The Nature of Prophecy (IC)

[MikelaC1]

Each time the door is opened and closed, a new hallway appears to the eyes of the amazons, there doesnt appear to be a sound when things change so its not a case of walls shifting, at least physically.

[Ridai]

Daciana opens and closes the door repeatedly, always marking the ground of the new hallway with an increasing number (should none be there already) and trying to see what hallway layouts reveal themselves.

[MikelaC1]

3 or 4 different hallway setups reveal themselves but on the last opening, the revealed hallway looks very much like the one that the group came down from the entrance room.

[Ridai]

They head down the corridor and if they arrive at the entrance, Daciana opens and closes the two doors they haven't been through yet, trying to see whether the hallway they've just been through shows up.

[MikelaC1]

The door opposite the one the party went through before opens to reveal a variety of corridors, however the one that leads forward deeper into the castle seems to open to the same passage each time, one that goes straight forward about 40 feet and ends in a door.

[Ridai]

Heading down that long corridor, just before they head through the far door, Daciana imbues Felicia and Calista with a displacement spell and herself with sirine's grace (she now has mage armor and sirine's grace active).

[MikelaC1]

Daciana's choice would seem to be a good one, when the door opens, she sees a set of spiral stairs leading up in the middle of the room. The only bad thing about the room is the presence of 3 spectres in it, and the undead seem to be unwilling to let the party just pass peacefully past them

[MikelaC1]

Recognizing the real danger that the spectres pose, both archers concentrate fire on one of them and it immediately sprouts 6 arrows and falls to the ground dead. (Well, it already was "dead" but now its really dead) There are now only 2 spectres left.
Daciana up.

[Ridai]

Like the huntresses, Daciana is acutely aware of the danger spectres represent. Much more than that, the thought of these things draining the life energy of dear Felicia and Calista is something she absolutely refuses to allow. Fiercely commanding them to stop, a chained hold monster (DC 29) punches through their natural immunity. Perhaps this is an unwise decision in the long run, but she is willing to risk this if it means her little sister and her friend/lover never need to experience such a thing.

[MikelaC1]

The hold spell works like a charm (which isnt surprising, since it is one) and both of the remaining spectres are held where they are.

[Ridai]

Once the huntresses have finished off the spectres, Daciana adds "I'll have to reserve that last trick for whatever the source of this evil is, unless we run into another group as dangerous as this one."

Nothing left but to head upstairs, hopefully soon getting to that big source of magic (checking with a detect magic).

[MikelaC1]

The big source of magic is indeed just above them and with both buffs still in place (due to how short the spectre fight was), Daciana and the huntresses ascend the staircase. At the top, the steps open into a vast throne room, it looks like the entire top floor is nothing but this room. All the usual accoutrements of a throne room are there, the group has emerged into the middle of the room and right at their feet is a red carpet that stretches all the way to the throne. Seated on the throne is what at first might be regal looking figure with his vestments and jewelry (crown, orb, sceptre, robes, etc) but as the group draws closer, they realize that the figure is long dead, as the head and hands are clearly skeletal. At the moment, there are no foes present.

[Ridai]

Wasting no time, Daciana heads towards the skeleton. "If you are undead, I'd appreciate it if we could skip the reveal." She scans the room, starting with the skeleton, for the big source of magic, trying to learn what she can.

[MikelaC1]

A red dot of light flares in each socket and one skeletal hand tightens on the staff as Daciana speaks. Very well young amazon, we shall skip the big reveal and go right to the question of why you have invaded my castle and no doubt slaughtered many of my minions.
(the skeletal figure is the source of the magic)

[Ridai]

"Simply put, we came to explore as we found a map leading us here, and were unaware this was anyone's domain. Finding undead so close to our homeland and ourselves in a maze was quite alarming to boot."

[MikelaC1]

Yes, the trees, the jungle, the children of Tishtina. So full of life. Disgusting. So glad that they chose me to drain it of all its lifeforce

[Ridai]

"Then the course this will take is quite clear."

Initiative (1d20+1)[13]

(Are the buffs still in place?)

[MikelaC1]

(the buffs are in place)

Both of the huntresses fire on the lich, but this time, only one of them actually hits and sticks, the lich barely seems to notice it. In return he gestures and huge fireball explodes amid the group dealing 60 points (REF for half).
Daciana up.

[Ridai]

Reflex (1d20+12)[25]

Daciana needs to buy them time and do it quick, acutely aware that she herself is the weak link here. Focusing the power of her voice, she improves her accuracy and then channels the most powerful spell she can muster.

(I just saw that I never wrote down that Daciana now has level 8 spells. She quickens Improvisation and then uses Irresistable Dance with her remaining Witch Secret use, caster level 16
Touch attack roll (1d20+12)[29])

[MikelaC1]

The sight of a dancing, capering lich is one that almost no adventurer will ever see, only a witch has the power to overcome the undead resistance to such a spell (not only the undead immunity to charm, but Otto's specifically says living being) and the lich before them starts shuffling and toe-tapping. With the lich now a much more easy target, the archers continue to fire, a few more arrows now find their mark, but the lich resistance to weapons is working against them. He cant fire off any return shots due to the spell on him, which is a good thing because despite avoiding the worst of the flames, Daciana still took 30 points, and is now up for action.

[Ridai]

Daciana works as fast as possible to give them as much of an edge as possible.

First round: Greater Heroism on Felicia, quickened Greater Invisibility on Felicia
Second round: Greater Heroism on Calista, quickened Displacement on Daciana
Third round: Greater Invisibility on Calista, quickened CLW on Daciana (1d8+5)[13]

If there's a fourth round of acting while the lich is still dancing, Daciana casts true seeing on herself and quickened CLW on herself (1d8+5)[9]

[MikelaC1]

Buoyed by Daciana's spells, the archers continue their barrage of arrows on the lich, who is unable to fight back. More and more of the arrows find their mark as the spells take hold but the lich hasn't fallen yet, and Daciana is not sure if the lich's ability to take damage will outlast the supply of arrows and the time of the dancing spell.
When it looks like just a few more arrows will get the job done, the spell affecting the lich comes off. The lich is clearly weakened to the point of being able to be knocked off but a forked bolt of lighting suddenly crackles through the roof of the castle, one bolt hits the lich and finishes him off, while the other fork hits a chest in a corner of the room, destroying it completely.
With the lich gone, the magic that was holding the castle together unravels completely and the 3 amazons are unceremoniously tumbled to the ground in what is now an open meadow (5 points, falling damage)

[Ridai]

Felicia and Calista can hear Daciana's startled exclamation, followed by a groan as she picks herself off the ground after that fall. Soon after, she heals what bruises and burns are left on her and as the huntresses reappear, she heals whatever wounds they sustained (if any). "You girls were absolutely amazing. I would have been dead so many times over without you." Then, she embraces them both, glad they are alive and well. "This is serious, Casandra must hear of this." Taking them by their hands, Daciana teleports as closely as is allowed to the City of Gardens with them, hurrying to report what just happened.

[MikelaC1]

Daciana and the huntresses are able to get back to the City without incident, and soon enough a meeting with Casandra is arranged. When Daciana comes into to see Casandra, a second woman is present. This woman is almost the complete mirror image of Casandra, however her hair is dark, as is her beauty. Knowing the history of the amazons, Daciana knows that can be no one other than Dalcar Sontin, the elder sister of Casandra, and high priestess of Nocticula.

[Ridai]

(Goodness, Daciana is meeting all the cool folks of all the cool goddesses)

Daciana bows, not out of formality, but because these women deserve such respect. "Thank you for meeting us this quickly. We encountered something rather disturbing. Felicia and Calista independently found pieces of a map and invited me on a treasure hunt, so to speak. I deciphered the map and it brought us to what seemed to be an castle ruin just outside of our forest. The whole place radiated magic, it was filled with undead and a magical maze. A lich controlled it, sent by some unknown master to drain the life of the jungle and the, quote, 'childen of Tishtina', unquote. Felicia and Calista managed to almost destroy it before a lightning bolt came through the ceiling, destroyed the lich and a chest in his throne room. My theory would be that its superior sent said lightning bolt to destroy evidence and traces. With the lich destroyed, the castle ruin disappeared, no longer magically maintained. We hurried back immediately after." Daciana waits a moment to let the information sink in and to let Felicia and Calista add anything.

"I wish I could provide any more information, but other than the lich having a regal appearance and accesories like a sceptre, orb, crown and so forth, I know nothing more."

[MikelaC1]

Casandra and Dalcar both look thoughtful as Daciana explains the events, and wait until she is done.

You are probably right, the superiors were out to destroy evidence, and that chest likely either held or was the lich's phylactery. There are many of the evil gods that have yet to accept the trinity
Some of the lawful ones as well (Daciana heard that an agent of Silescia assassinated the nascent high priestess Melinda
and we may be seeing another round of attacks. My guess would be either Dantilus or Morgaz, they are the gods of death, with the possibility of Rohdan or Kotep.

[Ridai]

"What can I do to help? Whoever is doing this not only opposes the trinity, but wants to eradicate anything relating to it and that cannot be allowed, no matter what path of our goddesses they follow."

[MikelaC1]

Go about your adventures normally, but be vigilant for attacks that seem directed at the goddesses and not just you. Particularly by those agent we just mentioned
But dont be a heroine about it. Warning us about a plan or a series of attacks is more important than trying to disrupt it on your own and failing.

It seems like Dalcar is more about doing things on your own, whereas Casandra favours a team approach.

[Ridai]

Daciana nods. She had hoped for something more concrete, but hardly anything is known, so that is understandable. Still, adventuring... the witch has nothing on her plate right now and she's only been back for a scant few weeks... No, protecting her people and her goddess (Daciana notices that she wanted to think goddesses, not just goddess, and she is unsure what that means in terms of her faith) is more important.

Daciana bows again and adds that it was nice to meet Dalcar face to face (even if that mention will draw mockery from the high priestess), before excusing herself and leaving. The witch will need to listen for new opportunities to go to work (hopefully something where she can put her witch talents to use).

[MikelaC1]

Before Daciana can actually leave, Dalcar takes her leave, telling the two that she will try to work on things from her end, to see if she can unearth some more information on who faces them. Meanwhile, Casandra settles herself, looking to Daciana with a smile.

Its been some time since you were last here, but I do remember your private song and dance performance as being quite special. I imagine you have picked a few new moves since then. Why don't you show me what you have?