014.3 "Yes, come when you can collect the information."

[Corwin]

[22:27] <Jaela> She had indicated her intention to come, and received a direct invitation. That means she can take hold of Afina and Willim and plane shift into Vul'lath's foyer!
[22:30] * Willim blinks, looking around.
[22:34] <Kotono> The foyer is familiar to the party, the immediate weightlessness and timelessness of the Astral felt. Awaiting you is a hooded gith, looking up as you arrive. "You are here for your consultation?"
[22:35] <Jaela> "Yep. We got the go ahead by Sending, so it's alright?"
[22:37] <Kotono> "Yes. Come with me," With that you are lead to where you met Sage Vul'lath before. He awaits and sits, a book on the table before him. It is a thick book, each page over two feet long and wide. He reads from it, only looking up as you enter in. Wordlessly he gestures towards the chairs.
[22:37] * Afina agreeably floats over to sit in one of the chairs, her slim legs dangling over the edge.
[22:38] <Jaela> "Hey. Been a while."
[22:39] * Willim stands, concerned that he may break a chair.
[22:41] <Kotono> "Has it? Time has no meaning here," So he speaks, "I have heard of you, whispered from the lips of the powerful."
[22:41] <Jaela> "That was me making a joke to break the ice," Jaela deadpans. "So anyways, you got something for us? I like to think we have a good business relationship going here."
[22:43] <Kotono> "Yes. The first has urgency - have you heard of the Brotherhood of the Sundered Joy?"
[22:43] <Willim> "Is no sounding like happy monk group." Willim grumbles.
[22:46] * Afina mutely shakes her head.
[22:46] <Kotono> OOC: K:P.
[22:46] <Jaela> "With your permission?" Jaela asks before she casts a spell to sharpen her senses.
[22:46] <Kotono> "Go ahead," Vul'lath nods slightly.
[22:46] <Jaela> roll 1d20+22
[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+22 and gets 36." [1d20=14]
[22:49] <Jaela> "It's those guys we killed," Jaela says after a moment's recollection. "They serve that Anthrasex guy, right?"
[22:51] <Kotono> "Anthraxus," A short nod, "I had found signs that diabolical prophecies were guiding them towards gathering refugees from a shattered world. It is true, then?"
[22:53] <Jaela> "We went to bust their shit up yesterday, and they were trying to sacrifice the fey captives. Their paeliryon loser of a leader ran away. If you can tell us who she is and where to go to kill her, or what other prisoners they had and what they did with them, it would still be valuable information to us."
[22:53] <Afina> "Yes, pixies," Afina nods severely.
[22:55] <Kotono> "That I do not know," Sage Vul'lath frowns, his face growing curious. He looks back to his book, "Devils and demons are said to be forbidden from most yugoloth sects. Then again, anything is for sale to the yugoloths, if the price is right. Of this prophecy I know little - only that it is old and a closely guarded diabolical secret. It is referred to as the Styxian Oracles, though evidence
[22:55] <Kotono> suggests this is not its true name."
[22:56] <Jaela> "Well, we hate that cowardly bitch. If you learn anything, we'll pay for it." Jaela pauses in contemplation. "So hey, with us busting up their ritual, what are they gonna do now?"
[22:58] <Kotono> "That's a good question." Folding his hands and leaning back, "Yugoloths rarely forgive slights, though revenge is often long term and impossible to trace back to them." Drumming his fingers together, "If they have failed, it is likely going to cause a rather bloody rift between the baatezu who were involved and the Brotherhood. If it was the devils purchasing services, it may get extrodinarily
[22:58] <Kotono> unpleasant."
[22:59] <Jaela> "What did that cornugon asshole say? My service is done?" Jaela shrugs. "I wonder who was working for who, there."
[23:00] <Afina> "It seemed like the devils sold the pixies to the yugoloths, but then why did they act subservient to the pit fiend?" Afina wonders. "Maybe the prophecy is helpful to devils as well and they want to co-opt it?"
[23:01] <Kotono> "If I may," Going on with a thoughtful hum without an answer, "Finding that prophecy would be most illuminating. They are operating on instructions that are likely rather precise and telling. Finding those would be a great advantage."
[23:02] <Jaela> "I guess we've got nothing there but to keep looking separately. What do you say? We fill each other in if we find anything out?"
[23:02] <Kotono> A slight nod, "I do have other information unrelated to that," Sage Vul'lath says.
[23:02] <Jaela> "Sure. What is it?"
[23:06] <Kotono> "A young human from your world has said to have established himself in Fire. He seems to be no friend of the efreet and thus no friend of Baator by extension. His name is Crellen, a man of no small talent at warfare and magic."
[23:07] <Afina> "Sounds like a useful ally even if he wasn't one of us," Afina remarks in a pleased tone.
[23:09] * Willim grunts in agreement. "Fire sound fun. Me like fire."
[23:09] <Kotono> "He seems to get along well with the servants of Kossuth, so he has some connection or serves Kossuth himself," Going on from that, "What are your next moves, then?"
[23:09] <Jaela> "Before we go into that, ever hear of Benfal?"
[23:10] <Kotono> "I have. A world that has suffered a similar fate at the hands of a devil known as Semyaza. An arch-devil, devil royalty if you will." Coughing once after and peering back at his book, "Some nuggets of information I found related to it instead of Lifasa. There is no obvious connection to it, beyond the timing of affairs."
[23:12] <Jaela> "Oh, you know what they say. If there's no connection, make it yourself." Jaela snorts. "We organized. Did their survivors do it?"
[23:14] <Kotono> Of this Sage Vul'lath goes quiet, looking up from his book. "It may be. It may be." Gently closing the book, with great care, "There are the slightest whispers of it, little ripples if one knows where to look. Look and speak softly, for ones who would take such stealth may be able to punish those who breach it."
[23:15] <Jaela> "Yeah okay. Benfal guys, we hate devils too. Let's kill them together. Can you help spread the word out?"
[23:17] <Kotono> A nod, a quiet one. "That I will." After a moment, "So what will your next moves be?"
[23:18] <Jaela> "Get more allies, kill more devils. Ever hear of, uh, what's his name? Gathgorian? The Pits's Sergeant Major?"
[23:18] <Kotono> "It is not a name unknown to me. A powerful warrior in the Blood War, I believe," Sage Vul'lath replies.
[23:19] <Kotono> After a moment, "Will you be heading to Brightwater or Sylica soon," he asks, almost abruptly.
[23:19] <Jaela> "Do you know where he lives? How many bodyguards he has? How he defends his home-- wait what why?"
[23:22] <Kotono> "There exist magical apples known as the Apples of Idun." Steepling his fingers together, "They are extremely valuable, for they can reduce the age of whomever consumes them. The Tree of Idun is owned by the Goddess Sharess, though until recent times it was watched by the newly risen Goddess Syala." Drumming his fingers together, "With a few of those as a catalyst, I could engage in a ritual
[23:22] <Kotono> that would allow me to not succumb to time should I leave the Astral Plane." After a moment he leans forward, "They are impossible to get for one such as I. Heroes with the legendary fortress Medicant asking for them, however..."
[23:23] <Jaela> "Aurora."
[23:24] <Afina> "You want to join us?" Afina asks keenly, ignoring the incorrect fortress name.
[23:25] <Kotono> "No matter," Waving one hand to the side, "I would not object to leaving this realm and taking residence on Aurora," he goes on, after a moment, "Queen Vlaakith, may she reign forever," Bowing his head, "Has shown interest in my workings since our meeting. It may be..." a longer pause here, "Prudent to investigate new horizons."
[23:25] <Jaela> "Ah. She thinks you're tasty?"
[23:26] <Kotono> That draws a distinct frown, "Those rumors are a matter of some debate. But...I do know many come to her and never come back. Be they consumed, exiled, slain or twisted into undead abominations I know not. Her Majesty's secret services take considerable joy in chastising those who speak too freely of the rumors."
[23:27] <Jaela> "Well, I couldn't invite you over if you're the kind of guy that'd call the secret police on us over that."
[23:27] <Kotono> With the hint of a smile returning, "I have no stock with them, I assure you. Knowledge is far too rewarding to waste on the likes of them."
[23:28] <Jaela> roll 1d20+19
[23:28] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+19 and gets 29." [1d20=10]
[23:29] <Jaela> "How many of these apples do you think you'll need?" Jaela asks bluntly.
[23:31] <Kotono> "Two to three. Two as a minimum, three would be better," Sage Vul'lath goes on, leaning back once more and drumming his fingers together, steepled high. "This is not a light task I ask of you. I have overed great riches for one to powerful entities, and none have succeeded. Sharess guards them jealously. If I can aid in any way towards thie goal..." He spreads his hands, "I can loan you a few
[23:31] <Kotono> magical items that would help sharpen your mind, your will or your charisma."
[23:32] * Jaela purses her lips. "Then the one we have won't do. It's been pretty heavily enchanted, and it's weak at its original purpose from it. If you need at least two, it's pointless."
[23:32] * Jaela shrugs, then. "I can promise to try, and if you loan us anything for this, to return your stuff if we fail. How does that sound?"
[23:35] <Kotono> The sage frowns, "You have one, even a used one? You are already far more fortunate than many who have searched for one for years. It is a fair arraingement." Reaching into his robes and withdrawing a handbell, Sage Vul'lath rings it. Moments later a robed gith enters, then another and another. The first has a thin silver circlet carried on a red velvet pillow. The second has an white amulet,
[23:35] <Kotono> seven pointed, carried on a blue velvet pillow. The third carries a rich royal blue cloak, folded neatly. "The circlet boosts your intellect, the amulet your will and the cloak your force of personality. You may borrow any that will be useful."
[23:36] * Afina already has such a cloak and can live well enough without the others, so demurs.
[23:36] * Jaela peers rather pointedly at Willim, then at the circlet.
[23:37] * Willim peers pointedly at Jaela, then at...Jaela. "Wut?"
[23:37] <Jaela> "Put it on one sec."
[23:39] <Jaela> As she waits, Jaela casts another spell with Vul'lath's permission and takes a closer look.
[23:39] <Jaela> roll 1d20+25 spellcraft
[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+25 spellcraft and gets 36." [1d20=11]
[23:43] * Willim shrugs, grabs the circlet, and plunks it on his head!
[23:43] * Jaela manages to look a perfect cross between expectant and bored.
[23:46] * Willim blinks a few times, his eyes clearing and the dumb look on his face smoothing out to...something else. "I say, this is new." Though his voice is still nasal and coarse, his speech is clearer as he looks around with interest.
[23:47] <Jaela> "Red's more my color," Jaela says, tugging on her cloak. "I think I'm good with mine, but thanks."
[23:48] <Kotono> Sage Vul'lath nods, "As you wish. If you need the other two, you may come back for them."
[23:49] * Jaela nods back. "And if you find out anything urgent, Send for me. Or someone else, if I don't answer."

[Corwin]

[20:14] <Kotono> Days of crafting and repairs pass as Aurora holds tight. The first phase of the repairs is done and finished, the three resting up after finishing. Drinks are shared as they recline back in the repaired laboratory, the hiss of beakers and the odd reflections of curved glass complimenting the smell of chemicals and odd components. Amid this Elena comes from the portal, "There's someone outside,"
[20:14] <Kotono> she says without any particular lead in, coming up, "It's demanding to see the ruler of this fortress. Big and red with a sort of angular face, but with white-silvery wings and smoke-hair. It has some waist armor on too."
[20:16] <Jaela> "I'll go see what it wants?" Jaela says, having nothing better to do than to answer to their visitor's demands.
[20:17] <Afina> "We three are as close as it'll get to a ruler," Afina muses, lifting up off the workbench she'd been at. "I hope this isn't something tiresome..." Given how it's Ysgard she'd have no qualms about butchering someone for being impolite to her after all. With that cheery prospect in mind, she flies through the portal outside and then towards the gate.
[20:19] * Ithea follows as well, curious to find out who their demanding guest is this time.
[20:23] <Kotono> On coming out the the courtyard, you find the night sky above is clear of clouds. The air is chill as you approach the outer gate, people looking out. Several Selunite warriors and a single giant watch, as well as a few scattered pixies and humans. The creature that stands outside waits, a sheathed sword at its side. Its wings are a dusky silver-gray, matching the color of the smoke rising from
[20:23] <Kotono> its head. The creature's body is an angry, fiery red, gaze impassive and unyielding as he waits. OOC: Anyone can make K:P here.
[20:23] <Jaela> roll 1d20+18
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+18 and gets 33." [1d20=15]
[20:24] <Ithea> roll d20+28
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Ithea rolls d20+28 and gets 32." [d20=4]
[20:25] <Jaela> "Are you looking for us to hire you?" Jaela asks the thing bluntly.
[20:27] <Kotono> It speaks in a booming baritone, a strong voice to match its muscled body. "I have come here to retreive a lost Princess. Her name is Dana Langersun."
[20:28] <Jaela> "Who?"
[20:28] * Afina starts to reply but then hears Jaela and plays dumb obligingly.
[20:28] <Ithea> "...princess?" Ithea asks with a raised eyebrow. They do have a Dana...but really, 'princess'?
[20:29] <Afina> Oh, maybe they're not playing dumb... did Dana tell anyone else? Well, she'll stay silent a little longer and see how this develops.
[20:34] <Kotono> "Princess Dana Langersun. A misguided child who has ran off from her father and kingdom," The creature calls back again, "Do you deny having her?"
[20:35] <Jaela> "Never met her," Jaela asserts. "Why do you think we have her?"
[20:36] * Afina speaks up now, seeing no reason to cower or hide. "We deny nothing. Tell us your message for her and we will pass it along to her and provide whatever reply she sees fit. If that was your message you can simply leave now and save yourself a lot of trouble."
[20:36] * Jaela blinks. "We can do that?"
[20:37] <Kotono> "She is to surrender herself to me immediately," The creature now speaks to Afina, "So that we may return to her father."
[20:38] <Afina> "And your name?" the fairy asks patiently, ignoring Jaela's surprised question for the moment.
[20:38] <Jaela> "Whoa, wait a sec there, Killer." Jaela holds out a hand towards their visitor, turning towards Afina. "You don't mean it's her, do you? Come on, for real?"
[20:39] <Afina> "Of course it is," Afina replies flatly, dismayed at the show of disunity and ignorance before a potential enemy.
[20:39] * Jaela laughs. "This is great!"
[20:40] <Kotono> "Retreiver will do," The creature says, waiting.
[20:40] <Afina> "Wait here, please," the fairy nods curtly before she floats off at a slow and serene pace to find Dana.
[20:40] * Ithea looks disbelieving at the idea of Dana as a princess, still trying to wrap her mind around the concept.
[20:42] <Kotono> Murmurs ripple through the crowd as Afina flies off. Retreiver awaits in the meanwhile, saying nothing. OOC: Merc/Cor, are you going to do anything or just wait on Afina?
[20:43] <Jaela> Stay around and ask about Dana's kingdom, or go with Afina and laugh at Dana in person? Jaela chooses the latter.
[20:44] * Ithea also goes join them, the creature seemed willing to wait at least.
[20:46] <Kotono> Together the party hunts down Dana. She's found clear on the other side of the courtyard, well out of sight and hearing of this. Here she sits with three others: Adrian, Annalise and Arrel. Each holds playing cards, stacks of copper and silver coins before each of them, and a small pile in the middle. While the three humanoids fit in well, Arrel has his wings tucked in and still looms over,
[20:46] <Kotono> using one claw to delicately hold his cards up. With a strange little squacking growl, "Fold," he sighs, as the three approach, tossing his cards down.
[20:47] <Jaela> "Hey there," Jaela greets Dana, grinning silly. "Your Highness."
[20:48] <Afina> "Dana, someone from your home is here to retrieve you for those royal duties you worked so hard to escape," Afina announces bluntly, deeming secrecy a lost cause. "Do you want to come with us when we kill him?"
[20:48] <Kotono> "Yo," Dana doesn'te ven look up, "Raise," she says, tossing a double handful of coins into the center. Adrian just tosses his cards down as Annalise smiles pleasantly, throwing yet more coins back in.
[20:48] <Kotono> "Hm?" That gets her to look up, "Oh hell, who is it?" she scowls, "Depends on who it is. There's a few I'd rather not send off like that. Not quite everyone there is a complete waste."
[20:48] <Ithea> "Nice family you have if they send a concordant killer to fetch you too, princess," Ithea comments.
[20:49] <Jaela> "Hey, that's just a name. They're pretty chill, all in all."
[20:49] <Kotono> "Wait, Princess?" Adrian starts, "Concordant Killer? Kitty, what the hell's going on?"
[20:49] <Afina> "He just said his name was Retriever," Afina adds.
[20:49] <Ithea> "You're playing cards with Princess Dana Langersun, apparently, Adrian."
[20:50] <Jaela> "He'll be okay if he dies in Ysgard, anyway."
[20:50] <Kotono> Annalise keeps quiet, a twitch of her lip up as she listens. Meanwhile Dana gets up, "I fold," she says absently, "We can kick his ass if he wants a fight."
[20:51] <Jaela> "Do you have a tiara and everything? How about a scepter?" Jaela asks curiously.
[20:51] <Kotono> Arrel looks on, leaving his coins behind ashe takes to the air. "This," he announces, "I wish to see." With that he flies off, towards the front gate.
[20:52] <Kotono> "Sold the tiara for those gloves I gave to you," Dana shrugs, "Shoved the scepter up some rich prince's ass who wanted to try and make me his baby factory." Starting to walk back at a brisk pace, "Boring sod."
[20:52] <Afina> "Good. I'll cast some useful spells," Afina remarks, casting heroism on both herself and Dana. Then she starts flying back towards the gate at an easy pace along with the runaway princess.
[20:53] <Jaela> Heroism is as good a choice as any, and Jaela does likewise. "You sure you don't wanna go back, loot the treasury some more and return?"
[20:53] <Afina> "We're probably going to conquer the country and make her Queen later," afina tells Jaela, "It could be helpful for us."
[20:54] <Jaela> "Really? You know, I wish you would tell me those things."
[20:54] <Ithea> "Hah, would be funny if she did," Ithea grins as she casts greater magic weapon on her glaive on the way back with the others.
[20:54] <Afina> The fairy shrugs. "It's a while off."
[20:54] <Kotono> "Ysgard is far more entertaining than that, besides, Afina's right." Turning her head to the side as she looks the other three women, "You'd make a good royal assassin."
[20:55] <Afina> "Have a few centuries practice, but thank you," she inclines her head graciously.
[20:55] <Jaela> "What about me? Anything buy jester's probably fine."
[20:59] <Kotono> Thus you return to the gate. Here the Concordant Killer awaits, Dana stepping forward. "Tell Daddy that I'm not coming back until I want to. If he doesn't like that, he can go fuck his maids and make another Princess that way."
[21:00] * Ithea snorts in amusement at Dana's reply. That actually sounded almost polite too, except for the part about the maids.
[21:00] <Jaela> "I like the way you say no," Jaela comments in approval. "It doesn't really leave room for interpretation and shit."
[21:01] <Kotono> "And if he doesn't like that," Dana adds, "He can go bugger the stableboys next. Won't get him a Princess, but it'll keep him busy!" With a shout Dana replies, causing the Concordant Killer to stare right at her. Even as he speaks he doesn't look away, nor does he blink, "What say the rest of you. Do you stand with the Princess?"
[21:02] <Jaela> "First of all, sorry about the misunderstanding," Jaela tells him. "You seem a pretty great guy, so I don't want you to have any hard feelings if you force it and I have to kill you. You know? So are we good?"
[21:02] <Ithea> "Of course we do. Did you think we'd just knock her on the head, toss her over to you and apologize for the trouble?" Ithea asks.
[21:03] <Afina> "You have your answer. You can still leave now to save yourself trouble," Afina replies flatly, itching for an excuse.
[21:06] <Kotono> Retreiver stares back. After a little bit, "Your father has a message for you. He thought you'd do something like this. Your ancestors do not approve of your deviant behavior."
[21:06] <Jaela> "Yeah, she's pretty deviant," Jaela has to agree. "But it's her choice. You leaving, then?"
[21:07] <Kotono> "If they don't like it, they can go fuck the cloud they're sitting on." Making an extremely obscene gesture with one hand, "I like it here and I'm staying here."
[21:08] <Jaela> It must be because all of them are deviants, and like draws to like. That just makes Jaela wonder who they'll come across next....
[21:08] <Kotono> Retreiver says no more. He is gone in the blink of an eye, as if he was never there.
[21:08] <Jaela> "Wanna get drunk?"
[21:08] * Ithea raises an eyebrow. "I'm surprised he didn't try to fight for you. Guess your father didn't want you back quite that badly."
[21:09] <Jaela> "Oh come on, even a pit fiend wouldn't stand a chance against us here," Jaela scoffs.
[21:09] * Afina deflates somewhat. "He'll return with backup. We'll just have to wait until then."
[21:09] <Kotono> "Daddy wouldn't hire someone reckless enough to fight all of us at once, by himself," Dana shakes her head, "Afina's right. Oh well, we'll just fuck 'em all and use them to fertilize the ground."
[21:10] <Jaela> "I'm fine with your old man financing our repairs, anyway."
[21:11] <Afina> "Speaking of, we ought to get back to the lab..." Afina notes, turning back through the gates.
[21:12] <Jaela> "Yeah. I'm sure the sound of magic missiles discharging will let us know if we're getting invaded."