A Handful of Dust Session 89

[20:54.06] <DM> So.
[20:54.10] <DM> We begin.
[20:54.17] * DM changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 89: Rising Dust - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4K11i5-pBk，
[20:54.49] <DM> Zathindra sucks her fingertip as she pads barefoot down the steps to the dungeon of Marcelian Fort.
[20:55.13] <DM> The magical torches still burn, flickering on her coal-black skin.
[20:55.52] <DM> Her eyes flick over the bound demon, feminine and alien, sitting silently in its circle.
[20:56.09] <DM> "Manling," she calls, gently, stepping down to the floor.
[20:56.24] <DM> She raps the walls, a few times, experimentally, with her knuckles.
[20:56.43] <DM> "I can smell you," she calls again.
[20:57.20] <DM> She starts to prowl around, ignoring the demon as it ignores her.
[20:57.53] <DM> Then she blinks, annoyed and then intrigued, as a message from one of her children comes to her.
[20:58.31] <DM> Eventually, after a few seconds of thought, she produces a golden coin from nowhere.
[20:59.06] <DM> She pinches a finger, and smears a bit of blood on it.
[20:59.24] <DM> "Zathindra. I'm a bit busy, at the moment," comes Lakhmul's voice, annoyed.
[20:59.36] <DM> "Mm," Zathindra replies.
[20:59.50] <DM> "I assume you have something to report?"
[20:59.59] <DM> "They're here," says Zathindra.
[21:00.18] <DM> "The Six!? They took the bait?"
[21:00.36] <DM> "Mmm hmm," she replies. "In their ship."
[21:01.25] <DM> "Excellent," says Lakhmul. "Exactly as I planned. Return to Zarmahl, and help me crush Illian. Then we'll deal with the humans together."
[21:01.52] <DM> "In the meantime," he continues, "let your children keep them busy. Wreak havoc, hold hostages, whatever you need to do."
[21:02.08] <DM> "You promised," she finally replies, after he falls silent.
[21:02.33] <DM> Lakhmul's voice sighs.
[21:03.04] <DM> "Fine. You'll have as much time as you like to play with them once we're done."
[21:03.24] <DM> "And Illian is NOT to be killed, do you understand. Only captured. He must bear witness to my glorification."
[21:03.40] <DM> "Mm," says Zathindra, non-committally.
[21:04.18] <DM> "There are some other matters as well. I think Carcephon may have survived, a portion of her. We will discuss later, sister."
[21:04.55] <DM> Zathindra considers the dungeon again.
[21:05.27] <DM> "Another time, manling."
[21:05.47] <DM> She seems to notice the succubus for the first time.
[21:06.35] <DM> She walks over to its circle, and crosses it, as the celestial flares powerlessly against her skin, white sparks dancing on black.
[21:06.48] <DM> The succubus refuses to look at her, even inside her own circle.
[21:07.06] <DM> Even as Zathindra gently cups her chin, and strokes her neck.
[21:07.26] <DM> "They kept you a long time," says Zathindra, at the unreactive demon.
[21:07.44] <DM> "Havoc..."
[21:07.58] <DM> "Do you want to hurt these people?"
[21:08.07] <DM> "Yes," whispers the succubus.
[21:08.23] <DM> "Mmm."
[21:09.00] <DM> "Be good, then, or I'll find you."
[21:09.22] <DM> She stamps the heel of her foot onto the ground, cracking the circle's celestial, which fades to dark.
[21:10.24] <DM> Then Zathindra, herself, disappears in a column of reddish black flame, that eclipses the still-burning torches.
[21:10.37] <DM> The demon pauses for a moment.
[21:11.15] <DM> And it screams such a scream, that were any there in the dark chamber to hear it, it would be indistinguishable between the greatest joy and the greatest anguish ever heard.
[21:12.12] <DM> She scrambles on her hands and knees, crashing into the wall headlong in eagerness, running up the steps...a run, that by the time she has reached the top, has turned into the poised, measured stride of a Calcissi soldier.
[21:12.47] <DM> The soldier looks to the left and right, a model of a combat aware veteran, and vanishes into the upper reaches of the Fort.
[21:13.06] <DM> About...
[21:13.12] <DM> Four and a half minutes later.
[21:13.26] <DM> A hidden chamber grinds open in the stone.
[21:14.19] <DM> And a sweaty, desperate, tattered looking Kallias walks forward, his arm leading behind her, hidden in a gray robe of the Inquisition, Queen Tercis II.
[21:14.33] <DM> behind him*
[21:15.11] <+Repriever> [wew]
[21:15.32] <DM> "We have to get to the Reme," gasps the Queen, controlling her terror, as she looks around her at the strewn bodies of the Inquisition.
[21:15.39] <+Akvan> [FUN]
[21:16.29] <DM> <<HIN!>> Kallias roars mentally, telepathically, out into the sky above the Fort.
[21:17.12] <DM> "Luckily, Master Kallias, my ears have not gone with age," the Luvanashi replies.
[21:17.27] <DM> "You need not shout. Amutat."
[21:18.10] <DM> To their shock, Tercis and Kallias find themselves dematerializing in a flash of gold sparks.
[21:18.39] <DM> And landing on their hands and knees, on the deck of the Reme of Twilight.
[21:19.17] <DM> "It's...it's a trap," Kallias gasps, as a bloody dawn rises, seeming to ignite the columns of dust that have risen above the city during Zathindra's vast assault.
[21:19.36] <DM> "You have to...oh."
[21:19.53] <DM> Kallias stares up at the "Six," who look back down at him.
[21:19.59] <DM> "You're not real."
[21:20.28] <DM> "You hear that Pokey? Our lives are a lie." says not-Shala.
[21:21.11] <DM> For the first time in a long time, Kallias smiles.
[21:21.39] <DM> "Do you dress as a woman often, Bel Zimmalek?" he says. "It really suits you."
[21:22.04] <DM> "Stop ruining my character, witch-priest," says the false Shala viciously.
[21:22.20] <DM> Tercis looks incredibly confused.
[21:22.25] <DM> "Alright," says Kallias.
[21:23.32] <DM> "Excellent. You have Amutat. Send her a message. Tell them, to tell the Six, that their plan worked...and Zathindra is coming to Zarmahl."
[21:23.55] <+Repriever> [>.>]
[21:24.05] <DM> "Now...we have a few issues of our own."
[21:24.07] <+Akvan> [end session]
[21:24.11] <+Akvan> ;p
[21:24.16] <DM> In the distance, a burning noble tower collapses in flame.
[21:24.19] <DM> ---
[21:25.01] <DM> Fountains and seas of golden sparks surround you, bearing you on an endless ocean of magical power.
[21:25.27] <DM> It is the greatest mass teleportation of this age, fueled by the immense, awakened power of the god-machine, the Morningstar.
[21:27.25] <DM> Section by section, unit by unit, blocks of constructs, dragon soldiers, and a few contingents of living humans land in the dusty ground beyond Zarmahl.
[21:28.04] <DM> In the distance, the great walls loom, and beyond them the mighty shining towers of the city - above them all, Lakhmul's ever-burning lighthouse, and the immense palatial citadel in which he stores his rarest, and most beautiful treasures.
[21:28.24] <DM> It is here that the fate of Kharvalath's empire will be decided.
[21:29.32] <DM> Vyriscine's scouts have already prepared a mass invisibility ward, and purple warning crystals demarcate the boundaries.
[21:30.15] <DM> Next to the Elydian guards, and the Knights of Melkir, your unit is ported in.
[21:30.38] <+Repriever> "Remember to watch your footing. There'll be a lot of blood."
[21:30.50] * Akvan grimaces at that
[21:31.08] <+Shala> "The ground is for rookies"
[21:31.25] <DM> As you face the city, already the dust rises from Illian's much larger army, as they prepare to assault the northern gates of the Treasure Quarter with a much larger force.
[21:31.33] <+Repriever> "Keep their archers off us, and the rest comes naturally."
[21:31.52] * DM changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 89: Rising Dust - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BD81eOm8Hw，
[21:32.24] <+Repriever> "Don't think about the scale. It's the same as any other killing. Just more of it."
[21:32.42] <DM> Massive thumps as the solid armored boots of more soul-blades thump into the ground short distances away.
[21:32.47] * Mel activates her preperatory enchantments.
[21:32.53] * You are now known as Morningstar
[21:33.18] <Morningstar> "Everyone. I am fortifying your physical defenses," Amutat says in your minds.
[21:33.25] * Shala angles herself near the six, to haste them before she sets her traps for the enemy
[21:33.32] <Morningstar> [You all have the effects of stoneskin]
[21:33.38] * Repriever clinches Nameless. It hums in response.
[21:33.43] <Morningstar> "And weapon enchantments."
[21:33.47] <+Repriever> [keen and +1]
[21:33.52] <Morningstar> [You all have the effects of Leaded Blades]
[21:33.54] <+Penumbra> ＋http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/stoneskin/，
[21:34.07] <+Repriever> [really now?]
[21:34.13] <+Repriever> [rip ssethkar]
[21:34.16] <Morningstar> Your weapons and armor shimmer with golden aura as Amutat's power flows over it.
[21:34.30] <Morningstar> "Additionally, we have received a message from Kallias."
[21:34.36] <+Penumbra> [Is the sun out on this battlefield?]
[21:34.50] <Morningstar> "He has escaped Zathindra's attack and made it to the Reme, with the Queen."
[21:35.13] <+Repriever> [how much is our dr pool for stone skin?]
[21:35.20] <+Repriever> [150 hp?]
[21:35.35] <Morningstar> "He reports Zathindra has withdrawn, leaving only some tarciraths in Tetraea. She is coming to Zarmahl, but does not know you are there."
[21:36.06] * Repriever gives Penumbra a quick glance.
[21:36.20] <+Repriever> "Alright then."
[21:36.21] <Morningstar> "Decide amongst yourselves if this merits personal illusions."
[21:36.46] <+Mel> "Shall we delay the revelation of our presence?"
[21:36.50] <+Mel> "I think so."
[21:36.54] <+Repriever> "No. Done that before."
[21:37.02] <+Repriever> "We're here to win, not hide."
[21:37.03] <+Mel> "How would confusion hurt us?"
[21:37.07] <Morningstar> [Yeah, you all have 150 HP of DR]
[21:37.22] <+Mel> [wait wait 150 HP of shield, not DR]
[21:37.25] <+Repriever> "Because she will kill everyone else when she wants us."
[21:37.37] <+Mel> [150 DR means they need to hit 151 damage to hurt us]
[21:37.51] <Morningstar> [To clarify, you ignore the first 10 points of damage from all attacks until 150 hp of damage is taken]
[21:37.52] <+Repriever> [10 dr per round, unless magic, for a max of 150 blocked]
[21:38.01] <+Repriever> [or per attack]
[21:38.01] <Morningstar> [Yes, excepting magical ones.]
[21:38.02] <+Mel> [oh, gotcha]
[21:39.05] <Morningstar> [For Reference: ＋https://i.imgur.com/g4bT2Yx.png， ]
[21:39.05] <+Penumbra> "Lakhmul may believe she lied when we are revealed."
[21:40.20] <Morningstar> "I am giving you all as much energy resistance as I can."
[21:41.09] <+Mel> [does keen stack on top of linecutter's ability, starting me at 16 crits?]
[21:41.20] <+Mel> [basically giving me one bonus hit already?]
[21:41.30] <Morningstar> [ ＋https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/r/resist-energy/， ]
[21:41.40] <Morningstar> Everyone now has resist 30 to both acid and fire.
[21:41.51] <+Repriever> [does that stack with mine then]
[21:41.56] <Morningstar> In addition to whatever natural bonuses you have, yes.
[21:42.06] <Morningstar> Again, your bodies shimmer with golden flames.
[21:42.21] <Morningstar> For many of you, this is the most magic that has ever been layered atop you.
[21:42.28] <+Repriever> [right resist 52 fire]
[21:42.35] <Morningstar> The arcane and elemental powers hum over your skin.
[21:42.43] * Mel has channeled a deity while being channeled through at the same time.
[21:42.55] <Morningstar> Many of you.
[21:42.59] <Morningstar> :p
[21:43.36] <Morningstar> [Keen does not stack with Linecutter]
[21:43.53] <+Akvan> [Resist fire 60]
[21:43.57] <+Akvan> [not bad]
[21:44.26] <+Repriever> "I don't want Lakhmul to think I'm anywhere but here."
[21:44.35] <Morningstar> "I can maintain the protective effect for about two hours."
[21:44.48] <+Akvan> "But if it helps us to actually GET her, being a suprise is good."
[21:44.52] <Morningstar> "Of the energy resistance...I do not know how my energy budget will look at that time. I am already bleeding fast."
[21:44.58] <Morningstar> "Of course, I will prioritize what I can for you."
[21:45.46] <+Mel> [Okay so linecutter starts off critting at 18, roger roger]
[21:46.06] <Morningstar> Varaine, a white tarcirath of Illian's and a soulblade who looks to be a commander advance on your position.
[21:46.15] * You are now known as Varaine
[21:46.26] <+Penumbra> "We should be unveiled. Our presence could shatter their will to defend the choke point."
[21:46.32] <Varaine> "Good news, the walls are pretty understaffed here.
[21:46.33] <Varaine> "*
[21:46.36] <+Repriever> "Penumbra is right."
[21:47.07] <+Akvan> "You two are the Generals. If your strategy says to announce ourselves, then we should."
[21:47.10] <+Repriever> [did shala haste us?]
[21:47.16] * Penumbra nods at Varaine
[21:47.28] <+Akvan> "Though, as a hunter, I do think that it is best to leave our prey unawares until the last second."
[21:47.32] <+Shala> [i hope so lol]
[21:47.46] <+Shala> [i wanted to see where we were on the map, make sure we were properly clumped]
[21:47.52] <+Repriever> "This is not a hunt. We are kicking a hornet's nest."
[21:47.59] <+Penumbra> "After the initial foothold, we need to move swiftly and ceaselessly to find and deactivate the wards."
[21:48.02] <+Penumbra> [to Varaine]
[21:48.05] <+Akvan> "We are hunting the big bad dragons."
[21:48.17] <+Repriever> "No, they are hunting us."
[21:48.22] * Mel is conducting her preperatory ritual.
[21:48.49] <Varaine> "Yeah, I agree."
[21:48.55] <+Akvan> "in which case the ambush is good...?"
[21:48.56] * Akvan shrugs
[21:49.07] <+Penumbra> "We want the mother bear to hear the commotion return home." /me tries a hunting analogy
[21:50.05] <Varaine> "So the wards are a network, of course. There are some set into the towers, but the gatehouses are the core. I've got teams preparing to storm and destroy several towers as well, but we'll need to find and eliminate the nexus crystal, which is somewhere in the gatehouse walls."
[21:50.26] <+Mel> "We can form a spearhead to advance into the gatehouse."
[21:50.28] <+Akvan> "If... you're hunting bear, you want to seperate them and hunt them seperatly"
[21:50.41] <+Mel> "Bears fight in groups? They tend to be loners, no?"
[21:50.48] <+Mel> "Perhaps it ain't the best metaphor."
[21:50.50] <+Repriever> "We lost the war, remember?"
[21:50.53] * Repriever winks at Akvan.
[21:51.11] * Penumbra chuckles with sour memories
[21:51.13] <+Akvan> "I don't know... we didn't have bears in the waste."
[21:51.27] <+Repriever> "Fuck these bears."
[21:51.38] <+Akvan> "The big predators were us and wolves."
[21:51.53] <+Akvan> "Wolves... you hunt seperately, if you gotta hunt them."
[21:52.03] <+Repriever> "Are we ready?"
[21:52.13] <+Akvan> "I kinda assumed bears were sorta similar?"
[21:52.23] * Penumbra takes a breath and nods @ Repriever
[21:52.29] <Varaine> "Yeah. Bears."
[21:52.35] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+10
[21:52.35] <%tBot> Akvan: 17 ([7] +10)
[21:52.41] <+Akvan> (Survival ;) )
[21:52.41] <+Repriever> "Two hundred foot, scaled, fire breathing bears."
[21:52.48] <Varaine> "So, if we take the gatehouse nexus crystal down alongside multiple towers, the strain will collapse the entire system."
[21:52.52] <+Penumbra> "And we want them to think they're hunting us."
[21:52.58] <+Repriever> "Yep."
[21:53.42] <+Repriever> "So we do it. The longer we delay the more of Illian's men die."
[21:54.08] <+Akvan> "Quick ambush."
[21:54.08] <Varaine> "Alright, so I'll stay with you folks while I'm coordinating my teams."
[21:54.17] * Repriever psychs up for the jump, rolling his shoulders.
[21:54.36] * Shala has hasted the team around her
[21:54.38] <Varaine> "I'll help you find the crystal, then we'll smash it in coordination with my siblings on the other towers."
[21:55.00] <Varaine> "The collective strain is gonna take everything down and let us port in the rest of the troops."
[21:55.25] <Varaine> "Sound good?"
[21:55.50] <+Akvan> "Yes"
[21:55.53] <+Repriever> "Good."
[21:55.57] * You are now known as Morningstar
[21:56.01] * Penumbra nods
[21:56.05] <Morningstar> "After the jump, I will be out of contact until you take the wards down."
[21:56.32] * You are now known as DM
[21:56.36] <DM> A soulblade pipes up.
[21:57.03] <DM> "My lords. Will we be advancing on foot beyond this invisibility, to the edge of the walls?"
[21:57.14] <DM> Knowledge arcana, Shala.
[21:57.36] <+Mel> "I would be inclined to approach with our identities illused, but I will bow to the advice of Repriever and Penumbra."
[21:57.57] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+25
[21:57.57] <%tBot> Shala: 44 ([19] +25)
[21:58.17] * Mel has a Mirage (Greater Image) all ready to go.
[21:58.49] <+Repriever> "Show them the face god gave you."
[21:59.23] <+Mel> "Last time I showed a living dragon my face in serious combat I didn't have one afterwards."
[21:59.25] * Mel winks.
[21:59.39] <+Repriever> "Grew back fine."
[21:59.43] <+Mel> "On the plus side I got a gecko."
[21:59.51] * Repriever smiles.
[21:59.52] <+Mel> "And also got married."
[21:59.54] <+Mel> "Huh."
[21:59.59] <+Mel> "Nuffa dat."
[22:00.03] <+Mel> "Let's fight."
[22:00.24] <+Shala> "We're going as close as possible to these walls, but we'll need a robust illusion in place"
[22:00.25] <+Akvan> "Lets... get this."
[22:00.30] * Mel slides her sacrificial khopesh along the length of linecutter, and balls her gauntleted fist.
[22:00.47] <+Mel> "An illusion of what? Repriever suggests no illusion."
[22:01.28] <+Penumbra> "For the initial teleportation? An illusion of a trading caravan, perhaps?"
[22:01.32] <+Shala> "I can get a bunch over the walls, I calculate. But only up close."
[22:01.37] <+Akvan> "Of empty air."
[22:01.47] * Shala nods
[22:01.53] * Penumbra likes that idea
[22:02.00] <+Repriever> [are we not close enough?]
[22:02.13] <+Mel> [I assumed we were close enough that we were jumping immediately]
[22:02.25] <+Shala> "Right now, we're not close enough. The essence flows throw me but it's not a gods power yet."
[22:02.30] <+Shala> "I can bring thousands"
[22:02.49] <+Shala> "Versus a few dozen if we do it now"
[22:03.06] <+Mel> "Very well, shall we be a caravan?"
[22:03.09] <+Repriever> [well now we look foolish dm :p]
[22:03.30] <+Penumbra> [gotta roll with the revelations repriever :P ]
[22:03.42] <DM> [Making you guys look foolish is part of my job]
[22:03.49] * You are now known as Varaine
[22:03.56] <+Repriever> [what is this lotr? we have to walk now?]
[22:03.57] <+Penumbra> [thinking of a pilgrim caravan instead]
[22:04.00] <Varaine> "Once you're past the walls, do all the unveiling you want."
[22:04.09] <+Repriever> [why would there be a caravan during a siege?]
[22:04.15] <+Repriever> [illian is in the open and attacking]
[22:04.17] <Varaine> "We just didn't want to set up a staging ground right there, since the risk was too high of someone stumbling over us."
[22:04.17] <+Penumbra> [nvm pilgrom's way is other side of the city]
[22:04.24] <+Akvan> "AIr."
[22:04.36] * Mel looks around and, seeing no rejection, reveals her crystal sculpture.
[22:04.43] <Varaine> "Wait."
[22:04.48] * Mel pauses.
[22:04.49] <Varaine> "I think the Ameshar's got a point."
[22:04.53] <Varaine> "What about a dust storm?"
[22:05.17] <+Akvan> "Thank you."
[22:05.23] * Mel rolls knowledge nature.
[22:05.25] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+9
[22:05.25] <%tBot> Mel: 11 ([2] +9)
[22:05.31] <+Repriever> "Make up your minds."
[22:05.33] <Varaine> [SEEMS PLAUSIBLE, CAPTAIN]
[22:05.34] <+Akvan> "Though if it's in the middle of a seige, won't they think it's a magical attack and block it?"
[22:05.34] <+Mel> "Is that sort of thing normal here?"
[22:05.51] <+Mel> "I can also hide us as nothing at all."
[22:05.57] <+Akvan> "I think that's best?"
[22:05.59] * Penumbra speaks up
[22:06.00] <Varaine> "Either is fine."
[22:06.02] <+Penumbra> "Yes."
[22:06.20] * Mel casts MIRAGE over our force.
[22:06.23] <Varaine> "Steam gets blown off the sea all the time, mixes with cold air, results in weird tornadoes of dust."
[22:06.30] <Varaine> "Anyhow, let's do this."
[22:07.02] <+Mel> The force fades from sight, leaving only the empty road, swept across by a slowly intensifying meteorological occlusion.
[22:08.00] * Shala is concentrating, pooling power through raging meditation, winds circling inside her. She waits
[22:08.12] * You are now known as DM
[22:08.18] <DM> "How many can you handle, mage?"
[22:08.29] <DM> "We will detach that number from this force," says a soulblade.
[22:09.10] <+Shala> "2,500"
[22:09.21] * Shala says, trying her hardest to be modest
[22:09.42] * Mel herself is so still as to be unnoticeable.
[22:09.46] <+Mel> [crunches nuts]
[22:10.04] * You are now known as Ironrose
[22:10.13] <Ironrose> "Do you want me with the initial strike force, or hanging back?"
[22:10.35] * Repriever reminds Ironrose that she's not supposed to be here.
[22:10.36] <+Mel> "You may want to be in the second wave, to preserve yourself to heal those wounded in the initial assault."
[22:11.04] <+Repriever> "You're not to be in combat."
[22:11.13] <+Repriever> "You traded that away."
[22:11.19] <Ironrose> "You said you wanted treatment for survivors. I thought I'd set up a field hospital."
[22:11.32] <+Repriever> "So at the rear."
[22:11.37] <Ironrose> "I'll remain here, then."
[22:11.48] <+Repriever> "Come when we've taken the quarter."
[22:11.56] * You are now known as Couplet
[22:11.59] <Couplet> "And me, captain?"
[22:12.18] <+Repriever> "Stay with Ironrose."
[22:12.31] * Kir (47722d1f@ircip4.mibbit.com) Quit (Quit: ＋http://www.mibbit.com， ajax IRC Client)
[22:12.47] <Couplet> "I can fight!"
[22:12.59] <+Repriever> "You'll just be in the way."
[22:13.28] * Couplet steams.
[22:13.29] <Couplet> "Akvan!"
[22:13.37] <Couplet> "Tell him to let me come!"
[22:13.58] * Repriever waits for Akvan's word.
[22:14.21] * You are now known as DM
[22:14.33] <DM> As this occurs, the strikeforce separates, and begins to advance, under cover of Melchior's Mirage.
[22:14.39] <DM> Where it lapses, Amutat extends the range.
[22:14.57] <+Mel> "Keep tight for now, my range is finite."
[22:15.55] * Akvan looks to couplet
[22:16.04] <+Akvan> "You have to keep Carcephon safe, couplet."
[22:16.12] <+Akvan> "That will be your solemn duty."
[22:16.14] * You are now known as Couplet
[22:16.18] * Couplet sighs.
[22:16.21] <Couplet> "Yeah."
[22:16.25] <Couplet> "Okay, so back to the Tower then."
[22:16.31] <+Akvan> "She will be alone here, with none of us around to keep her while she is weakened"
[22:16.32] * Repriever is holding that frustration deep within him.
[22:16.54] <+Akvan> "This is important, Couplet."
[22:16.59] <Couplet> "I guess you're right. I'm her only palatine."
[22:17.09] <+Akvan> "I... can see you think of it as a punishment, or condescension."
[22:17.18] <+Akvan> "But, Couplet, it's NOT."
[22:17.40] <+Akvan> "You NEED to keep her safe, the enemy will recognize that we are gone, and may send someone after her."
[22:18.01] <+Mel> "There are critical things here, crucial to our victory, that we do not immediately throw onto the front lines."
[22:18.19] <+Repriever> "See?"
[22:18.22] <+Repriever> "In the way."
[22:18.56] * Kir (47722d1f@ircip2.mibbit.com) has joined channel #nesdnd
[22:19.17] <+Akvan> "Not in the way at all."
[22:19.28] <Couplet> "Bitter old men aside, alright."
[22:19.31] <Couplet> "You're right."
[22:19.31] * Repriever remains cold.
[22:19.38] * Couplet relaxes her clenched fists.
[22:19.42] <+Akvan> "Were Carcephon at her full strength, I'd fight with you side by side."
[22:19.42] <Couplet> "Take me out, Morningstar."
[22:19.53] * Couplet hugs Akvan, as she vanishes into golden sparks.
[22:20.13] <+Repriever> "You shouldn't lie to her," he says when she's gone.
[22:20.29] * Couplet sets mode +v Kir for #nesdnd
[22:20.31] <+Akvan> "I didn't."
[22:20.53] <+Repriever> "Zathindra would have her first, just to punish you."
[22:21.07] <Couplet> From the distance, there is the faint roar of a dragon.
[22:21.10] * You are now known as DM
[22:21.12] * Akvan sighs
[22:21.15] <DM> Illian's roar.
[22:21.30] <DM> His sonic blast, directed at the northern gates.
[22:21.38] <DM> One can only imagine what furious, flaming melee goes on there now.
[22:22.20] <DM> But before you, the massive gates of the Quarter of Crafts now loom.
[22:22.37] <DM> Two, vast statues of Lakhmul-as-Craftsman.
[22:23.22] <DM> He holds a hammer and chisel in one, and an intricate jewel-box in another.
[22:23.42] <DM> Given that Lakhmul probably never worked a day in his life, this is...well, somewhat hilarious.
[22:23.47] <DM> But not hilarious in its immensity.
[22:23.55] <DM> They are hundreds of feet tall, made of solid gold.
[22:24.09] <DM> And behind them, the vastness of the walls loom.
[22:24.16] <DM> They are far greater than those at Pyleth, or Ekrat.
[22:24.16] * Akvan frowns at the Garish statues
[22:24.24] * Repriever looks to Shala, waiting for the signal.
[22:24.55] <DM> It is too high to see if any soldiers are atop them.
[22:25.09] <+Shala> "Now!"
[22:25.15] <+Mel> "If we want a diversion, I can soften the earth below them."
[22:25.15] * Shala unleashes the essence
[22:25.24] * Mel softens earth and stone beneath the craftsman statue.
[22:25.29] <+Mel> All in one corner.
[22:25.32] <DM> Alright.
[22:25.36] <DM> This is going to be interesting.
[22:25.49] <DM> Shala, roll UMD and a Will save!
[22:25.59] <+Shala> [hoo boy]
[22:26.34] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+7
[22:26.34] <%tBot> Shala: 8 ([1] +7)
[22:26.38] <+Shala> [lol will save]
[22:26.50] <DM> The Essence in its tiny Armillary shines bright white, Azri's rings spinning around it as it flares.
[22:27.00] <+Repriever> [is that your will save?]
[22:27.15] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+25
[22:27.16] <%tBot> Shala: 33 ([8] +25)
[22:27.19] <+Shala> [that's my UMD]
[22:27.22] <+Shala> [fucking shit as usual]
[22:27.26] <+Repriever> [if so, I'm going to use will reprieve]
[22:27.37] <+Shala> [the 1 was my will save, yes]
[22:27.41] <DM> [It's better to fail the will than the UMD in this scenario]
[22:27.45] <+Repriever> [reroll with +13]
[22:27.48] <DM> [At least for the short term]
[22:27.53] <+Shala> [did i faill the umd]
[22:27.58] <DM> [You can't Will Reprieve an essence-related roll]
[22:28.10] <DM> [You have no power here, GANDALF]
[22:28.13] <+Repriever> [to quote repriever to whitelay, "Can't?"]
[22:28.51] <DM> You do not get the full 2,500.
[22:28.53] <DM> You get...
[22:28.56] <DM> Some of those.
[22:29.18] <+Penumbra> [half, perfectly balanced]
[22:29.23] <DM> About three quarters of the soul-blades stand in shock as the other quarter disappears.
[22:29.31] <+Mel> [NATURE DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY THANOS]
[22:29.48] <DM> You manage to bring 750 soldiers.
[22:29.49] <+Repriever> [did mel squish them with the statue]
[22:30.00] <DM> All of the Elydians.
[22:30.04] <DM> The Knights of Melkir.
[22:30.13] * Kir (47722d1f@ircip2.mibbit.com) Quit (Quit: ＋http://www.mibbit.com， ajax IRC Client)
[22:30.25] <DM> And a number of dragons and constructs.
[22:30.38] <DM> But most of the constructs are left, as Melchior's mirage fades.
[22:30.53] * Akvan looks around at the much smaller army
[22:30.57] <DM> But a group of stranded constructs suddenly unveiled is the least of the problems of this gate.
[22:30.58] <+Akvan> "Welllll, that's no good."
[22:31.12] <DM> As the great, golden statue of Lakhmul grinds...
[22:31.15] <DM> And squeals...
[22:31.18] <DM> And topples.
[22:31.20] <DM> And smashes.
[22:31.28] <DM> It does not smash through the wall entirely, as gold is rather soft.
[22:31.39] <DM> But it crunches a huge segment, crushing the tunnels within.
[22:31.52] <+Penumbra> [hopefully no wards, and hopefully Varaine is here]
[22:32.00] <+Repriever> [a statue this size would be a copper alloy no doubt?]
[22:32.13] <+Akvan> [unless they figured out alchemy]
[22:32.19] * Penumbra quickly glances around to get her bearings [roll perception or profession?]
[22:32.44] <+Penumbra> [also, is the sun out?]
[22:33.06] <+Repriever> [dusk?]
[22:33.21] <DM> [see the associated map changes]
[22:33.25] <DM> It is just after dawn.
[22:33.35] <DM> It is mid morning, and the area can be considered well-lit.
[22:33.40] * Repriever takes a defensive stance, shield up, as he surveys their surroundings.
[22:33.58] <+Shala> "Wh...at?"
[22:34.01] * Shala says meekly
[22:34.03] <DM> As it crashes and crumbles, you see that it is not complete, pure gold.
[22:34.08] <DM> But rather gilt.
[22:34.13] <DM> How fitting.
[22:34.29] <DM> Well, actually, you jump so far into the city that you DON'T see this.
[22:34.35] <DM> But the constructs left behind, do.
[22:34.36] <+Repriever> [oh]
[22:34.41] <+Penumbra> (!!)
[22:34.50] <+Repriever> [see my prediction was true, new map!]
[22:34.53] <DM> And what they also see...is a ready-made climbable route for them to scale the wall.
[22:35.09] * Penumbra casts Shadow Flight and flies up to get a better view. Also, stealthily near a building or wall if possible
[22:35.17] <+Akvan> [My computer is NOT happy with this map]
[22:35.29] <+Repriever> [I'm waiting to see what we're surrounded by]
[22:36.00] <+Shala> [same, but i need to find out where the ranged enemies are]
[22:36.15] <+Penumbra> [I'm acting fast because she would know that teleporting combat requires fast action to secure the ground]
[22:36.44] <+Penumbra> [meanwhile, Thlayli manually puts in 600 dudes]
[22:36.55] <+Repriever> [maybe we're split, who knows]
[22:37.07] <+Penumbra> [Good job Shala, at least you teleported integers]
[22:37.25] <+Repriever> [oh I see]
[22:37.28] <DM> You land beyond the walls.
[22:37.31] <DM> All the walls.
[22:37.46] <DM> You land past the third layer of gatehouses, in the great plaza flanked by two ornamental fountains.
[22:38.02] <+Penumbra> Do I see the ramps leading up the walls from behind?
[22:38.02] <DM> Constructs land in the fountains themselves, one of them crunching a golden statue of Lakhmul spitting water instead of flame.
[22:38.08] <+Akvan> [Ugh, thy, this is REALLY not a good map for me]
[22:38.10] <+Mel> [our surroundings: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]
[22:38.33] <+Mel> "To me, knights, to me."
[22:38.42] <+Repriever> [oh these are all friendlies]
[22:38.55] <+Mel> [elydians]
[22:39.18] <+Penumbra> [What are the c's? e is for elydians. C is for constructs?]
[22:39.45] <DM> E is Elydian, C, is construct, K is knights of Melkir.
[22:39.50] <DM> t is tarcirath (friendly)
[22:39.55] * Penumbra flies towards the corner ramp to the north, "Onto the walls!"
[22:40.18] <+Repriever> "Well, don't just stand there!"
[22:40.24] <DM> Since you guys have initiative, I'm going to let you guys go in whatever order you want. And we'll handle battles fluidly as they happen.
[22:40.39] * Repriever follows after Penumbra on foot.
[22:40.42] * Shala takes to the sky, and sticks near Penumbra
[22:40.44] <+Mel> "With Penumbra, knights!"
[22:40.48] * Mel leads her contingent.
[22:40.54] <DM> The momentary shock and disorientation fades, as your orders point the troops towards the walls.
[22:40.58] * Penumbra flies up to 12,AF in 1 round, a shadow blur to redirect everyone's attention
[22:41.04] <+Penumbra> "TO ME, TO THE WALL!
[22:41.05] <+Repriever> "Fuck, Calcis. What was that!?"
[22:41.08] * Repriever shouts up at Shala.
[22:41.22] <+Shala> "Penumbra! Point out the contingents of archers if you see them!"
[22:41.24] <+Repriever> "You're supposed to help her!"
[22:41.29] <+Penumbra> !roll 1d20
[22:41.32] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20
[22:41.32] <%tBot> Penumbra: 20 [20]
[22:41.36] <+Shala> [niiiice]
[22:41.37] <+Penumbra> [perception for archers.. .hahaha ]
[22:41.48] <DM> Penumbra...
[22:41.55] <DM> You come upon a shocked patrol party.
[22:42.16] <DM> Individual soldiers are running towards the mass teleportation site, but as of now, the area you have landed in is QUITE unguarded.
[22:42.35] <DM> You are looking at a velcirath and four ssethkar, no ranged weapons, just spears.
[22:42.45] * Repriever rushes toward the ramp that climbs the wall, keeping Penumbra and Shala in sight.
[22:42.56] <+Shala> [what are all of those straight lines]
[22:43.06] <+Repriever> [ramp]
[22:43.13] <DM> [Straight lines are ramps]
[22:43.16] * Penumbra dives bombs them in a ball of shadow [channel energy, roll Will 19 to halve]
[22:43.38] <DM> ?roll 1d20+7
[22:43.38] <%tBot> DM: 17 ([10] +7)
[22:43.40] <+Penumbra> ?roll 6d6
[22:43.40] <%tBot> Penumbra: 25 [5 2 6 2 4 6]
[22:43.46] <DM> They all fail.
[22:44.07] <+Penumbra> Take 25, any survivors are Shaken. "It's clear! Take the wall!"
[22:44.10] <+Penumbra> [Turn]
[22:44.15] <DM> The ssethkar are literally consumed, and melt in, black energy.
[22:44.53] * Repriever is making his way up to that melting point.
[22:44.57] <+Repriever> [turn]
[22:45.05] <+Repriever> [I don't know how fluid this init is]
[22:45.08] <DM> The velcirath survives, stumbling backwards, his sword fully drawn, bleeding from black wounds. {{I-it's the Penumbra! They're here!}} He fumbles a horn from his belt, blowing a few root toots.
[22:45.35] <DM> Repriever, you're in control of Kir's movements as well.
[22:45.39] * Shala waits for a cluster of soldiers to appear, one threatening enough to be worth
[22:46.33] <+Repriever> [I'd charge that vel if I could]
[22:46.52] <+Mel> [ ＋https://i.imgur.com/wWC95OX.png， ]
[22:47.04] <DM> Meanwhile, clusters of construct soldiers run to the third gatehouse, and start to open the gates from within. A few ssethkar soldiers emerge from a portage gate and are quickly cut down.
[22:47.34] * Mel casts a ghost sound to interfere with the toot toots.
[22:47.42] <DM> Sure Repriever, I'll let you charge him.
[22:47.53] * Akvan blows a quick ditty on the flute, summoning the water elemental
[22:47.59] * Repriever comes over the ramp in a run.
[22:48.05] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+23
[22:48.05] <%tBot> Repriever: 37 ([14] +23)
[22:48.12] <+Repriever> [hit?]
[22:48.36] * Akvan 's body ripples with water, before it steps forward with an angry bellow
[22:48.54] <+Repriever> ?roll 2d6+2d6+8
[22:48.54] <%tBot> Repriever: 14 ([1 1] [1 3] +8)
[22:48.55] <DM> Hit.
[22:48.58] <+Repriever> [lol]
[22:49.24] * Repriever slides his sword across the back of the velcirath reeling from the shadow channel.
[22:49.31] <DM> You slash him again, don't quite kill him though. He falls, prone.
[22:49.43] <DM> Kir mounts the ramp just in time to coup de grace.
[22:50.18] <DM> A quick slash of liquid metal across the throat, and he falls in a pool of his own blood.
[22:50.27] <DM> No blood remains from the ssethkar that were consumed by shadows.
[22:50.29] <+Repriever> [k, I do have to navigate his sheet]
[22:50.54] <DM> In the courtyard below, you see a few people dressed as civilians, including a velcirath and tarcirath.
[22:51.00] * Repriever follows Penumbra's gaze over the lower courtyards.
[22:51.39] <+Repriever> "Leave them be."
[22:51.47] <DM> Many of them appear to be merchants taking shelter from the siege.
[22:51.54] * Penumbra nods
[22:52.04] <+Penumbra> "Focus on the wall and the node. Where's Varaine?"
[22:52.35] <DM> A contingent of soul blades has scaled the southern ramp, as hundreds of others begin to set up a perimeter barricade facing the rest of the city, where now alarms are starting to go off.
[22:53.01] <DM> In particular, from a distant golden pyre-temple, about a mile deeper into the city.
[22:53.03] <+Repriever> "Penumbra. A lift."
[22:53.10] * You are now known as Varaine
[22:53.13] <Varaine> "Right behind you."
[22:53.15] * Repriever points toward the other gate.
[22:53.19] * Mel casts MIND EYE, creating a minute magical eye that can fly around and scout for us.
[22:53.39] * Akvan flares his wings of flames to join penny and repreiver, leaving the water elemental behind to assist the troops
[22:53.48] * Penumbra nods and prepares to carry Repriever towards the other gate
[22:54.05] <+Penumbra> [I have 115ft/round movement due to Fly + Haste + Spear]
[22:54.58] <+Mel> I read auras, trying to find where our target may be.
[22:55.18] * Varaine swears.
[22:55.27] <Varaine> "It's nowhere up here on the surface, that I can detect."
[22:55.33] * Penumbra reaches under Repriver's right shoulder, leaving his shield and arm available, and flies towards the second gatehouse. How far may I move?]
[22:55.34] <Varaine> "But that's expected."
[22:55.41] * Akvan flies alongside them
[22:55.51] <Varaine> "I suspect it's going to be inside one of the support chambers of the first gatehouse."
[22:55.58] <Varaine> "In the tunnels."
[22:56.17] <+Repriever> "Put me on the road."
[22:56.21] <+Penumbra> "Go along the top walls if you can sense it from here. Otherwise, follow us to the gatehouse and watch for the tarcirath."
[22:56.46] * Penumbra sets Repriever down at a location he gestures at
[22:56.56] <+Repriever> [actually hold on, this map is too large]
[22:57.04] <+Repriever> [are those enemies on the wall?]
[22:57.12] <Varaine> Speaking of the tunnels, a trap door snaps open atop the walls, from which begin to swarm a contingent of golds.
[22:57.17] <+Penumbra> [I'm not sure how far we can go...? looks like more than 1 round to get through?]
[22:57.22] <+Penumbra> [Ah, change of plans]
[22:57.29] <Varaine> The absence of a physical garrison is due to the fact that they're hiding within the walls themselves.
[22:57.36] <+Akvan> [Yeah, thy, this map is being super unresponsive]
[22:57.39] <Varaine> Likely they have an internal teleportation system too.
[22:57.59] * Repriever waves Penumbra down, instead focusing on the arising situation.
[22:58.26] * Penumbra peels off towards the upper wall
[22:58.46] <+Shala> [t's v's and s's are bad right]
[22:58.47] <+Penumbra> [I'll just mark off the correct amount of movement for 1 round]
[22:58.51] <+Mel> [So does Aura Sight tell me nothing?]
[22:58.52] <+Repriever> "Mancer! End them."
[22:58.53] <Varaine> Two tarcirath commanders, outfitted in golden robes, and their support troops. About seventy five in all, hastily assembling. If this is all they can muster, they were definitely surprised.
[22:58.57] * Repriever tells Shala.
[22:59.03] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+6
[22:59.03] <%tBot> Mel: 20 ([14] +6)
[22:59.04] <+Repriever> [or tells ashara]
[22:59.06] <+Mel> [perception]
[22:59.52] * Shala lays down a SOLID FOG with a great flourish of her arms and the power of the essence honed through her
[23:00.02] <+Shala> [＋https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/solid-fog/]，
[23:00.31] <+Repriever> [was thinking more like chain lightning but ok :p]
[23:00.40] <+Shala> [that can only hit so many at once]
[23:01.00] <+Penumbra> [Mark out the 20ft radius]
[23:01.05] <Varaine> The Elydians begin to line up on the walls behind Repriever, and launch a volley of crossbow bolts. Some also pick off the few civilian stragglers down in the courtyard that were stupid enough to gawk at what was happening.
[23:01.35] <+Mel> "Don't waste your bolts on them."
[23:01.42] * Penumbra keeps an eye on that Tarcirath in the courtyard, in case it decides to do something stupid
[23:01.59] <+Repriever> "Don't do that."
[23:02.04] * Repriever eyes them hard.
[23:02.08] <Varaine> A ssethkar innkeeper falls to the ground screaming, clutching his cloak.
[23:02.17] * You are now known as Jari
[23:02.26] <Jari> "They are demonspawn, Starborn!"
[23:02.42] <+Repriever> "So are they."
[23:02.48] <+Penumbra> [Looks like someone else has to deal with religious synecretism]
[23:02.48] * Repriever nods to the tarcs on our side.
[23:03.12] <+Repriever> "Kill their soldiers, not their people."
[23:03.18] <Jari> A few flaming bolts hit the roof of the inn, but it is stone and none of it takes.
[23:03.38] <+Shala> "They will be bottled in that corridor! Between the fog and the remaining uncovered path!"
[23:03.49] <+Shala> [they can't travel through the fog without really becoming stuck]
[23:04.00] <+Mel> "We'll need to descend, the ward's nexus is not up here."
[23:04.23] <+Mel> "Do we have a way down into the walls?"
[23:04.26] * Penumbra points at the ramp leading to the second gate house. "Drop below the wall before they can see!"
[23:04.27] <+Mel> "If not, I'll make one."
[23:04.46] <+Repriever> [I can't make that distance in two rounds]
[23:04.52] <Jari> The commanders curse, as they try to pull free of the fog.
[23:04.56] * You are now known as DM
[23:05.32] <DM> Two tarciraths, screeching in draconic, shed their human forms as their velcirath continue to flap their wings.
[23:05.41] <+Repriever> "Use the ramps, Mel."
[23:05.49] <+Repriever> [we've been using them to get up here]
[23:06.10] <+Mel> [Yeah I'm up on the wall with the knights]
[23:06.28] * Penumbra eyes the tarciraths and nods to repriever at her side, she leans low and down in preparation to launch herself
[23:06.49] <DM> Two, now-giant tarciraths land in front of you, roaring.
[23:07.00] <DM> "Surrender and be spared for Lakhmul's glory."
[23:07.12] <DM> The knights and some Elydians are quickly charging up behind.
[23:07.14] <+Penumbra> [No, u]
[23:07.20] <+Repriever> "Fuck you."
[23:07.35] <+Penumbra> Full round attack? Full round atttack.
[23:07.52] <+Repriever> [whose turn is it]
[23:08.00] <+Penumbra> [uh, I dunno XD]
[23:08.40] <+Mel> Roll init?
[23:08.41] <+Repriever> [I'm just going to attack because they flew to us?]
[23:08.50] <+Penumbra> [lets dew it]
[23:08.51] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20
[23:08.51] <%tBot> Mel: 2 [2]
[23:09.00] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+21
[23:09.00] <%tBot> Penumbra: 29 ([8] +21)
[23:09.01] <DM> I've given you guys a rough init order based on previous actions.
[23:09.08] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+21
[23:09.08] <%tBot> Penumbra: 33 ([12] +21)
[23:09.16] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+21
[23:09.16] <%tBot> Penumbra: 23 ([2] +21)
[23:09.18] <DM> Penumbra, Repriever, Kir, Shala, Melchior, Akvan.
[23:09.22] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+16
[23:09.22] <%tBot> Penumbra: 17 ([1] +16)
[23:09.26] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+11
[23:09.26] <%tBot> Penumbra: 14 ([3] +11)
[23:09.40] <+Penumbra> [first 2 attacks at the bottom Tarc, last 3 at Top Tarc]
[23:10.03] <DM> First two hit.
[23:10.34] <+Penumbra> !roll 4d8+2d6+18
[23:10.41] <+Penumbra> ?roll 4d8+2d6+18
[23:10.41] <%tBot> Penumbra: 31 ([1 1 1 2] [5 3] +18)
[23:10.59] <+Akvan> [Sounds good]
[23:11.16] * Penumbra steps forward, the Spear of Calcis a blur, leaving one tarcirath reeling as lightning thundered over its scales
[23:11.19] <+Penumbra> [turn]
[23:11.28] * Repriever smites the tarcirath who spoke to him, and brings steel along.
[23:11.43] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+26
[23:11.43] <%tBot> Repriever: 43 ([17] +26)
[23:11.48] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+21
[23:11.48] <%tBot> Repriever: 31 ([10] +21)
[23:11.52] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+16
[23:11.52] <%tBot> Repriever: 32 ([16] +16)
[23:11.55] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+26
[23:11.55] <%tBot> Repriever: 28 ([2] +26)
[23:12.08] <DM> Four hits!
[23:12.13] <+Repriever> [oh, hold on rolling for brilliant]
[23:12.20] <+Repriever> [cause one of those is a crit threat]
[23:12.27] <+Repriever> ?roll 4d4
[23:12.27] <%tBot> Repriever: 13 [4 2 4 3]
[23:12.31] <+Repriever> [no brilliants]
[23:12.38] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+26
[23:12.38] <%tBot> Repriever: 40 ([14] +26)
[23:12.41] <+Repriever> [does 40 confirm?]
[23:12.44] <DM> Yes sir.
[23:12.49] <+Repriever> [k, one second]
[23:13.01] <DM> This is going to be some pretty epic narration.
[23:13.06] <+Repriever> [I'm using lead blades too]
[23:13.23] <+Mel> [if they live I'm going to crush them with the gauntlet]
[23:13.42] <+Repriever> [oh jesus this is a lot of dice hold on]
[23:13.44] <DM> You're attacking the same one that hurt Penny, btw.
[23:13.53] <DM> That Penny hurt*
[23:13.55] <+Repriever> [let me do it individually]
[23:14.18] <+Repriever> ?roll 4d6+2d6+16+48
[23:14.18] <%tBot> Repriever: 83 ([5 3 4 2] [3 2] +64)
[23:14.21] <+Repriever> [that's the crit]
[23:14.40] <+Repriever> ?roll 6d6+6d6+24+36
[23:14.40] <%tBot> Repriever: 99 ([6 3 4 5 2 2] [5 1 3 2 1 5] +60)
[23:14.44] <+Repriever> [that's the other 3]
[23:14.54] <+Repriever> ?calc 83+99
[23:14.54] <%tBot> Repriever: 182.0
[23:14.59] <+Repriever> [is it alive?]
[23:15.16] <+Penumbra> [it ate 213 damage, but it's also a dragon]
[23:15.22] <DM> It dead.
[23:15.41] <+Mel> Kir, Shala.
[23:15.43] <DM> Jeez.
[23:15.59] <DM> The two of you just slaughtered a tarcirath in two hits.
[23:16.06] * Repriever retaliates with with a swat of a shield against its reaching claws, stepping into its exposed underbelly for four vicious stabs to the softest scales.
[23:16.08] <+Penumbra> [highfive moment]
[23:16.18] <+Akvan> [rememeber when one of those was a boss fight]
[23:16.33] <+Shala> [sad!]
[23:16.56] * Repriever steps aside as the great body slumps over.
[23:17.00] <DM> Mel, I'll let you go first.
[23:17.10] <DM> Then we'll do Shala, then Kir.
[23:17.27] * Mel grits her teeth and reaches out with the gauntlet's gravitic power.
[23:17.29] <+Mel> ENERGY RAY.
[23:17.37] <+Mel> ?roll 6d6+12
[23:17.37] <%tBot> Mel: 34 ([6 4 2 2 6 2] +12)
[23:17.46] * Repriever strong eyes the other one through his helmet slit.
[23:18.02] <+Mel> 34 damage as I crush the second Tarc.
[23:18.13] <+Mel> Because I used Ray rather than Blast, there is no save for half damage.
[23:18.33] <DM> It cries out in intense pain, but prepares to strike back.
[23:18.42] <DM> Shala!
[23:18.54] <+Mel> It is also currently flatfooted
[23:19.03] * Shala surveys the Tarcs, neatly aligned in formation
[23:19.10] <+Mel> due to me using gravity, rather than elemental damage.
[23:19.35] * Shala snaps her fingers, a bolt of CHAIN LIGHTNING rippling through each of the nine
[23:19.47] <DM> [Oh, that's just one BIG tarcirath]
[23:20.00] <DM> [When it transforms, I have it occupy 9 squares]
[23:20.10] <DM> [Feel free to change your turn if you want]
[23:20.21] <+Shala> [hmm
[23:21.00] <+Shala> [i'll keep the lightning]
[23:21.10] <+Shala> [it can roll reflex]
[23:21.11] <DM> Ok
[23:21.37] <DM> ?roll 1d20+7
[23:21.38] <%tBot> DM: 23 ([16] +7)
[23:22.10] <+Shala> [so it halves]
[23:22.21] <DM> What's the damage?
[23:22.35] <+Shala> ?roll 12d6
[23:22.35] <%tBot> Shala: 49 [2 5 1 5 4 6 2 4 6 3 5 6]
[23:23.14] * Shala flits behind Repriever, Penumbra, and the marching army
[23:24.13] <DM> In the courtyard below, a contingent of troops is emerging from within the walls to block the advance of the charging soulblades to unlock the second gatehouse.
[23:25.12] <DM> The tarcirath you are facing manages to lift off into the air to avoid some of the electricity, but still screeches with pain.
[23:25.14] <DM> Akvan, you're up!
[23:25.30] <+Akvan> [I'm trying to find myself on a map that isn't responding]
[23:25.37] <DM> It sprinkles the ground with blood as it does.
[23:25.41] <DM> It's okay, I'll keep you updated.
[23:25.54] <DM> Just tell me what you want to do and I'll move you accordingly
[23:25.55] <+Akvan> [since that's not working, I'm just going to lob a fireball at whatever the closest group of enemies is]
[23:26.26] <+Akvan> ?roll 10d6
[23:26.26] <%tBot> Akvan: 35 [1 6 5 3 5 1 2 2 6 4]
[23:26.29] <+Akvan> D:
[23:26.31] <DM> Okay, you have a few choices. The tarcirath the others are attacking, the crowd of troops down in the courtyard below, or the group of troops on the walls that you're facing.
[23:26.49] <+Akvan> Let's say the wall
[23:26.58] <+Akvan> The water elemental also has the same turn as me, no?
[23:27.00] <+Akvan> what's close to it
[23:27.01] <DM> Sounds good.
[23:27.31] <DM> It's near you, so it's close to the tarcirath.
[23:27.55] <+Akvan> Have it attack the tarcirath
[23:28.04] <DM> And the good news for you is, all of those velcirath fail their reflex saves cause they're caught in the fog!
[23:28.13] <DM> The bad news is, they have fire resistance
[23:28.16] <DM> But it'll still hurt.
[23:28.21] <DM> Too much of a good thing is...a bad thing.
[23:28.55] * DM changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 89: Rising Dust - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so10dKbhorI，
[23:29.35] <DM> So they all take...
[23:29.43] <DM> Half damage, which is 17
[23:29.53] <DM> The tarciraths screech as the clinging fog turns to an inferno.
[23:30.05] <DM> A blinding flame and roar wooshes across the walltops.
[23:30.13] <DM> velciraths*
[23:31.21] <DM> Ok, Kir is up.
[23:31.36] * Repriever gives a signal, reading his shield.
[23:31.58] <+Repriever> Kir runs forward, leaps, and spring attacks off of the shield of Calcis at the tarcirath with the sphereblade.
[23:32.12] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+18
[23:32.13] <%tBot> Repriever: 20 ([2] +18)
[23:32.29] <+Repriever> But tumbles aside off its thick scales, and scurries back to relative safety.
[23:32.30] <+Repriever> [turn]
[23:32.56] <+Repriever> [that's his spring attack feat]
[23:33.25] * Penumbra ducks under Kir's swing and as he scurries away, strikes twice
[23:33.29] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+21
[23:33.29] <%tBot> Penumbra: 31 ([10] +21)
[23:33.34] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+21
[23:33.34] <%tBot> Penumbra: 23 ([2] +21)
[23:33.51] <DM> [hold on, they get to take their turns now]
[23:33.59] <+Penumbra> [oh right right]
[23:34.16] <DM> The Tarcirath roars, and strikes at the first line fighters.
[23:34.37] <DM> {{Know his name! DIE for his glory!}}
[23:34.42] <DM> It sounds slightly panicked.
[23:35.24] <DM> ?roll 1d20+22
[23:35.24] <%tBot> DM: 36 ([14] +22)
[23:35.30] <DM> (vs. Repriever's AC)
[23:35.35] <+Repriever> [hit]
[23:35.39] <+Repriever> [I didn't smite this one]
[23:35.42] <DM> ?roll 1d20+22
[23:35.42] <%tBot> DM: 41 ([19] +22)
[23:35.45] <DM> again vs. repriever
[23:35.47] <DM> critical threat
[23:35.50] <DM> ?roll 1d20+22
[23:35.50] <%tBot> DM: 29 ([7] +22)
[23:35.56] <DM> that's the roll to confirm
[23:36.02] <+Repriever> [confirmed]
[23:36.07] <DM> Two hits, one crit
[23:36.29] <DM> It has four more attacks
[23:36.30] * Repriever enters melee with the beast.
[23:36.43] <DM> ?roll 1d20+22
[23:36.43] <%tBot> DM: 26 ([4] +22)
[23:36.49] <+Repriever> [miss]
[23:36.50] <DM> vs. Repriever's AC again
[23:36.51] <DM> ok
[23:36.54] <+Repriever> [ac 28]
[23:36.56] <DM> These next 3 are vs. Penumbra's AC
[23:37.02] <+Penumbra> [23]
[23:37.12] <DM> ?roll 1d20
[23:37.12] <%tBot> DM: 5 [5]
[23:37.15] <DM> oops
[23:37.19] <DM> that was +20
[23:37.22] <DM> so 25 :p
[23:37.24] <+Penumbra> [Hit]
[23:37.26] <DM> ?roll 1d20+20
[23:37.26] <%tBot> DM: 31 ([11] +20)
[23:37.35] <+Penumbra> [hit]
[23:37.35] <DM> ?roll 1d20+20
[23:37.35] <%tBot> DM: 39 ([19] +20)
[23:37.38] <+Penumbra> [hit]
[23:37.42] <DM> So 2 hits, one confirmed crit on Repriever
[23:37.45] <DM> 3 hits on Penumbra
[23:38.06] <DM> ?roll 2d8+13
[23:38.06] <%tBot> DM: 29 ([8 8] +13)
[23:38.11] <DM> ouch :p
[23:38.17] <+Repriever> [ouch?]
[23:38.21] <DM> ?roll 4d6+9
[23:38.21] <%tBot> DM: 29 ([4 6 5 5] +9)
[23:38.40] <DM> Repriever takes 58 damage
[23:38.43] <DM> Oh, have to add another 9 to that
[23:38.47] <+Repriever> [minus 30]
[23:38.52] <+Repriever> [minus 20]
[23:38.53] <DM> 67 damage
[23:39.08] <DM> Yeah, modify it however you need to.
[23:39.19] <DM> Then Penumbra takes...
[23:39.50] <DM> ?roll 2d8+8
[23:39.51] <%tBot> DM: 23 ([7 8] +8)
[23:39.57] <DM> ?roll 2d6+13
[23:39.57] <%tBot> DM: 22 ([4 5] +13)
[23:40.08] <DM> 45 damage, reduced by whatever buffs you have
[23:40.21] <+Penumbra> [3 hits, roll the next daamge]
[23:40.39] <+Penumbra> [oh I see, you bundled them]
[23:40.50] <DM> Yeah, I did.
[23:40.56] <DM> That's total.
[23:41.03] <DM> The velciraths now swarm down, and land amongst you.
[23:41.39] * Repriever is clawed, taking the power of tarcirath muscles on his body.
[23:41.42] <DM> As you are both distracted by the tarcirath's onslaught, Repriever and Penny, you do not get aoo's as they dive bomb and swipe with daggers and swords.
[23:41.59] <DM> However, Akvan and Melchior get aoo's.
[23:42.04] <DM> As does Kir.
[23:42.11] <DM> Which Repriever can roll for.
[23:42.20] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+18
[23:42.20] <%tBot> Repriever: 35 ([17] +18)
[23:42.24] <DM> Hit.
[23:42.26] <DM> Roll damage.
[23:42.37] <+Repriever> ?roll 2d8+3
[23:42.38] <%tBot> Repriever: 7 ([3 1] +3)
[23:42.43] <+Repriever> [I dunno if that's accurate]
[23:42.56] <+Repriever> [no it is]
[23:42.59] <+Mel> How many AOOs do I get?
[23:43.09] <DM> Can you get more than one?
[23:43.13] <+Repriever> Kir jabs his sphere blade into one of their hamstrings.
[23:43.13] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+20
[23:43.13] <%tBot> Mel: 38 ([18] +20)
[23:43.16] <DM> Isn't that a feat or something.
[23:43.18] <+Mel> Critical threat.
[23:43.22] <+Penumbra> [only with combat reflexes I think]
[23:43.24] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+20
[23:43.24] <%tBot> Mel: 31 ([11] +20)
[23:43.27] <+Mel> Does 31 confirm?
[23:43.28] <DM> Confirmed!
[23:43.30] <+Mel> Okay.
[23:43.39] <+Mel> ?roll 4d6+22
[23:43.39] <%tBot> Mel: 36 ([3 2 4 5] +22)
[23:43.47] <+Repriever> [oh wait no, kir is lead blades too right?]
[23:43.53] <DM> You slaughter the one that perched precariously on the crenellations to strike at you.
[23:43.54] <+Mel> All of us are leaden.
[23:43.55] <+Repriever> [or can sphere be leaden?]
[23:43.57] <DM> Yes, Repriever.
[23:43.59] <DM> It can be.
[23:44.02] <DM> It's earth-aligned.
[23:44.10] <+Mel> Linecutter hums contentedly.
[23:44.14] <+Penumbra> [so 2d8 -> 3d8]
[23:44.23] <+Repriever> [3d6?]
[23:44.34] <+Repriever> ?roll 3d6+3
[23:44.34] <%tBot> Repriever: 12 ([4 4 1] +3)
[23:44.37] <DM> Melchior, you get to cinematically kill a velcirath in a cool way, so have at it.
[23:44.50] <DM> I'm assuming this will involve some form of falling to one's death, but that's up to you.
[23:45.00] <+Repriever> [no you're right]
[23:45.05] <+Repriever> ?roll 3d8+3
[23:45.05] <%tBot> Repriever: 13 ([5 1 4] +3)
[23:45.44] <+Penumbra> [does blood/guts/corpses make for difficult terrain? ;)]
[23:45.57] <DM> The tarcirath's body is totally difficult terrain.
[23:47.02] * Mel , in a single, deft move, swings Linecutter upwards, unseaming the optimistic velcirath, which tumbles, blood splashing and guts sliced clean through, back to the earth.
[23:48.01] <DM> Its body smashes against the walls as it falls down into the courtyard far below the walltop.
[23:48.08] <DM> The ssethkar, for their part...
[23:48.14] <DM> Struggle to get their way through Shala's fog.
[23:48.43] <DM> A few of them, thanks to massive pressure from their comrades behind, manage to push through, but their ranks are broken as they charge forward in broken clumps.
[23:48.58] <DM> And some sneak around.
[23:49.04] <DM> But most of them are still stuck.
[23:51.05] <DM> Then, the Knights of Melkir surge forward.
[23:51.32] <DM> Climbing and leaping over the smoking body of the tarcirath, the Calcissi soldiers meet the first of the charging Ssethkar, and brutally cut down two of them.
[23:52.19] <DM> You have flanking on that last tarcirath, now.
[23:52.39] <+Penumbra> I do.
[23:52.57] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+23
[23:52.57] <%tBot> Penumbra: 25 ([2] +23)
[23:53.01] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+23
[23:53.01] <%tBot> Penumbra: 31 ([8] +23)
[23:53.04] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+23
[23:53.04] <%tBot> Penumbra: 34 ([11] +23)
[23:53.17] <+Penumbra> ?1d20+18
[23:53.17] <%tBot> Not understood: 1d20+18
[23:53.22] <DM> A golden barrier of Luck now surrounds the defenders of the second gatehouse.
[23:53.22] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+18
[23:53.22] <%tBot> Penumbra: 25 ([7] +18)
[23:53.25] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+13
[23:53.25] <%tBot> Penumbra: 17 ([4] +13)
[23:54.17] <+Repriever> [hits?]
[23:54.22] <DM> It seems to preternaturally attract projectiles and weapons to the first of the constructs to breach the barrier.
[23:54.24] <DM> Let's see...
[23:54.57] <DM> 4 hits!
[23:55.24] <+Repriever> [now penny shows what a real paladin is]
[23:55.32] * DM changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 89: Rising Dust - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXFYk0LmNEI，
[23:56.14] <+Repriever> [tremenous dice]
[23:56.29] <DM> [the biggest, the highest]
[23:56.38] <DM> [we have great Luvanashi, believe me]
[23:56.39] <+Penumbra> ?roll 8d8+36+2d6
[23:56.39] <%tBot> Penumbra: 84 ([1 4 7 2 8 4 8 7] [1 6] +36)
[23:56.44] <DM> DEAD
[23:57.59] <DM> Shocked, insulted, surprised by the swarm of human soldiers surrounding it and hacking at its mighty armored calves, the golden son of Lakhmul himself, appointed defender of the eastern wall and the Prince's capital, is shattered by Penumbra.
[23:58.15] <DM> His name will never be known by our story.
[23:58.33] * Penumbra continues with her momentum, and flies up, and spins once before throwing its corpse over the wall and into the courtyard
[23:58.42] <+Penumbra> [What roll]
[23:58.44] <DM> Strength check.
[23:58.54] <+Repriever> [cmb?]
[23:58.57] <DM> Sure.
[23:59.05] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+15
[23:59.05] <%tBot> Penumbra: 19 ([4] +15)
[23:59.23] * Penumbra shouts after it
[23:59.41] <+Penumbra> "LEAVE US!"
[00:00.25] * Repriever moves against the velciraths who dared to land at his back, striking out at both of them.
[00:00.38] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+23
[00:00.38] <%tBot> Repriever: 35 ([12] +23)
[00:00.42] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+18
[00:00.43] <%tBot> Repriever: 25 ([7] +18)
[00:00.48] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+13
[00:00.48] <%tBot> Repriever: 15 ([2] +13)
[00:00.52] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+23
[00:00.52] <%tBot> Repriever: 41 ([18] +23)
[00:00.57] <+Repriever> [crit threat]
[00:00.57] <DM> 3 hits.
[00:01.03] <+Repriever> [let me roll for brilliant too]
[00:01.07] <+Repriever> ?roll 4d4
[00:01.07] <%tBot> Repriever: 13 [4 3 3 3]
[00:01.10] <+Repriever> [no brilliants]
[00:01.17] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+23
[00:01.17] <%tBot> Repriever: 34 ([11] +23)
[00:01.20] <+Repriever> [34 confirm?]
[00:01.27] <DM> Yep.
[00:01.34] <+Repriever> North velcirath takes:
[00:01.52] <+Repriever> ?roll 4d6+4d6+16
[00:01.52] <%tBot> Repriever: 35 ([1 3 2 2] [3 2 1 5] +16)
[00:01.56] <+Repriever> South takes:
[00:02.09] <+Repriever> ?roll 4d6+2d6+16
[00:02.09] <%tBot> Repriever: 36 ([2 2 5 6] [4 1] +16)
[00:02.43] <+Repriever> [are they feeling it?]
[00:02.53] <DM> In fire-heaven.
[00:02.56] <DM> Cause they're dead.
[00:03.23] * Repriever is a cleaver on two legs, hacking through their reptilian bodies like paper dolls.
[00:03.47] * Repriever heals his wounds with a casual swipe of the hand as he checks over Shala and the others.
[00:03.48] <DM> A velcirath facing Akvan with a dagger prepared to strike at his face suddenly has a glowing, pale blade punched through its chest.
[00:03.49] <+Repriever> ?roll 7d6
[00:03.49] <%tBot> Repriever: 26 [3 4 3 2 6 4 4]
[00:03.58] * Akvan flinches
[00:04.04] <DM> It falls to the ground.
[00:04.07] <DM> Leaving only Repriever.
[00:04.26] <+Repriever> "One at a time, Ameshar."
[00:04.28] <+Repriever> [turn]
[00:04.38] <+Shala> [what are the brighter red squares?]
[00:04.54] <DM> just different kinds of blood and guts
[00:04.55] <+Mel> huge piles of gore
[00:04.56] <DM> for variety
[00:05.14] <DM> you just slaughtered two monsters the size of an SUV
[00:05.15] <DM> and friends
[00:05.26] <DM> Speaking of friends.
[00:05.43] <DM> Varaine looks up at one of the velcirath that just landed on a crenellation.
[00:05.53] <DM> She leaps forward and seizes it by its neck.
[00:06.14] <DM> Then transforms into her giant, violet form, bearing it into the air in her claws as it wriggles.
[00:06.37] <DM> Then she rips out its neck with a brutal twist, letting its body fall to the courtyard below.
[00:07.39] <DM> Melchior, you're up!
[00:07.53] <DM> Two velcirath are flanking Akvan.
[00:08.02] <DM> Very near to you.
[00:08.33] <DM> Your knights are charging over the corpses to strike at the charging ssethkar, their lines soon to meet.
[00:08.57] <+Mel> Hmm.
[00:09.13] <+Mel> I make a 5 foot shift and do a full attack, power attack.
[00:09.33] <+Mel> Actually I can't full attack after a 5 foot shift rigth?
[00:09.52] <DM> No, that's fine.
[00:09.56] <DM> It's just a shift.
[00:10.34] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+20
[00:10.34] <%tBot> Mel: 37 ([17] +20)
[00:10.41] <+Mel> Critical threat on the first hit.
[00:10.45] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+20
[00:10.45] <%tBot> Mel: 28 ([8] +20)
[00:10.46] <+Mel> confirmed?
[00:11.13] <+Mel> actually those should be 38 and 29
[00:11.43] <DM> Confirmed.
[00:12.16] <+Mel> ?roll 4d6+28
[00:12.16] <%tBot> Mel: 43 ([6 5 3 1] +28)
[00:12.24] <+Mel> Is he dead?
[00:12.26] <DM> So dead.
[00:12.47] <+Mel> I goofed up by moving and attacking, now the enemy is out of range.
[00:12.48] <+Mel> Hmm.
[00:12.53] <+Repriever> [you CAN do a full attack with a shift]
[00:13.00] <DM> Actually, shout out to Akvan, because a lot of the damage he did with his initial fireball is turning these into 1 hit ko's
[00:13.07] <DM> Good job, Akvan.
[00:13.11] <+Akvan> :p
[00:13.23] <+Mel> I shouldn't redo what I did, with attack-shift-attack, that wouldn't be fair.
[00:14.12] <+Mel> And since I cannot attack and cast, that'll have to be turn.
[00:14.24] <DM> You are under haste.
[00:14.31] <DM> If you want to do some kind of minor magic, I'll allow it.
[00:14.50] <DM> Alternatively, I would be okay with saying haste lets you shift twice.
[00:14.50] <+Mel> I'll activate my mirror image.
[00:14.56] <+Mel> Oh, if I can shift twice.
[00:15.02] <+Mel> Then I'll shift and do my remaining attacks.
[00:15.09] <DM> It increases movement, which should apply to shifts too
[00:15.17] <DM> If you ask me.
[00:15.31] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+21
[00:15.31] <%tBot> Mel: 32 ([11] +21)
[00:15.45] <DM> Directed at which one?
[00:15.49] <+Mel> lower
[00:15.56] <DM> Killed it!
[00:16.09] <+Mel> and the final attack
[00:16.21] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+15
[00:16.21] <%tBot> Mel: 26 ([11] +15)
[00:16.39] <+Mel> ?roll 2d6+11
[00:16.39] <%tBot> Mel: 16 ([2 3] +11)
[00:16.46] <+Mel> [damage if that hits]
[00:16.47] <DM> Behind you, the constructs are beginning to set up barricades to guard the now-captured innermost gate, and are building fortifications with Morningstar's power.
[00:16.56] <+Mel> oh actually that's a 17 not a 16, forgot the power attack
[00:17.08] <DM> That kills the one already hamstrung by Kir's blow.
[00:17.18] <+Mel> Have I cleared out the ones north of Akvan?
[00:17.20] <+Mel> perfect.
[00:17.22] <DM> You have.
[00:17.26] <DM> Nice job.
[00:17.26] <+Mel> turn
[00:18.01] <DM> Shala.
[00:18.20] * Shala laments the quick demise of the velcirath's
[00:18.33] <DM> Your comrades have killed the eight velciraths in a display of brutal efficiency, but there's a huge crowd of enemies in the courtyard below.
[00:18.47] <DM> They appear to be protected by some form of magic being cast by the two tarciraths.
[00:19.16] <DM> When enemy constructs enter the shimmering golden bubble, the velcirath that meet them seem to be able to anticipate their movements, and you see them dismantle a construct with incredible martial arts.
[00:19.41] <DM> There's also the charging ssethkar to consider, but the knights seem to have that handled.
[00:20.07] <+Shala> [the tarcs in the courtyards are casting magic, not the ones on the wall?]
[00:20.17] <DM> That's right
[00:20.28] <DM> I outlined their golden bubble with a square on the map
[00:20.53] <DM> There's only one additional tarcirath on the wall, watching all of this occur. He has the look of a noble.
[00:21.13] <DM> Perhaps a caster.
[00:21.28] <+Repriever> [he's big though]
[00:21.31] <+Repriever> [he's a snek]
[00:21.36] <DM> He is.
[00:21.52] * Shala summons a rainbow bolt of CHAIN LIGHTNING onto a summon tarcirath, it's entrancing prism dancing from it to 8 other figures (another T, a row of S's, and the two V's)
[00:22.11] <DM> He's wearing armor, though, which is odd for a big one
[00:22.39] <+Shala> [they all need to roll a fat reflex
[00:22.42] <+Shala> ]
[00:23.16] <DM> I think I see the ones you're targetting.
[00:23.52] <+Shala> [the ones in lime green, ill remove that box soon lol]
[00:23.56] <+Shala> or you can
[00:24.00] <+Shala> []
[00:24.07] <DM> Got it!
[00:24.24] <DM> As you cast your bolt, you realize that this golden bubble is extremely dangerous!
[00:25.20] <DM> They substitute their strongest save in for their reflex...
[00:25.29] <DM> ?roll 1d20+14
[00:25.29] <%tBot> DM: 20 ([6] +14)
[00:25.35] <DM> ?roll 1d20+14
[00:25.35] <%tBot> DM: 26 ([12] +14)
[00:25.40] <DM> Do either of those pass?
[00:25.57] <DM> How much damage does it do, btw.
[00:26.02] * azale_ (IceChat9@cpe-97-98-83-80.stx.res.rr.com) has joined channel #nesdnd
[00:26.20] <azale_> [fiddlesticks]
[00:26.24] * azale_ is now known as Shala_
[00:26.27] <DM> Saves of 20 and 26
[00:26.38] <DM> All of the ssethkar die.
[00:26.42] * DM sets mode +v Shala_ for #nesdnd
[00:26.53] <DM> And then let me roll the vels saves.
[00:27.00] <+Shala_> [20 aint good enough, 26 gets damaged halved]
[00:27.09] <DM> ?roll 1d20+7
[00:27.09] <%tBot> DM: 26 ([19] +7)
[00:27.12] <DM> ?roll 1d20+7
[00:27.12] <%tBot> DM: 22 ([15] +7)
[00:27.20] <DM> Roll damage!
[00:27.21] <+Shala_> [one halves, one fails]
[00:27.34] <+Shala_> ?roll 12d6
[00:27.34] <%tBot> Shala_: 30 [1 1 2 6 1 3 3 1 6 3 1 2]
[00:27.39] <+Shala_> ?roll 6d6
[00:27.39] <%tBot> Shala_: 27 [1 6 6 5 4 5]
[00:27.44] <+Shala_> ?roll 12d6
[00:27.44] <%tBot> Shala_: 45 [6 1 5 6 4 3 2 5 3 2 6 2]
[00:27.52] <+Shala_> ?roll 6d6
[00:27.52] <%tBot> Shala_: 22 [6 5 3 3 1 4]
[00:28.00] <+Shala_> so v, v, t, t
[00:28.01] * Shala (IceChat9@cpe-97-98-83-80.stx.res.rr.com) Quit (Ping timeout: 121 seconds)
[00:28.37] <DM> As the damage courses through them, the two tarcirath casters clench their fists, feeling the pain of the lightning...and redirecting it back at you!
[00:28.49] <DM> Roll reflex!
[00:29.09] <+Repriever> [she's got super ref now]
[00:29.28] * Shala (IceChat9@cpe-97-98-83-80.stx.res.rr.com) has joined channel #nesdnd
[00:29.31] <+Repriever> [oh no]
[00:29.44] <Shala> [this hasnt happened to me in like, weeks lol]
[00:29.50] <DM> [00:28.37] <DM> As the damage courses through them, the two tarcirath casters clench their fists, feeling the pain of the lightning...and redirecting it back at you!
[00:29.50] <DM> [00:28.49] <DM> Roll reflex!
[00:29.55] <DM> It seems their luck-spell gives them the ability to redirect spells when they make their saves.
[00:30.18] <DM> The two velcirath are bloodied regardless.
[00:30.36] <Shala> [one of them didnt make their save doe]
[00:30.57] <Shala> ?roll 1d20+16
[00:30.57] <%tBot> Shala: 21 ([5] +16)
[00:31.05] <Shala> [god this is trying to fuck me as much as possible]
[00:31.14] <+Repriever> [thanks, calcis]
[00:31.32] <DM> Roll 12d6 damage on yourself!
[00:31.42] <+Repriever> [you do have resistances]
[00:31.47] <DM> Yeah, you do.
[00:31.53] <+Repriever> [you're gonna stop like 35 of it]
[00:32.02] <DM> You're going to stop literally 35 of it
[00:32.03] * Shala_ (IceChat9@cpe-97-98-83-80.stx.res.rr.com) Quit (Ping timeout: 121 seconds)
[00:32.13] * DM sets mode +v Shala for #nesdnd
[00:32.18] <+Shala> ?roll 12d6
[00:32.19] <%tBot> Shala: 38 [1 6 3 2 2 6 1 2 5 5 2 3]
[00:32.27] <+Repriever> [lol]
[00:32.42] <DM> As the lightning bolt arcs back towards you, your Essence flares, and a woman outlined in sparkling lightning looks over her shoulder, down at you.
[00:32.43] <+Mel> [that's what you get when you shuffle your feet on carpet]
[00:32.54] <DM> She does not look happy.
[00:33.00] * Shala feel the bolts return to her, singing the tips of her fingers
[00:33.10] <+Shala> "Worth the risk"
[00:33.18] <DM> The sparks dissipate in an instant, leaving you with only minor injuries as Calcis takes the brunt of the return fire.
[00:33.41] * Repriever nods.
[00:33.43] <+Shala> [turn]
[00:33.43] <DM> [lol Iggy]
[00:33.52] <DM> Akvan, you're up!
[00:33.55] * Akvan shouts down to the fighters, projecting over the sounds of their DEAD tarciraths and the bodies of their Honor Guard, and the now bleeding other Tarcs
[00:34.00] <+Akvan> "Stand down and CLEAVE TO THE TRUE FLAME. You have seen death, and it need not claim you."
[00:34.15] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+18
[00:34.15] <%tBot> Akvan: 24 ([6] +18)
[00:34.18] <+Akvan> intimidate
[00:35.43] <DM> Your voice does not quite penetrate down to the courtyard, but it does, however, intimidate some of the charging ssethkar, who seeing their officers dead, start to peal off and rout.
[00:36.07] * Akvan lobs another fireball at whatever group doesn't seem to be leaving, as punctuation
[00:36.11] <+Akvan> ?roll 10d6
[00:36.12] <%tBot> Akvan: 30 [4 2 4 1 1 5 3 2 6 2]
[00:36.27] <DM> About 10-15 of them flee...
[00:36.56] <DM> I'll be charitable and assume you aim that back towards the fog again, away from the impending melee with the Knights...
[00:37.09] <DM> What's the radius of the fireball?
[00:37.33] <+Akvan> 20 ft radius
[00:37.41] <+Akvan> And, yeah, I'm not going to target my own people
[00:38.35] <DM> Light, heat, flame.
[00:38.44] <DM> Raised since eggs to worship it, they will be consumed by it.
[00:38.44] <+Akvan> Would you let me attempt to channel the explosion of the fireball into Iii's symbol into Carcephon's, adding to more intimidationg?
[00:38.47] <+Akvan> intimidation*
[00:39.01] <DM> I'll let you make it blue.
[00:39.03] <+Repriever> [is the one next to varaine alive or did she choke it out]
[00:39.08] <+Akvan> OK
[00:39.20] <DM> Oh, the one next to varaine is actually still alive.
[00:40.02] <+Mel> [I need to teach you shape mastery]
[00:40.06] <+Repriever> Kir leaps and rolls through the gathered party toward the perched velcirath.
[00:40.11] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+18
[00:40.11] <%tBot> Repriever: 26 ([8] +18)
[00:40.21] <DM> That's a hit.
[00:40.25] <+Repriever> ?roll 3d8+3
[00:40.25] <%tBot> Repriever: 14 ([8 1 2] +3)
[00:40.38] <DM> Hmm...
[00:40.50] <+Repriever> Jamming his blade into its gut before rolling backwards beside Repriever.
[00:41.06] <+Repriever> [wait does this count as flanking]
[00:41.10] <DM> It does.
[00:41.35] <+Repriever> [his sheet is a disaster hold on]
[00:41.49] <+Repriever> ?roll 6d6
[00:41.49] <%tBot> Repriever: 19 [3 2 2 6 3 3]
[00:42.06] <+Repriever> 19 sneak attack damage on top of 14 blade.
[00:42.47] <DM> Now it's dead.
[00:43.01] <+Repriever> Kir smirks at Shala.
[00:43.02] <+Repriever> [turn]
[00:43.33] <+Repriever> [to quote westworld, if you can't tell the difference does it matter? :p]
[00:44.05] <DM> Another slaughtered velcirath, neck slit and entrails sliding out, tumbles to its death below.
[00:44.52] <DM> The Knights of Melkir surge forward, killing the last of the unled ssethkar who have not yet routed.
[00:46.22] * Mel grins.
[00:48.47] <DM> The armored, golden tarcirath standing above the second gatehouse lands before you, shrugging off a few crossbow bolts from the Elydians who are now marching to back you up. As she does, her golden armor shifts to that of a human, and she takes the appearance of an aging general, streaks of grey shot through her golden hair.
[00:49.05] <+Akvan> "SURRENDER!"
[00:49.08] * Akvan shouts
[00:49.20] <DM> "We seek a parley," she says.
[00:50.06] <+Repriever> [landed in front of the party?]
[00:50.16] <DM> Correct.
[00:50.28] <+Penumbra> "Stand down and open the gates."
[00:50.32] <+Akvan> [I thought we were kind of seperate?]
[00:50.32] <+Repriever> "The gate has fallen."
[00:50.55] <DM> "The forces of Illian have already been surrounded and defeated. Withdraw from this assault and you will be shown mercy," she says.
[00:51.10] <+Akvan> "No."
[00:51.20] <+Repriever> "This isn't how you parley."
[00:51.22] <+Penumbra> Sense motive
[00:51.23] <+Repriever> "Go fuck yourself."
[00:51.30] * Mel says "Illian's attacking too? Imagine the coincidence."
[00:51.33] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+9
[00:51.33] <%tBot> Penumbra: 12 ([3] +9)
[00:52.27] <DM> "We admit you have the momentary advantage," she says, as increasingly large numbers of soulblades push into the courtyard.
[00:52.28] * Mel is going to soften stone below her, to get into the tunnels.
[00:52.40] <DM> "But if you push further into this city, you will face only despair."
[00:52.41] * Mel thinks we're wasting time and need to disable the nexus.
[00:52.50] * You are now known as Varaine
[00:52.51] <+Penumbra> "Times up. You have 3 seconds."
[00:52.53] <+Penumbra> "3"
[00:52.54] <+Penumbra> "2
[00:52.58] <+Penumbra> "1"
[00:52.59] <+Akvan> "You know you will lose. SUrrender, help us, and you will live well.
[00:52.59] <+Akvan> "
[00:53.01] * Varaine whispers in Mel's ear, "I think I found it."
[00:53.02] * Mel shouts "No one's better at facing despair than Preev."
[00:53.09] * Penumbra waits for Akvan for a second
[00:53.10] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+19
[00:53.10] <%tBot> Akvan: 29 ([10] +19)
[00:53.11] <Varaine> "Let's go on ahead while they fight."
[00:53.12] <+Akvan> diplomacy
[00:53.23] <+Akvan> "or die."
[00:53.28] <+Mel> "Good call. Shall I melt a hole below us?"
[00:53.29] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+18
[00:53.29] <%tBot> Akvan: 36 ([18] +18)
[00:53.31] <+Akvan> Intimidate
[00:53.35] * Penumbra nods at Mel
[00:53.46] <+Penumbra> [I save the counting since I cross talked with Akvan, if that's ok]
[00:53.56] * You are now known as Selathrian
[00:54.16] <Selathrian> "I am Selathrian, son of Lakhmul, Vice-Commander of this city, and I will not surrender it while I live."
[00:54.25] <+Penumbra> "I accept your terms."
[00:54.30] <Selathrian> [it seems she uses 'son' in the non-gendered sense]
[00:54.33] <+Penumbra> Full attack. Swift Smite.
[00:54.35] <+Mel> [snrk]
[00:54.46] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+21
[00:54.46] <%tBot> Penumbra: 30 ([9] +21)
[00:54.48] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+21
[00:54.48] <%tBot> Penumbra: 26 ([5] +21)
[00:54.48] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+21
[00:54.48] <%tBot> Penumbra: 32 ([11] +21)
[00:54.52] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+16
[00:54.52] <%tBot> Penumbra: 19 ([3] +16)
[00:54.55] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+13
[00:54.55] <%tBot> Penumbra: 22 ([9] +13)
[00:55.06] <Selathrian> (now marked as Se on map)
[00:55.25] <Selathrian> She parries all of your strikes.
[00:55.29] <Selathrian> All...except for one.
[00:55.33] * Penumbra steps closer
[00:55.34] <Selathrian> Which barely beats her guard.
[00:55.42] <+Penumbra> One is all it takes
[00:55.53] <+Penumbra> ?roll 3d8+9+6d6
[00:55.53] <%tBot> Penumbra: 42 ([5 1 3] [3 5 4 5 4 3] +9)
[00:56.00] <+Penumbra> Roll Will DC 21
[00:56.09] <Selathrian> ?roll 1d20+18
[00:56.09] <%tBot> Selathrian: 37 ([19] +18)
[00:56.14] <Selathrian> She has an incredibly strong will. :p
[00:56.30] <+Penumbra> Halves, she takes 30
[00:56.41] * Repriever takes Penumbra's cue and smites Selathrian, stepping into the melee alongside his dark companion.
[00:56.47] <+Repriever> [prerolling brilliant]
[00:56.50] <+Repriever> ?roll 4d4
[00:56.50] <%tBot> Repriever: 10 [1 4 1 4]
[00:56.57] <+Repriever> [1 and 3 are brilliant]
[00:57.09] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+26
[00:57.09] <%tBot> Repriever: 40 ([14] +26)
[00:57.16] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+21
[00:57.16] <%tBot> Repriever: 36 ([15] +21)
[00:57.19] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+16
[00:57.19] <%tBot> Repriever: 30 ([14] +16)
[00:57.23] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+26
[00:57.23] <%tBot> Repriever: 28 ([2] +26)
[00:57.36] <+Repriever> [40 and 30 vs touch, 36 and 28 vs ac]
[00:57.45] <Selathrian> The first 3 are hits.
[00:58.35] <+Repriever> ?roll 6d6+6d6+24+48
[00:58.35] <%tBot> Repriever: 105 ([6 1 1 1 1 5] [3 5 1 3 4 2] +72)
[00:58.39] <+Repriever> [yep]
[00:58.58] <+Akvan> "If you leave now, you may take your troops with you. Let them live for another day!"
[00:59.06] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+19
[00:59.06] <%tBot> Akvan: 22 ([3] +19)
[00:59.18] <Selathrian> Selathrian screams as Nameless carves through her golden armor.
[00:59.23] * Repriever is a dance of light and gore as he cuts through her body.
[00:59.38] * Mel confers with Varaine, and then softens the stone below her into clay, melting her way through.
[01:00.00] * Repriever says nothing to the words of Akvan, focusing fully on the kill.
[01:00.10] * Repriever heals himself in movement.
[01:00.20] <Selathrian> She stumbles backwards, falling off the parapet... and transforming into her golden, winged form as she flaps her wings, taking to the air about forty feet away from the wall-edge, out of range of non-fliers.
[01:00.22] <+Repriever> [no retcon, I don't heal]
[01:00.35] <+Repriever> [oh no I will why not]
[01:00.38] <+Repriever> ?roll 7d6
[01:00.38] <%tBot> Repriever: 21 [6 2 3 4 1 3 2]
[01:00.50] <+Repriever> [back to max]
[01:01.13] <Selathrian> "Does he speak for you?"
[01:01.25] * Selathrian gestures her draconic snout to the soldiers.
[01:01.53] <+Repriever> {{No.}}
[01:02.35] <Selathrian> "Then one of us dies here."
[01:03.10] * Selathrian breathes golden breath over the party.
[01:03.14] * Akvan grunts
[01:03.16] * Penumbra uses Shadow Shield!
[01:03.19] <Selathrian> Everyone make a will save!
[01:03.22] <Selathrian> Except for...
[01:03.27] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+13
[01:03.27] <%tBot> Repriever: 30 ([17] +13)
[01:03.30] <Selathrian> Mel and Varaine, who disappeared into a hole in the wall.
[01:03.40] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+15
[01:03.40] <%tBot> Penumbra: 27 ([12] +15)
[01:03.46] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+7
[01:03.46] <%tBot> Shala: 13 ([6] +7)
[01:03.47] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+11
[01:03.47] <%tBot> Akvan: 30 ([19] +11)
[01:03.50] <+Shala> [fuck me]
[01:03.55] <+Repriever> [kir rolls]
[01:04.01] <+Penumbra> [if I make it, I attempt to cast a Shadow Shield to block the breath attack in a cone behind me]
[01:04.05] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+3
[01:04.05] <%tBot> Repriever: 17 ([14] +3)
[01:04.34] <Selathrian> Everyone except Repriever fails.
[01:05.01] <+Akvan> Damn
[01:05.04] <Selathrian> Take -5 penalties to all rolls for the next 1d4 hours
[01:05.16] <+Akvan> (Wait, I rolled the same thing as Preev)
[01:05.24] <+Akvan> (we both got 30)
[01:05.25] <Selathrian> Oh, whoops, you pass too Akvan.
[01:05.41] <Selathrian> Repriever and Akvan only take -2 penalties to all rolls for the next 1d4 hours.
[01:05.43] <Selathrian> ?roll 1d4
[01:05.43] <%tBot> Selathrian: 1 [1]
[01:05.47] <Selathrian> Lucky.
[01:05.53] <+Akvan> (Bitch)
[01:05.53] <+Repriever> [I assume if she dies it ends]
[01:06.00] <+Repriever> [scratch that: when she dies]
[01:07.01] * Penumbra was too slow at channeling the shadows through the Spear of Calcis
[01:07.17] <Selathrian> "Then you'll fight in my element, not yours."
[01:07.33] <Selathrian> She flaps higher, a hundred feet above the battlefield, still dripping blood in rivulets from her golden armor.
[01:07.47] <+Repriever> [only a hundred feet?]
[01:07.50] <+Repriever> [noted]
[01:08.04] <Selathrian> [She can't go so far that she can't intervene]
[01:08.05] * Penumbra is reminded of other fights, long ago
[01:08.27] * You are now known as Kir
[01:08.34] <Kir> "Maybe I shoot her, old man?"
[01:08.46] <Kir> "Or pull down with sphere?"
[01:09.09] <+Repriever> "Shoot her."
[01:09.24] <Kir> "Wait, I thinking - "
[01:09.36] <Kir> "Penumbra. You can poison, yes? Could put onto bullet?"
[01:09.54] * Penumbra nods "Good thinking."
[01:10.04] <+Repriever> "Penumbra. I've got a better idea."
[01:10.29] <+Penumbra> "Yes?"
[01:10.33] * Repriever gestures to the shield, and boosting a Penumbra rocket off it.
[01:10.34] <Kir> The melee continues, with more constructs being slaughtered by the luck-enhanced courtyard defenders, but they start to take more casualties.
[01:10.38] * Penumbra nods
[01:11.28] * Penumbra focuses, forming a Cursed touch of shadows into a concentrated drop, letting it fall into a waiting basin of liquid metal (swift)
[01:12.08] <+Repriever> [who is up]
[01:12.12] <+Penumbra> "Ready?" She says, squatting.
[01:12.15] * Mel says to Varaine "Alright, which way we headed?"
[01:12.19] <+Penumbra> [Kir, technically]
[01:12.32] <+Penumbra> [then all the NPCs?]
[01:12.46] <+Repriever> [oh, well kir will shoot her?]
[01:12.47] * You are now known as DM
[01:12.54] <DM> Just a moment.
[01:13.10] <DM> Melchior and Varaine have broken off from the main group.
[01:13.16] <DM> So I'm going to handle their mission separately.
[01:13.27] <DM> And then we'll return to the main confrontation with Selathrian.
[01:14.50] <DM> The walls are narrow, and the lights have been extinguished by the defenders, but Varaine can see in the dark and so can Mel, I'd imagine.
[01:15.10] <DM> The sounds of fighting are muffled, but occasionally chunks of dust or plaster fall from the ceiling.
[01:15.23] <+Mel> Correct, I'm using my divination resonant power to have darkvision.
[01:15.27] * You are now known as Varaine
[01:15.29] <Varaine> "Wait."
[01:15.35] <Varaine> "There's a trap here if you're not keyed."
[01:15.54] <Varaine> "Basic evocation, it's a stone-fall that will crush an intruder."
[01:16.01] * Varaine points to the ceiling.
[01:16.14] <Varaine> "Eh, not that scary."
[01:16.15] <+Mel> "Hmm."
[01:16.26] <Varaine> "But it will alert defenders."
[01:16.38] * Mel uses stone shape.
[01:16.56] * Mel stretchess the stone of the roof to lock over the mechanism of the trap, holding it shut.
[01:17.47] <Varaine> "Excellent."
[01:17.50] <+Mel> "Should be secured, unless it alerts defenders even if it doesn't go off."
[01:18.04] <Varaine> "I don't think it will."
[01:18.09] <+Mel> "Alright, keep tracking it, and if you need a look ahead..."
[01:18.34] <Varaine> "Yeah, check...around the next bend, to the left and right."
[01:18.35] * Mel gestures to a minute, nigh-invisible bead floating through the air, a tiny simulacrum of Mel's eye.
[01:18.44] * Mel dispatches her mind eye ahead.
[01:19.21] <Varaine> You spot nobody to the left, but six velcirath guarding the passageway to the right.
[01:19.34] <+Mel> "Left's clear, six velcirath to the right."
[01:19.42] <Varaine> "It's right that we want."
[01:19.47] <Varaine> "And past that?"
[01:19.54] * Mel checks further.
[01:20.46] <Varaine> You see what appears to be an operations room.
[01:20.57] <Varaine> There is a teleportation pad, a large map of the city.
[01:21.02] <+Mel> "I can creep through invisibly... if you can't hide yourself, I can give you two minutes of invisibility."
[01:21.08] <+Mel> "I think there's a hub further to the right."
[01:21.19] <+Mel> "Transportation Circle."
[01:21.22] <Varaine> There are at least three tarcirath in this room, and occasionally ssethkar runners come in with messages.
[01:22.00] <Varaine> And set into the wall is a large golden crystal, surrounded by several other smaller ones.
[01:22.30] <+Mel> I use aura sight through the Mind Eye, which can see everything I normally can.
[01:22.37] <+Mel> Is that our nexus?
[01:22.45] <Varaine> It is.
[01:23.18] <+Mel> "Just to the right, there's six velcirath on the passageway, beyond them there's a control room. That's got our target."
[01:23.18] <Varaine> At least partially. It seems that the collapsing statue did quite a bit of damage further on, and it may have destroyed the other half of the nexus, which is actually two crystals on either side of the gate here.
[01:23.39] <Varaine> By collapsing the tunnels that contained it.
[01:23.42] <Varaine> "And defenders?"
[01:24.04] <+Mel> "Yeah, there are three or four in the control room, ssethkar too."
[01:24.09] <+Mel> "Three or four vels."
[01:24.22] <Varaine> *tarcirath
[01:24.32] <Varaine> [technically you saw tarcirath in the room]
[01:24.55] * Varaine considers.
[01:25.24] <+Mel> oh tarcs, whoops.
[01:25.29] <Varaine> "Some of them will probably have see invisibility on."
[01:25.40] <+Mel> "We could disguise as well."
[01:25.51] <Varaine> "If we can rush them, get past the first set, then get into the room, destroy the crystal and the pad..."
[01:26.02] <Varaine> "Oh, wait, Mel."
[01:26.06] <+Mel> "I wonder if there's a way to get in stealthily."
[01:26.11] <+Mel> "As Ssethkar messengers."
[01:26.20] <Varaine> "They'll catch us in two seconds. But I have a better idea."
[01:26.24] <+Mel> "Or someone to relocate the crystal, because the site is no longer safe."
[01:26.31] <Varaine> "We use your stone shape."
[01:26.38] <Varaine> "We don't have to use THEIR passages."
[01:27.40] <+Mel> "Yes, but I can only cut my way through so much."
[01:27.43] * Varaine projects an image of the tunnel layout with magic, showing the locations of the teleportation pad and the crystal.
[01:27.53] <Varaine> "Can you destroy these two spots from a distance?"
[01:28.05] <+Mel> I have to touch it...
[01:28.22] <+Mel> But if I can get to a point opposite or behind it, we can destroy it through a wall.
[01:28.57] <Varaine> "Alright. I know what we do."
[01:29.36] <Varaine> "Go through the ceiling, sprint across the topside walls to a spot above, tunnel down through, and destroy the targets immediately."
[01:30.02] * Akvan (177c2db4@ircip3.mibbit.com) Quit (Quit: ＋http://www.mibbit.com， ajax IRC Client)
[01:30.27] <+Mel> Yes, we'll go as far as we dare down this hallway, then go up.
[01:30.42] <Varaine> "Okay."
[01:30.56] <Varaine> You get to the end of the hallway, with the velcirath guards just around the bend.
[01:31.47] * Varaine gestures with magic to show the positions that you see on the map.
[01:32.21] <+Mel> "Alright, one passageway up, we move our ways up, then descend on the nexus location."
[01:32.29] * Varaine nods.
[01:32.30] <+Mel> "I just need to crack the pad."
[01:32.52] <Varaine> "Now!"
[01:33.02] * Mel uses stone shape and crawls up through the thin angled hole to get back on top of the wall.
[01:33.23] <Varaine> As you get to the top, there is a massive melee ensuing.
[01:33.33] * Mel is presently invisible
[01:33.52] <Varaine> A number of the constructs you left behind have climbed the walls, using the shattered statue to help.
[01:34.13] <+Mel> my resonant distortion is 50% plus, which means I am invisible until I physically attack someone
[01:35.02] <Varaine> Varaine disguises herself as a bug or something.
[01:35.13] <+Mel> I run to above the position of the nexus crystal.
[01:35.23] <Varaine> The melee is still several feet away, but it seems they're using the teleportation pad to bring in reinforcements from other sectors in the city.
[01:35.46] <Varaine> Then popping up from the tunnels through trap doors.
[01:35.54] * Mel kneels down and, using her mind eye to sync up her movements, tunnels down to the nexus crystal.
[01:36.08] <Varaine> Several constructs leap onto the back of a tarcirath, while another pulls apart a metal suit with its teeth.
[01:36.16] <Varaine> Okay!
[01:36.54] <Varaine> For her part, Varaine powers up a massive blast of violet flame which smashes through the ceiling, crashing chunks of rubble down onto the teleportation pad.
[01:37.25] * Mel takes advantage of the distraction to open up a hole to the crystal, and crushes it in her black gauntlet.
[01:37.33] <+Mel> Strength check?
[01:37.38] <Varaine> Yes.
[01:37.45] <+Mel> ?roll 1d20+6
[01:37.45] <%tBot> Mel: 8 ([2] +6)
[01:37.47] <+Mel> lolol
[01:37.55] <Varaine> Linecutter ASKS for it.
[01:38.04] * Mel obliges.
[01:38.11] <+Mel> Gauntlet can crush another day.
[01:38.14] <Varaine> As you land in the room, the tarcirath are too busy turning to look at varaine's massive firey death punch to notice what you are doing, until it is too late.
[01:38.58] <+Mel> *slash*
[01:39.02] <Varaine> {{Now, sisters!}} She empaths to her other teams elsewhere in the city.
[01:39.37] <Varaine> In coordination with several other groups that have taken towers, the crystal here is smashed at the same time as there.
[01:40.01] <Varaine> The arcane nexus bends...and whiplashes on the remaining towers...and snaps.
[01:40.03] <Varaine> And now...
[01:40.14] <Varaine> We will rewind a few minutes.
[01:40.34] <Varaine> Back to the melee on the courtyard and the walls.
[01:40.57] <+Repriever> "Shala."
[01:41.10] <+Repriever> "We're gonna need your help."
[01:41.18] * Shala looks to Repriever
[01:41.28] <+Shala> "Do you need a lift?"
[01:41.35] <+Repriever> "A big one."
[01:41.46] <Varaine> I'll let you guys decide what order to go in, she's essentially ceding initiative as she surveys the battlefield from above.
[01:41.51] * Repriever looks to the looming flying beast in the sky.
[01:42.13] * Shala begins to well up a massive burst of air and wind beneath Repriever
[01:42.20] <+Repriever> "Penumbra, now!"
[01:42.35] * Repriever kneels and presents the shield face to her.
[01:42.44] * Penumbra dashes forward, then leaps ontop of Repriever's shield
[01:42.46] * Shala releases the force of the essence
[01:43.07] * Repriever throws Penumbra ahead of him with his own arm's burst as Shala unleashes her power.
[01:43.36] <+Repriever> [we should be flying at the tarc, but penny much faster and ahead, so she attacks first]
[01:43.52] * Penumbra streamlines as she jets up into the air, then as she approaches her wings flare, directing her for the final few feet
[01:44.00] <+Penumbra> [Charge attack]
[01:44.10] <Varaine> The force of the Essence amplifies the burst of air from Repriever's arm a thousandfold, boosting them both into the air as Repriever pushes Penumbra's natural speed even faster.
[01:44.15] * You are now known as Selathrian
[01:44.29] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+18
[01:44.29] <%tBot> Penumbra: 32 ([14] +18)
[01:44.52] * Selathrian watches them approach in her draconic form, eyes widening...
[01:45.00] <Selathrian> [Does that include the penalty?]
[01:45.03] <+Penumbra> [yes]
[01:45.08] <Selathrian> You met her AC, good job
[01:45.14] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+29-2
[01:45.14] <%tBot> Repriever: 39 ([12] +27)
[01:45.18] <+Penumbra> ?roll 2d8+9+2d6
[01:45.18] <%tBot> Penumbra: 26 ([5 2] [5 5] +9)
[01:45.23] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d4
[01:45.23] <%tBot> Repriever: 1 [1]
[01:45.26] <+Repriever> [it is brilliant]
[01:45.34] <Selathrian> You both hit.
[01:45.36] * Penumbra strikes her hard, and then uses her final momentum to spin her around, giving Repriever an open target
[01:46.02] * Repriever is a hurling ball of glittering starlight as he strikes at speed.
[01:46.17] <+Repriever> ?roll 2d6+2d6+8+12+2
[01:46.17] <%tBot> Repriever: 41 ([5 3] [6 5] +22)
[01:46.39] <+Repriever> [oh wait 44]
[01:46.46] <+Repriever> [cause of nameless naming]
[01:46.58] <Selathrian> The both of you do 70....
[01:47.18] <+Repriever> [she'd taken 150ish already]
[01:47.32] <+Repriever> [do we get any extra boosts from speed?]
[01:47.45] <+Repriever> [cause we're anime rockets]
[01:48.09] <Selathrian> 135 already, plus this 70
[01:48.20] <Selathrian> She's pretty badly bloodied
[01:48.30] <Selathrian> But not down.
[01:48.46] * Repriever whizzes through the sky, drawing the blade through her as he passes by and up, slowing steadily back to a stall.
[01:49.00] <+Repriever> [kir shoots her?]
[01:49.39] <+Repriever> [he's going to miss probably, no definitely, he can't hit without a nat 20]
[01:49.57] <Selathrian> Kir tries to get a bead, but at this distance the combatants are too close.
[01:50.11] <Selathrian> As Repriever stalls, Selathrian eyes him, coughing blood.
[01:50.26] <Selathrian> Pierced multiple times, she half-shifts, drawing a golden blade as she becomes partially human but with velcirath wings.
[01:50.48] <+Repriever> [btw I do not have wings atm]
[01:51.00] <Selathrian> [oh trust me, I know]
[01:51.30] <+Repriever> "Come on!"
[01:51.46] <Selathrian> She strikes at Repriever, a golden, bloody angel of death.
[01:51.49] * Penumbra tries to track Repriever's position by his shout while facing down Selathrian
[01:51.58] <Selathrian> ?roll 1d20+29
[01:51.58] <%tBot> Selathrian: 41 ([12] +29)
[01:52.01] <+Repriever> [hit]
[01:52.17] <Selathrian> ?roll 4d6+18
[01:52.17] <%tBot> Selathrian: 30 ([2 2 4 4] +18)
[01:52.19] * Repriever is unable to defend successfully while falling, his shield parried.
[01:52.39] <Selathrian> After the initial stab, she lets gravity do the rest of her work, and turns to face Penumbra.
[01:53.04] * Repriever grits his teeth, tumbling.
[01:53.13] * Penumbra tries to keep position with repriever's slow fall and Selathrian's approach
[01:53.23] <+Repriever> "Kill her!"
[01:53.35] <Selathrian> She weaves, a few times, her blade flickering as she approaches, golden hair streaked with red.
[01:53.40] <+Penumbra> [I think she's about to unleash more attacks on me]
[01:53.48] <Selathrian> ?roll 1d20+29
[01:53.48] <%tBot> Selathrian: 37 ([8] +29)
[01:53.53] <+Repriever> [I'm just shouting out my wishes]
[01:53.54] <Selathrian> vs Penny's AC
[01:53.58] <+Penumbra> Hits
[01:54.03] <Selathrian> ?roll 1d20+29
[01:54.03] <%tBot> Selathrian: 32 ([3] +29)
[01:54.07] <+Penumbra> Hits
[01:54.10] <Selathrian> ?roll 1d20+27
[01:54.10] <%tBot> Selathrian: 38 ([11] +27)
[01:54.13] <+Penumbra> Hits
[01:54.14] <Selathrian> ?roll 1d20+27
[01:54.14] <%tBot> Selathrian: 31 ([4] +27)
[01:54.17] <+Penumbra> Hits
[01:54.37] <Selathrian> ?roll 4d8+30
[01:54.37] <%tBot> Selathrian: 50 ([1 7 7 5] +30)
[01:54.44] <+Repriever> [is that all of it?]
[01:54.46] <Selathrian> ?roll 2d6+6
[01:54.46] <%tBot> Selathrian: 10 ([2 2] +6)
[01:55.01] <+Penumbra> [fyi that didn't do any actual damage, depending on how it's split]
[01:55.22] <Selathrian> [Well that's one of the benefits of being buffed by a god machine]
[01:55.43] <+Penumbra> [I assume the 2d8's are one set of damage, and the 1d6's are the other set?]
[01:55.47] <Selathrian> The discrete hits are 23, 27, 10
[01:55.55] <+Penumbra> [Thanks]
[01:56.49] <+Repriever> [kill her?]
[01:56.51] * Selathrian looks at Penumbra, seemingly unaffected by her strikes.
[01:56.56] <+Penumbra> [If it's mine turn]
[01:57.01] <Selathrian> "You are a monster."
[01:57.29] <+Penumbra> "I've killed stronger."
[01:57.31] <Selathrian> Yeah, it's Penny's turn, unless Shala wants to chime in.
[01:57.42] <+Penumbra> Does Repriever give me a flank?
[01:57.51] <Selathrian> Repriever's falling back to the ground. :p
[01:58.05] <+Repriever> [yeah but am I close enough to give flank]
[01:58.20] <Selathrian> You can't flank while falling at terminal velocity!
[01:58.31] <+Repriever> [not with that attitude]
[01:59.11] * Penumbra follows her velocity, both of us descending with gravity to earth
[01:59.16] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+16
[01:59.17] <%tBot> Penumbra: 26 ([10] +16)
[01:59.20] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+16
[01:59.20] <%tBot> Penumbra: 36 ([20] +16)
[01:59.23] <+Penumbra> Crit threat
[01:59.27] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+16
[01:59.27] <%tBot> Penumbra: 30 ([14] +16)
[01:59.36] <Selathrian> She parries the first, but the second is a hit, it fails to confirm though.
[01:59.36] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+16
[01:59.36] <%tBot> Penumbra: 29 ([13] +16)
[01:59.44] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+11
[01:59.44] <%tBot> Penumbra: 15 ([4] +11)
[01:59.47] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+6
[01:59.47] <%tBot> Penumbra: 14 ([8] +6)
[01:59.50] <Selathrian> Miss, miss, miss.
[01:59.55] <+Penumbra> Damage.
[02:00.00] <+Penumbra> ?roll 2d8+2d6+9
[02:00.00] <%tBot> Penumbra: 25 ([8 4] [2 2] +9)
[02:00.13] <Selathrian> You strike her again.
[02:00.17] <Selathrian> But she is fast.
[02:00.21] <Selathrian> And good with her wings.
[02:00.33] * Penumbra keeps the speartip live but Selathrian's starting to cut off her angles of attack
[02:00.39] * Selathrian wipes blood from her mouth.
[02:00.42] <Selathrian> "And apparently..."
[02:00.43] * Penumbra tracks Repriever's fall
[02:00.47] * Repriever tunes his arm to storm clouds.
[02:00.48] * Penumbra touch of shadows self
[02:00.52] <Selathrian> "Failed to kill weaker."
[02:00.52] <+Penumbra> ?roll 6d6
[02:00.53] <%tBot> Penumbra: 15 [1 1 1 4 2 6]
[02:01.09] * Selathrian snaps her fingers, and vanishes in a torrent of golden flames.
[02:01.18] <+Penumbra> [Turn]
[02:01.29] <Selathrian> A sprinkle of blood falls as the vice-commander teleports away.
[02:01.35] * Repriever squints angrily at the empty sky.
[02:01.50] * Repriever rolls over and continues his free fall back to the wall.
[02:01.55] <Selathrian> However, the tide has started to decisively turn on the ground.
[02:02.11] * Penumbra approaches Repriever, and decelerates the two of them until they can land
[02:02.19] <Selathrian> The overwhelming press of hundreds of constructs flooding the courtyard has finally broken through the small number of ssethkar blocking the tarcirath casters.
[02:02.24] * You are now known as DM
[02:02.34] <+Repriever> "Fuck."
[02:02.38] <DM> They start to attack the tarciraths, and the luck bubble collapses.
[02:02.40] <+Repriever> "Almost."
[02:03.01] <DM> And without the bubble, the magic that let them hold out against incredible odds is gone.
[02:03.24] <DM> The tarcirath attempt to flee, but a hail of arrows from the Elydians along with the grasping fists of many constructs prevent them from taking flight.
[02:03.52] <DM> They are pulled down, slashed, heads crushed by blunt trauma.
[02:04.02] <DM> The second gate is opened.
[02:04.06] <+Penumbra> "We will meet her again, I expect."
[02:04.17] * Repriever checks the stab wound.
[02:04.26] <+Repriever> "Her blade hit me harder than you."
[02:04.45] * Repriever runs a bloodied storm-cloud finger over Penumbra's breastplate.
[02:04.58] <+Repriever> "Show me how to do that."
[02:05.13] <+Penumbra> "My barrier is flowing at full force. Remember when I taught Madei?"
[02:05.20] <DM> And then, further, at the main gates, there is a gout of violet flame.
[02:05.39] <DM> A small section of the walltop collapses.
[02:05.42] * Repriever checks over the scene, while talking to Penumbra.
[02:05.50] * Penumbra sees and directs their fall/glide in that direction
[02:06.01] <+Repriever> "When we make it out of here, we're hitting the sand."
[02:06.26] <+Penumbra> "The beach, or the desert?"
[02:06.29] <DM> And then, from the ashes, quickly followed by several ENRAGED tarciraths throwing off huge chunks of rubble, are Varaine and Melchior.
[02:06.40] * You are now known as Morningstar
[02:06.45] <+Mel> [WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP]
[02:06.51] <+Repriever> "Worse, the sparring pit."
[02:06.55] * Repriever smiles.
[02:06.57] <Morningstar> "Excellent work everyone. The city wards are officially down!"
[02:06.59] * Penumbra smiles
[02:07.09] * Morningstar speaks directly into your minds.
[02:07.25] * Repriever heals himself during this.
[02:07.30] <+Repriever> ?roll 7d6
[02:07.30] <%tBot> Repriever: 22 [2 4 1 5 5 2 3]
[02:07.34] <Morningstar> "Illian's assault is making good progress. No sign of either Lakhmul or Zathindra, yet."
[02:07.44] <+Penumbra> "Looks like this city's our element now, Selathrian."
[02:08.10] <+Repriever> "They're probably closer than we suspect."
[02:08.12] <+Penumbra> "Amutat, see if you can mold the earth and seal the passages between the districts and stymie their reinforcements.
[02:08.24] <Morningstar> "Excellent strategy."
[02:08.39] * You are now known as DM
[02:09.11] <DM> In groups and bunches, Morningstar now teleports in additional constructs by the hundreds and thousands.
[02:09.19] <+Penumbra> "She'll bring our challenge to Lakhmul himself."
[02:09.37] <DM> She even teleports units directly onto the walls to cover Varaine and Melchior's retreat from the few tarciraths that are left here.
[02:09.50] <+Repriever> "Varaine, illusions. Obscure us. Shala throw out some fog to keep their archers from getting a shot."
[02:10.02] <+Mel> [we're pretty far away right now]
[02:10.07] <+Repriever> [oh?]
[02:10.10] <+Mel> yeah
[02:10.12] <+Repriever> [I' tired]
[02:10.14] <+Mel> we're up at the nexus
[02:10.14] <DM> Seeing the tide turning, the pursuing tarciraths quickly become pursued, and the three of them teleport out
[02:10.26] <+Repriever> [my point to shala still stands]
[02:10.52] <+Penumbra> [It takes only 3 seconds to free fall 100 feet, but I've been slowing us down so we don't splatify]
[02:11.00] <+Mel> "Varaine, can you get us to the others?"
[02:11.03] <DM> On the horizon to the north, there is a bright reddish glow.
[02:11.05] * You are now known as Varaine
[02:11.22] <Varaine> "Sure thing. Well, it's a short, half-mile walk this way across the walltop if we want to conserve magic."
[02:11.37] <Varaine> The sky is no longer as clear as it was.
[02:11.42] <Varaine> But not because of any dust storm.
[02:11.55] <Varaine> In tiny scraps and clumps, falling from the sky...
[02:11.59] <Varaine> Is ash.
[02:12.10] <Varaine> The burning of Zarmahl has begun.
[02:12.13] * You are now known as DM
[02:12.18] <DM> End session!