make the most of wherever we are now

Fighting a lich is not something one does lightly.

Jubilost keeps arguing that maybe they shouldn't try it at all, it's not like it's good for their lifespans or their souls, but - Sivetrys can't, actually, just leave it alone.

(Technically, she could, but. Emotionally, she can't.)

There are a lot of reasons for this. The ones she uses first are the logical ones, but she's aware that's not really why she can't leave the lich alone. It's just why she can justify the choices she already wanted to make, to herself, to her adventuring party (friends), to fucking Lastwall itself.

Vordakai is an old lich, which usually means extremely dangerous, but in this case it means he's, technically, changed species. A demilich is different from a lich in several ways - in a couple, more directly dangerous - but in others, it is much, much easier to deal with. He's lost circles, for one. For another, it means that they don't have to find his phylactery; he doesn't have one of those, anymore. The process for permanently killing him is still complicated - and Sivetrys has written to Lastwall for assistance on the logistical details of making that death final, along with asking them to please send her a paladin - but not as complicated as hunting down a phylactery in a demiplane underneath several dozen protections.

Secondly, because he is an old (demi)lich, from before Earthfall, his spells are out of date. Oh, he still has some dangerous ones, Dominate Person is a sure one they've confirmed, and her party is systematically trying to put a list together of what those are, but he's missing modern ways to reduce the circles of certain spells. His spells are old and inefficient, and in life and undeath he was never able to competently steal the greatest spells from the Azlanti Empire, else he wouldn't have hidden underground at all. With his demotion to demilich, and the loss in circles that came with that - he can't quite cast his worst spells, anymore. And he doesn't know what modern spellforms are like. Because there has been a steady march of progress, despite Earthfall, entirely because of Aroden's efforts, and all the genius casters after him that really want that high circle spell nownownow.

But of course, this also means that it's a race against time. He is awake, now, and has been since his tomb was disturbed, and some nebulous trinket stolen, and he is learning quickly. There's no mighty Azlant to throw back his own thievery, just these pathetic shreds of what remains after Earthfall. He's already captured one wizard, a third circle one, and he is definitely looking for more. For their spellbooks, for new slaves in his 'justified' rise against the thieves who disturbed him, for their new magical items.

There is no better time to fight him than right now, now that he's awake and actively scheming. The closest people that can maybe win in a fight him are - well, her, and her party. At least, they're the only ones who might, who also care enough to show up. The world is very big, and very dangerous, and liches do tend to stop, after a while. Reach their old borders, sate the atrophied greeds they'd had as mortals, gather enough undead slaves that gathering more becomes tiresome. As dangers on this planet that holds Rovagug go, they're not, objectively speaking, the worst.

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"Pep talk went well, I presume?" says Jubilost mildly, when she returns.

"I can do it," she says, firmly, smiling a smile that is oh so very sharp.

Jubilost nods evenly, as if he expected nothing less.

"Good, maybe we won't all die horribly. Then I propose two teams brought by Dimension Door; one by Linzi, one by our pep-talking baroness. That would be three with each, which means we are leaving the dog behind." Also, Zan, but: they do not want to be taking her directly into a lich's lair anyway. "Unless you think you can bring a fourth?"

This is directed at Sivetrys.

"... I might with a person, but with the size of Okbo..."

"Leaving the dog in the yard it is, then."

Ekundayo

It is very fortunate that Ekundayo still doesn't speak Celestial, because he is often very irritated by his wolf being called a dog.

(This is somewhat funny, because he used to call his wolf a dog, and has since gotten very attached.)

Luto Zils

not-quite-alone

Seems like they're getting going?

Luto looks at Umakhi (deep in a book again), sighs, and does the pair of tongue-clicks Ridaya came up with for getting their alchemist's attention without startling her. (Then she winces.)

to-the-silence

to-the-silence

to-the-silence

She closes her book and pockets it, pushing herself upright with her wings with surprising grace. "Minute buffs?"

"Dimension Door team distribution, then minute buffs. Close range and far range groups, I think."

"Neither Linzi nor I should really be in melee range of a demilich," says Sivetrys, dryly. "I'll drop the rock on him from above?"

"By all means, volunteer to get close to the soul eating abomination."

Umakhi Modry

to-the-silence

She flaps her wings and makes a questioning noise.

"Hm? Yes?"

It is truly a show of impressive self control that he doesn't say, 'I don't speak in hum, use your words,' but Jubilost is in fact attempting to be nice. Or at least not start a pointless fight five minutes before they fight the demilich. One of those.

Umakhi Modry

to-the-silence

Something in Umakhi snaps, a bit.

She trades her usual whisper for a more normal volume, which makes it clear how ragged her throat must be - speaking through it sounds painful. It's unpleasant to listen to.

"Put me in that group. I fly, am best at mid-range, can hit hard, for a bit. And maybe... put the silence on a tanglefoot bag... So he can't just knock it away."

(She's distantly aware that she's being difficult. It doesn't feel like a choice she's making - it feels like a fact she knows. The sky is blue, teleport is a fifth circle wizard spell, undead are harmed by positive energy and have no endurance, and Umakhi is being difficult right now. That's just how things are.)

Luto Zils

not-quite-alone

Augh.

Softly, in Tianji: "Umakhi, you don't need to push yourself, I can-"

Umakhi Modry

to-the-silence

Irritated wing-twitch.

not-quite-alone

-she shuts up.

"There's no need to be -"

Sivetrys clears her throat.

Sigh.

"Silence on a tanglefoot bag, and you can be the one to throw it at him from above, yes," agrees Jubilost. "Then also the cat, and our new martial companion as the other group members?"