demon armies! What say you? Work with me. I know I'm far from perfect. And I acknowledge that rage has its place sometimes, but I have to keep trying to make this philosophy work, if I am ever to have any hope to help Our Lady be redeemed."

[Bhaakon]

"Fu...." The other you shouts as the sword sinks in deep, turning whatever he was about to say into an gurgle of agony. Perhaps he's now rethinking his stance on armor, or his overconfidence in his magic holding you still. As the unearthly chains wrap and constrict, binding him to you, he grasps out for defensive magics.

Your vision swims like a drunkard's. You blink away the instant of vertigo, but when your eyes open again he's just standing before you, bleeding, no longer smirking. Whatever magic he was attempting clearly failed. "Even that bitch Iomedae didn't steal first blood." He mutters in spite of himself.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin looks down at this...pitiful thing.
"You're not worth killing."
He swings a fist into the General's face.

Combat form: -3 AC, +3 to hit
Move action, Aid self, recover all maneuvers
Nonlethal punch with gauntlet
Attack: [roll0]+enough
Crit: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Crit: [roll3]

[Bhaakon]

Your knuckles whiten, hands squeezing the other dwarf until his unreality is made manifest. Its form melts away into smoke, its flames snuff out along with its very existence. Just a hallucination, as you had claimed. The pocket plane shudders and convulses. The black sand splits open, cracks race across the arena surface, snaking between your legs with impossible speed, yawning open wide enough to swallow a dwarf the size of a dragon...


The other Sileniy watches as you put the flute to your lips and make magic happen again, this time without even tapping your extra potential. His face, already red, turns a shade of crimson dark enough to make you wonder if he's about to have a stroke, but the roar of the crowd drowns out his apoplectic shrieks. You finish with a flourish, and roses stream onto the stage from the empty stands. The other you takes his flute in both hands and brings it down on his knee, snapping the beautiful instrument in a show of petty rage.

Reality splits open along with the flute. You tumble into the void.


"HAH, mercy!" The other Nalin's last, vitriol-soaked word before an adamantine fist catches him flush on the face, shattering his cheekbone and nose with a sickening crunch.

A crack begins at the point of the fist's impact and spread outward, shattering your vision of this reality like a mirror. There's a shriek as the plane tears itself apart. A blur of motion from the broken form of the other Nalin.

"NOT AGAIN!" Slithaint shrieks and lashes out. Fangs lock onto Moxt's amulet, his home, and the serpent coils around it, clinging desperately. Then you fall through the broken looking glass...


The other woman puffs out her chest (as much as she can, anyway) and glares up at you as you retreat into the sky. "How dare you look down on me." She roars. "You, who runs away rather than face down her personal horror. You, who is made sick by the sacrament of deserved vengeance. You, who plays the merciful lord in her castle instead of doing what is necessary to cleanse the lands of her ancestors."

She drops her weapon arm to her side, leaving the bladed whip limp in the dirt, grounding the charge build up there. He free arm comes up to her forehead, two fingers pointing at at it dead center, and grins. "If what you're most afraid of is becoming me, here I am. I'm not even moving. That's an easy shot, isn't it? Right in the forehead from forty paces. Take it. Put me down and you'll never become me. You wish to do great things, then end your inner demon right here and now. Plant the seed of your rebirth in my skull."

Lulu's eyes widen as her spell fails, and the tea cup falls to the ground, splattering the quilt and filling the air with minty steam. "Rose's thorns..." She begins to swear, then Lily cuts her off, explaining her proposition.

"You...you're not lying, are you?" She looks, surprised. "Yes...yes, I AM strong enough, but clearly not quite as strong as you. Scholarship only gets one so far in comparison to battle experience, I suppose. And you still have certain...insights as to the demons' deceptions that I now lack. Just...just promise me a body like this one. And take care of mother. I can't stand her being so miserable."

She sighs heavily and plucks a fresh chocolate cookie from the picnic basket, taking one last bite of her favored treat before her undoing--however temporary. Unexpectedly she leans in close, planting her lips on yours. You can taste it, the chocolate. Not the usual rush of sulfur exploding on your tongue like a wet fart, but sweet, bitter, rich, ever so slightly fruity. It's intoxicating. Addictive. You must have more. She tears away.

"I surrender."

The world shatters.

A black-fletched dart sprouts from the Count's eye as punctuation to your statement. He sags against his spiked hands, dead.

"And who do you think gives me this strength but the Lady? For I worship her in her true aspect, of darkness, death, lust." The other replies, holstering her diminutive crossbow. "You think she wants to be redeemed? Why? Because you wish it? You presume much to dictate a goddess's fate. Our Lady in Shadows has taught me this much: If you want the world to make sense, you must force it to do so. I am forcing it to do so here, and it is hard work making a people change. You want a Demon Lord to change, and that's a thousand times more ambitious. When you see Nocticula, what are you going to do if she's as stubborn as Hector? Are you going to beat her into submission? Force her to see things your way? Are you going forgive her failure and move on to a deity more aligned with your goals? Are you going to give up?"

"Or are you as stubborn a fool as I am?" She lifts her holy symbol and a portal opens behind her. "I accept your offer. I will watch you, but with a more active role than just observing. If you show the kind of weakness you did here, if your high horse stumbles and you fall off, I will step in and make it easy for you to do what must be done. Acceptable?"

[Frosty]

Millis closes her eyes and rubs her head. "You're right, giving up is easy. Sticking to my convictions no matter what, will not only be difficult, but merely a stepping stone to the monumental task that is redeeming a Demon Lord. I accept your offer. You will see that I am determined to walk this path. Now let us leave this place. I've got to make sure my friends aren't dying against a blind dragon." She offers a hand for other Millia to take, if she wishes, to walk through the portal together.

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

"The sacrament of murder, I think you mean. It wasn't killing that earned me the favor of Calistria, if you remember; it was branding her sigil on the head of a man who truly did deserve his punishment. Though now that I think about it, maybe his punishment has gone on long enough... The magus snerks at her thought, "And what's this about me hiding in a castle? Were you not the one so enraged about me going off to save a demon? Are you not the one only confronting me because a corrupted dragon sought fit to drag me in here with you? Your attempts at enraging me are as laughable as the fake nipples on your armor."

In honest, she was growing angry at all this, as much about what she was being confronted by as from the audacity the creature down below her displayed. It would be so easy to simply kill her, be done with it, get it out of her head and get out... If it came down to it, she knew she would have to - waiting forever in this nothingness when she didn't know how much time had already passed was worrisome. But... who could you share what angered you with if not for yourself?

"The only way I'm afraid of becoming you is in a literal sense, since I'm pretty sure I would die of some venereal disease by the time I reached fourty. Seriously, I don't even think Calistria herself would dress like that, whoever created you has no idea what my inner demons look like! Besides, why should I give you the fight that you've been itching for since the beginning? If you could simply kill me and take my place, you would have done it while I was helpless. No, my dear, sweet doppelganger, the only way I could have ever become you is if I were born you; you never had a chance."

[Bhaakon]

The other you smiles beatifically as she takes your hand, allowing you to pull her through the portal. You catch the first notes of a peel of laughter as you step through, but the darkness is already closing in...

The other you drops the hand from her forehead. You blink, and it's not longer a brazen trollop in a steel shift, but a child, little more than a toddler, snot nosed, defiant, angry at the world and everything in it for reasons she can't possibly articulate. Though you know why, of course. Her real parents are dead, and her foster parents, whatever they are, aren't a replacement for the genuine article.

The smoke closes in, blocking your view of the knife-eared child clutching her rag-doll wasp. Blocking your view of everything...

There's a rumble. The deep, throaty precursor to an earthquake or a large animal building up to full roar. Maybe a little of both, as you're thrown through a familiar cavern as it rumbles with the pained bellow of a dragon enduring the indignity of a rebellious meal.

The woundwrym shudders, retching like a cat with hairballs as it coughs each of you up--even those far, far too large have fit down its throat. It's a minor miracle Kord doesn't crush someone as he tumbles across the acid-etched sandstone.

Its jaw still unhinged, the twisted dragon aims its head back in your direction and draws in a powerful breath. Its lung fill like the bellows of a blast furnace, but the rush of air is a mundane one, hardly enough to ruffle a skirt at ten paces, let alone drag anyone into a prison plane.

The beat snaps its mouth shut--quite literally as the bones click back into place. "Hu...hungry..." It mewls. You watch as it snaps down and bite the stone of the enarby wall, tearing off a mouth-full of stone that it masticates messily before swallowing. Actually swallowing. You watch the bulge work its way down its sinuous neck. "Fooooood." It murmurs as it takes another bit, pebble tumbling from its mouth. "So long....so long..."

[Desril]

Lily

Caught off guard by her double's sudden kiss, and then even more by the almost euphoric taste of the chocolate, Lily tumbles to the ground with far less grace than she'd like as the world reappears before her. The great wyrm's choked coughing works as a vital reminder that there's no time to waste collecting herself and figuring out how any of this happened though and the tiefling quickly hops to her feet, ready to resume the battle and put an end to the dragon.

Or at least, she was ready, until the deformed wyrm began gouging out huge portions of stone and swallowing them whole. Whatever that rift in its mouth was must not've been under its control...Suddenly overwhelmed by pity for the poor creature, Lily holds out her hand to stop the others from attacking, "Wait! I think...I think she was just mad with hunger before, and now that that rift is gone..."

Raising her voice, the quasideity calls out to the dragon, remembering her name from Merjana's translation earlier, "Scorizcar! We'd come here to slay you for the threat that you posed, but you seem to have come to your senses now that we've disrupted the portal that kept you from feeding! We can work out a way for you to get proper sustenance rather than mere rocks if you'll agree to treat with us instead!" She speaks loud and forcefully, the dragon is blind, not deaf, but she needed to be heard over the smashing of stone.


Diplomacy [roll0]+4? Blind, half-crazed, and starving, probably not...

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

As Nalin tumbles out, he clutches the necklace where Moxt has secured itself again.
"Moxt! are you okay?"
"I....I think so...it hurts though..."
"Yessss...it issss a bit cramped in here."

Lily's words snap Nalin out of his daze.
"I'll deal with this later, Slithaint. But know that you are not unwelcome, old friend."
And with that Nalin exerts his will, and brings his allies, as well as the dragon, if he can, into his network.
"Milia, we aren't going to find enough food in this blasted wasteland for a dragon of this size. Call upon you lady to aid us!"

Giving B a chance to decide which of us will RP Moxaint, I have no objections but want him to have the chance to claim it.
Everyone: Until Nalin starts talking to Milia, that's a private conversation.
Frosty, Nalin's suggesting Milia drop Create Food and Water (saving you the time of searching for the spell that does that)

[stack]

Kord immediately stands, ready to continue to fight, when the words give him pause. He stays ready, but waits for Milia.

[Frosty]

Millia

Millia approaches and speaks in Draconic. "We see how the work of the demons and the demonic energies has made you suffer, and we wish to help you. I can conjure up large quantities of food for you, if you like food other than stone. Would you also like me to heal you? We have much to discuss about what you'd like to do moving forward, and about some enemies you have made during your time blinded with hunger. We understand it's not your fault."

The aasimar also translates mentally for her allies.

[Bhaakon]

The dragoninhales deeply, tasting the airs as it continues to masticate the stone. "Foooood....real foood...meat?" It begs, and turns right at Millia as she speaks, it's blistered, pustules tongue sending out a splatter of acidic saliva as it licks its chop. "Meat...so long...years...decades...MEEEEAAAAT!"

It takes a hesitant step towards the woman, nostrils flaring, slavering maw hanging open, ters pouring from its milky eye.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

"Milia, just feed the bloody dragon. It's so hungry it's eating damn rocks, and you're trying to bargain with it."
Moxt breaks away from the necklace, small shadow flickering across his surface.
<Public> "Getoutgetoutgetoutgetout!"
<Public> "I'm here to stay, little hero."

[Frosty]

Millia hands over her bag of Halfling trail rations to Lily. "Here, this will do as a appetizer. I need about 10 minutes to conjure up a sumptuous feast for the dragon. I know you're hungry. Please bear with us for a bit."

Millia starts drawing upon her special reserve to bring for a bountiful feast out of nothing.

[Desril]

Lily

Taking the rations from Millia, Lily simply takes the meatier selections and tosses them one by one into the dragon's waiting maw. "I know it isn't much but bear with us for now. If you know the spell then you know how much food it will conjure but it takes time, so for now just focus on these," she says before glancing to the others, obviously wanting them to volunteer any rations they may have, briefly forgetting about the telepathic link. "I'm sure it's been a long time since you've spoken to anyone, is there anything you'd like to talk about?"

She'd been about to ask the others then what happened to them when Moxt spoke through their link along with another, familiar voice. Or at least near enough to it to be familiar.

"Moxt? What's wrong, what's going on? And who was that other voice, it almost sounded like Slithaint."

The snake, for his part, slithers up Lily and coils around her neck and shoulder in his usual spot, hissing aloud and denying his involvement through the link.

[Bhaakon]

The dragon thankfully gobbles down each of the pitiful offerings, quickly running through Lilith's supply of cured meats until the last of the sausages is in the air. The dragon dodges, letting the salted pork morsel lands on the ground.

"More.....MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAR" It bellows. Unwilling to wait even the few more minutes it will take for Millia to finish her spell, the wyrm calls on what little of its inherent magic remains. The casing of fatty deliciousness bubbles and stretches, growing to a preposterous size in the span of a few seconds. The dragon digs in to a sausage the size of a cow, downing the entire thing in the span of a few dozen seconds.

It belches loud enough to shake the cavern, and breathes a contented sigh before speaking in a less deafening tone. "...More, please. So long since I've eaten. Ever since the terrible mistake. Something delicate, spiced, interesting. Before the portal returns." It pleads.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin sighs.
"I'm guessing you all had a similar experience to me, given that we were all just sucked into our own prison planes. Well, I brought home a souvenir. A shadow of Slithaint, born of my memories of who I used to be."
<Public> "And he won't stop hurting me!"
Moxt flits towards Slithaint, quivering in front of the snake.
<Public> "Please big brother, make him stop! make him stop showing me these horrible things!"
A sadistic mental chuckle is the only response.
<Public> "Don't you want to know more about your master? About who he really is?"

[Desril]

Lily

"Prison? I suppose the plane was set up that way, but somehow I don't think what happened in mine is comparable to what any of the rest of you might've seen," she says, thinking back to Lulu and her promise.

Shaking her head, "But wait, how did...No, that's not important, Slithaint?" It's as much a question for Moxt's crystal and her own familiar, now glaring at it. "We come to an agreement to end...hostilities and then you drag this...fake from your mind?" It isn't quite an order to stop torturing the poor crystal, but the serpent knows its copy has other concerns now and it should at least give Moxt a moment's reprieve.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

"Honestly, I didn't think he's be able to do something like this. His master was beaten, broken. And he struck in the moment we were leaving. Some magical crossover bull, I guess."
<Public> "Who are you calling a fake, traitor? You attach yourself to some demonic harlot, the whore queen's slut. Have you forgotten what it felt like to serve a worthy master?"
Moxt is silent, though it's the silence of someone relieved for the quiet.

[Sileniy]

Sileniy

Sileniy jumps right out of the conversation between Moxt and Slithaint (and Slithaint, apparently). He asks the dragon, "How do you know that portal is going to come back? And how did you get that portal? There might be a way to remove it permanently."

[Desril]

Lily

"His master? The...old you?" She raises an eyebrow, "It sounds like you had a harder time than I did, I...no, not now, I don't think I can explain that while dealing with this...situation. I ran into...I guess you could call her a potential other me?"

Turning her gaze to Moxthaint, she glares. "Quiet, shadow. You apparently haven't managed to keep yourself aware of what's happened outside of your domain." While she nervously glances toward Kord, Slithaint continues, nodding his head in agreement with Lily. "You're right...you are not a fake...you are not even good enough to be my fake! Lilithhhh has far more potential than he ever did.

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin moves towards where Moxt is still hovering before Slithaint, placing himself between Kord and Lily at the same time.
"Interesting. I would like to know more about the nature of that portal in any case."

<Public>"Really now? If she is so powerful, why is she with this weakling? You might have forgotten, but I remember what we once were! I remember when armies cowered before us, and when our master stood before all who opposed him, even that Arodenite bitch Iomedae."
At that Nalin stiffens.

[Bhaakon]

The dragon shudders, controlling its impatience as best it can as Millia finishes conjuring more magical sustenance, a spread of meats roasted, salted, fried, smoked, spiced, sauced, steamed, skewered, on the bone and off, minced into filled dumplings or shredded, braised or stewed...a smorgasbord of most every kind of edible beast prepared any way you can imagine. The wyrm digs in with surprising delicacy given that its only utensil is a long tongue dripping caustic juices.

"This marrow is exquisite." It purrs, sucking the fatty center from a long bone that must have come from something as big as a mammoth. "And do I smell roc foie gras? It's been centuries..." Its beaked mouth daintily plucks the cleaned and sauteed raptor liver, savoring the offal with obvious gusto.

"Oh, your questions." It mumbles, popping sweet pork dumplings into its maw one at a time. "I...can yet feel the catch in my throat. The same I felt when this started. I tried to force shut a nascent tear in my lair with my magic, and it went...wrong." An entire fried sea bream disappears down his gullet, fins and all. "It took weeks to manifest fully, building slowly, feeding on the thinness of the planar boundaries. I...I don't know how to fix it. By the time I realized how terribly wrong things had gone, it was too late."

The dragon takes up an entire roasted boar in maw, downing the hog, apple and all, without even chewing. "You...you must kill me if it continues like that. I did...terrible things. I swallowed so many, and none returned until now." Next up is a rack of ribs. Its tongue strips off the meat before it cracks open the bones with its teeth.

"You...wait, you saw what? I know not where the portal leads. I'd always assumed the abyss, but I was not...right."

[Frosty]

Millia

The aasimar continues chanting, glad that this gives an excuse to not participate fully in the prison plane conversation at the moment. She's not sure how others would react to the revelation that there is a more...vengeful version of herself waiting to wrest control of her body possibly in the future. Still, she does comment mentally on one thing. "What? You foght IOMEDAE?! Did you not remember that?"

Still, he spell finally comes to an end, and an aromatic feast is spread upon one of the flat stone slabs present. Meat of every sort appears, fully cooked and perfectly marinated with spices, salt, and other things drained to excite the tongue! Enough for 22 adult humans, in fact. "Dig in, Scorizcar! You deserve it."

After watching the dragon scarf down the feast, Millia says, "No, killing you is the easy way. You should come with us, back to our city. We have some scholars and magea of some power there and I'm sure we can find a solution. As for what we saw...it was strange. Copies of ourselves that were different, I imagine all of us saw. I passed some sort of test and was able to return here. As I think we all did."

She thinks for a moment. "Perhaps Nubba can help. There is a Sarkoran quasi-divine entity of some sort who calls itself Nubba. I think you know him. You've swallow some of the goblins that he protects. Would you be willing to come with us and see him? Maybe he can help."

[Desril]

Lily

Slithaint's eyes narrow at his crystal duplicate, an interesting maneuver for a ghostly snake, "Yesssss, we were feared, but not for hisssss strength, but his master'ssss. Thissss one has potential to surpass the old Tyrant that he could never comprehend."

For her part, Lily bites her lip in response to Nalin and Millia, "Yes, a double...though I don't feel as if I was tested. Not really. It's not as if there was anything else I could've done..." Turning to the dragon herself, she continues, "No, it wasn't the Abyss we were sent to. It was a demiplane, at least that's where I ended up. It was not very large, but it faced me with....another version of myself, one who wanted control of my mind. At least, at first."

When Millia suggests seeking Nubba for help, Lily is doubtful that the eidolon will have the requisite strength, but there's a more important concern. "Nubba might be able to help, but if you'll agree to come with us to ask for it I'd suggest we wait outside of his territory until someone goes and gets permission for you to approach," she says to the dragon. "You may have been maddened by hunger, but explanations don't necessarily remove a thirst for vengeance. In any case, Millia is right. If Nubba can't help, then let us try to help you. We've sealed a small rift to the Abyss not too long ago ourselves, and if the one inside of you is weakened then we might be able to do something about it with what we have, but if not, we will be able to find a solution soon."


Detect Magic, looking at the traces of the rift to gleam what I can from it.

Spellcraft [roll0]
Planes [roll1]

[Vhaidara]

Nalin of the Blackened Soul

Nalin is still for a moment longer, his mind putting things together.
"It fits. She led the Shining Crusade against the Tyrant. When I saw the Sword in my memories, it must have been from when she bore it."
He lets out a long breath.
"No wonder I could never make it as a paladin. If she was the one who stopped me, I doubt she was pleased with my return, regardless of the circumstances."

The voice of Moxthaint is amused.
"Really now? What have you seen that I have not? I can see the memories of this pathetic vessel, and she seems far too distracted by wanton lust to ever realize such potential."

[Ilorin Lorati]

Merjana

The magus catcher her bearings as she's thrown back out of the abyss, trying to catch sight of what it is that happened to her whilst the incessant chatter and bickering kept her from regaining her focus. Was that really what she looked like to the outside world? No- Wait, what were they all talking about? What's Milia doing with the dragon? Twitching, she tried to make sense of the multiple threads that kept her head pulled taut, and after a moment of simply focusing on trying to not snap at anyone, the Sarkorian's calm finally broke.

"SILENCE!"
"Bicker with each other in private, we have actual problems here! Sil, Lily, do what you can to find the source. Nalin and Lily, control your pets. Millia, continue... whatever it is you do, but please refrain from suggesting we take a corrupted dragon back to Drezen while you're doing it, even one we're trying to help. I'm not risking it - no offense intended, of course." The last bit was aimed up at the dragon that, until a few moments ago, they were trying to kill.

"I will go talk to Nubba and seek his council on this development."