Act Three (IC)

[MikelaC1]

I dont know if she is in the casino right now, but I will go and look for her Aria makes like she is getting ready to get up and go searching

[DebbieD]

|I dont like the idea of Aria being involved, it brings the odds to 2 against 2, shes a wild card that could tip the balance.

[Ridai]

Roxana quite agrees with Sabrina's assessment. With Aria being charmed like she is, leaving her alone would also cause problems, whether by trying to be helpful, or by some implanted command she is unaware of. ~I am going to extract information on Tylia from Aria and put her to sleep so she cannot knowingly or unknowingly complicate matters. I suggest we do the same with Karina before engaging Tylia so she does not have another succubus thrall at her disposal.~

As Aria seeks to rise, Roxana does before her, and takes her hand. ~Do not trouble yourself, my love. You looking for her would merely spoil the surprise. But you will go somewhere indeed... to my room, with me.~ Roxana smiles, wiping all other thoughts from Aria's mind with the implications. Roxana goes to rent a small suite for the night (not the most expensive, but enough to have at least two seperate rooms, to spare Sabrina the sight), asking Sabrina to tag along to keep on the lookout for any other succubi, guiding Aria into the bedroom.

[MikelaC1]

As the two women escort Aria back to their suite, out of the corner of her eye, Roxana spots a succubus. Before she can even ask Aria which one she is, Aria waves her hand, calling out...yoohoo, Tylia, we have some new friends who want to play with us
Roxana can see the other succubus and its clear that her true seeing reveals the devils nature to her just as much as her own.

Initiative.

[Ridai]

Careful maneuvering went right out of the window. Now to see who is quicker on the draw. The moment Roxana recognizes a succubus, she greets her immediately, and with it slams a Glendira's Enchantment her way, immediately followed by the telepathic command ~Do not cast any charms.~

Spoiler: Actions

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Initiative (1d20+38)[43]
Come on, Swiftblade massive initiative bonus, you can do thiiis, Moment of Prescience can't help with initiative checks, it can only help with whatever saves might be coming her way!

General bluff checks to hide casting (1d20+68)[69] (1d20+68)[80]

Free Cast haste, enabling 50% miss chance against spells targeted at her (yes, also against spells not requiring an attack roll). Does not work against area spells (think fireball area, not "x targets that can't be more than 30ft away from each other" and the like, those are still individually targeted)

Swift Switch to Determined Caster aura

Standard Glendira's Enchantment on only Tylia, with Greater Enchantress' Secret to punch through immunity. No save. CL check vs SR (1d20+48)[68]
Second use of GES of the day

Bonus Standard Ready action to cast Glendira's Enchantment again should it somehow not have worked

[MikelaC1]

Tylia doesnt even see what is coming her way, the spell ensnaring her mind, probably even before she processed the fact that there was a brachina and an erinyes in the casino with her #2 thrall, Aria. A happy, even lustful, smile is plastered on her face as she sashays her way over to the pair of devils.

[Ridai]

Sabrina feels a wave of mental relief coming from Roxana, giving the all clear. Needless to say, Roxana is not one for this sort of victory if she can help it, too much hanging in the balance of reaction times, whether or not those are faster than most.

"Hello Tylia. Aria has told us so much about you." As Tylia draws closer, she receives the telepathic commands that she will not touch or speak to her lover unless commanded, and that she will not mention Roxana's and Sabrina's devil nature to anyone. Still, there is a loose end. One that cannot be allowed to ruin things. "Say, why not go fetch Karina as well, then we go to our room and get to know each other better?" Once Karina is brought, the absolute first moment she comes into view, she too is subjected to the permanent charm, enthralling all three of the Bellagio's succubi, ensuring no interruptions of Tylia's thralls... and granting Roxana control over no doubt some of the most skilled courtesans of this place, for future purposes.

Up in the suite, Roxana excuses herself from Sabrina as she leads the succubi into the bedroom and bidding them to be patient just a little moment. Roxana maintains a telepathic connection to Sabrina.

Spoiler: Actions

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If things happen as hoped for above, Karina is enchanted in the same way as Aria and Tylia. In the bedroom, the usual castings of privacy and zone of silence happen.

Of course, this is only the plan, please let me know what comes to pass.

[DebbieD]

Before any of this happens however, Sabrina comes forward to frisk Tylia, looking for the key, which she takes if she finds it. She projects to Roxana while this happens. Unless you have a better idea, we should do this, make sure Tylia doesnt make a fuss over this. If the demons have maintained any sort of contact with each other, they will know about the destruction of the nalfeshnee and the loss of one key. I wouldnt put it past them to be in communication now and either that marilith or the balor suddenly teleport in, snatch the key and teleport away.

[Ridai]

To Tylia only: ~Tylia, love, do not be alarmed at the attention of my dearest. She is my bodyguard, and it would please me greatly if you let her search you. Should she find something hidden and keep it, don't you worry, love. She will keep it safe, and your gift will be rewarded by me. Greatly. She so very much loves to find little secrets. But keep it between you and me.~ And the implication being that the more Tylia lets Sabrina do as she likes and the more she facilitates Sabrina finding important things like the key, the sweeter the reward.

To Sabrina: ~You should be good to go. If the marilith or the balor come in, we must not let them take or kill Tylia. We need her for the answers we seek and where to find the others.~

[MikelaC1]

Sabrina and the group move to a secluded point on the casino floor to prevent questions as to why one guest is frisking another and she proceeds to search the succubus. It doesnt take more than a moment for her to find the key, hanging from a necklace around her neck and Sabrina claims it. That would seem a simple and innocuous action, but the moment she takes it from the succubus, changes happen. The succubus gasps, seems to almost shrivel and then with a wordless howl (fortunately, Roxana has a zone of silence up), she seems to dissolve into gooey ichor which dissipates into a cloud that disperses in only a few seconds.

[DebbieD]

What the hell? Sabrina is left standing, holding a key (at least she has that) but the succubus is gone in a way she has never seen happen

[Ridai]

(Since this was done before anything else Roxana wanted to do, that means only Aria is with them)

Roxana stares at the spot where Tylia used to be. Well then. Good thing she did not take care of Karina yet. ~...Sabrina. I have come to the conclusion that not only are the "Fearsome Four" a bunch of bumbling idiots that lucked into too much personal power and are easily overcome. They also have the most asinine security measures I have ever witnessed. How retarded are these demons that they would kill themselves when something is taken from them, preventing them from getting it back.~ A brief mental sigh. ~Well, no reason to return to our mistress now. She has one of the keys. Unless they want to try and break into the base that is now on high alert, the remaining two pulling something out of their rears to still track the key through a mind blank and snatch it literally does not matter in the slightest. If one of them tries to teleport to us, well, we will have the initiative, and I can still punch through the defenses of one of them.~

Turning to Aria, Roxana takes her into her arms. ~Someone put a terrible curse upon poor Tylia, and we will find out who. Has Tylia ever been visited by or mentioned any close friends, ideally fellow demons? A marilith or a balor, perhaps?~

Spoiler: Actions

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From now on, Roxana has readied a Glendira's Enchantment with the Greater Enchantress' Secret in case the marilith or the balor suddenly teleport next to them.

[DebbieD]

From what I know of demons, this might have been something called a soul gem, a weakness that demons have in that gaining one of them allows the person who has possession to have power over them. Attempting to interact with my nature caused what we just witnessed. Or, maybe not.
Either way, while we could continue with the key and try to find the marlith or the balor, I think it might be advisable to to return to our mistress and give her the key, who knows, the other parties might have retrieved keys as well.

[Ridai]

~We still do not definitively know what those keys are for. We would once again arrive virtually empty-handed, and you know how that ended last time. We need results. Not maybes or could-bes. Actual results. Especially those our mistress asked for. If she hears we killed another demon before we could get answers, whether we actually planned to or not, she is going to have our heads. You are in command, if you wish to still deliver the key to her, feel free to do so. I would advise against it, and if you really wish to know if a party retrieved a key, I would attempt to contact someone else who might know and hope they won't immediately tell Mistress Askaretha, such as Lady Glasya.~

[DebbieD]

I dont have any long range communication spells...although I could do my wish substitution trick if it came to that. If you have a spell that can take care of it, please communicate, and Glasya would be a good choice.

[MikelaC1]

Aria still looks terrified about what happened to Tylia, and the level that she is upset by it proves that she was under some level of charm by Tylia. In answer to Roxana's questions, she tells her that she was never visited by any other demon, at least not one that she ever saw, and was a bit disappointed about the fact that a marlith never came by because she has heard how erotic marilith massages are, which prompts a moderately disgusted look from Sabrina.

[Ridai]

Having Aria just so happen to feast her eyes on Sabrina for a moment, she does not see Roxana retrieving a runestaff from her purse of holding, and does not hear her due to not being in the zone of silence at the moment. Casting a greater shadow evocation, she instantly creates a sending directed at Glasya.

"Begging discretion, mi'lady. 'Fearsome' succubus suddenly died when Sabrina took her key. No answers. Searching for remaining demons. Have other parties retrieved keys? Current status?" With that sent, in the most genuinely humble tone she can muster, the runestaff is stowed away quickly again.

Aria is pulled into a comforting hug. ~Say, Aria. Did Tylia have a permanent room here, or perhaps an apartment?~ Right now, in addition to her previous question to Aria, Roxana is trying to find whatever clues she can to find the marilith or the balor in order to save both Sabrina's head and her own.

Spoiler: Actions

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Using her runestaff to create a sending with greater shadow evocation. Disbelief should not be an issue, as the spell is harmless, and even if disbelieved, the message is still there, just clearly... more illusory than standard sendings, if that changes anything about it. If there is no response after a few minutes, Roxana assumes the 5% cross-planar failure chance of sending occured and she attempts another sending.

[MikelaC1]

Its not long before Roxana receives a reply, its more than a sending from Glasya (who has spells way beyond her comprehension), it shows Askaretha and her full court, in response to the message she sent.

Shergan, you are now permanently in command of all my forces, and Alita, you are now in command of the erinyes unit. Sabrina is unfit for command and will be demoted on her return. Take everything you need and find that balor, he will have the chest and most likely a key and once we have that, we will use our best magic to smash it open if needed. Our plans are not going to be derailed by one faulty member.

It looks like Askaretha is going to say more, but her gaze seems to swivel to Glasya, who cuts the connection immediately so as to be not discovered, if that is her intention.

[Ridai]

To Roxana's credit, she is doing a very fine job keeping up the facade as she is basically watching the situation falling apart and feeling rather helpless about it. Technically she can pin blame on Sabrina both times she was denied answers, but doing that would accomplish precisely nothing, and the question remains about how much Sabrina's perceived failure will also impact Roxana. What she does know is that the moment Sabrina hears what Roxana has been sent just now, there will be an eruption and/or a breakdown. And that is detrimental where they are right now.

~Lady Glasya's answer goes beyond a sending, I will share once able to,~ Roxana informs Sabrina, implication being once she has received and fully processed the answer, the telepathy tinged by mental strain. Which, admittedly, is not far from the truth. Roxana really needs to keep Sabrina functional right now while looking to keep Askaretha from throwing away a prime asset.

~Aria, please, I can feel your pain, but I need you right now, or else we will not find who laid this curse on Tylia.~ Roxana is also getting tired of juggling the overarching cluster**** with finally getting Aria to talk.

[DebbieD]

Aria, do you have a regular room here that you use or live in? And does Tylia have one? A search of them might provide a clue about this curse

[MikelaC1]

I have a room yes, and so did Tylia, but I was never allowed to go there. She warned me that very bad things would happen to me if I did, in fact, if anyone went there without her permission.

[Ridai]

Roxana sighs internally. Fate seems to be hellbent on denying the brachina at every turn since being tasked with assisting Sabrina. Maybe she should consider enchanting a few succubi and maybe a marilith and start her own pleasure cult/brothel instead of slowly getting caught in the grinding gears of Nine Hells politics.

~If we want to progress with this, we will need to find and bring in Karina. If there is indeed something that will kill Aria and most likely Karina, we can't have either of them out on the casino floor or with someone who could raise any sort of alarm. This will most likely mean needing to charm Karina, so either finding out if she has immunity to enchantments and how, or spending my last immunity penetration, but that would leave us more open to the marilith or the balor. But before that, I need to show you Lady Glasya's answer.~

"Aria, love, I understand. I will need to discuss how to continue with this with my dearest. You must be tired. Why not go to your room and rest for a little while? I will see you shortly." With a sympathetic, loving, and encouraging smile (and a quick matching kiss), Roxana sends Aria off to her room, while taking Sabrina to the one she rented.

Once there, Roxana sighs externally. "Please steady yourself. This is what I received from Lady Glasya." And she shares what she was sent verbatim with Sabrina.

[DebbieD]

~If we want to progress with this, we will need to find and bring in Karina. If there is indeed something that will kill Aria and most likely Karina, we can't have either of them out on the casino floor or with someone who could raise any sort of alarm. This will most likely mean needing to charm Karina, so either finding out if she has immunity to enchantments and how, or spending my last immunity penetration, but that would leave us more open to the marilith or the balor. But before that, I need to show you Lady Glasya's answer.~

You cant possibly be taking what she says seriously. The succubus probably told her that, backed by a charm, to keep the little minx from snooping around. Succubi arent trapsmiths by any stretch. I say we gut the biatch and then go check things out.

Once there, Roxana sighs externally. "Please steady yourself. This is what I received from Lady Glasya." And she shares what she was sent verbatim with Sabrina.

Sabrina's face goes hard as Roxana talks. That tears it then. We take out the marilith and get her key because I cannot abide demons getting ahead and give it to her, and then thats it. Ive had offers from Mammon, Baalzebul, even Asmodeus himself, to change allegiance. Lythala is with Asmodeus, did you know that? She sold her to him. Sold. Just like some common trade good. She could put in a word for me, and I join with him. Its still serving Hell and the devil hierarchy after all.

[Ridai]

You cant possibly be taking what she says seriously. The succubus probably told her that, backed by a charm, to keep the little minx from snooping around. Succubi arent trapsmiths by any stretch. I say we gut the biatch and then go check things out.

Roxana appears somewhat... tired. ~We just had a succubus explode because a key was taken off of her, two Queasy Quartet demons brought low like chumps, and Askaretha acting in a way that is hard to explain today. Nothing makes sense right now, and I am getting tired of randomly getting screwed over no matter how hard I try.~

Sabrina's face goes hard as Roxana talks. That tears it then. We take out the marilith and get her key because I cannot abide demons getting ahead and give it to her, and then thats it. Ive had offers from Mammon, Baalzebul, even Asmodeus himself, to change allegiance. Lythala is with Asmodeus, did you know that? She sold her to him. Sold. Just like some common trade good. She could put in a word for me, and I join with him. Its still serving Hell and the devil hierarchy after all.

Looking at Roxana is like watching the season of spring jump the the season of autumn. Still stunning in its own right, but much more somber. She walks over to the bed and lies down on it. A long sigh escapes her. She has been doing this a lot today, she notes.

"If I had to guess, Lythala is acting as a spy still, that's why I was not told by her or Askaretha, because a secret told to others is not a secret. Perhaps Askaretha is playing some weird long game with you, because it feels strange for her to suddenly develop a case of idiocy over night. But you are defecting now and with that, I am basically screwed. If Askaretha has become stupid, that's it for me already. If she is playing a long game and I just work on my own and let you defect, that's it for me. If she still takes me back but she did sell Lythala, serving her is worth nothing anymore and she will know and serving Asmodeus will be worth nothing either and Lythala simply chose never to tell me anything. If I defect and this was a long game, that's it for me. If I defect and Lythala was sold, no worth in serving. So my choices are charming you and hoping this is a long game, defecting and hoping Askaretha is stupid... or leaving this whole mess entirely. I don't care about the Nine Hells or its hierarchy or its politics. I never have and I never will. Millions jockeying for position for the sake of position as well as power while remaining someone else's slave and not realizing it. If serving the Nine Hells and its little hierarchy is all that is left to me, that is basically nothing to hold me there."

[DebbieD]

Defect with me, after we deal with the maralith. Serving Askaretha, serving Asmodeus, its serving Hell either way, no change there. Askaretha isnt going to risk a war over one brachina, no matter how powerful she is, and this isnt the Abyss where some devil can knock off another devil for no reason...let alone one in service to Asmodeus. Lythala is there, you were always her favorite and Im sure she has half the court under her thumb already, and all of the brachina for sure, she could easily find a high ranking place for you. And Im not coming in as some lowly foot soldier, Im going to have a position of power as well.

[Ridai]

Roxana refrains from commenting on anything further, just reaching into her purse without getting up, retrieving a scroll.

"I wish to know the exact locations of the Fearsome Four's marilith and balor members until they die."

Spoiler: Actions

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Roxana uses her wish scroll to do as she said.

[MikelaC1]

The marilith has taken over a temple of Graz'zt in the Komath Mountains, and the balor has taken up residence in the Tomb of Eternia

[Ridai]

Roxana gets up, casts haste on herself and Sabrina, enhances her sight, touches the erinyes, readies Glendira's Enchantment, teleports to the marilith's location (since an exact location was wished for), and lets loose the spell upon arrival.

Spoiler: Actions

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Casting haste, casting true seeing, switching to Determined Caster, using the extra standard action to ready an action to cast Glendira's Enchantment with the immunity punchthrough on the marilith (not just any random marilith, rather one looking quite clearly above the norm, and yes, Roxana has seen marilith in the past) as soon as she comes into view, then teleports herself and Sabrina to the marilith.

CL vs SR (1d20+48)[67]

[MikelaC1]

With a swoosh of displaced air, the pair arrive in a temple room, where a group of cultists are gathered around, praying to the marilith. Completely unaware of the impending arrival of the two devils, the marilith has no defenses up and any protections she has against charm spells (and spells in general) are totally shattered by Roxana's enhanced spell and she falls under her power. The cultists are now howling in outrage as Sabrina draws her swords to deal with them.

[Ridai]

Roxana becomes the marilith's entire world as Sabrina slaughters the cultists. She would like to keep the marilith, but as she will senselessly die when her key is taken, that is not to be.

"Hello, my love." Roxana greets, also putting a number of cultists to sleep to make Sabrina's job easier. ~No need to chat with anyone else anymore, I am here for you. Invading Askaretha's palace, slaughtering one of her finest pit fiends, and absconding with her gem, ohh, that impressed me. You've got to tell me how you accomplished all that and where you cleverly hid the gem away. Dear Tylia told us about your special keys, what do those do and do those happen to open the chest the gem is inside? Can you show your key to me? And finally, what is your plan for the gem? I just need to know, honey. You could say I have a weakness for women as beautiful, powerful, and clever such as yourself, and I have a craving that has gone unsatisfied for so very, very long.~ Roxana's arms are around the marilith's shoulders, her smiling face filling her view, so full of promise and desire. Surely, boasting about the great achievements and cunning secrets she seems so enamored with could not possibly hurt anyone, and only lead to a more ravishing reward, judging by the kiss she is being drawn into.

Spoiler: Actions

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Roxana casts hiss of sleep on the cultists with her opening words.

Extra seduction Bluff check to make the marilith answer all her questions immediately (1d20+98)[104]

Roxana is so done with trying to do a good job, she is sledgehammering through this now.