Knocking on Heaven's Door [IC]

[3SecondCultist]

Several of the orb-shaped entities pause their swirling as Cassiopia approaches them. The hierophant's words seem to cause some disturbance in their ranks, as they break off and hover all about, speaking in hushed voices. Behind you, the hosts of Hell advance, marching from the gates and over Lunia's ocean like an oil spill multiplied on an immense scale. Already the air is filled with the shriek of fire and the beating of wings.

"You bring grim tidings to this realm, so we will hold off the Enemy while you inform the Messenger and the Seer. Fly swiftly on these winds, friends of Celestia."

At Obsun's spell, he and Roian quickly turn into mist, obfuscating your passage further as a smaller group as you pass further along and ahead of the fighting. You are still a considerable distance from the shores - where the Sea of Silver is cloven against the rocks - but you seem in less immediate danger than at the sites of the grand melees. That said, your troubles are just beginning. Even as you start to whisk yourselves forward, you are met with a staggering roar of wind, a gust that carries the promise of a thousand thunderstorms. A pulse of golden energy shimmers in the breeze, and you find that none of you can advance even one inch closer to the mountain.

Meanwhile, waves are beginning to rise, and is it your imagination but are the seaside cliffs getting taller?

Spoiler: OOC

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One success down! Diplomacy has now been used in such a way as to bypass the first challenge, and several of you are in Wind Walk form.

The upcoming obstacle now is: countering the ambient magical defenses of Mount Celestia.

[CozJa]

When the Archons make way for them, Kaulesh follow through without hesitation.

"Well done" He thinks, looking at Cassiopia "Really well done..."

As the group is blocked by the strong winds of Celestia, he looks around, observing how the entire place seem made to stop anything and anyone from advancing.
But as all things which are made, even those winds can be unmade.

"Please, let me take care of this."

With great concentration, Kaulesh hovers in the heavens, he recollects himself, then his Illumian sigils start to hum and twist, changing their colors from purple to light blue; and a word is spoken, a whisper in the winds,still it resonates everywhere like a thundering command.

"Apos'Ru'ah"

Spoiler: Roll

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Rolling a Truespeak check to use Master of the Four Winds and control the winds, forcing them to let us pass. Spending one inspiration point to use Cunning Knowledge and obtain a +12 on the roll.

(1d20+60)[72]

[3SecondCultist]

The energy barrier keeping all of you out seems solid to the touch, a physical yet translucent thing keeping you from your goal. As you whirl around trying to find purchase through the ward, the noise of the battle grows in intensity as it slowly catches up to you. The fortresses and ruby bridges continue to advance, a series of highways that the flightless devils march down. Each island serves as a sort of siege tower and ladder all in one, soon-to-be complete roads from the heart of Nessus right to Lunia.

That is if they are able to make it in time. Flights of full-fledged angels have arrived on the scene, and the first blows of Heaven's true forces come raining down on your reinforcements. The erinyes are dying by the hundreds, supine armored forms tumbling out of the air towards the now-churning sea. Under a blanket of stars, you watch your allies start to lose.

It is at that moment that Kaulesh speaks his word of power. The ward breaks like thunder, cracks spiderwebbing out from the central point of his invocation. They run for hundreds of feet in all directions, tributaries of damage leaving enough openings for both you and the devils to pass through. Looking back, however, you see that it will not matter; the armies of Hell are about to be pinned down with no way to move forward. Already the barrier is starting to reconstitute itself at the edges, holy power reknitting the borders of the cracks. If you pass through alone, without the aid of Asmodeus' forces, there will be nobody to draw away the attentions of Heaven.

Spoiler: OOC

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Alright, that's two successes!

Third obstacle: helping the flying fiends establish a beachhead so that you aren't overwhelmed by angels when you land on Lunia.

[Chambers]

Obsun

"That's good enough for us, for now...but a problem later. Keep talking, Wordsmith." Obsun says, still an invisible voice in the air. "I'm going to try and keep it from healing." He says and stays near the energy wall. Reaching out with a clawed hand he swipes at it, sparks flying from the magical interference. One time isn't enough, so he does it again, and again. "I can do this all day, but a little help would go a long way."

Spoiler

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Using Devour Magic to keep the barrier from reforming.

Spellcraft
(1d20+53)[65]

23 Ranks
+4 Intelligence
+2 Synergy
+6 Invocation
+2 Aid Another
+2 Morale
+9 Circumstance (9th level spell slot)
+5 Untyped (Truespeak Utterance)

[BelGareth]

Sol smiles at Obsun, what an ingenious idea. He floated closer like Obsun, "I can help", he flips a switch on his Mace, turning it into a longspear, and then he slices at the barrier, little magical fractures spanned out from his blows, as if he was draining out the magic directly.

Spoiler

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Aid another via his magical draining attacks ability
Spellcraft - (1d20+26)[45]

Solomon
HP's: 284/284
AC: 40
FF: 39 T: 17
Effects: SR 30, Evasion, +6 vs Divine spells, Divine Interference 30ft aura DC 25+spell level, Woodland stride, Camouflage, Hide in plain site, magical draining attacks (will DC 26 for 1 round), spell healing (heal 2 per spell level), Trophy: (none currently), Cassiopia's Bicorn (+2 Morale saves/attack/skill checks)
Powers/day:

• LAW devotion 1/1/day
• Rebuke undead 9/9/day
• Lay on Hands 60/60/day
• Imbue Self 3/3/day
• Tongues 1/1/day
• Divine Cancellation 7/7/day
• Aligned Strike 2/2/day
• Wildshape 6/6/day
• Natures Blessing 1/1/day
• Healing Touch 1/1/day
• Freedom of movement 1/1/day
• Belt of Battle 3/3/day
• Boots of Speed 10/10/day

[CozJa]

As the powerful Obsun tries to drain the magical power from the barrier, Kaulesh nods to his words, then utters a simple word of power to stengthen the clearness of his mind.

"Nhus'so"

Spoiler: Action

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Using Universal Aptitude to give a +5 Bonus to the check

[MikelaC1]

Cassiopia sees a magic barrier and unloads a greater dispel magic on the creation.

Spoiler: Dispel check

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(1d20+20)[21]

EDIT: wanker

[DrK]

Astioch


Astioch looks up at the eryines falling by the hundred and just grins, his dark soul revelling in the carnage, then turning to the barrier he moves to Obsun as the scion of the dragon queen seeks to devour the barrier and Astioch offers some aid

Spoiler: OOC

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Spellcraft to assist Obsun (1d20+21)[41]

HPs 269 / 269

AC 37 FF 37 (Imp Uncanny Dodge) Touch 13
+5 AC vs Ranged, Good creatures -4 to hit vs Ranged, defelct 1 ranged/round

Saves +25 / +24 / +26
+5 vs Mind affecting, + 6 vs Spells/Spell like abilities, Mettle, Evasion, Spell eating armour (Heal =SL if save)

Special Qualities
Darkvision 60ft
Immunities: Poison, Sleep, Fatigue/Exhaustion, Disease, Ability Damage, Ability Drain, Death effects, Non lethal, Stunning, Precision Damage, Critical Hits
Spell Resistance 30
DR 5/ Bludgeoning
Fire/Acid/Cold/Elec 10
+6 on Opposed Ability Checks

Active conditions
Magic vestment (armour) (Shield) = 18 hours
Magic Weapon Greater (Exec' Axe) = 18 hours
Superior Resistance = 24 hours
Heroes Feast (Morale +1 hit, Morale +1 will save, immune fear/poison, (1d20+21)[41])
Greater mighty wallop (+4 size categories 16 hours [2d6–> 8d6 base])


Item: 20% miss chance
Holy Warrior: +9 damage
Active Stance: swarm tactics (+5 to hit if adjacent to an ally)

Per day abilities
Smite Good 1/1 remaining
Save Re-roll 1/1 remaining
Hexblade Curse 1/1 remaining
Deathstrike 1/1 remaining
Turn Undead 16 / 16 remaining
Half Fiend SPA (see sheet)

Belt battle 3/3
Orb mental stats 3/3
Rod physical stats 3/3

[3SecondCultist]

The gap in the barrier shudders and screams, a thousand panes of ghostly glass that stubbornly refuse to break. The threshold of golden light barely recedes after Obsun's first swing at it. Whatever energy is sustaining it is enough to regenerate it faster than he can devour it. Thankfully, the chosen servant of Tiamat is not alone in this quest. Both the mace of Solomon and a second word by Kaulesh on either side of the dragonfire champion's claws are enough to blacken and corrode the force, turning whatever powers it had against itself. The cracks in the armor seems to be holding strong for now, and you feel confident that when the Lord of the Hells' armies arrive, the gate will remain open for them.

Looking all around, you see that several of the citadels have altered course, trying for the breach that you have made. Conflagrations of fell flames mark the night, telltale signs that Asmodeus' generals are readying the worst of their devilries. With any luck, they will be ready to make a stand when the time comes. There is no end to Hell's hordes, besides; it seems that Asmodeus will make good on his promise of war.

Unfortunately, your display of prowess has brought not just the fiends' attention. The trumpet sounds have reached a crescendo, audible even over the rising winds and growing whitecaps. Several scores of winged figures have angled their approach towards you! Some of them bear trumpets, but many carry the dreaded golden bows of solars, the greatest champions of the upper planes. Surely you would prevail in a contest of arms, but there are too many for it to be a simple battle. Such a prolonged skirmish would only conjure more enemies to your side, and your entire secret thrust into Mount Celestia would be for naught. There is but one course: you must find a way to flee, to escape their notice before the solars reach longbow range and loose their deadly arrows.

Obsun and Kaulesh, both possessed of peerless sight and already facing Lunia, are the first to spot a second problem: the shores are indeed rising. What were once mundane cliffs have become sheer walls of stone, immense waves and riptides forming as they are pushed outwards. And it isn't just the outer banks; the entire base of the mountain appears to be slowly ascending.

Spoiler: OOC

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Okay, you have successfully held the barrier open for long enough! The forces of Hell should be able to advance through now, albeit with some difficulty as you did not directly attack any of Celestia's forces. Still, that's three cleared successes.

Obstacle four: avoiding the attention of the solar vanguards that are coming your way.

[MikelaC1]

Seeing the approaching solars, Cassiopia whispers to the group, I'll take care of them and the travel, and then I guess we fly up the mountain.
Standing up in dramatic fashion, Cassiopia shouts out, her voice amplified by her bicorn They're over there, hurry and get them

Spoiler: Bluff

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(1d20+59)[65]

As she points to the spot, she tosses a Delayed Blast Fireball to spot, using her metamagic to maximize it (120 points) and also using energy substitution to turn the bomb into a sonic boom, relying on the fact that no one uses sonic resistance
Once this is done, her next action is to pull out one of her scrolls and casts a wish, I wish my entire party transported to the base of Celestia's cliffs

[3SecondCultist]

The gambit works! A number of the angelic group peel off, hearing the hierophant's words magically carried farther than they have any right to be. The subsequent detonation of Cassiopia's spell tears through their ranks, the report of a thunderclap more powerful than any seen on the Material Plane reaching your ears within seconds. While none of the solars fall from the sky, the blast causes most of them to stumble, bleeding from their eardrums. It is safe to say that the distraction has gone as planned.

Several more of the angels, faces full of wroth, are already wheeling towards you when the sorceress pulls out her scroll. The hunters of Heaven draw back their sacred longbows, but you are already gone, transported in an instant away from the battle. The arrows loosed hit naught but air.

As per Cassiopia's wish, you appear a considerable distance away, at the very base of Mount Celestia's cliffs. It is there, alone on this plane for the first time, that you get a good first look at the trouble you face: slowly, inexorably, Lunia is being pulled out of the Sea of Silver by some invisible force beyond your measure. The ring of citadels is the better part of a mile above you already, and entire formations of marble-like rock are erupting from the base of the sea. The roil here is causing titanic amounts of holy water to spray outwards in all directions, the first signs of tsunamis forming out of the lambent depths.

To find a way onto the plane, you must first make it up the cliffs.

Spoiler: OOC

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I'm going to rule given the spells spent and the manner in which the action was done that Cassiopia's actions constitute two successes: escaping the vanguard and getting to the base of the mountain. You're at five successes now, nearly there!

Obstacle six: navigating the shore without being spotted or submerged in a literal sea of holy water.

[BelGareth]

Solomon couldn't deny he was impressed by the magic his allies were waving about, the Wish spell caught him by surprise however, but he accepted it for what it was, a method to getting to their goal. When they appeared at the foot of the mountain, he frowned and observed the ring of citadels far above them. The cliffs, rising inexorably like a sunrise.

"I can guide us, once Obsun casts their spell, follow me, and pay attention, we don't need to make any mistakes"

Once turned into mist, he jets off, keeping low to the ground on the beach, shifting and altering courses to keep from skylining themselves, and seeming like a fog billowing over the sand. He knows exactly how Celestials think, and avoids everything they would be looking for. Sometimes he pauses and waits, then shoots off again, seemingly for no reason.

Spoiler

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Survival - (1d20+48)[67]

Solomon
HP's: 284/284
AC: 40
FF: 39 T: 17
Effects: SR 30, Evasion, +6 vs Divine spells, Divine Interference 30ft aura DC 25+spell level, Woodland stride, Camouflage, Hide in plain site, magical draining attacks (will DC 26 for 1 round), spell healing (heal 2 per spell level), Trophy: (none currently), Cassiopia's Bicorn (+2 Morale saves/attack/skill checks)
Powers/day:

• LAW devotion 1/1/day
• Rebuke undead 9/9/day
• Lay on Hands 60/60/day
• Imbue Self 3/3/day
• Tongues 1/1/day
• Divine Cancellation 7/7/day
• Aligned Strike 2/2/day
• Wildshape 6/6/day
• Natures Blessing 1/1/day
• Healing Touch 1/1/day
• Freedom of movement 1/1/day
• Belt of Battle 3/3/day
• Boots of Speed 10/10/day

[MikelaC1]

Fortunately the energy involved in invoking that wish did not come from her own personal store or she would have been considerably less spry, however Cassiopia still more than wiling to follow Solomon's directions, stealth is not usually a part of her forte but blasting is not called for here.

[DrK]

Astioch


Astioch nods to Cassiopeia, “Impressive magics without the powers of the Divine, and closer to our goal” he adds as he stares up at the towering cliff above them. “Soon we can close with the angels and rip their hearts out.”

As Obsun offers the wind walk he nods and feels himself a getting thinner and more cloud like before he eyes the cloud that is Solomon and follows his twists and turns flying towards the cliffs and walls of Lunia

Spoiler: OOC

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HPs 269 / 269

AC 37 FF 37 (Imp Uncanny Dodge) Touch 13
+5 AC vs Ranged, Good creatures -4 to hit vs Ranged, defelct 1 ranged/round

Saves +25 / +24 / +26
+5 vs Mind affecting, + 6 vs Spells/Spell like abilities, Mettle, Evasion, Spell eating armour (Heal =SL if save)

Special Qualities
Darkvision 60ft
Immunities: Poison, Sleep, Fatigue/Exhaustion, Disease, Ability Damage, Ability Drain, Death effects, Non lethal, Stunning, Precision Damage, Critical Hits
Spell Resistance 30
DR 5/ Bludgeoning
Fire/Acid/Cold/Elec 10
+6 on Opposed Ability Checks

Active conditions
Magic vestment (armour) (Shield) = 18 hours
Magic Weapon Greater (Exec' Axe) = 18 hours
Superior Resistance = 24 hours
Heroes Feast (Morale +1 hit, Morale +1 will save, immune fear/poison, [roll0])
Greater mighty wallop (+4 size categories 16 hours [2d6–> 8d6 base])


Item: 20% miss chance
Holy Warrior: +9 damage
Active Stance: swarm tactics (+5 to hit if adjacent to an ally)

Per day abilities
Smite Good 1/1 remaining
Save Re-roll 1/1 remaining
Hexblade Curse 1/1 remaining
Deathstrike 1/1 remaining
Turn Undead 16 / 16 remaining
Half Fiend SPA (see sheet)

Belt battle 3/3
Orb mental stats 3/3
Rod physical stats 3/3

[CozJa]

After the resourceful mercenary is able to trick the celestials before teleporting them out of the place, Kaulesh looks at the state of Lunia and the tidal waves, and smiles briefly.

"That's good..." he thinks "the effects of this war may prove stronger than expected. Maybe this is really the beginning of the end..."

He then offers to assist Solomon "I studied some of the paths of these planes before, I'm not that well-versed, but I'll try to give you some help"

Spoiler: Aid Another

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Survival (1d20+9)[28]

[3SecondCultist]

For the second time, Obsun's magic transforms you, but this time your entire group becomes ephemeral fog, twisting in and out of the jutting formations and cliffside shoals that are ascending from the Sea of Silver. It is not the dragonfire adept that guides you forward, however. Solomon, who has thus far been assisting with your obstacles, steps up to guide your crew through the labyrinth at the edge of Lunia. His expertise in all things celestial proves a fine heading, as he leads you forward.

And it proves quite fortunate to have such a skilled guide, as the landscape continues to shift dramatically with each passing moment. The widest point of Lunia has come and gone from the waves, the surface of the water broken by a steadily narrowing vertical peninsula. The Sea of Silver is the farthest thing from peaceful now, maelstrom-sized whirlpools forming to fill in the void left by displacing millions of tons of rock. What lies beneath Lunia is nothing more than silver light, the roots of the plane laid bare for a single moment before being drowned and lost from sight.

As Mount Celestia falls away - its foundations now floating entirely in the sky - at your back the storms of battle rage on. A quick glance outwards reveals that Asmodeus' forces have broken through the outer barrier, forcing a beachhead on the other side with a trio of floating fortresses being used as a staging ground against the never-ending holy barrages. You discern the unmistakable conflagrations of hellfire as Cania's engines of war take the field. Sorties of pit fiends clash with solars in the skies, a cosmic battle innumerable.

You are beyond that now, six trailing wisps of intangible smoke making your way out of sight along the rock wall. The ramparts hang above you, the silhouettes of more archon patrols in wait, but it seems the worst of the danger has passed. The cliffs nearer the base are not quite as sheer, with several cracks and crevices visible on your path upwards. Now all that remains is uncovering a way onto Lunia itself without alerting its remaining defenders.

Spoiler: OOC

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Okay, that was a success! You're almost at the end of this skill challenge, gang. The last hurdle is coming up.

Obstacle seven: Finding a way to get up onto the actual plane without drawing too much attention.

[Taelas]

Roian lets a hand that is more vapor than solid glide along the rocky wall. "I can get us some aid to get us through this, I think," he says in a murmured tone, and he begins casting a spell. A vertical hole opens up in front of him, twenty feet in diameter, and ... something passes through, after which the hole closes. It immediately sinks into the wall, and an elder earth elemental begins tearing itself out of the wall, made up of the earth and rock of the wall itself. Roian speaks to it: "Check any of these crevices and find one we might use to pass through; do not alert others to your presence."

[DrK]

Astioch


Astioch pauses as a cloud near the base of the cliffs and as the beast of earth emerges through Roian's gate. “my thanks high priest” he starts, a grin at the matching titles of respect. “Even in Celestia itself the roots of corruption gnaw in the depths and writhe in its bowels. At the library of last resort an old rival Dark Quethos spoke of these and I should be able to help plot a way through.”

He concentrates and looks for landmarks and feels the air with his magical senses searching for the hints of darkness in the mountain of light

Spoiler: OOC

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Know (Planes) (1d20+37)[55]

HPs 269 / 269

AC 37 FF 37 (Imp Uncanny Dodge) Touch 13
+5 AC vs Ranged, Good creatures -4 to hit vs Ranged, defelct 1 ranged/round

Saves +25 / +24 / +26
+5 vs Mind affecting, + 6 vs Spells/Spell like abilities, Mettle, Evasion, Spell eating armour (Heal =SL if save)

Special Qualities
Darkvision 60ft
Immunities: Poison, Sleep, Fatigue/Exhaustion, Disease, Ability Damage, Ability Drain, Death effects, Non lethal, Stunning, Precision Damage, Critical Hits
Spell Resistance 30
DR 5/ Bludgeoning
Fire/Acid/Cold/Elec 10
+6 on Opposed Ability Checks

Active conditions
Magic vestment (armour) (Shield) = 18 hours
Magic Weapon Greater (Exec' Axe) = 18 hours
Superior Resistance = 24 hours
Heroes Feast (Morale +1 hit, Morale +1 will save, immune fear/poison, (1d20+37)[55])
Greater mighty wallop (+4 size categories 16 hours [2d6–> 8d6 base])


Item: 20% miss chance
Holy Warrior: +9 damage
Active Stance: swarm tactics (+5 to hit if adjacent to an ally)

Per day abilities
Smite Good 1/1 remaining
Save Re-roll 1/1 remaining
Hexblade Curse 1/1 remaining
Deathstrike 1/1 remaining
Turn Undead 16 / 16 remaining
Half Fiend SPA (see sheet)

Belt battle 3/3
Orb mental stats 3/3
Rod physical stats 3/3

[3SecondCultist]

The six of you, still mostly vaporous in form, quest over the foundations of Mount Celestia in search of your backdoor. With Astioch guiding the way - stopping every so often to consult some inner lexicon, muttering something in an unspeakable language - the rest of you are able to follow the path. Roian, his concentration focused on the calling magic, has reformed into a corporeal body. The creature summoned by Asmodeus' high priest is immediately distinguishable from the rest of the mountain; it is a shifting morass of dirt, gems, and other precious metals obviously not native to Celestia. The result of its work is equally obvious, as boulder-sized chunks of stone fall away from the whole, only to crash into the surf and disappear. However, the elemental's progress is slow, boring deeper and deeper into the floating cliffside.

It takes several minutes for you to spot the cracks. In fact, you hear the grinding from deep within long before seeing the mountain start to crumble. Then, in a single deafening retort, an entire section of Lunia collapses! Roian and Astioch barely get out of the way, but the rest of you still in misty forms are able to easily snake around the barrage. What remains is an entrance several hundred feet in diameter, leading directly upward into what seems to be a naturally formed cavity. Several brilliant streams - evidently part of Mount Celestia's water table - splash down, joining the firmament far below. A swift scan of the skies indicates that despite the disturbance, no alarm has been raised. If the distant fires are any indication, the destruction wrought upon this realm soon enough should keep your egress from being noticed.

The space into which you arrive is quite a sizeable cavern, wide enough in all dimensions to host several battalions of soldiers. The source of the waters becomes clear as well; there are several underground springs, all of which now feed the gaping chasm at your feet. Besides whatever forms of illumination you bring with you, the only light here seems to come from the very same water. Here, up close, you make out fragments of the same gleaming constellations in even the smallest of rivulets. It is then that you realize that the Sea of Silver is not merely a reflection of the stars, but their conduit as well.

"Its beauty is marred by your presence," booms a voice from the darkness. The source of the voice, in a well of pure shadow on the far side of the cavern, is a pair of glittering auroras which stare back at you.

Spoiler: OOC

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With that last success, the skill challenge is over! With seven consecutive successes, you managed to beat the clock and completely succeed at making it onto Lunia without being entangled in a half-dozen irrelevant fights.

Instead, you get to skip directly to a relevant one! Isn't that great?

[MikelaC1]

Cassiopia is not the first to act as she is not sure what she is facing right here. She waits behind the others in the party, her fingers tingling with magic to cast once the nature of what they face is revealed. Although its not likely to help, she flicks through the arcane knowledge she possesses to see if she ever heard mention made of what she faces.

Spoiler: K;Arcana

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(1d20+20)[21]

Edit: Wanker

[3SecondCultist]

The Messenger

As you all turn to look, the well has expanded to cover an entire corner of the cavern; a throat-like corridor of pure shadow at least fifteen feet across. From its gorge strides several figures, and though some are greater than others, all are angelic in their stature. Several lantern archons soar out first, floating along the edges of the great stone wound. Three larger silhouettes are all quickly identified as solars, their burnished silvery skin and glowing topaz eyes not quite outshining the glow from their massive blades or the longbows they have strung and at the ready. You notice that several of them bear wounds, open cuts, scorch marks, and other signs of fresh combat. Not a single face shows any sign of pain; they are perfectly serene, as inhuman as any devil you have ever seen.

The honour guard, however, pales before the beauty of the one who leads them as they fully come into focus. The entity stands nearly a full foot taller than even the solars. Their skin is the shifting mercury of nightfall, a thousand points of light glittering in the dusk. Their eyes are deep violet in a single hue, without any kind of discerning iris, pupil, or sclera. A shock of snow-white hair falls around their shoulders. From their back streak wings the color of the sky just after sunset. In one hand is a naked sword of luminous crystal, and in the other is a simple silver trumpet.

The air around the newcomer hums with unseen power, betraying the presence of at least one magical ward invisible to the mundane eye. Those of you with the ability to see those aspects of reality are all but blinded by the auras that surround them; powerful markings of abjuration and divination cling to their form, and they are festooned with artifacts at least as strong as your own. Their belt, armor, and blade appear to be the strongest of the lot, while the trumpet seems actually devoid of any enhancement. But no spell is as strong as the vivid, pouring current of intangible holy energy that emanates from their mouth with each breath, suffusing itself with the air and water and stone. It is a raw connection to the very fabric of Mount Celestia, stronger than any you have ever seen.

The Messenger, First of the Hebdomad, stands before you. Its purpose here is not peaceful.

"So often are lost souls cast astray by darker forces," the Messenger says, "and it brings this realm no joy to witness. In a kinder world, I would have offered parley, but the Seer has divulged your purpose on Celestia. You will not stop, and so you must be stopped!"

Spoiler: OOC - Start of Combat

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Roll20 Map Link

Here we go, combat is beginning! As all of you are veteran GitP players, I imagine that you've used Group Initiative before. I use a modified version in my games. The way it works is that after Initiative is rolled (I roll for most enemies or enemy types with as few rolls as possible, then average out results), I have the players for Round 1 who beat all enemies go first. Then all other creatures in the fight - that's allies, enemies, whoever - all act more or less simultaneously. After that, we settle into semi-block where the other Round 1 PCs who haven't acted and the Round 2 PCs from the top all act. Then I go for the Round 2 enemies, and so on.

For this combat, both Kaulesh and Obsun beat out the average enemy initiative score, so they are going first. Then the enemies go. Then everyone can go for either Round 1 or Round 2. I typically resolve PC actions in the order they are posted, unless players have a specific plan they want to do that relies on one character doing something first. The flip side of that is that all enemies can resolve actions in whatever order they want as a group as well, so it's a pretty even trade. When you're posting, please make sure to indicate which Round you're going in.

Spoiler: Barachiel, the Messenger

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The following information can be unlocked with requisite Knowledge (Planes) checks.

Spoiler: DC 35

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Barachiel rules Lunia, the bottom layer of the great heavenly mountain, also known as the Silver Heaven. It commands Celestia's defenses against incursion, though it rarely has much to do in that capacity. In addition, they are the herald and messenger of the archon paragons, even visiting the Material Plane on occasion to deliver messages of the utmost importance. The Messenger leads the trumpet archons and are a patron of mortal heralds as well. Barachiel is in many ways an archetype of all trumpet archons, as the music they create is second-to-none.

Spoiler: DC 40

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Before they were a member of the Hebdomad, Barachiel was an epic troubadour and maker of songs. Their attunement to the Words of Creation has turned their music into the purest form of magic, bolstering their inspirational abilities well beyond the abilities of mortals. Beyond that, Barachiel has a unique ability to create a call that paralyzes all those who fail to withstand it.

[Chambers]

Obsun

Time to murder some angels or die trying. Obsun tilts his wings forward and dives towards the angel with the trumpet, his ears still ringing from the excessively large voice. He doesn't bother with banter or pleasantries, he just gets close enough to reach Hebdomad with his breath weapon. He lets out a line of electricity that arcs from his now revealed form to just touch the archangel.

He beats his wings once so that all the angels can gaze upon them and then turns back to the group. "That's a big trumpet, but I'll bet you don't know any of my favorite tunes." He shakes his head and snaps his fingers and silence surrounds the group.

Spoiler

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Move to Orange Square, use Lightning Breath on Hebdomad. (9d6)[25] lighting damage, DC 32 Reflex save for half. If the angel fails their save they are permanently blinded due to Blinding Breath.

End movement at Small Orange Circle. Swift action to cast Quickened Silence, area is the Large Orange Circle.

Please feel free to delete the Orange Square and Small Orange Circle movement markers once you no longer need them.

[CozJa]

For a moment, a brief moment, the sheer beauty of the creatures standing before him leaves the Illumian dazed, almost reconsidering what he is doing. Then, just as fast as this sentiment grew, the sureness of chaos comes back in his mind, and the masterplan unvelis before him. Time to act, not to be in awe.

"That's going to be interesting!" Says Kaulesh, before acting. He takes one of his shards, breaks it, and use the residual power to speak one of his words. As the dust from the shard meshes with the glyphs over his head, a thundering voice comes out of him resonating in the Astral creatures.

"M'adaha!"

Just as the echo of his first word is fading, he briefly touches his belt, and speaks again

So'fhae'd

With his last word, the ground under the Celestial creatures starts to change, as rock melts into mud. Then, as swiftly as he can, the Illumian shoves his mantle, and tries to disappear from the sight of his enemies.

Spoiler: Actions

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Use of Shard of Truenaming +10;

Free Action 3 Inspiration Point to obtain another Standard Action

First Utterance: Reverse Seek the Sky: (1d20+60)[63] vs DC 65

Spoiler: If previous roll unsuccessful, open this, else ignore

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Chaotician Destiny's Arbiter ability: reroll: (1d20+60)[79]

Swift Action for expending two charges of Belt of Battle, obtaining extra Standard Action, used for the Utterance from Lexicon of the Perfected Map: Speak Rock to Mud, as the spell, duration of 1 minute.

Roll (1d20+50)[53] vs DC 35 (40 if its magical location)

Move and Hide using Hide in Plain Sight: Hide Check (1d20+47)[48]

[3SecondCultist]

Obsun is the first to charge forward, the chosen of Tiamat not wasting any time as he attacks. The adept takes a deep breath in before exhaling a bolt of pure lightning directly at your foes. The Messenger, seeing the energy unleashed, flicks a wing at it but otherwise does not bother getting out of the way of the blast, which is absorbed into their skin harmlessly. Their gaze turns to Obsun but the dragonfire paragon is already moving, retreating back to his companions. At the same time, Kaulesh calls on the cosmos itself to turn against the assembled celestial party. As the truespeaker invokes the words of power, the air around the solars thickens, their wings weighed down as though in irons just as the rocks at their feet turn to mire. Both parties then retreat, returning to the ranks of your group.

The tome archon's eyes survey the scene, assessing the six of you hanging in midair above the rift. It seemed about to bring the trumpet to its lips when Obsun silenced the world around you. On the promontory, you see the Messenger's lips move. Around each of the angels burns a bright light, one which did not exist just a moment ago. This new radiance surrounds the forms of the enemy. One of them also invokes a spell, returning the ground to its normal form after barely a heartbeat's passing.

The angels move with purpose now, the remaining pair of solars pulling out their longbows and drawing them to their ears. Their targets are the very two who just moved against them, a strategic strike and retaliation both. Somehow, their motions are lightning-quick and their aim is peerless, far more accurate than any of their kin has any right to be. Although you are ensconced in the quiet, you can see the Messenger guiding their retinue as each arrow finds its mark in Kaulesh and Obsun.

Spoiler: Round 1 OOC

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Updated Map

With one of the solars spending its turn on a Miracle to reverse the Speak Rock to Mud and Barachiel spending his turn buffing, only two of them got full attacks off this turn. Unfortunately, all of their attacks hit. Obsun takes 156 points of piercing damage, and Kaulesh takes 151 points of the same. All of it is Good aligned and Epic. Kaulesh avoids the Slaying Arrows, but unless Obsun has a Death Ward effect active he will need to make 5 separate DC 20 Fortitude saves.

It's now your turn! Those of you who haven't gone can take your Round 1 actions, and the two wounded can also take their Round 2 turns now. Like I said, I'll resolve these all in player posting order. If you'd prefer an order for actions, just say so in your post.

[Taelas]

Roian flies out of the area of silence and waves for Cassiopia to come closer. Once she does, he casts mass death ward, affecting himself, Astioch, Obsun, Solomon and Cassiopia.

Spoiler: OOC

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Rolling for bypassing any SR...

(1d20+20)[25]

[BelGareth]

Solomon surges forward on his ethereal wings, it seemed an odd dichotomy to be fighting the very thing his ring was named for, it made him smile as he flew straight for one of the Hebdomad Axe raised, his magical items allowing him to close the distance, and strike in one fluid movement. His attacks almost blurred, and with each swing, his axe disrupted the very air, as if the magic was being torn apart, leaving multicolored trails of raw magic.

Spoiler

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2 Auras are on Solomon:
His weapon gives all Celestials -4 att/dam/saves/skill checks w/60ft
Divine Interference class ability (Su) 30ft aura all divine spells require a concentration DC 25+spell level check to cast, or lose the spell

Free action: activate boots of speed
Swift: activate Belt of Battle for 1 charge (move action)
Move: move in front of Barrachiel (fly of 120)
Full Attack

Attack 1 - (1d20+45)[56]
Damage - (1d8+25)[31] +2 vile Damage
If hit, Will save DC 26 or 1 armor, shield, or weapon in its possession is suppressed for 1 round

Attack 2 - (1d20+45)[47]
Damage - (1d8+25)[33] +2 vile Damage
If hit, Will save DC 26 or 1 armor, shield, or weapon in its possession is suppressed for 1 round

Attack 3 - (1d20+40)[43]
Damage - (1d8+25)[32] +2 vile Damage
If hit, Will save DC 26 or 1 armor, shield, or weapon in its possession is suppressed for 1 round

Attack 4 - (1d20+35)[46]
Damage - (1d8+25)[33] +2 vile Damage
If hit, Will save DC 26 or 1 armor, shield, or weapon in its possession is suppressed for 1 round

Attack 5 - (1d20+30)[42]
Damage - (1d8+25)[29] +2 vile Damage
If hit, Will save DC 26 or 1 armor, shield, or weapon in its possession is suppressed for 1 round

Solomon
HP's: 284/284
AC: 41
FF: 40 T: 18
Effects: SR 30, Evasion, +6 vs Divine spells, Divine Interference 30ft aura DC 25+spell level, Woodland stride, Camouflage, Hide in plain site, magical draining attacks (will DC 26 for 1 round), spell healing (heal 2 per spell level), Trophy: (none currently), Cassiopia's Bicorn (+2 Morale saves/attack/skill checks)
Powers/day:

• LAW devotion 1/1/day
• Rebuke undead 9/9/day
• Lay on Hands 60/60/day
• Imbue Self 3/3/day
• Tongues 1/1/day
• Divine Cancellation 7/7/day
• Aligned Strike 2/2/day
• Wildshape 6/6/day
• Natures Blessing 1/1/day
• Healing Touch 1/1/day
• Freedom of movement 1/1/day
• Belt of Battle 2/3/day
• Boots of Speed 9/10/day

[DrK]

Astioch


As the flood of Solars flies to greet them Astioch takes a breath, surprised at the savagery of the approaching enemies. The barrage of bows do not concern him as much with his vambraces and magical crystals aiding him in his avoidance of the ranged fire. Hanging in space he flaps forwards on his bat wings out of the silent area unveiling a flare of dark power as he cloaks himself in a shimmering unholy shroud

Even as he does that he calls upon the power of the gods and summons a great spinning ring of savage unholy executioner maces that spring into life like a vile halo where it hammers into Barachiel and two of his Solars.

Spoiler: OOC

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Standard: Unholy Aura affecting me and all allies within 20ft
Swift Quicken Blade barrier (divine metamagic) (15d6)[50] + (2d6)[6] Bane Spell DC 27 Reflex for Half and provides cover
SR checks as needed:- Solar 1 (1d20+24)[35] Solar 2 (1d20+24)[40] Barachiel (1d20+24)[35]

HPs 269 / 269

AC 37 FF 37 (Imp Uncanny Dodge) Touch 13 +4 deflection = 42 FF 42 Touch 17
+5 AC vs Ranged, Good creatures -4 to hit vs Ranged, deflect 1 ranged/round

Saves +25 / +24 / +26
+5 vs Mind affecting, + 6 vs Spells/Spell like abilities, Mettle, Evasion, Spell eating armour (Heal =SL if save)

Special Qualities
Darkvision 60ft
Immunities: Poison, Sleep, Paralysis, Fatigue/Exhaustion, Disease, Ability Damage, Ability Drain, Death effects, Non lethal, Stunning, Precision Damage, Critical Hits
Spell Resistance 30
DR 5/ Bludgeoning
Fire/Acid/Cold/Elec 10
+6 on Opposed Ability Checks

Active conditions
Magic vestment (armour) (Shield) = 18 hours
Magic Weapon Greater (Exec' Axe) = 18 hours
Superior Resistance = 24 hours
Heroes Feast (Morale +1 hit, Morale +1 will save, immune fear/poison, (15d6)[50])
Greater mighty wallop (+4 size categories 16 hours [2d6–> 8d6 base])
Unholy Aura (+4 deflection AC, no abjurant effects, if good creature hits DC 28 FORT or 1d6 strength damage)

Item: 20% miss chance
Holy Warrior: +9 damage
Active Stance: swarm tactics (+5 to hit if adjacent to an ally)

Per day abilities
Smite Good 1/1 remaining
Save Re-roll 1/1 remaining
Hexblade Curse 1/1 remaining
Deathstrike 1/1 remaining
Turn Undead 12 / 16 remaining
Half Fiend SPA (see sheet)

Belt battle 3/3
Orb mental stats 3/3
Rod physical stats 3/3

[MikelaC1]

Cassiopia takes a 5 foot step back to clear herself from the cone of silence and fixes one solar with a malevolent gaze. Her stare is more than just a warning of imminent attack, it carries with it a study to how to defeat his spell resistance. Right after, two green rays pulse forward from her fingers, striking the solar, trying to undo his very existence.

Spoiler: attack

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Move action: 5 ft step back
Swift action: cast assay spell resistance on solar
Standard action: meta-magic twin spell disintegrate
ranged touch (1d20+17)[30] attack; SR check (1d20+30)[44]; (40d6)[144] damage; fort save DC 31 for (5d6)[23] damage
ranged touch (1d20+17)[29] attack; SR check (1d20+30)[38]; (40d6)[135] damage; fort save DC 31 for (5d6)[14] damage

[Chambers]

Obsun, Round 2

Well, that's a surprise. Not dead yet. Obsun makes a show of yanking each arrow out of him and holding them together in one hand. He grins a bloody smile as his wounds begin to heal. "Are you really trying?" He says to the angel before remembering no one could hear him. He shrugs and points to behind the archangel where a dark cloud has begun to form.

Spoiler

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Start of Turn: Heal 5 HP from Positive Energy Aura.

Standard action: Use the Chilling Fog invocation.
Move action: Keep flying
Swift action: Stay cool.

Chilling Fog: As Solid Fog but anyone inside takes 2d6 cold damage at the start of their turn.


HP 163/294

[3SecondCultist]

Although your foes have set the tempo for this battle, you prove able to match it. Your group - despite having just been formed - proves adept at coordination, as Roian's blessing comes to rest on your shoulders at the very same time that Kaulesh conjures some sort of bridge to Cassiopia; the Master of Words and the Hierophant Arcane are now bonded by a near-invisible tether of power. Moments later, Astioch flies forth to conjure a ring of spectral maces to hem in the celestials, cutting at their skin and shredding their already-useless wings even further. Cassiopia follows through on the momentum offered by Kaulesh, firing off a pair of finger-thin emerald disintegration beams at the nearest solar, reducing it to ash.

It is Solomon, in that first exchange, who gets the closest to the enemy, the Butcher of Hope closing with the Messenger axe first. The angel-hunter's first swing is flawless, coming down on the Hebdomad's chest with the perfect balance of force and skill. By all rights, it should have struck deep into the Messenger's chest. Yet it is turned aside all the same, a radiant shield burning into existence in the fraction of a second to absorb the blow before dissipating. The angel, mouth wide, looks upon Solomon. It is at that moment that all of you realize - outside the zone of magical silence - that it was never speaking to its comrades.

It is singing.

There are no words to its tune, no lyrics to its harmony, yet the notes are so pure and sharp they almost cut your skin. It is a breathless, endless thing, full of infinities and the promise of Heaven. And every bar bleeds new purpose, a single imperative to those that follow it: protect Celestia. The source of the solars' strength is as obvious to you now as a sun in any sky. The crystal blade at its side, quivering with movement so fast as to appear blurred, strikes out at Solomon in a flurry of savage attacks that nearly cut the karsite to shreds. It seems that the sword harmonizes with the Messenger, the better to take apart those that would stand in the way of its song. Of its two compatriots, one remains cloaked behind the shroud of fog and weapons, while the other tries to shoot Kaulesh out of the sky. In any mundane world the truenamer would be dead, yet somehow he is able to duck and weave, each projectile skimming less than a foot from his form as space itself warps to protect him.

Spoiler: Round 2 OOC

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Updated Map

One of the solars is casting something behind the cover of the Solid Fog + Blade Barrier that you all created, while Barachiel and the other solar are continuing their attack. The solar was able to completely whiff on literally every attack against Kaulesh thanks to some clever quick thinking. Barachiel, however, was able to hit Solomon for 213 damage (the physical damage is all Good and Epic aligned, plus 50 Sonic damage from the sword in total).

Your turn! Round 2 actions from everyone, and Round 3 actions for Kaulesh and Obsun.