Eventually we'll be well positioned to hunt down that powerful Devil that's been hunting Siduri. He'll be an excellent book.
 
[X] Goldfish

If we're going to go after the wisps, could we at least do it without making a broadway show out of what are essentially glorified fey glowsticks?
 
Summonings Fel and Fair

Thirtieth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

Chamber of Benign Summoning, Shadow Tower, Sorcerer's Deep


Fire roared around the circle arcane oils burning true, not to bind, but rather to call forth to the golden winged chorus, three more singers to heal and to guide, to mend and to teach. One hundred and sixty one, Lya remembered, Not a round number certainly but one that would bring much aid to those sorely in need of it; the poor, the lost... the orphaned. She spoke the tongue of fire fairly, they all remarked upon it when she conversed with them and formally sealed the agreements in the name of the crown, though of course these were not hard bargains to make. Velen's kin wanted to give what aid they could to a world filled with hope and fear in equal measure, to tip the scales true. Still, there is no denying the fact that I'm better at talking to fire spirits than people, at least without magic. Once the thought would have been bitter, now it was simply another part of herself, no more and no less strange than any other.

Summoned 161 Phoenixes (483 HD)

***​

In another far more warded chamber, a different Lya, and yet the same, sat face to face with a conjurer trained in the Academy of Chains, in whom flowed the blood of Baator, and whom many there would see cast into ruin as she would see them. It had clearly not been comfortable for Siduri to share her infernal lore over a cup of Myrish Black tea. Oath or no, the habits of a lifetime did not break easily, and for Siduri of Dis those habits were of distrust and domination. Here too a sort of hope was born, though darker by far than phoenix' song. The hope of vengeance, and beneath that the hope that she would finally be able to stop running. Although she suspected neither sorceress would find the comparison flattering, Siduri reminded Lya a little of Melisandre and not just in their power over flame.


"So you are not entirely sure on the names of the imps since you never called them forth..." Lya began.

"Cowardly, untrustworthy, and weak, what is there to summon?" Siduri shrugged. "I made use of devils for their arcane abilities and their strength in battle. Imps, however, have little more than the skill to boast and flatter." A small sigh escaped her lips. "I've seen far too many fall to their blandishments over the years. I realize it's hard to fathom knowing what you know, being where you are, but it's disturbingly easy to come to trust an imp, especially one made into a familiar. There were tales... Ah, never mind, you don't want to hear old Disian lies do you?"

"I'm curious about many things, and even lies can reveal something about the teller or the place they were told," Lya replied sincerely.

"There were rumors in the academy that a sufficiently skilled or strong will could tear his or her imp familiar free of the grasp of Hell. It made a sweet lie for those who had already invested blood and soul-fire into the bond."

"i see..." probably more than you want me to, Lya thought. Would Siduri ever consider visiting an archon mind healer, or one of their mortal students once they were fully trained? she wondered.

***​

"...we need healers everywhere really, but what we need even more than that are teachers," in her other body Lya motioned to a copy of the Imperial Times. "We have been trying to spread knowledge of the dangers of the world, but you can only do so much without a teacher. Ideally everyone who knows low magic rituals should also know a little about the nature of spirits, fey, and fiends."

"You teach such things in orphanages too?" one of the three spirits asked.

"Orphans receive some of the most comprehensive education the state can provide. They can use the leg up in life and the simple fact that they are not expected to work for their keep, as most children outside the nobility and merchant families are expected to do, means they have the time to study."

"A kindly deed," the phoenix bowed slightly before setting off out the window and into its new life. A pity she would not be able to gain such affinity for the spirits of earth from the Old Gods, as their kinship to stone was at once removed, through root and soil. Perhaps in the libraries of the Opaline Vault there were more answers, if she could find the time or make it.

OOC: I hope the structure here is not too confusing, I'm trying to get across how having two bodies feels to Lya. She is in both places emotionally intellectually and in every other respect. She is not just splitting her attention as though between two drones. Not yet edited.
Here's some more edits to the chapter, @DragonParadox.

I liked this chapter a lot, DP. Having both Lya's engaged in business at the same time, and swapping between their POVs, was really neat.
 
@Goldfish Did you edit sheets for Lya and Xor to include the new spells they learned this month? Or wait, did we not decide which ones they picked yet? I think the should learn five spells this and next month too, so... it doesn't really matter which order they gain them.
 
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Keep in mind he is not a common Unnila. Going for capture not kill would make the encounter considerably more dangerous. There is also the possibility he would not be entirely contained in book form.
Just kiling him won't help much either, as a Duke of Hell he'll propably reform without loosing rank.

Killing him on his homeground is not feasible, so capture and throw at Yss remains a classic for a reason.
 
@Goldfish Did you edit sheets for Lya and Xor to include the new spells they learned this month? Or wait, did we not decide which ones they picked yet? I think the should learn five spells this and next month too, so... it doesn't really matter which order they gain them.
Haven't edited them in yet. Was planning to add these:

Lya:
Xor:
Lya needs several of the listed spells for crafting purposes, and Xor needs non-Enchantment spells to fill out his repertoire.

I definitely agree they should each learn at least five more spells this coming month, too.
 
Haven't edited them in yet. Was planning to add these:

Lya:
Xor:
Lya needs several of the listed spells for crafting purposes, and Xor needs non-Enchantment spells to fill out his repertoire.

I definitely agree they should each learn at least five more spells this coming month, too.
What scrolls are best for her to be scribing for distribution among other mages? Greater Black Tentacles?
 
OK it looks pretty definitive. Vote closed. Rumors it is.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Jan 4, 2020 at 1:18 PM, finished with 84 posts and 18 votes.

  • [X] Learn more rumors from Yi Ti and the Summer Islands
    [X] Plan Not losing the Spotlight
    -[X] Preparation and setting the stage: gather Dany, Glyra and the Roiling Chaos, divinate everything form the Hag and the location.
    --[X] Any servant or pets from her should be either captured or killed beforehand, without her knowing about it.
    -[X] Execution: Viserys and Dany will remain invisible and concealed by all our means at our disposal. The Roiling Chaos will sneak into the hut and play with the hag's mind: they will move objects, enter and go out as little more than shades moving on the corner of her vision. Then they will go further, and start smashing objects, Telekineses from Viserys will be used to smash pottery and glass, the wind will blow leaving a terrifying sound, doors and windows slap open and close, and a creeping fog will start to fill the whole place, while more definite shadows will dart in and out and start harassing her. When the Hag is sufficiently desperate, she will fall with a Grease Spell and any liberal pushes necessary, maybe even Black Tentacles if it is really needed. Then, the lanters holding the Wisps will fall and utter darkness will fill the hut. And then, they shall hear a bargain whispered in a dozen creepy children voices:
    --[X] A bargain was made. Those who in rage rejected help shall receive it anyway. They shall go free into the wild. With no light, their captor will go blind. Yet if they don't seek who offer this, they shall find themselves in the same prison, under another jailor. Seek the crimson and black scales.
    ---[X] Translation: we keep our word, and we will cast Blindness on the Hag after freeing you. Then if you don't go back to us and offer fealty, you will find themselves as lamps in custody of our prisons and Preceptor Archons.
    [X] Abstain
    [X] Learn more rumors from Yi Ti and the Summer Islands
 
Speaking of magic to distribute for the army, how do you guys feel about Steam Ray Fusillade as either an emplacement enchantment or alpha strike scroll? It'd be pretty expensive, but it works just as well on water as land, and seems perfect to fill the roll of our steam cannons underwater.
 
Speaking of magic to distribute for the army, how do you guys feel about Steam Ray Fusillade as either an emplacement enchantment or alpha strike scroll? It'd be pretty expensive, but it works just as well on water as land, and seems perfect to fill the roll of our steam cannons underwater.
The expense would be a significant hurdle (9,826 IM for 3/Day at 13th level :o ), and one which would probably make it something we wouldn't use, but the real issue is the range. At 13th caster level, the range would only be 55 feet, which is only good for very close range engagements.

We could enchant 54 Launchers for the same price, each of which would have a range of 440 feet.
If we need more options for capturing enemies alive, there's these:



If not for us, it could help the lesser teams contribute to the Larder. Maybe get a Rod of Merciful Spell, it's got no level adjustment.
We've made occasional use of the Merciful Spell metamagic over the years. There's nothing like dropping a Merciful, Searing, Agonizing Firebrand on a bunch of enemies.

We burn you with magically painful resistance defeating super!fire...but gently! :V
 
Canon Omake: The Spice of Magic Part VII
The Spice of Magic Part VII
Thirtieth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC
<<<Previous Next>>>

Baelon Dortaris, a living contradiction, the manservant by his side had decided, a former slave garbed in armor of true silver as a victorious champion riding out onto the field to claim heads for their sworn lord, or perhaps a knight from the tales as it was in the lands of Sunset. Not so many former masters who did not cling to tradition or avoided sneering in contempt of freemen would be so gracious or so trusting, but then Ioqoro had never been a mere slave newly freed.

He had known Master Baelon since he was knee-height tyke, paid no more mind by his late father than if they were completing their lessons and doing nothing to embarrass his family. He had no friends, no interests that had not been picked for him from a young age, and yet he had turned out... strangely. Not to Ioqoro's dislike in the least, and while it was true that he had some of the same pride and grand dreams that many of his peers shared, it was tempered by knowledge of the wider world and the knowings of many disparate peoples, from journeying out into it yes, but also curiosity and never being satisfied with taking the words of his elders at face value, a manner and bearing gained by being unafraid to ask questions, to his tutors, even to Ioqoro, who Baelon had kept their confidence with a secret, lest they be separated before he had even come of age.

And the manservant did not begrudge it, because while he had come to take a sort of perverse pleasure in 'corrupting' the vaunted scion of House Dortaris, the first Lord of it which had set him to be trained as a mere extension of their will, he also had come to love the boy, like as an elder to his younger brother, one who had become the kind of young man who would treat a slave snatched by a gang of Tyroshi slavers in the Summer Isles with courtesy and respect if not the kindness they had wished.

Even as masks had been switched and roles changed, to the day he was a man grown and thoughtlessly leaping across a gangway to yank a cabin boy out of the way of a blight water-tainted pirate.

That, likely, had done more to guide Ioqoro's decision to remain in Baelon Dortaris' service when the Legion had come to take him away along with the other servants. Baelon had smiled then and wished him luck, thrust gold and silver in his hands and tried to look strong despite the watery smile he had born.

So no, not a traditional or virtuous lord to fight for and defend, but one who saw more of what the world could be than riches and glories wrung from the sweat and blood of the meek. One who loved sailing the wide open seas and sharing song and speaking of poetry and folktales, who liked to see others rewarded when they went beyond what was asked of them.

So he knew when the subtle shift in demeanor had come over the captain of the Basilisk's Fang, knew by his stance that he was knocked off-kilter. He asked him as much when they were within the confines of the captain's cabin. "Was he as you expected, my Lord?"

Baelon threw his head back with a laugh once they were in private quarters. "Not at all!" he leaped to reply.

He tilted his head to one side, considering the question further. "But I suppose somewhat," they admitted, yet another contradiction to add to the pile, Ioqoro thought. "He had an... energy about him. Constant, shifting and calculating. Like he was already fifty moves ahead of us, and thinking about what he was going to have for dinner a month from now." They shook their head. "Just swinging around when we finally get our heads out of our asses and offering to burn down enough of the jungle to build fortifications and give us land to grow magic plants in. You know, in between conquering realms and building a trade empire." He smiled in good grace despite the slight hitch in his voice, while Ioqoro poured him a cup of tea.

"You find yourself inadequate?" Baelon snorted at Ioqoro's question, the two sharing a knowing glance that the King had definitely recognized their odd relationship, that neither was particularly bothered by small breaches in decorum in private company even though both fell into the same motions when out in public.

"In comparison to what, generous King Viserys? They really weren't lying about that, were they?" He said wonderingly. "No, I'm happy to take advantage of the noble largesse, but I can see why there's all the bustling and excitement in the camps of his supporters. While enemies or those with more greed or ambition than sense might begrudge him for it, those who are willing to work within the range he has set surely find it refreshing to follow someone who isn't an incompetent puppet." He said the last darkly, likely thinking of his own father, Ioqoro thought but did not say. Something only time could heal, even if the older aide had made peace with it already.

"I want to thank him," Baelon told him, eventually, after a silence had lingered too long, tone serious even if his face still bore a light and easy smile.

"For what, my Lord?" Ioqoro put down the delicate tea set on a tray in front of them.

"For giving me the gift of my first friendship in truth," they replied, lifting his cup as he met Ioqoro's eye, neither having to elaborate on what he meant. "Not all the world we have been given was as expected, one where wolves greater in size than ordinary and covered in vines and grass can talk with the voices of men, where mages can ply their skills like an honest trade rather than like Wisdom Armandir, hide their expertise behind veils and secrecy and always afraid of the ignorance of those around them or the dark intent of their fellows, that they can find no honest company and only dishonest work." He leaned back in his seat behind a desk carved in the Myrish style. "I..." they hesitated.

"Your father was not a kind man," Ioqoro replied suddenly, the words coming easier to his lips than ever before. "But, miraculously, he raised a good one."

Baelon let out a shaky breath. "Then that's one good thing he's done for the world then, eh?"

"Yes," Ioqoro replied softly, staring out the windows of reinforced glass over their shoulder, toward the docks where a man had appeared, dressed in seemingly unassuming garb, a great man who had gifted Ioqoro and Baelon more than he could ever realize, more than even gold and treasure or gems, glory or fame, opportunity or fortune.

Would he ever realize it? Ioqoro thought.

Perhaps.
 
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Speaking of magic to distribute for the army, how do you guys feel about Steam Ray Fusillade as either an emplacement enchantment or alpha strike scroll? It'd be pretty expensive, but it works just as well on water as land, and seems perfect to fill the roll of our steam cannons underwater.
We actually have Steam Projectors already. They work underwater or as close-in point defense.
 
Maybe Battering Blast cannons? Can we get the CL high enough to really exploit it?

Also, there's this:


It's a neat low level spell that penetrates various forms of DR as you level.


An illusion that boosts Diplomacy and Intimidate, and penalizes acting against you. Just have Viserys disguise himself as himself.


Maybe this has use in our growing industrial efforts.


Roll twice on brain stuff.
 
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The Spice of Magic Part VII
Thirtieth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC
<<<Previous

Baelon Dortaris, a living contradiction, the manservant by his side had decided, a former slave garbed in armor of true silver as a victorious champion riding out onto the field to claim heads for their sworn lord, or perhaps a knight from the tales as it was in the lands of Sunset. Not so many former masters who did not cling to tradition or avoided sneering in contempt of freemen would be so gracious or so trusting, but then Ioqoro had never been a mere slave newly freed.

He had known Master Baelon since he was knee-height tyke, paid no more mind by his late father than if they were completing their lessons and doing nothing to embarrass his family. He had no friends, no interests that had not been picked for him from a young age, and yet he had turned out... strangely. Not to Ioqoro's dislike in the least, and while it was true that he had some of the same pride and grand dreams that many of his peers shared, it was tempered by knowledge of the wider world and the knowings of many disparate peoples, from journeying out into it yes, but also curiosity and never being satisfied with taking the words of his elders at face value, a manner and bearing gained by being unafraid to ask questions, to his tutors, even to Ioqoro, who Baelon had kept their confidence with a secret, lest they be separated before he had even come of age.

And the manservant did not begrudge it, because while he had come to take a sort of perverse pleasure in "corrupting" the vaunted scion of House Dortaris, the first Lord of it which had set him to be trained as a mere extension of their will, he also had come to love the boy, like as an elder to his younger brother, one who had become the kind of young man who would treat a slave snatched by a gang of Tyroshi slavers in the Summer Isles with courtesy and respect if not the kindness they had wished.

Even as masks had been switched and roles changed, to the day he was a man grown and thoughtlessly leaping across a gangway to yank a cabin boy out of the way of a water-tainted pirate.

That, likely, had done more to guide Ioqoro's decision to remain in Baelon Dortaris' service when the Legion had come to take him away along with the other servants. Baelon had smiled then and wished him luck, thrust gold and silver in his hands and tried to look strong despite the watery smile he had born.

So no, not a traditional or virtuous lord to fight for and defend, but one who saw more of what the world could be than riches and glories wrung from the sweat and blood of the meek. One who loved sailing the wide open seas and sharing song and speaking of poetry and folktales, who liked to see others rewarded when they went beyond what was asked of them.

So he knew when the subtle shift in demeanor had come over the captain of the Basilisk's Fang, knew by his stance that he was knocked off-kilter. He asked him as much when they were within the confines of the captain's cabin. "Was he as you expected, my Lord?"

Baelon threw his head back with a laugh once they were in private quarters. "Not at all!" he leaped to reply.

He tilted his head to one side, considering the question further. "But I suppose somewhat," they admitted, yet another contradiction to add to the pile, Ioqoro thought. "He had an... energy about him. Constant, shifting and calculating. Like he was already fifty moves ahead of us, and thinking about what he was going to have for dinner a month from now." They shook their head. "Just swinging around when we finally get our heads out of our asses and offering to burn down enough of the jungle to build fortifications and give us land to grow magic plants in. You know, in between conquering realms and building a trade empire." He smiled in good grace despite the slight hitch in his voice, while Ioqoro poured him a cup of tea.

"You find yourself inadequate?" Baelon snorted at Ioqoro's question, the two sharing a knowing glance that the King had definitely recognized their odd relationship, that neither was particularly bothered by small breaches in decorum in private company even though both fell into the same motions when out in public.

"In comparison to what, generous King Viserys? They really weren't lying about that, were they?" He said wonderingly. "No, I'm happy to take advantage of the noble largesse, but I can see why there's all the bustling and excitement in the camps of his supporters. While enemies or those with more greed or ambition than sense might begrudge him for it, those who are willing to work within the range he has set surely find it refreshing to follow someone who isn't an incompetent puppet." He said the last darkly, likely thinking of his own father, Ioqoro thought but did not say. Something only time could heal, even if the older aide had made peace with it already.

"I want to thank him," Baelon told him, eventually, after a silence had lingered too long, tone serious even if his face still bore a light and easy smile.

"For what, my Lord?" Ioqoro put down the delicate tea set on a tray in front of them.

"For giving me the gift of my first friendship in truth," they replied, lifting his cup as he met Ioqoro's eye, neither having to elaborate on what he meant. "Not all the world we have been given was as expected, one where wolves greater in size than ordinary and covered in vines and grass can talk with the voices of men, where mages can ply their skills like an honest trade rather than like Wisdom Armandir, hide their expertise behind veils and secrecy and always afraid of the ignorance of those around them or the dark intent of their fellows, that they can find no honest company and only dishonest work." He leaned back in his seat behind a desk carved in the Myrish style. "I..." they hesitated.

"Your father was not a kind man," Ioqoro replied suddenly, the words coming easier to his lips than ever before. "But, miraculously, he raised a good one."

Baelon let out a shaky breath. "Then that's one good thing he's done for the world then, eh?"

"Yes," Ioqoro replied softly, staring out the windows of reinforced glass over their shoulder, toward the docks where a man had appeared, dressed in seemingly unassuming garb, a great man who had gifted Ioqoro and Baelon more than he could ever realize, more than even gold and treasure or gems, glory or fame, opportunity or fortune.

Would he ever realize it? Ioqoro thought.

Perhaps.
Haha, it can take a bit of time to recover from a drive-by Dragoning, eh, Baelon?

yank a cabin boy out of the way of a water-tainted pirate.
I'm not sure what you meant here, but I think some words may be missing?
 
Maybe Battering Blast cannons? Can we get the CL high enough to really exploit it?

Also, there's this:


It's a neat low level spell that penetrates various forms of DR as you level.
Both are great spells, but they're limited by both their range and the necessity of a higher caster level to be effective.

Unfortunately, it's just not practical to use most offensive spells to make enchanted ranges weaponry.
 
Haha, it can take a bit of time to recover from a drive-by Dragoning, eh, Baelon?


I'm not sure what you meant here, but I think some words may be missing?
Added the word "blight" to make it clearer. Ioqoro has no advanced knowledge of such things, other than the fact that it involved the Squids. After that you sort of wave your hands and go "devil turn from my door" about it.
 
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