022.2 Afina

[Corwin]

[20:24] <Shao_Koahn> Time passes as Afina sees to various mundane matters. As it goes on and Afina heads into the armory to check on weapon supplies and the like, she finds Crystal there. Said pixie is checking over the weapons, but that stops when Afina appears. "Oh, Afina," she turns.
[20:26] <Afina> "Hello, Crystal," Afina nods in greeting, pausing her own inventory as she sees the other pixie doing something similar. "Looking for something in particular?"
[20:28] <Shao_Koahn> "Just checking over the weapons," She replies, a shake of her head, "I am looking for 27. I wanted to ask him about 21 after that Court visit. Are you still interested in that, too?"
[20:30] <Afina> "Of course," Afina agrees. "Baleruk was just a more immediate concern. Speaking of, do you know where Hope is?"
[20:33] <Shao_Koahn> "Arborea. She can be summoned," Crystal says, "Do you need her? We can go out and I can call her to come forth."
[20:36] <Afina> "Ahh, I forgot that's how it works," Afina nods in dawning comprehension. "Yes, I think we should. I haven't seen Arrel yet to confirm, but according to Bahamut all dragonkind will know and hate us for helping Baleruk. I suspect he overstates his importance since Hope owes her fealty to the Court of Stars, but better to find out now rather than later."
[20:51] <Shao_Koahn> "What?" Crystal stops, "What in the accursed Hells happened to you?"
[20:56] <Afina> "I don't know specifically," Afina admits, "He said that all dragons would know our deeds and we'd never find a friend in dragon-kind. I felt a burning on my forehead, but I couldn't see that any of us had been branded," she rubs the skin visible under her short but airy green hair.
[21:00] <Shao_Koahn> "I don't see anything," Crystal says with a glance at Afina's forehead, "Let's go - if this is going to be a problem with Hope, I'd like tofind out now."
[21:02] <Afina> "I hope not, since it would imply a distressing amount of control for one being to hold over an entire species, but there's only one way to find out," Afina nods, taking the nearby portal outside.
[21:04] <Shao_Koahn> "He is a God. A powerful one, no less," Crystal replies as you go into the portal and into the entry hall, heading outside. "If a God was angry enough to curse you..." Frowning, "I'm just happy you're here and able to continue your crusade. That could have been so much worse."
[21:06] <Afina> "Dragons are powerful in their own right. Can you imagine a single fey being able to bind all of us so?" Afina counters. "I think if it weren't for Renbuu's presence they might well have tried killing us at least, though."
[21:09] <Shao_Koahn> "I doubt there's any trying in that," Crystal adds worriedly, as you reach the courtyard! Therein she steps forward, "Hope," she bows her head in prayer, "Come to me!" In a flash of golden light Hope flies towards you, alightning down - and then literally leaping ten feet back, teeth bared at Afina!
[21:10] * Afina cocks her head and favours Crystal's loyal dragon ally with a sorrowful look. "I suppose I can expect the same from Arrel when I see him."
[21:13] <Shao_Koahn> "Hope!" Crystal flies to the fey dragon, a hand on his neck. This causes Hope to calm slightly, no longer baring his fangs at the other pixie. "Shh, shh," she whispers, "Afina is a true friend."
[21:16] <Afina> "Friendship counts for little where the will of Gods are concerned," the green-haired fairy opines philosophically. "Do you hold Bahamut above Queen Morwel, Hope?"
[21:26] <Shao_Koahn> Hope shudders and crowds close to Crystal. "The mark on your forehead," Hope says, "No, but...the meaning of it, the power! You broke a covenant!"
[21:29] <Afina> "A covenant that neither I, nor any court I belong to, nor even any fey, ever agreed to," Afina reasons calmly. "This mark is a curse, a spiteful gesture made by a God simply because he could, because he believed his greater power gave him the right. It's no different than the devils thinking they had a right to enslave Lifasa, because they were stronger. I won't let it cow me, and if you
[21:29] <Afina> have a will of your own you must look past it - weren't we friends before?" she goes on, her voice picking up something that almost approaches passion by the time she's done.
[21:31] <Shao_Koahn> "Shh," Crystal murmurs, "I'm Afina's friend. If she's my friend, doesn't that mean she can be your friend, too?"
[21:38] <Shao_Koahn> Hope whimpers at that - literally whimpers, a sad, forlorn sound.
[21:40] <Afina> Sighing at that far too pitiable noise, Afina sits down on the grass. "I'm not going to hurt you, you know."
[21:41] <Shao_Koahn> "Only someone horrible could have that mark, but..." Hope begins, Crystal going to sit as well. She guides Hope to sitting, speaking up for him, "She's not horrible, she's not going to hurt you. It'll take some getting used to, but just give her a chance."
[21:44] <Afina> "Only someone Bahamut doesn't like," Afina corrects. Admittedly she *is* pretty horrible, being an assassin and all, but Bahamut didn't curse her for any of the people she'd murdered over the years. "Do you know much about the covenant I broke?"
[21:46] <Shao_Koahn> "You broke the word of both Tiamat and Bahamut, united as the parents of all mortal dragons." A soft whimper again, "Only blasphemy against Io is a greater sin. I never knew that, but I do now."
[21:46] <Shao_Koahn> "Shh, shh,"Crystal continues to whisper, "Softly, Hope. Softly. Bahamut has made Afina's crime apparent to all, but it is up to you to choose how you accept it."
[21:49] <Afina> "Ah. Quite the complex curse," Afina muses at how much information it actually conveys. "Anyway, you were there when we killed Arandalhaz, you know what we were doing. It was to help Baleruk surpass his potential, and gain a strong ally for our Crusade. You saw the things that Bahamut and Tiamat had sent to defend Arandalhaz as well, didn't you?"
[21:50] <Shao_Koahn> Hope nods, "I did." Hope admits, "I remember...you are my friend." Hope's voice is strange a moment, "I...I was so wrapped up I forgot all of that."
[21:54] * Afina smiles. "Yes, I'm your friend. And so are Jaela, Ithea, Annalise, and Kascha. You might feel the same hatred when you see them as well - we won't ever hurt you, so it's up to you to be strong and remember your own feelings."
[21:58] <Shao_Koahn> Looking at Afina again, with a more sheepish if skittsh glance, "O-okay," Hope murmurs, Crystal patting her neck again. "Hope, go prance and fly around the courtyard. Don't worry about it right now, just remember what we said. I'll bring you some apples as a treat when I come back."
[22:00] * Afina waves Hope goodbye. "I better look for Arrel now and hope he can be so understanding."
[22:02] <Shao_Koahn> "Actually," Crystal pauses, "It may be better if Hope talks to Arrel first, so he isn't surprised by it. I don't know if it will do any good, but it can't be worse than it catching him unawares."
[22:05] <Afina> "Perhaps you're right. Jaela and Ithea are going with Kascha to see if her goddess will at least remove the curse from her - she was naught but a witness to the whole thing, but Bahamut cursed her the same as us. Why people venerate such unstable beings I'll never know," she shakes her head in confusion. "Annalise can explain for herself if she runs into Arrel. I better get back to inventorying
[22:05] <Afina> the armoury."
[22:07] <Shao_Koahn> "I still wanted to find 27," Crystal says, Did you want to come with me?"
[22:08] <Afina> "Oh, yes. Doesn't he spend most of his time in the hospital?"
[22:09] <Shao_Koahn> "I think so," Crystal says, as the two go to the hospital. It's mostly empty here, as you wander about. Fortune is with you - you find 27. It sits on a bed, eyes glazed over. In its hands is a scrap of paper.
[22:10] <Afina> "Hello, 27?" Afina asks, fluttering over him and looking at his glazed eyes with some concern.
[22:11] <Shao_Koahn> 27 does not reply. However, the paper it holds falls away, fluttering onto the bed.
[22:11] <Shao_Koahn> "27?" Crystal repeats, the badger-like creature unresponsive.
[22:15] <Afina> Wracking her brain for a moment, Afina tries again in his own language. "23 1 11 5 - 21 16"
[22:16] <Shao_Koahn> At those words 27 stirs, eyes unfocused. It stirs and looks up, and in your minds, 'Take,' 27 says, voice sounding dreamy and sleepy.
[22:18] <Afina> "Oh..." Afina looks down at the paper he dropped, landing to pick it up and take a look.
[22:18] <Shao_Koahn> Strange letters are written on the paper, three lines of them.
[22:29] <Afina> Spending a few moments puzzling over the letters, Afina reads out the first line after organising it in her head, "Do not stop. Do not relent. This is only the beginning. Bow to none who would oppose you for any reason. The only strength you can count on is your own." Pausing a moment before speaking for herself, "That's a nice bit of validation, at least. Thank you, 27! The other lines are
[22:29] <Afina> on a different code, though... definitely something to do with 21, but harder to figure out..." she mutters, trying various substitutions in her head.
[22:30] <Shao_Koahn> Crystal peers over, "Cryptology?" Making a rather cute urgh face, eyes crossing and mouth puckering up, "Some sort of coded message? That game always gave me a fine headache."
[22:33] <Afina> "Ithea's gotten good at it out of necessity... you're right, though, it is hard..." Afina mutters as she continues puzzling over it.
[22:33] <Shao_Koahn> "21?" Taking a look at the third row, "As in, the 21 Anna was looking for, by chance? It keeps repeating 21."
[22:34] <Afina> "Won't know until we decipher it, but probably."
[22:36] <Shao_Koahn> "21...oh yes, I wanted to check the numerology of that, too," Murmuring that, "Didn't I? I think I remember something about that amid the haze of drunkenness."
[22:37] <Afina> "Three sevens?" Afina suggests idly, her mind fairly distracted.
[22:39] <Shao_Koahn> "Mmm-hmm." Crystal's reply is rather short, "Tepen is knowledgeable. I was going to ask him. Do you want me to leave you to this for now?"
[22:39] <Afina> "May as well, I could be some time."
[22:40] <Shao_Koahn> Thus Crystal goes, leaving Afina to her work! She returns about a half hour later, "Anything?" Crystal asks, as 27 simply lies in dazed rest.
[22:50] <Afina> By now Afina has another piece of paper which she's scribbled over repeatedly, turning it almost black. "Despite the happy little pep talk on the first line, the rest of his message only serves to make me feel ignorant and annoyed."
[22:53] <Shao_Koahn> "A story I know too well. My sister could solve these with ease, while anything beyond a letter-number substitution gave me a piercing headache." With a wry smile Crystla sits next to Afina, "21 is a special number, yes. It is 3 times 7 with 3 being the number of truth and 7 being the number of the Heavens. It often has roles in prophecies and great things."
[22:55] <Afina> "Yes, those are about all I'm good for. Lets see if Ithea's back? If not maybe we'll have to bother Tepen again," Afina gives up, crumpling up her scratchpaper and picking up the actual message more carefully before she goes to look for help.
[22:56] <Shao_Koahn> No sign of Ithea - she's off somewhere, apparently. You do find Elder Magi Tepen in the library, pouring over books. He looks up and smothers a small yawn in his hand. "Back so soon?" he asks kindly, "Are you still working on the latest cryptic missive from 27?"
[22:58] <Afina> "Yes, the first line was simple enought but nothing I've tried has worked on the other two," Afina nods wearily, presenting it to him.
[22:59] <Shao_Koahn> "Sit, this may take some time." He passes over a pot, "Mint tea, it's soothing and can calm your nerves." Cups follow, as Tepen begins to concentrate and work.
[23:00] <Shao_Koahn> roll 1d20+30
[23:00] * Hatbot --> "Shao_Koahn rolls 1d20+30 and gets 42." [1d20=12]
[23:01] <Shao_Koahn> A goodly 45 or so minutes pass before Elder Magi Tepen looks up, "It's a special sort of cypher. You can't solve it in a traditional way - the letters are encoded, so that each one means a different letter. How it works, simplified, is that you base the cypher around a single word. This word is the key to the cypher. If you know the word, you can easily solve the cypher."
[23:02] <Shao_Koahn> Crystal sits on the other end of the table, "So it's like a lock and you can't pick the lock?"
[23:03] <Shao_Koahn> "Correct. Comprehend Languages can't dechiper codes like this, either. You have to usually brute force the word or figure out what the word is." Rubbing his forehead, "Do you have any ideas?"
[23:05] <Afina> "It's probably a different word for each line at that," Afina makes a displeased face. "The first line says the only strength to count on is our own, so maybe try Aurora on the other two?"
[23:06] <Shao_Koahn> "A good place to start," Thus he gets to work! It takes about ten minutes before he shakes his head, "It's not Aurora."
[23:07] <Shao_Koahn> Crystal hums, kicking her legs off the side of the table, "Assuming it's not a nonsense word...with whatever 27 is I wouldn't put it past it..." Quietly looking down at her feet as they go back and forth, "Any ideas...say, is 27 making these himself or are they a prophecy or what?
[23:07] <Shao_Koahn> "
[23:08] <Afina> "I don't know, best to ask Ithea when she comes back. It seems to be some source of knowledge he can't consciously recognise. Anyway, try Lifasa, maybe?"
[23:08] <Shao_Koahn> roll 1d20+30
[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Shao_Koahn rolls 1d20+30 and gets 46." [1d20=16]
[23:09] <Shao_Koahn> Elder Magi Tepen works for a good half hour, "...no," he says at last, "But it's close. At least the L is right.
[23:09] <Shao_Koahn> ""
[23:09] <Afina> "Limbo?"
[23:11] <Shao_Koahn> For ten more minutes, then, "Got it," Elder Magi Tepen says, "It's Limbo for both lines."
[23:12] <Afina> "Ah, finally. I hope that's not one he's used before or we've wasted so much time... what does it say?"
[23:12] <Shao_Koahn> "The first one is, 'Tannin lies in every word.' The second is, '21 is the key to everything. 21 can destroy the Child of Lifasa, Abigor and even Bel. 21 is a battle for a soul.'"
[23:14] <Afina> "He really doesn't like Tannin, does he?" Afina frowns. "His information's been good so far, so saying he always lies is foolish."
[23:16] <Shao_Koahn> "Indeed, it makes little sense," Putting down his quill carefully, sanding the final translation to dry it, "21, something that can destroy Abigor, this Child of Lifasa and evil Bel? If that is true...I need not say that we want 21, whatever it is."
[23:17] <Afina> "Who's the Child of Lifasa, though?" Afina asks the obvious question.
[23:18] <Shao_Koahn> "If I recall the previous messages," Elder Magi Tepen frowns in concentration, "It went something like, 'Hope dies with the birth of the Child of Lifasa' and 'If you fail, the Child of Lifasa will rule over your bodies.' Beyond that, I don't know."
[23:18] <Shao_Koahn> "Afina," Crystal says, voice entirely quiet.
[23:19] <Afina> There's only one ominous child they've heard about... "Queen Ilsenine?" she asks, glancing at her fellow pixie.
[23:19] <Shao_Koahn> A solemn, gravenly silent nod. "Queen Ilsenine," she repeats.
[23:24] <Afina> "We always knew she was the greatest of the fey rulers on Lifasa. I doubt her rivals are so keen to challenge her for the honour, now," Afina remarks bitterly. Unfortunately she's soundly out of their reach for now. "We need more information on how to get to her - as well as Tepen's soul fragment - before we can make an assault on Avernus. Hopefully Lixor's minions can provide some information
[23:24] <Afina> if we're lucky..." Regretfully putting that aside for the moment, "As far as 21 goes, we only know that a woman named Anna is searching for it, and left the Court of Stars a few months ago."
[23:31] <Shao_Koahn> "Auguries, perhaps?" Crystal strokes her chin, "I could also go back to the Court and spend time asking further. Tannin too, the next time he comes back."
[23:32] <Afina> "We have plenty of spellcasters capable of castimg divinations here, so there's no need for that," Afina observes. "And Tannin seems constantly busy with other people's requests, so we shouldn't add to his burdens."
[23:34] <Shao_Koahn> "Then what should we do?" Crystal asks.
[23:36] <Afina> "I don't think Jaela can cast divinations, nor can I," Afina admits, glancing at Tepen, "And better to spread the burden than put more on your shoulders, Tepen. Lets ask Drena, Hanna, and the Jarl? We can ask Kascha as well when she returns."
[23:37] <Shao_Koahn> Drena is found outside, flying along the fortress. Several elementals fly with him, keeping a loose pattern. "Afina, Crystal," he greets as you approach.
[23:44] <Afina> "Hello, Drena," Afina nods back in greeting, deciding to make an attempt at small talk first since she hasn't gotten to know him very well. "Have you seen Hanna of the Court of Stars, yet? She's leading the eladrin detachment here and spoke highly of you when we met her in Arborea."
[23:45] <Shao_Koahn> "In passing," Drena replies, "We've met before, yes. We'll catch up when we both have a moment. I didn't realize Jaela was her daughter." A gust of a laugh follows, "I should have figured it out myself. They look just like each other in the face."
[23:47] <Afina> "It is a strong resemblance, isn't it?" Afina agrees, before getting to her reason for seeking him out, "We also picked up a lead on another possible ally, but one who's since left the Court. We're hoping to track her down with divinations and wondered if you had access to any of that kind of magic?"

[Corwin]

[19:44] <Kotono> "Divinations aren't my speciality," He so admits, "If you need anything done with Air, I can do it. Divinations are not something I've ever trained in."
[19:46] <Afina> "Ah. Nor I, so we're having to ask around. But speaking of air, can you or those who came with you use weapons or armour?" she glances at the air elementals flying in formation with Chan's grandson. "I've never had to make anything for animate air before, but everyone who fights for us should be well armed and armoured if possible."
[19:51] <Kotono> "Armor? On an elemental of air?" A gusty snort follows, "No, no, no. It would need to be lighter than air and as free moving to be of any real use. Encasing free moving air in a shell of earthy metal would only limit them." Tapping his chest, "This uniform was specially made not to hinder me, all of its protections are magical force, like the spell that provides a mage armor."
[19:55] <Afina> "Hmm. It was hard enough making armour that didn't slow down pixies or impede mages," Afina muses with a gesture at Crystal as she studies the elementals. "I'll have to look into using force effects, which could take some time. It may end up being cheaper to provide mass castings of mage armour before battle."
[20:04] <Kotono> "A small secret - Lady Chan's forces often rely on that as well," He admits, "It's simply not economic to outfit an entire army in magic force armors strong enough to be of any real use."
[20:04] <Kotono> "Yes, they're expensive," Crystal pipes up, "Still, if you could find some way to work around that..."
[20:10] <Afina> "It's getting to the point where I consider myself more artificer than assassin," Afina admits herself with a shake of her head. "Something more to learn about. Lets go and try Hanna about those divinations, now? We'll see you later, Drena."
[20:12] <Kotono> Hanna is found in the library. She paces about the shelves, seeming to look for something. A faintly annoyed scowl graces her face, wings flapping every few moments with a twitchiness. "Yes?" she asks as the two pixies come close.
[20:13] <Afina> Well, before making their own demands... "Is everything alright? You seem... aggrieved."
[20:16] <Kotono> "Just looking for an abomination," she says with a cross cheerfulness, "I hear she lurks around here." Hefting a rather long and heavy axe, "Celestial Fury here just loves meeting abominations."
[20:18] <Afina> "Well at least you're not after Baleruk," Afina notes with obviously strained humour. "And the two devils in the dungeon are both male... I think. So I presume you're taking issue with our conscripted vampire?"
[20:24] <Kotono> "Oh, you've heard of her!" Hanna takes on an entirely bloodthirsty smile, licking her lips. The resemblence to Jaela is absolutely uncanny, "You know what they say about vampires in the Court? Get mad at them, scream holy words and decapitate them until they stop sucking blood. I can personally attest to the effectiveness of that."
[20:24] <Kotono> "Ah yes," Crystal glances askance at Afina, "I have heard vampires can be slain like that."
[20:27] <Afina> "From what I hear, this one can't. The priest of Torm apparently tried everything in the vampire-slaying book on her and then ended up just stabbing her onto an altar with a holy avenger and leaving her for a few millenia," Afina replies. "If you asked nicely she might even let you try. I'd rather you didn't hurt her without permission, though, since she serves our Crusade."
[20:28] <Kotono> "..." A blink-stop at that, "You mean the vampire regenerates and you can't find a way to kill it? What about sunlight? That always works."
[20:29] <Afina> "She gets a little bit sleepy when the sun's out, but she's still just as good at killing our enemies," Afina confirms. "When we first took Medicant Elena attacked us with blazing sunlight which barely ruffled her. She was fine on Ysgard during the day, too."
[20:32] <Kotono> "What...the..." Twitch, twitch, twitch, "BULLSHIT! FUCKING BULLSHIT!" Hanna thunders, waving her axe! The air that rips out from it is enough to make you wobble in the air, "YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS BLOODSUCKING BITCH OF A BLACK ABOMINATION IS INVINCIBLE?! I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT, AND BY LADY GWYNHARWYF'S BLADES, I'M GOING TO PERSONALLY FIND A WAY TO DESTROY HER!"
[20:33] <Kotono> Crystal rights herself in the air, scooting back.
[20:35] <Afina> "Anything can die, but no one knows how to do it to her yet," Afina replies, unruffled in the face of such rage even as she makes minute corrections to her wingbeats to stay stable. "Is it alright to ask if you at least wait until the Crusade's over even if you do find a way before then?"
[20:39] <Kotono> "We'll see about that," Growling low in her throat, "We'll see about that."
[20:43] <Afina> Wishing Jaela was here since this is totally her issue, Afina nonetheless takes hold of it as best she can in her absence. "Annalise - that's her name - has sworn to serve us in liberating Lifasa in exchange for freeing her, and she's been as good as her word since then. She only ever eats animals now, and before we had the livestock she'd only feed from volunteers who were restored by magic
[20:43] <Afina> immediately afterwards. I can't speak for what's in her heart, but her actions don't warrant death... not even the somewhat tiresome attempts at convincing everyone we'd be better off as vampires ourselves," she concludes with a soft sigh.
[20:46] <Kotono> "Hmph." With another growl, "Wait, why hasn't Jaela done something about her...oh Jaela..." she suddenly murmurs, "That's what she meant!"
[20:47] <Afina> "Jaela thinks she can be redeemed," Afina refuses to be drawn any further on the subject!
[20:48] <Kotono> "Of course, of course," Hanna murmurs, "She's a good girl, she'd think and try that."
[20:49] <Afina> "Helm categorically believes it won't work and the elven gods are dubious but supportive," Afina shrugs. "She's been nothing but helpful to us since we rescued her, though, and that's good enough for me."
[20:50] <Kotono> "Mmmm, right," Nodding to herself, "I'll just have to help Jaela with it then. Perhaps friends will help her see the light."
[20:51] <Kotono> Crystal coughs at that, but says nothing.
[20:51] <Afina> "Be prepared for a lot of sermons on how you'd be much happier as a vampire," Afina tells Hanna with a 'better you than me' look on her face.
[20:52] <Kotono> "Well, that can be bea-er, talked out of her," Hanna nods quickly.
[20:54] <Afina> "Good luck," Afina tells her, about to depart before she abruptly remembers why she was looking for Hanna to start with. "Oh, we got distracted and I nearly forgot! How are you for divination magic, Hanna?"
[21:00] <Kotono> "I can manage," she says, "Why?"
[21:03] <Afina> "When we were in the Court of Stars we heard about a woman called Anna who was trying to investigate Abigor in the library. Just that made us think she might be a possible ally, but when we asked about her we learned she was pursuing a... a thing. It can't be described, we were told it's closest word is '21'. Apparently there's some important numerology there, and our resident slaad prophet
[21:03] <Afina> claims it can destroy Abigor and even Bel. Unfortunately her trail from the Court is cold."
[21:06] <Kotono> "It can destroy a Lord of the Nine?" Now with her full attention on you two, "I'll need an hour to pray and prepare. What type of divinations are you looking for? Do you have a spell in mind?"
[21:09] <Afina> "You know your own spells best... I doubt Scrying would work since we know so little about her, maybe a Divination. Even a Sending to ask her directly for a meeting? Her name is Anna, she has red hair, and she seeks this, ah, 21. Is that enough information for the magic to recognise her?"
[21:14] <Kotono> "I'll prepare several spells and a few sendings," Hanna says, "We can try several methods."
[21:17] <Afina> And it gives Jaela time to get back and sort things out with the two women in her life! She didn't even have to plan it that way! "Before you get to preparing, I was talking to Drena before and now I'll ask you - how are your eladrin for equipment? I noticed there were a lot of sprites in your contingent, and I've been making special armour for our own pixies and spellcasters," she gestures
[21:17] <Afina> to the lovely Crystal who is currently modelling a rather fetching suit of leafweave, "If any of them could use it let me know, or any other kinds of special armour or weapons."
[21:19] <Kotono> "We came well equipped," Hanna says, "The Court does not send out war parties unprepared."
[21:22] <Afina> "That's good, means more money we can put into improving the fortress as a whole that way," Afina nods. "We'll meet up in the observatory in an hour for the spells?"
[21:29] <Kotono> With that Hanna departs! Once she's gone, "It feels trite, but I want to say that I see where Jaela get sit from now." Crystal observes casually.
[21:31] <Afina> "They're both refreshingly uncompromising," Afina allows a slight smile.
[21:38] <Kotono> One hour later the three of you meet in the observatory. "Alright, I have several sendings and divinations prepared," Hanna announces, "A Commune as well, but those are for emergencies."
[21:39] <Afina> "Lets hope we can manage without," Afina offers. "Try the divination first to make sure we're on the right track before we attempt direct contact?"
[21:40] <Kotono> "That's what I was thinking. What exactly do you want to ask?"
[21:43] <Afina> "Hmm... where we can find Anna? Gives us a lead if the Sendings don't work."
[21:44] <Kotono> "Right," With that the spell is cast! (More, rolling for it behind the screen first.)
[21:47] <Kotono> Thereafter Hanna speaks up, "Where the infinite realms number 210 lies she whom you seek."
[21:48] <Afina> "You're the one who knows numerology..." Afina looks over at Crystal expectantly to decipher this.
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 27." [1d20=7]
[21:50] <Kotono> "The Abyss, I think." She says, "It's the only realm with that many layers. I don't know anything about the particular layers, though."
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 42." [1d20=19]
[21:51] <Kotono> "210?" Hanna whistles low, "That one I know something about. It's sealed - you have to find a portal in. I've heard its bad, even for the Abyss."
[21:53] <Afina> "Oh... well, we can ask around about portals before we have to do another divination? We have a few experts on the planes around here. Do you think she's there voluntarily?"
[21:55] <Kotono> "I know the answer to that, too," Hanna says, "The portal that leads to it is layer 209. It's an abandoned layer of horrors, said to be created entirely to protect the portal to 210. You can shift into 209, but you can't shift out. Once you're there, you have to find a way out of the layer the hard way."
[21:59] <Kotono> "A double fight, through two layers?" Making a face as she goes on, hardened but cute features giving way to disdain, "More than a fair challenge."
[22:00] <Afina> "Do-able for us, though. Lets try asking her directly, then? How about, 'Lifasa's survivors share your interest in Abigor and would like to meet. Specify a place and time or we can come to you if needed?'"
[22:01] <Kotono> With that the Sending is cast! After it is done, "Nothing. I'm fairly sure the spell failed. If 210 is sealed, that's not unexpected."
[22:03] <Afina> "It's possible she went there herself on some connection between 21 and 210 and got in over her head," Afina surmises. "Alright, once Jaela and Ithea are back we can discuss whether to go in after her."
[22:05] <Kotono> "Right," Crystal says, "Hopefully they'll be back soon."