Alysendra's page

I was also only here for the end, but it was a blast! Thanks for running, and thanks for everyone having such interesting characters!

Alysendra watches the castle settle onto the hill, already thinking ahead to the future. Who will defend that castle from giants? How will we make sure it never flies again?

She accompanies the party to Trunau, visiting Wren's shop and the dwarves' house. She searches for her father, who she left here to convalesce, only to hear he left several days after she did. She remains near Trunau, and offers to help defend the castle as a continuation of her debt to Trunau. She serves as a scout and patrols the area around the castle, always alert for signs the giants were returning.

Decades pass, and eventually Alysendra retires from active service with the knights. She keeps in touch with all of her former colleagues, through magical and mundane means. Farin, Wren, and the dwarves receive monthly letters from Alysendra that always seem to find them no matter where they are.

One beautiful spring day, as she rested outside the castle walls, her old friend Penthae came to call.

"Hello, old friend, it's good to see you. But I have not summoned you, indeed I have not for many a year," she greeted the azata.

"True, Mistress, but I have come nonetheless. You have labored long, and deserve rest. You did not summon me. The Lady of Stars herself sent me, to visit you one last time on Golarion, and to bring you home."

When they found her a few hours later, Alysendra's spirit had departed, but her face still bore a smile. The small envelope in her hand was inscribed with a single name. The people of Trunau would ensure that it was delivered, a last act of gratitude for one who had spent so long as a bulwark against the evil that surrounded them.

If the dragons really are attacking the town and not the castle, Alsyendra teleports to the ground and starts fighting dragons and healing townsfolk.

Heads-up, I'm at a con this weekend and have a freelance deadline Monday night, so I might no be active until after that. Alysendra's main concern at the moment is preventing any civilian deaths, so she'll either fight giants or help the others control the dragons or whatever is most useful.

Alysendra teleports to wherever Farin is and tells him to instruct the dragons to not hurt ANYONE but giants.

I think Farin was taking the dragons inside the castle, not down on the ground...

Can we send the dragons down to attack the giants, while we take care of the castle?

"If this castle sank beneath the waves, not much inside would survive," Alysendra notes. We definitely don't want this to come down anywhere where future tyrant kings can get it.

She gathers the group together so we can discuss without the dragons listening.

"If we sent all the dragons inside, and then blew the whole thing up with that crown thing, we'd solve a whole lot of problems for everyone for a long time," she whispers.

Can you order them to fly to Akiton or something, so they suffocate? Red dragons'r bad.

Alysendra raises an eyebrow at, "...Such magics are evil..." but stays silent.

Alysendra seems taken aback by the idea.

"They're red dragons... they'll all grow up to be tyrants themselves," she begins. "Releasing them will let that happen, and release the big dragon whose essence is in the orb itself."

At Kraygan's words, she changes tack. "Let's deal with the castle first... if these dragons are on our side against the giants, let's release them from the orb's control, and ask them to finish any giants inside while we fly it to Kraygan's suggested lake. We should keep the orb just in case they decide they'd rather have the castle them,selves. once we sink this thing and rest, we can destroy the orb and the crown."

Doh! Alysendra has true seeing up, but Penthae doesn't.

Alysendra watches in horror as the dragons as head towards Farin's position. When Farin appears riding the lead dragon, with the rest in formation behind him, her jaw drops.

"Farin?! How... " She turns to look at the others, stupefied.

She waits to hear the dragon's response, but she is already thinking ahead. This castle needs to be destroyed, so it can't be used again. So does that orb... it would be too tempting to anyone who kept it just for defense. But maybe that can wait until we rest.

Would destroying the orb release the other dragon whose essence is in it?

"Farin, I hope you know how to use that thing," Alysendra mutters. "Penthae, go get Farin and bring him back here. I'll cover you." She pulls out her rod of reach and readies her searing light spell to target any dragon that is about to attack Farin, or that comes to attack Penthae or her.

Hmm, I was going to suggest we destroy the orb and convince the dragon to back to sleep somewhere, but with all those other dragons coming, I'm not sure. Who is Naximara again?

Pain: Missed you, too. And GM Tyranius, I hear! :(

If I see Farin going for the orb, then I'll cast break enchantment on the dragon. However, if Farin decides he wants to not die, I would greater teleport to the orb and grab it, then fly back up.

Questions: How high are we?

And what does "wiping the strong magic from the dragon's mind" entail? Dispel magic? Break enchantment?

Alysendra dismisses the mist so the giant can see her. She also uses her rod of quicken to cast a quickened locate object, then drops the rod and draws her rod of reach. Looking for the orb, range of 920'

"Surrender, giant!" Alysendra shouts. "You've lost your allies, and your army will soon see this castle fall from the sky. We have no quarrel with the mighty Akazerath, but I suspect Akazerath may have a quarrel with you. Using foul magic to control such a creature against its will - unforgivable!"

Do we know anything about Akazerath that might help me convince him to just eat the giant, take his treasure, and leave?

Nicely done, Kraygan!

Alysendra moves and casts heal on Spirit, bringing him back to full health. A quickened obscuring mist hopefully provides some cover from the dragon.

I expect Rand will be there as well, but not me, alas. Enjoy the con!

Sorry for being AWOL. Nice rolling! It's too bad I switched targets from the witch to the Storm Tyrant, 140 damage might have finished off Nalbia. Oh well. <shrug>

Alysendra draws and throws her starknife in one smooth motion at the witch repeatedly. Only after the first throw does she wonder if her blinkback belt will be able to return the blade to her...

+1 starknife, bane, favored enemy, haste, bardsong, range, cover: 1d20 + 24 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 24 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 2 - 4 = 31damage: 1d4 + 10 + 2d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 + (3, 1) + 2 + 2 = 20 plus 1d6 ⇒ 5 acid

+1 starknife, bane, favored enemy, haste, bardsong, range, cover: 1d20 + 24 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 24 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 2 - 4 = 30damage: 1d4 + 10 + 2d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + (2, 5) + 2 + 2 = 24 plus 1d6 ⇒ 4 acid

+1 starknife, bane, favored enemy, haste, bardsong, range, cover: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 19 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 2 - 4 = 27damage: 1d4 + 10 + 2d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + (4, 5) + 2 + 2 = 27 plus 1d6 ⇒ 4 acid

+1 starknife, bane, favored enemy, haste, bardsong,range, cover: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 14 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 2 - 4 = 27damage: 1d4 + 10 + 2d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + (4, 3) + 2 + 2 = 24 plus 1d6 ⇒ 5 acid

"Wren, any chance you could get that giant windbag out of the way?"

[oops, forgot my saves vs. fear...[/ooc]

Alysendra, bonus vs. fear: 1d20 + 19 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 19 + 4 = 25
Penthae: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Penthae is shaken, but Alysendra is too focused on the impending battle to be disturbed by a mere ancient red dragon.

Everyone remember their resist electricity 30...

Reflex save: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 1 = 15 Whew!

Alysendra laughs contemptuously at the giant. "Storm King? Ha! I've felt more electricity from a Kaer Magan prostitute! " Then she quickly glares at those nearby, emphasizing the non-wisdom of asking.

She uses her rod to cast quickened dispel magic at the witch, and then casts debilitating portent on her as well.
Caster level check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

EDIT: Had already cast the spell I first listed, so switched.

"Well, we have the power source of the castle, and they can't keep up with us forever," Alysendra states. She heads to the place where the Storm Tyrant was steering from, and tries to make sense of it.

Fort save: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25
Penthae Fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

I can't tell which token is who... and what's the little green one? And are the controls of this castle still where the Storm tyrant was?

Alysendra watches the giants jump out the window, and sees the dragon, and then casts protection from fire on herself. She then uses her hasted fly speed and dimensional hop, if necessary, to get to where the castle controls are.

Alysendra flies forward to get batter view, and then calls upon Desna's aid. A whirling wall of starknives appears in a line down the center of the corridor, slashing everything in their path. She fervently hopes this will disrupt the giants' concentration, since they now have only half the space they need.

blade barrier damage, Ref DC 23: 13d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 4, 6, 2, 4, 1, 4, 4, 1, 1, 1, 6) = 44

GM SN: So, the Reflex save lets them move out of the barrier's path, to one side or another, but with their size I'm thinking that will at least squeeze them? Although, if Desna smiles, they won't be able to avoid it at all...

Alysendra retrieves and drinks her potion of remove blindness/deafness.

Fort DC23: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 16 + 2 = 19 Of course...

Alysendra jumps as the crack of thunder ruptures her eardrums. The last sound I'll ever hear? she muses, the memory of Penthae's celestial encouragement already fading.

No more bard song for me.

temp hp: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
resist cold, electricity, fire 30
protection from evil
freedom of movement
true seeing
haste
invisibility
heroes' feast
blessing of fervor - AC bonus
fly - from boots
displacement
ironskin +6
deathwatch (constant)
feather fall (constant)

Alysendra uses her displacement special ability as her rod to cast a quickened ironskin, then moves forward.

heroes' feast for breakfast, followed by scrying on the Storm Tyrant to see where he is. Assuming he's where we think he is close by, then communal protection from evil and communal resist energy (fire, electricty, cold) 30 on everyone, true seeing and freedom of movement on me, shield of faith +4 on the yaks and me. Then summon Penthae.

Resting somewhere safer than this room, and then coming back to this room to tackle the storm tyrant.

Actually, I was advocating just resting somewhere, then doing this...

"What are we looking for? Allies? Gold? Lunch?" Alys mutters in exasperation. "The object of our mission is literally on the other side of that door, and we're going to poke around in his closets instead?" She blushes, realizing she's let her emotions too close to the surface.

"Sorry. It's just... we don't need to kill every giant here. Just one - the Storm Tyrant. Yes, he's got a dragon - who doesn't want to work with him, who's controlled by a magical orb. Maybe we can get the orb, or block the control, or something to even the odds. But why risk raising the alarm and having the whole place come down on us in the meantime, just to look around? We can hole up and rest, regain our strength, and then return to finish this fight."

@GM SN: I'm sure one of the dwarves destroyed it... I think you only gave us the location of the Storm Tyrant beforehand to be nice, when I tried to intervene.

"I'm all for resting, Wren. I memorized spells this morning to get back to the yak and raise it from the dead, so I don't have much left to go against the Storm Tyrant." She shakes her head. "But where would be safe, at this point?"

Penthae makes Alysendra invisible, and then Alysendra wanders along the floor by the staircase, to get a better look at the southeastern way.

Alysendra helps sort any of the treasure, but watches the southeast which seems to lead to the area where we last thought the Storm Tyrant was controlling the castle from (yellow dot to the southeast).

Maybe Farrin can try and lcoate the Storm Tyrant again? ... or did we destroy that thing?

"Wow, that's... a lot of stuff," Alysendra muses. "Some of it might even be useful right now." She will take the wand of air walk and the scroll of word of recall, the only items she can use, unless someone else wants them.

Usually you have to designate the location of the word of recall when you prepare the spell; does that mean there is a specific location already inscribed in the scroll? If so, can I tell where?

Alysendra helps Wren examine the room’s auras with detect magic

Alysendra moves forward at Wren's suggestion. "Yes, let's go on - normally I wouldn't want a dragon behind me, but this could be an illusion again. Besides, we're probably not coming back anyway."

Alysendra pushes forward, trying to head up the stairs to where Farrin felt the Storm Tyrant.

"Dragon!" Alysendra shouts unnecessarily, and casts protection from energy (fire) on herself.

Alysendra puts her hand on Kraygan's arm thoughtfully. "We can "ring the doorbell" if you'd like, but before we confront a major foe I want to make sure that if things go south, we will be able to detonate that thing and bring the citadel down." She looks around, and her eyes settle back on Wren. "What do we need to do to destroy the citadel and make it crash? Someone needs to be ready to do that at a moment's notice, or we run the risk of being defeated and giving it back to the Storm Tyrant."

Sorry, I don't recall exactly the details of what we can do with the globe we took from the engine. Let's make sure eveyrone knows, and be ready to do it if we have to."

Once that is handled, Alysendra will summon Penthae and wait for Kraygan to sound our swan song on his horn.

"Well, then," Alysendra smiles. "Why don't you tell them how you really feel, Wren?" She prepares to follow the dwarves up the indicated staircase.

Alysendra's ears perk up at the mention of a dragon.

Alysendra follows the group, musing over Wren's words. Yes, we should choose the time and place for us to die... when and where it can do the most good. I hope that wasn't in the past...

Alysendra's eyes widen at Kraygan's cautious approach, but she says nothing. She smiles at Wren's paranoid attitude towards the dragon statue, although she does keep her eye on it as they move on.

"Up there is the balcony we were shot at from, yes? I doubt the giants are still there, they probably ran off to summon help, but we should check it out. It is a quick way back down to ground level, should we need one."

Everyone can fly, right? Downward. At least once.

Alysendra waits for Farin's return. If he doesn't come back quickly, she'll activate her boots and fly up the ladder to check on him.

Alysendra shakes her head at the ferocity of the onslaught. "Were these the same giants who fired on us from the balcony?" she muses aloud. "Or are there more of them ahead?" She casts detect magic, almost idly examining the giants and their surroundings for anything useful.

Alysendra moves to the center of the room, positining herself so all of her allies - and the red frost giant - are within 30' of her. Are these 15' squares?

Desna, please aid your servants in their time of need, and hasten that one's meeting with you!" she calls, pointing at the red giant.

channel energy: 7d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 6, 6, 4, 6) = 27 - red giant takes same amount of fire damage (DC 20 for half damage)

Alysendra moves in after the haste spell goes off, and then hurls her starknife at the remaining giant.

starknife, haste, giant bane, range: 1d20 + 20 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 20 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 38damage: 1d4 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 10 + (6, 1) = 19 plus 1d6 ⇒ 5 acid
starknife, haste, giant bane, range: 1d20 + 20 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 20 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 25damage: 1d4 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 10 + (5, 2) = 20 plus 1d6 ⇒ 3 acid
starknife, haste, giant bane, range: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 18damage: 1d4 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 10 + (6, 1) = 20 plus 1d6 ⇒ 4 acid
starknife, haste, giant bane, range: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 25damage: 1d4 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 10 + (5, 4) = 21 plus 1d6 ⇒ 2 acid
starknife, haste, giant bane, range: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 26damage: 1d4 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 10 + (2, 5) = 21 plus 1d6 ⇒ 4 acid
confirm crit?: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 14

"Hmmm, four storm giants... sounds like a significant threat. Farin is right, let's try to draw them out. It's going to be hard to charge with this table here, but Kraygan and Jorgan should be able to make short work of them one by one."

Assuming she finishes her speech before the dwarves charge, she'll take position in front of the door and get ready.

"Back to the spiral stairs?" Alysendra suggests, pointing to their map. Yellow arrow [b]"That should take us up a floor, without being shot all the way."