Safiya Rejoins
Advancing Safiya
I now decide to add Safiya and drop Okku for the time being, as my trip to Thay will be more meaningful with her in the party. I advance her to her 30th level, with feats selected as per her profile page.
*Note* Note that I also gave her at least 13 skill points in Use Magic Device during her level ups. This is so that she can wear the Boots of the Sun Soul +4 that I found earlier at the Lakeshore.
*Also* I have Safiya learn the Legend Lore spell. Valeria can't learn it, since her Necromancy specialization prevents her from learning Divination spells. So I have to rely on Safiya to add bonus arcane spells to my rings.
Equipping Safiya
She then pulls a few items out of her Bag of Holding so that Safiya can equip them. They are as follows:
Gann's 29th Level
I now return to the Lower Level of the Death God's Vault, because I have new objectives in mind when it comes to crafting essences. They are as follows:
Gann obtains enough xp to reach his 29th level along the way. He can now select two epic feats.
His first feat choice is Hellball, which is the best pure damaging spell in the game. Has a very high saving throw DC, and the damage cannot be avoided by either Evasion or Improved Evasion.
The other feat choice is Epic Spell Penetration, which is entirely consistent with his role of offensive spellcaster.
Kaelyn's 28th Level
Kaelyn soon gets enough to advance to her 28th level. Her one highlight her is that she adds another +1 to Wisdom.
Accumulating Essences for Safiya
Here is where I hit my next set of targets. Notice that Valeria has one each of a Pristine Air Essence, a Pristine Earth Essence, a Pristine Fire Essence, and a Pristine Water Essence.
I grind for more Death Lords, and accumulate 32 Pristine Power Essences. I convert each one, which results in 64 each of Brilliant Air Essences, Brilliant Earth Essences, Brilliant Fire Essences, and Brilliant Water Essences.
I combine all of the Brilliant Air Essences into 8 more Pristine Air Essences, and all of the Brilliant Fire Essences into 8 more Pristine Fire Essences. That results in meeting two of my targets, 9 Pristine Air Essences and 9 Pristine Fire Essences.
I combine enouugh of the Brilliant Earth Essences and the Brilliant Water Essences so that I get 5 more Pristine Essences of each time. That results in meeting my other target, 6 Pristine Earth Essences and 6 Pristine Water Essences.
I convert the rest of the Earth Essences and Water Essences back into Power Essences. *Note* The caveat here is that I want to keep at least one Brilliant Earth Essence, with the intention of placing a very minor enchantment on a cloak for Valeria.
The video concludes with me grinding for more Death Lords until I hit my last target, 33 Pristine Power Essences.
Belt and Boots for Safiya
First I place Safiya's Belt of Guiding Light into the Enchanter's Satchel, along with 3 Pristine Power Essences. I cast a Bear's Endurance spell on the Satchel to add a +9 Fortitude saving throw bonus to the Belt. I'll add a Strength bonus when I get a chance fairly soon.
I next place Safiya's Boots of the Sun Soul +4 into the Satchel, along with 3 Pristine Power Essences. Casting a Fox's Cunning spell on the Boots adds a +9 bonus to Reflex saving throws.
After that, I place three Pristine Air Essences into the Boots. Casting a Cat's Grace spell on the Boots raises their Dexterity bonus to +8. I will add a Constitution bonus to the Boots when I get a chance fairly soon.
Arcane Ring Enchantments
First, Valeria places her previously enchanted Ring of Improved Evasion into the Enchanter's Satchel, along with 3 Pristine Power Essences. Safiya casts a Legend Lore spell on the Satchel to add a bonus 8th level spell to the ring as its last enchantment. That allows Valeria to memorize an extra Empowered Disintegrate spell.
Next, I repeat that process for Safiya's Ring of Regeneration to add a bonus 8th level spell. Valeria adds a couple more enchantments. The Resistance spell with 3 Pristine Earth Essences adds a +9 saving throw bonus vs. acid. The Resistance spell with 3 Pristine Fire Essences adds a +9 saving throw bonus vs. fire. *Note* Safiya getting her Intelligence bonus from her ring frees up her head slot for the Golden Circlet, which will immunize her against mind-affecting spells.
Safiya next adds a bonus 8th level spell to her Ring of Regeneration. Valeria then adds a couple more enchantments. The Resistance spell with 3 Pristine Air Essences adds a +9 saving throw bonus vs. electricity. The Resistance spell with 3 Pristine Water Essences adds a +9 saving throw bonus vs. cold.
Now it is time to journey to the Thaymount.