012.3 "Considering our ultimate goal, I'll take that under advisement."

[Corwin]

[19:38] <Kobrb> You find Annalise and the people. Most of the survivors are talking animatedly between themselves, while Annalise watches with a look of faint interest.
[19:39] * Jaela pulls Annalise aside and asks her quietly, "What's the date? Is it the day after I left?"
[19:39] <Kobrb> "Ah, there you are," Annalise says dismissively as you return, "It has been about a day, yes."
[19:42] * Jaela nods curtly, and raises her voice. "Adrian's looking after Tepen, but we think he's gonna be fine. I can take about half of you with me back to Aurora, now, and return the next day. That works?" If no objections are raised, then the remainder of the noncombatants will be sent across, before she takes the first group of soldiers back alongside herself and Annalise, aiming for the Aurora's courtyard.
[19:43] <Kobrb> None are raised, and Jaela teleports many over! You stand in Aurora once more, the people behind you gasping and staring about!
[19:44] <Jaela> "ELENA!"
[19:45] <Kobrb> At that call Elena walks out of the front gates of Aurora, waving, "Jaela, you're back!"
[19:46] <Jaela> "It's good to be back," Jaela responds, glancing back for Elena's sake. "Here's more refugees. I need you to help them get settled in, and get Afina, Elrisa and Ithea to meet me somewhere. An observation deck, just pick one and direct us all over."
[19:48] <Kobrb> "Okay," Elena agrees. "The one we met at already?"
[19:49] <Jaela> "Go for it. Be there too." Jaela gestures towards the castle proper with her head. "Let's go, Annalise?"
[19:51] <Kobrb> With that, Annalise, Jaela, Afina, Ithea and Elrisa are gathered together atop the deck. OOC: Go ahead, Cor.
[19:54] <Jaela> "There were seventy four survivors," Jaela starts with, settled into one of the seats. "About half of them are here now. Another was Adrian's pal, this archmage Tepen. A pit fiend fucked him up while he was holding the portal open and he's been dying in agony ever since. There weren't any good options and Heal did nothing but hurt him more, so I took him and Adrian to Ilmater's realm for treatment. That was pretty much the only choice he had, short of a mercy kill, and he still wanted to fight this and for the cause."
[19:55] * Ithea grimaced. "That's...pretty horrible. I hope it goes well for Adrian's friend."
[19:58] <Kobrb> Elrisa makes much the same face, "That is a horrible thing. Will he survive?"
[20:00] <Jaela> "Short of divine intervention, and I'm talking of the direct kind, that was his best chance. I didn't go there on a whim." She laces her fingers together as she places her hands on the table and leans forward, continuing. "As soon as we got there, a score of angels was sent down to meet us. Leading them was Naliel." She glances towards Elrisa. "That's a lantern archon we met on Astral. Turns out it's a she, and that's her name. She pointed me out, and then they arrested me. My crime was freeing Annalise, and since it was true I took all responsibility for it." She snorts, this time sneaking a glance at Annalise. "You were right about that, at least. Gods hate you with a rare passion."
[20:01] * Ithea raises an eyebrow. "Well...it's encouraging at least that you're still alive if they know you freed her, so they can't hate her -that- much."
[20:02] <Kobrb> Annalise just smiles at this, looking entirely serene, "It's quite true. They've never cared a whit for me at all. Of course, you have returned, which speaks to something unusual."
[20:02] <Afina> "Assuming you didn't fight your way out?" Afina asks, glancing between Jaela and Annalise.
[20:03] <Kobrb> Annalise gives Afina a deadpan look, "If a deity wanted Jaela detained or dead in his realm, she wouldn't escape, ever."
[20:03] <Ithea> "I'd have to agree with Annalise there," Ithea says with a nod.
[20:04] <Ithea> "Did Naliel speak in your defense or something?" Ithea asks curiously.
[20:04] <Afina> "Considering our ultimate goal, I'll take that under advisement," Afina retorts, crossing her tiny arms.
[20:06] <Kobrb> "A Duke of Hell can be defeated by mortals. Abigor isn't invincible," Annalise says with a casual ease, "Your goals are still entirely sane."
[20:07] <Ithea> "We're also planning to get stronger before facing him. Dealing with a god now, and alone? Totally different thing."
[20:07] <Jaela> "Don't be an idiot," Jaela scoffs at Ithea. She shakes her head at Afina. "It was pointless for me to fight. I was in the right. I firmly believed that. I believed in it so much that Helm himself showed up in person to judge me, and then ordered me to help him strike Annalise down." Jaela doesn't resort to theatrics, detailing her trial and verdict with an almost clinical detachment. "And then, there we were, just the two of us. Helm and me. I told him to fucking mutilate my soul already like he wanted to or give in to what I've been after all along. I dunno if it was the profanity, or because no one could see us, but that's where he finally changed his mind. He sent me back."
[20:09] <Afina> "So Annalise has the blessing of a God?" Afina concludes, losing interest now since it doesn't look like they have a new enemy. "What about Torm, though?"
[20:10] * Jaela shakes her head. "No. What he told me before he sent me back was that I was a convicted criminal and an enemy of the Triad."
[20:11] <Kobrb> Annalise just smiles a tiny little bit, "How kind of them. Putting you up to be an animal to be hunted down. Helm must be dreadfully bored on his throne."
[20:11] <Afina> "Are they going to interfere?" that gets her interest right back!
[20:12] <Jaela> "This never happened before, s'far as I know. If you're a convict, you break out and escape, not get sent free. So I dunno what the rules here are, but I have to assume I will be killed on sight at any divine realm outside of Arvandor. There could also be problems with overzealous forces belonging to Helm or Tyr."
[20:12] * Ithea frowns at Jaela's retort, crossing her arms in annoyance, though she doesn't say anything as Jaela explains her trial and the others begin to discuss it. "As long as they're not actively hunting you, we're hopefully okay."
[20:13] <Ithea> "Unfortunate that we won't be able to count on help from them though."
[20:13] <Jaela> "From the likes of Naliel?!" Jaela exclaims.
[20:13] <Kobrb> "That's quite the if," Annalise observes, "If Helm dedicates serious forces to this, we could have problems. Planetars, solars and throne archons are no feeble enemies, let alone and potent mortal servants he may call on.
[20:13] * Ithea rolls her eyes. "Well, not particularly, but help of any sort should be welcome."
[20:14] <Jaela> "This is why I called you all here," Jaela states. "I drew all the blame. If you want to ally yourself with the Triad, it's easy enough to do. You know what I mean."
[20:15] <Afina> "You missed our fight with Mistfall, didn't you?" Afina looks askance at Annalise. "I wouldn't worry too much. And like we're going to sell you out for some God!" she glares at Jaela, "Anyone with Lifasan blood is worth a thousand angels or whatever else they have!"
[20:16] * Jaela cracks a grin. "I really needed to hear that after that fucking trial. Okay. So the only thing left is Adrian. But he knows where we're going and how to get there, and I had a friend from Arvandor around. I'm sure he'll meet us at our destination."
[20:16] <Kobrb> Annalise merely smiles and holds her own council.
[20:19] <Afina> "Well, that aside, while you were away the Lich Queen of the Githyanki offered us an alliance," Afina states since that seems wrapped up. "It could be a trap as well since she invited us to bring Aurora to their capital city. We stalled them by saying we'd show up when we were stronger and less pathetic looking."
[20:22] * Jaela nods slowly. "That's a pretty good stance in general. I was thinking the same thing about those realms Mistfall told us about. I've got a bad feeling about it, though. The gith have fucking scary enemies and none of those are devils. Why do we want that?"
[20:24] <Afina> "That's part of why we stalled them, you're normally the one that knows these things," Afina admits bluntly. "But we might as well leave the offer open in case it becomes useful later on."
[20:26] <Ithea> "More than anything, at least we haven't made -them- enemies either," Ithea adds with a nod.
[20:26] * Jaela shudders. "That queen's a creeper. She eats her subjects's souls or some bullshit like that when they become powerful. It's cool you didn't piss her off but working with her? Just bad news."
[20:28] <Kobrb> "Those rumors do persist," Elrisa agrees quietly. "Are any of the survivors you're bringing over battleworthy?
[20:28] <Jaela> "Yeah, about half. I didn't get a chance to see how good they are, though." She looks towards Annalise. "How about it?"
[20:35] <Kotono> "They're not greatly capable, but they'll serve as troops." Annalise answers, "Most of them are an assortment of things - a few clerics and wizards, warriors and thieves, even a former monk."
[20:37] <Jaela> "Not bad," Jaela muses. "Is Tannin around? I think that once we hit our next stop, we should start scouting out targets. Devil outposts to strike at, whatever's available to test us."
[20:38] <Afina> "Haven't seen him since before you left, but Elena might should know?"
[20:39] * Jaela glances at Elrisa. "We should bring your artificer friend onboard as well," she adds, before also waiting on Elena to provide the answer upon being thus named.
[20:40] <Kotono> Elena shakes her head, "He's not on board right now. I think he went off on a task or some such."
[20:41] <Jaela> "When he comes back, ask him to check in with me?"
[20:41] <Afina> "I asked him if he knew about any other survivors from my home," Afina fills in since it's relevant now.
[20:42] * Jaela nods firmly. "Of course. Any survivors are top priority."
[20:43] <Kotono> "Mmmm." Elrisa considers, "I need to make some arraingements first."
[20:44] <Jaela> "Sure thing. Do you need any help with those?"
[20:46] <Kotono> "I can take care of them," Elrisa replies after another moment's thought.
[20:47] <Jaela> "Okay. I need two more days to get everyone here, but we can keep moving in the mean time. That's all on my side."