026.3 Afina and the Court of Alfheimr

[Corwin]

[20:18] <Kotono> Afina casts her magic, calling on the name and incanting the proper forms! The circle flares a moment...but nothing happens. Elder Magi Tepen watches, "...A pity," he observes.
[20:19] <Kotono> Crystal merely readies her lance, staring at the circle with rapt attention.
[20:21] * Afina nods. "He could still be more human than devil, the devils could have already empowered him beyond my ability to capture, or he could have been hidden away in a shielded area, or just simply resisted my magic," she summarises. "I'll try two more to verify, this next one will be Mala the Tiefling - we know that one is an outsider so will be vulnerable even if in their original form.
[20:21] * Afina The other possibilities still apply, though," she states before invoking the summoning on this new target.
[20:24] <Kotono> "I don't anticipate success if Baator values them and has rewarded them," Elder Magi Tepen confesses, "Handing Hell an entire world is surely worth a great reward." Meanwhile Afina calls on Mala the Tiefling! Magic is invoked, magics swirling around as the circle flares - and again stays empty.
[20:25] <Afina> "Perhaps... I was hoping they'd force their collaborators to endure a humiliating stint as a lemure or something for a few years to show them their place. I'll try Willah the nymph and then we'll give up and turn to conventional assassination," the fairy says before trying her final attempt for the day.
[20:29] <Kotono> Willah the nymph is called on! The circle flares once more, but nothing appears. Crystal sighs lightly, "Damnations. It would have been too good to have been able to make them account for what they did so easily."
[20:32] <Afina> "It would have been nice to see their faces," Afina agrees. "We'll just have to keep capturing and interrogating devils until one of them gives us a lead we can use to hunt the traitors down in Hell itself." Turning now to Crystal directly, "Queen Ilsenine wished to convene the court after I tried this. We should find Skye and then go to her."
[20:33] <Kotono> "Of course," Crystal nods slightly, "Did she just want those of us from the court, all the fey?"
[20:34] <Kotono> Elder Magi Tepen inclines his head, "Pay my respects to Queen Ilsenine. I won't come calling until she's had a chance to settle in better."
[20:36] <Afina> "Thank you, Tepen, I will," Afina smiles up at the old wizard. "I assumed she meant Alfheimr, since she said court specifically."
[20:39] <Kotono> "Maybe so," Crystal pauses a moment, nodding to Elder Magi Tepen as he leaves. Once gone, "I think it may be prudent to look into folding the other fey into the court, under the circumstances. Still, that's a digression."
[20:42] <Afina> "That's up to both them and our Queen," Afina dismisses the matter as beyond her grade. "I'm more interested in having our voice in the higher courts heard through our Queen so we can call on allies from them."
[20:44] <Kotono> A nod again, as Crystal and Afina go to gather Skye. You find her awaiting, fluttering in the air of the courtyard. Immediately, "How is she?" Skye asks right away, before there is even a chance for a reply.
[20:46] <Afina> "Much better now, and she has much to share. Our presence has been requested, to convene the Court once more," Afina explains as she glides to a serene stop.
[20:49] <Kotono> "Of course," Skye replies immediately, "The entire surviving court? What of the others?"
[20:51] <Afina> "I'm sure they will meet our Queen in time, but for now she has asked for her court... which as far as we know consists of merely we three," Afina shrugs off their paltry numbers despite that.
[20:51] <Kotono> "Then we'll go," Skye says, already flying off. Crystal smiles a moment, falling in with Afina. "Shall we?"
[20:52] <Afina> "Follow me, the Queen has the first royal suite," Afina bids, heading towards the portal to take them there.
[20:57] <Kotono> Thus, the trio go there. Queen Ilsenine awaits - sitting primly in the chair she did before, awaiting the trio as they enter. Immediately Crystal approaches and kneels, saying not a word. Skye repeats this, and softly, "Welcome home, Majesty," she adds.
[20:59] * Afina kneels behind the other two, a commoner having less status before the queen than a lady and a knight, no matter how skilled or valued.
[21:02] <Kotono> There is a moment of kneeling before Queen Ilsenine raises a hand, "Rise," she commands, "My court," A wistful smile shows on her face a moment, "My dear court. Each of you have my deepest thanks for your deeds so far, and for continuing the battle against the intruders that have stolen everything from us."
[21:04] <Afina> Standing up now, Afina can't resist a flush of pride at Ilsenine's praise. She had missed this, back when their enemies were so much more limited in scope.
[21:06] <Kotono> "Your Majesty," Crystal rises and bows once, and Skye merely beams. After this Queen Ilsenine continues, "We have much to do, much to discuss. I saw other fey here, I believe. Are they other survivors, not attached to our court?"
[21:08] <Afina> Skye seems to know them all best, so Afina is happy to let the noblewoman take the lead here.
[21:10] <Kotono> "Not directly. They are scattered survivors from all across Lifasa, Majesty," Skye replies, "I have taken the liberty in establishing a court structure of a sort in the interum."
[21:11] <Kotono> Here Crystal clears her throat, "Not one as successful as your court would have been, Queen."
[21:14] <Afina> Oooh, quite a snipe by Crystal! Afina actually feels sorry for Skye at having her thunder stolen so badly, and it prompts her to speak up despite her general trend of apathy towards her. "It hasn't been terribly long, and I'm sure many still hold out hopes of returning to their own former courts, as we did."
[21:17] <Kotono> Skye reddens, her glare like daggers towards Crystal. To this Queen Ilsenine smiles slightly. "Our world is naught but survivors and fragments. Is this impression of mine wrong, Afina?"
[21:20] <Afina> "What's left of Lifasa falls into three categories, really. Those who escaped or were banished and are preparing to renew the battle later - ourselves prominently. Those who also escaped but have chosen to pursue new lives in other realms. And those who remain on occupied Lifasa either as hidden partisans or victims of devil re-education," Afina explains concisely. "As I'm sure you've already
[21:20] <Afina> seen on Aurora, the divisions that seperated us on Lifasa hold little meaning any longer."
[21:25] <Kotono> "Indeed, that is true," Queen Ilsenine nods, "Succinctly, we have only the remnants of a court as of now. With the rest of the fey here, we will at least have something. Far better for one court in crisis than a dozen splintered shards. Skye, go and gather all the other fey for a meeting, but not come here. I will send another when the time is right."
[21:25] <Kotono> "Yes," Skye kneels momentarily, before taking to the air andf lying off.
[21:28] <Afina> "Your majesty, if I may?" Afina asks for permission to speak up.
[21:30] <Kotono> "Speak," Queen Ilsenine nods.
[21:33] <Afina> "None of us have any standing in courts beyond Alfheimr, which makes recruiting other fey to our Crusade more difficult lest we be swept away in the politics of higher courts. Would it please you to approach the Seelie or seasonal courts with your own greater stature to draw more fey to Aurora?"
[21:35] <Kotono> "I have been considering this problem," Queen Ilsenine agrees, "I suspected the politics of the situation would be akin to this; but as you know them more, elaborate on them. What of the eladrin as well?"
[21:37] <Afina> "Crystal has some fealty to the Court of Stars, and Jaela whom you met before; her mother is a champion of Gwynharwyf. Between those two factors and the eladrin being the force most opposed to devils in all the planes, acquiring their support was fairly simplistic," Afina replies.
[21:39] <Kotono> Queen Ilsenine is silent for a little time after, "We'll be making the proper entreaties to the other courts in time. But first I'd like to get our own court in order. Crystal, Afina. Rise and look at me."
[21:40] <Afina> Afina rose up earlier on, and had been looking at Ilsenine while talking to her anyway!
[21:41] <Kotono> Crystal does so. Once done, "This will be a court of war. We unite to defeat the vermin who infest our fair world. In light of this, I need a small favor from both of you."
[21:43] * Afina nods, well used to doing favours for her queen. Those usually end up with people dying.
[21:46] <Kotono> "Yes," Crystal replies shortly, awaiting.
[21:47] <Kotono> "A war will need generals. Further, the political situation of this is...sticky, is it not? I have inferred that you hold high authority within Aurora, Afina?"
[21:49] <Afina> "The highest," Afina agrees, although it's shared with a couple of others, none actually supercede her.
[21:51] <Kotono> "Not as high as Afina," Crystal adds on her own, "I lead and command, but I am not one of the founders like Afina."
[21:53] <Kotono> "I would have the two of you as my generals. In light of the politics of the situation, I would give the two of you authority over the court's military matters and report to me. I do not particularly wish to impose myself directly onto Aurora; this seems the most reasonable compromise in light of this situation. More importantly, we cannot afford internal strife, can we? I know now Hell is
[21:53] <Kotono> a terrible enemy, one we need all of our strength to battle."
[22:07] * Afina can't help but feel relieved that she isn't being asked to cede her authority over the Crusade. The title of general doesn't particularly mean much to her, but she'll take it if it makes the politics easier. "Thank you, your majesty, I will do my best to honour your trust."
[22:12] <Kotono> "It will be as you will it," Crystal answers.
[22:14] <Kotono> "Good." Queen Ilsenine rises, "As such, I invest in both of you all the military authority and command of this court. May you use it with all the wisdoms of the seasons and Lifasa."
[22:17] <Afina> Again that doesn't specifically change anything, but it's a nice vote of confidence. "Thank you, your majesty. Have no fear that your Court will be leading the Crusade to reclaim our home."

[Corwin]

[20:09] <Kotono> "Yes, your Majesty," Crystal echos.
[20:10] <Kotono> "Now," A look to Crystal, "Go forth and bring those Skye has gathered."
[20:14] <Kotono> Crystal nods once and rises, departing. Once gone, "Afina," she addresses the assassin, "What are the numbers of Aurora's army?"
[20:32] * Afina spends a moment tabulating everyone in her head before she speaks. "One thousand and seventy, your majesty."
[20:35] <Kotono> "Mmm." The Queen is silent for a few moments, "Yes, we will need more. Many more. What is the compositions of the troops?"
[20:42] <Afina> "Seventy five from Lifasa, three hundred and eighty five from the Court of Stars, a hundred from Ysgard, two hundred from the Cauldron, two hundred and ten from Lady Chan, five from Elysium, fifteen students of the Graceful Blow, sixty six dire wolves controlled by our vampire, and sixteen members of various origin each of which could reasonably be expected to defeat greater devils on a one
[20:42] <Afina> for one basis," Afina replies after some more thought.
[20:48] <Kotono> "The courts will add to that," Queen Ilsenine says, mor ea murmur to herself than anything else.
[20:51] <Afina> "They'll have to," Afina speaks up, perhaps out of turn but she has responsibilities now. "As it is the bulk of our army is but a match for the likes of bearded devils, which hell has in endless numbers. I've been researching golems with the intent of bolstering our ability to fight stronger devils, but mindless dolls are no substitute for skilled warriors and mages."
[20:54] <Kotono> A slight nod by the Queen as she listens, "We will need more." Any further thoughts are lost, as Skye and Crystal return. With them come all the refugee pixies, filling up the room.
[20:56] * Afina decides to go and stand to the side since this isn't really for her. It's also just somewhat comfortable, since she's used to being on the fringes of court.
[21:01] <Kotono> To this, the court fills! The rustling of wings is the only sound, no conversation. Queen Ilsenine raises her hand up, as if to gather attention to herself. "Years have passed. Years of turmoil, misery and despair, since the loss of our beloved Lifasa. We have known the wages of sorrow all too well, cast away fragments of a shattered world. Our courts lie in ruin, our world in chains, our
[21:01] <Kotono> kinsmen dead or worse." Here she pauses to look over the assembled, "That you are here instead of elsewhere speaks another story. A story that tells us that broken fragments will not be forgotten and swept away."
[21:06] * Afina quietly lets Ilsenine recruit!
[21:15] <Kotono> "Our fair courts are these fragments - nothing more than memories and losses." Queen Ilsenine looks about, "Until the invasion, I ruled the court of Alfheimr. Now..." Queen Ilsenine shakes her head, "Dust in the wind of loss." She is silent for a short time, as if to allow that to brew, "So as it is for all of us. What is a Queen without a court? What are fragments left behind without guidance
[21:15] <Kotono> or form? What is the point, when winter comes and no spring follows? But I tell you this, as sure as fragments can be restored into a whole and as surely as spring liberates us from winter, our time has come. I would make a court here, the court of Alfheimr reborn. But alone it will be nothing, nothing more than fanciful wishes during winter's bleakest chill. Fragments of Lifasa, I would
[21:15] <Kotono> ask you to come together. Let us make a new court, a new whole. Let us together bring spring to Lifasa. The devils have shown us the might they possess as a united force. Let us show them that we are not the only ones with the strength to come together!"
[21:17] <Afina> Since it seems a lot of pixies here look up to her for some unfathomable reason, Afina offers her vocal support to her queen to help sway any that are unsure. "As you had before, so shall you always have me, your Majesty," she moves to the centre front of the grouping to kneel before Ilsenine.
[21:19] <Kotono> "I shall always be at your call, Queen," Crystal echos, coming before Afina and kneeling at her side. A moment later Skye calls, "Your will is my will, Majesty." She approaches and kneels next to Crystal.
[21:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+36
[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+36 and gets 54." [1d20=18]
[21:20] <Kotono> It is Lief who is heard first. "I trust Afina and Crystal with my life." he announces, kneeling as well. "I've lost much, but that just means we can gain far more to make up for it."
[21:24] <Kotono> Slowly amid the fey others kneel as well, a rippl ethat picks up speed and steam, the rest of the pixies kneeling as well. Not a one remains standing by the time it is over, Queen Ilsenine rising. "Rise...from the ashes of loss, comes the court of Alfheimr again. We shall need leaders and warriors." Queen Ilsenine approaches Afina, fluttering over and leaning ni. She kisses the top of her
[21:24] <Kotono> head, then repeats with Crystal, "Afina and Crystal shall be our generals of war, for this is a court of war."
[21:25] <Afina> Standing up now, Afina lowers her head for that kiss, a momentary thrill felt at the attention before she turns to face the rest of the new members.
[21:30] <Kotono> "Thank you," Crystal is heard to murmur softly when her turn comes, rising as well. "Our court is just beginning. What is a beginning without a celebration?" Skye is the one who speaks, "I have had food, drink and music prepared for us. Let us make merry and be alive!" Skye briefly flies out of the portal, coming back through moments later. With her come several - various soldiers, each
[21:30] <Kotono> carrying platters of food or drinks.
[21:33] <Afina> Oh no, that better not be from the mess hall. She really needs to have that fixed so it can make proper tasting food. Well, she'll eat it and be thankful anyway, for all that she'd prefer Ilsenine's first meal free of captivity would be more splendid.
[21:37] <Kotono> Celebration comes. Food drink and song follow with it. Queen Ilsenine mostly sits and watches, engaging in light conversation with others. Crystal is more gregarous yet, fluttering between groups and drinking her fair share of wine. Lief lingers a bit before coming over to Afina, "Going to mix and mingle?" he asks.
[21:41] <Afina> "I never had to in the old court," Afina admits. "But that was a different time, and so too should I be different. Don't expect me to drink like Crystal's doing, though."
[21:42] <Kotono> Lief cracks a rather large smile at that, "I'm surprised, but I suppose if there's ever a day to drink too much?" With a half hearted shrug as he watches Crystal go about, "I never like these things. I always feel like I don't fit in."
[21:43] * Afina nods, able to relate. "What did you do before?"
[21:46] <Kotono> "A stealthy warrior. Not an assassin, but I suppose I wasn't far removed from it," Lief admits, "I learned the basis of my skills there, and afterwards hard experience honed them."
[21:52] <Afina> "Well, welcome to Court life. I'm not sure what it'll be like, to be honest, the Gloaming Wood was a lot different than the rest of Lifasa. None of our rival courts seem to have survived, though, so we might end up like one of the peaceful courts from elsewhere in the world."
[21:55] <Kotono> "I doubt there will be much backstabbing. Only fools would deplete us further," Lief's murmur is quiet as he watches, seeing pixies celebrate. A smile stays on his face as he speaks, lips turning up and his eyes bright, "It'll be a peaceful court internally. I hope."
[21:57] <Afina> "Should be... although speaking of backstabbing, I don't suppose you ever knew of a nymph called Willah in your part of the world?" despite her good intentions, Afina is too incapable of normal conversation to avoid reverting back to 'work'.
[22:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 35." [1d20=16]
[22:09] <Kotono> "It sounds familiar," Lief admits, "But I knew a lot of nymphs. Willah, Willah, Willah..." Murmurin gthat and looking up, arms crossed, "Willah...Oh!" Snapping his fingers, "I knew her sister, I think. Vella was her name. I remember her talking about Willah - she was the odd one out in the family. Didn't get much in the way of details, but I got the impression they didn't approve of her."
[22:11] <Afina> "You could say that," Afina agrees dryly. "Her and eight others of different races are the ones that invited the devils onto Lifasa. Right now they're in hell, supposedly being granted devil forms as reward in readiness to rule Lifasa under the Child of Lifasa."
[22:12] <Kotono> "Nine corpses to be," Lief vows lowly, his voice kept down. "They're the reason for all of this?" He keeps his voice low, "Nine traitors?"
[22:16] <Afina> "That's all it took, I was planning to ask the other survivors that Tepen helped escape if they knew any of the other names..." she trails off before picking up, "But I forget fey outside of the Gloaming Wood had much more contact with other races. Ever hear of an elf named Velasca?"
[22:18] <Kotono> "Doesn't ring a bell," Lief answers, "How could nine people do this, though? It doesn't make sense!"
[22:21] <Afina> "I don't know. Queen Ilsenine only heard their names through the boastings of her captors," Afina admits. "Anyway, there's time enough for asking everyone else later on, for now I ought to mingle better," she says while going to freshen her own wine.

[Corwin]

[19:53] <Kotono> That night, Afina sleeps. Her heart races. She's sitting up in her room. That much she is aware of, in a dim sort of way. Sweat clings to her body like a second skin, her mouth opening to take great heaving lungfuls of air. Nightmarish fears pass onto Afina in a half asleep daze, shattering her slumber into awareness. A smashed smorgasboard of fire, sulphur and blood - save for the last
[19:53] <Kotono> image, flash-seared into her mind. Gathgorian stood over her, sword raised high to cleave her asunder.
[19:57] * Afina shudders as she wakes up, the night terrors replaced with the vision of the more supernaturally fearful cornugon that destroyed her will to fight in Hades and likely resulted in Elrisa's death due to her lack of support in that battle. Gathgarion is of course a more legitimately terrifying opponent, but the battle with him went exactly as planned from her point of view... perhaps by
[19:57] * Afina luck more than skill, either way she emerged unscathed while he was left a small reminder by virtue of Hywelbane. She doesn't particularly relish facing him again - far less his superiors such as Abigor and Bel if the bar is raised higher, but for now she has no reason to be unduly fearful. In any case, perhaps a visit to the hot springs to wash off the sweat wouldn't be amiss...
[20:01] <Kotono> On reaching the baths, you find Annalise and Dana already in there. The former is resting upt o her chin in the waters, eyes closed and listening. Dana is going on as you enter, sitting in the shallows and only up to her hips. "...wasn't, but hell. At least it was something." She leans back, elbows resting against the pool's edge. "Better than most did for him."
[20:03] <Afina> Not feeling particularly chatty, Afina keeps her distance from the two much larger females, silently slipping herself into the water, her stick thin frame obscured by steam and ripples as she sinks to her neck against the edge.
[20:06] <Kotono> Dana pauses to nod to Afina as she takes her position. Meanwhile Annalise replies, "Potential doesn't discriminate based on apperance. One only needs to look at our enemies to be disabused of that notion." Soaking in the warm waters herself, Annalise is slow in her reply, a lull in the conversation. "Why Afina. Come to visit?" Annalise asks, a hint of amusement in her words.
[20:07] <Afina> "I haven't had a bath in two years, it seemed about time," Afina replies back with practiced blandness.
[20:10] <Kotono> "Huh, I guess it's true. Fey really don't smell bad." Dana ventures, while Annalise merely smiles to it. "Why yes, I suppose you do deserve to treat yourself. How is Ilsenine, by the way?"
[20:13] <Afina> Seeing no reason to disabuse Dana as to the secret of her cleanliness (although indeed her natural odour is quite pleasant if she were to indulge in vanity), Afina replies to Annalise, "Unbowed and unbroken. She remains my Queen as always."
[20:16] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm." Annalise opens her eyes, licking her lips, "Perhaps she does deserve the title. Being used by Gathgorian and having her infernal child destroyed, and she's already functioning? It speaks well to her will. Anyone normal would be reduced to a sobbing wreck, no?"
[20:23] <Afina> "A Queen does not have the luxury of being normal," Afina points out. "Don't underestimate what was required to prosper in an environment as merciless as our home. Others were more powerful, had larger followings, or controlled greater resources. Yet where is King Wescaril? What happened to the Duchess of Spiders? The Hunter of Heroes? Of all who vied for supremacy in the seat of slyvan
[20:23] <Afina> power, Queen Ilsenine remains."
[20:26] <Kotono> "True, but of any virtue of her own?" Annalise now looks to Afina, "The devils had a reason to spare her life." Despite that her lips twitch as she rises, "I believe I shall freshen myself further and call on your Queen when she awakens." Water drips off Annalise's body as she does so, off every unliving curve that's far too rounded and beautiful. "Her sojourn in Hell may have expanded her
[20:26] <Kotono> horizons. She may just be interesting."
[20:32] <Afina> "Don't bite off more than you can chew, Annalise," Afina warns, suspecting the vampire may more than meet her match in Ilsenine.
[20:35] <Kotono> "Funny you should say that. I thought for certain you were dead the moment you challenged Gathgorian," Annalise says this as she floats out of the pool and onto the ground, going to dry herself with a few words of magic. "The strike he missed you with was one in a thousand."
[20:36] <Afina> "What would you call the the second one he missed me with, then?" the fairy asks dryly.
[20:43] <Kotono> "Dumb luck." Annalise pauses a moment, turning to Afina. Her face is utterly inscrutiable, eyes impassive as she looks at Afina. "Afina, listen to me. You got unbelievably lucky. A creature like Gathgorian doesn't miss once, let alone twice. The bar Gathgorian set is the bar you need to strive to pass, if you want to ever have a chance against someone like Bel or his most elite servants."
[20:46] <Afina> Done playing, Afina nods. "I know. Even though I hit him, I don't think I could kill him even with Hywelbane," she admits honestly. "That probably goes for Lixer as well. But I'll keep raising my level, just as everyone here should be doing, until we're ready."
[20:48] <Kotono> "Good." Annalise smiles again now, licking her lips, "If you need more power...you know where I am."
[20:50] <Afina> "Better fey than dead, un or not. Goodnight, Annalise," Afina raises her hand out of the water to wave at the blonde blood-sucker.
[20:51] <Kotono> "I wonder if your Queen will agree?" Annalise smiles, departing. Dana watches all of this, shaking her head after, "Damn." She sighs, idly looking up. "She tries that on you a fuckin' lot, doesn't she?"
[20:54] <Afina> "All the time," Afina nods somewhat weary over those continuing escapades. "I try and just tune it out, for the most part." Sliding down, she immerses her head for a moment before rising up again, green hair falling slickly down her head rather than its usual more wild arrangement.
[20:56] <Kotono> "Yeah, she offered to me tonight." Dana sighs, lying back. "Damnit all, I almost said yes."
[20:57] <Afina> "Really?" Afina looks surprised over at the princess. "Why?"
[21:00] <Kotono> Dana kicks her leg up, splashing water. She flicks the top of the surface with her hand, "Hell, fuck it. I'm pissy since I'm back to visiting Aunt Palm. I don't make shit of a celestial, and I know that's not a lie. I'd fit in better on the other side, and hell. Annalise kept telling me how I wouldn't have to fucking worry about dying if I did that, and I could feel all the pain I wanted."
[21:00] <Kotono> Staring up, "Besides, Daddy would lose it."
[21:02] <Afina> "Becoming a vampire to upset your father probably isn't idea. And between you and me," Afina doesn't have to check to ensure Annalise is gone thanks to her sharp ears, "I don't think Annalise gets much out of sex despite her facade."
[21:04] <Kotono> "Huh?" Blinking, "Oh that? Shit, I'm not gonna fuck her, she doesn't have a cock." Shaking her head and sending a few droplets splashing out, "Wait a second, how the fuck would you even begin to think that? Are you fucking her and Jaela or something?"
[21:06] <Kotono> After a moment Dana turns red as a beet, "Oh for fuck's sake, then would you do not flirt in the bath when I'm here!"
[21:07] * Afina closes her eyes and sighs. "You mentioned sexual frustration along with wanting to become a vampire, I thought maybe you were thinking that'd make things better for you. From what I know about Annalise, the only thing she enjoys is drinking blood - all other sensations are diluted in comparison."
[21:07] <Afina> Opening her eyes now, "Also, you and Annalise are too grotesquely huge to interest me," she concludes flatly.
[21:08] <Kotono> "Oooooh." Dana nods along, "Well hell. She makes it sound good when I ask - power, eternal life, sensations above and beyond everything else." Moving on from that and letting those words sit, "Do y'think she's lying about all of it?"
[21:11] <Afina> "Annalise is powerful, immortal, and at least one sensation she enjoys is powerfully addictive. No, I don't think any of those are lies... but she's obviously not going to mention the downsides while convincing you to be her sister-in-undeath."
[21:16] <Kotono> "Mmmm. Shit, when she says it makes so much sense." Dana grumps, "It's like she knows just wnat to say, and she looks into your eyes and it's like she's preaching gospel."
[21:20] <Afina> "Just try and change the subject or ignore her when she gets like that. You've heard it once, no need to hear it over and over when she tries again," Afina suggests, head lowering further into the water so her chin dips just barely in.
[21:22] <Kotono> "Yeah." Dana's answer is a little more reflective, pausing. The sound of a door opening. What comes through isn't human or even humanoid. 27 comes in, coming 'round the pool to stare at Dana.
[21:24] * Afina looks at 27, then follows its gaze to Dana, and then back to the skeleton-sword-badger-thing. "Hmmm."
[21:26] <Kotono> "How the fuck did yo uget in here!?" Dana puts her arms to her chest, "Get the fuck out you...whatever the hell you are!" Meanwhile 27 merely stares, and utters thus, "The password is everlasting mercy."
[21:29] <Kotono> Dana stares, "Ah shit, now it's for me?" She slumps in the water, "Afina, can you speak fucked up slaad?"
[21:29] <Afina> "Password for what?" Afina asks sensibly, not caring that a badger sees her naked.
[21:31] <Kotono> The badger turns to Afina and utters thus, "It's only going to get worse until you treat the problem. Wounds aren't only physical."
[21:33] <Afina> "Oh... oh." That coupled with Annalise's earlier words leads Afina to realise that maybe she is expecting too much of Ilsenine. "I understand," she nods and gets out of the spring, drying herself off with magic. "How do you know so much, anyway?"
[22:35] <Kotono> 27 stares at Afina, answering, "Tannin lies in every word."
[22:38] <Afina> "Ahh, if only you could offer up proof, 27," Afina shakes her head sadly as she gets dressed, more keen to whispers of betrayal after learning how Lifasa fell.
[22:39] <Kotono> OOC: Where are you going now, Afina?
[22:44] <Afina> OOC: I'll go call in on Ilsenine
[22:46] <Kotono> On going to check on Ilsenine, you are admitted into her suite. She looks a trifle tired, wearing a simple nightgown of dark purple silk. She merely looks at Afina, an eyebrow raised asking all the questions needed.
[22:48] <Afina> "I'm sorry, your Majesty, I did not know you were sleeping," Afina apologies embarrassedly. "With no sun or moon, everyone has their own schedule. I don't have anything pressing, so I can return later?"
[22:50] <Kotono> Queen Ilsenine steps back, "No, come in." she invites, "I was not asleep, only attempting it."
[22:54] <Afina> "Thank you," Afina ducks her head, fluttering in after Ilsenine, making sure the door is closed behind her. "In truth I was reminded that we'd been expecting a lot of you so soon after being freed from your ordeals, Majesty. It seems all we've talked about has been traitors and revenge and rebuilding the court. It doesn't give much time to absorb all that happened, though, does it?"
[22:56] <Kotono> Queen Ilsenine goes to sit, her face showing its deep fatigue. "Being awaken and busy is better than submitting myself to the nightmares of sleep, or the memories of what is past."
[22:59] <Afina> "The beds in the hospital prevent nightmares. I'll have one brought up for your use later," Afina promises, not wanting her Queen to have to lay in a common sleeping area like that. "If you wish to talk of it, you know my confidence is guaranteed."
[23:06] <Kotono> Her Majesty's reply is to sink down. "It was the first time I met Gathgorian. It wasn't long - he looked me over, another devil proclaimed I was the one to carry the Child of Lifasa, and then they took me to his quarters. I saw him for maybe ten minutes. That night I had hideous nightmares of him, then the next night and the next and the next and the next and the next. It became a struggle
[23:06] <Kotono> of will, to sleep as little as possible. I could endure the days of waiting, of dread, of wondering when Gathgorian would come. The times when my body could stay awake no longer were infintely worse. Eventually, one of the devils deigned to explain it to me. A devil of Gathgorian's standing is too much for 'mere mortal creatures' to withstand without mental damage. So thus, every night I
[23:06] <Kotono> dreamed of him, worse and worse terrors. I dreamed of the wars he lead, of the atrocities he committed in Hell's name, uncaring for anything else. I dreamed of his blade cleaving me apart, of his rancid touch shattering my body. The three devils considered it proper to 'adapt my spirit to Hell's wishes' and began to sedate me so I would spend days asleep, dreaming."
[23:14] <Afina> Sitting as close to Ilsenine as she can to offer reassuring presence without being impolite, Afina listens. "I had a nightmare of him as well earlier," she admits. "But those three devils are dead by your will and my hand, and Gathgarion was the one who bore a wound during the escape, not us," she offers reassuringly... "It doesn't help that unconscious fearful centre of the mind, though,
[23:14] <Afina> does it?"
[23:16] <Kotono> "It doesn't. Besides, those nightmares were...bearable, compared to what I dreamed of with the Child." Here Ilsenine says no more. Instead she exhales, slumping. "I've gone so long avoiding sleep that I struggle to embrace it."
[23:18] <Afina> "Then you shouldn't suffer for the loss a moment longer," Afina declares, standing up. "With your leave I will be back in a moment, Majesty. The restful beds of Aurora were even able to render powerless a dream-devil that had been possessing an elf for years. A night's restful sleep away from imagined terrors will not be beyond them by any means."
[23:24] <Kotono> "Make it so," Queen Ilsenine says, "Go."
[23:26] <Afina> Bowing, Afina departs through the nearby portal to the hospital, whereupon she conjures a floating disc and levers a nearby bed up onto it. Then it's a simple matter to bring it back to the royal suite and have it placed in Ilsenine's bedroom.
[23:32] <Kotono> Getting a bed is easy enough. It is taken back, Queen Ilsenine sinking into it once it is there. She sighs and closes her eyes, "You did well, Afina," she says, "If this bed works as you will, perhaps I will have a deep, dreamless sleep this night."
[23:33] <Afina> "You may dream, my Queen, but they will be pleasant ones if so," Afina promises. "Would you like me to stand guard for the night?" It's better than offering to watch over her sleep as though she were an infant, after all.