Nirael looked at Mara silently at the time, watching her sensual steps in curiosity, though trembling a little at the time he watched her as he was being observed as well, and yet despite all the arousal her mere presence could bring his mind focused solely on the key as soon as it was shown. The moment she moved to retrieve the second portion, he could only silently cuss in his mind. Careless, very careless indeed he was to have left it on the ground. The fact she had agreed to fight him was perhaps the sole reason she had not made away already with the key, other than perhaps the opportunity to try and draw him or elves to her servitude in the other side. She held the cards, or rather, the key, and an offer spoken that reminded him of what she was, beyond who she was.<br/><br/>As much as he would have wanted to make Mara the converted follower into a friend and lover again, he was dealing with Mara'adaki'zain the fiend who would not be sweet-talked away from her prize at this point. This would only end through battle, her offer was not one he could accept. Although he would have perhaps considered had he known it would save Lunari and others, a thought lingered they'd be as much mindless slaves as he would even if he voices an offer like that, or they'd deny the offer entirely voiding Mara's part of what Nirael would have asked for. No, at the time, he would have to fight in order to save those he could.<br/><br/><strong>"I cannot accept your offer. As much as I delight in pursuit of pleasures, I'd be a slave to them and you if I took such an offer, to give myself away totally. No, I will fight, and either prove my worth or die trying."</strong>He stated this firmly while grasping tight around the staff in his hands, and starting to cast. She might have held still to let him retrieve his belongings, but she'd likely act as soon as she saw a spell starting to take shape.<br/><br/><strong>"<em>Aroma of Lust, harden and shield.</em>"</strong>He nearly whispered, trying to force a bit of primal into his common spell as well, to fashion the<strong>Mage Armor</strong>to protect himself from her physical strike long enough to hopefully strike her down.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">ooc</div><div class="spoiler_body">Nirael begins by casting mage armor, for +4 AC bonus, and will continue from there on forth with intent to kill in order to win. <br/><br/>Save rolled by physical dice, for 20 (total, not unmodified), of 11 +9 total (+7 will, +2 vs charms) for the first round. Rolling ahead for 2nd round, a roll of 6 + 9 for 15 total. <br/><br/>On that note, Nirael will continue after the first spell by manifesting <strong>Fireball</strong> with <strong>Energy Substitution (primal)</strong> feat along with <strong>Sexual Empowerment</strong> feat to pump his caster level up by 1 for CL 7, for 7d6 primal damage on that, in addition to the Empower Spell effect ongoing to give it 1.5 damage rate. 7d6 * 1.5 should give some 10 - 63 damage potential if I am not too terribly mistaken. <br/><br/>Of course, he'll have to probably blast it on the back wall of their 'confined space' to try and ward off some of the harm from blowing himself away with the tide as well. If his common sense (DM mercy) tells him that plan is doomed to fail, he'll substitute Scorching Ray instead for the above feat combination, for 2 rays (ranged touch attacks) (1 ray plus another at 7th, 3rd one at 11th) dealing 4d6 fire damage each (but in this case, Primal) if hitting, with the Empowering making it potentially 6d6 or perhaps its simply 4d6 x 1,5 afterwards? Eh. 6 - 36 damage per ray, if they managed to hit through all of that. <br/><br/>That's a quick hasty plan for him to execute first 2 rounds to the combat, trying to get some protection &amp; then throw in some damage as quickly as he can. Following that, if he can't use fireballs and misses with the Rays, he'd have to start unleashing a share of primal missiles in short order likely. Though I am expecting that at most, the first 2 rounds pass before it is time to think on the actions more carefully once more.<br/>Primal Missiles at 1d4 + 2 (charisma modifier) each, for 4 missiles at 7th caster level, well 12 - 24 before multiplier of 1,5 for 18 to 36 damage there.<br/><br/>Rays are risky but potentially can bring in a fair share of damage by two hits in a turn, if lucky. Primal Missiles are fairly safe and got a decent damage rate if he stays alive to use them. Fireballs with that combo, well that's a gamble but it might pay off I'd wager. </div></div>