043.1 "Next is Kascha - she technically qualifies."

[Corwin]

[19:55] <Kotono> Late in that day, Elena appears before Jaela, Afina and Ithea. She holds a list in her hand, "Okay," she announces, "We're done."
[19:56] <Afina> "Thanks. How was Crystal?" Afina asks before accepting the list.
[19:58] <Kotono> "Upset," Elena looks down, "There's some other things, but it's private. No offense, Jaela or Ithea."
[19:58] <Afina> "Right... well, lets deal with our spy first," Afina says, taking a look at the list to see how big it is.
[19:59] * Jaela shrugs noncommittally, not really knowing what it's all about and hardly about to ask.
[20:00] <Ithea> "I wasn't going to take offense," Ithea says with a shrug of her own, focusing on the list alongside Afina.
[20:00] <Kotono> As the list is passed over, "I included everyone eligible amid the command staff first," she says, "No matter what." Elena goes to sit, putting the list down, "The first one's Dana." Pointing at it, "She spent a lot of time alone in the library napping, then went out for a walk in Ysgard."
[20:01] <Jaela> "Didn't you say it was a guy?" Jaela asks, glancing at Afina.
[20:02] <Afina> "That's what Gathgarion implied, but since when were devils trustworthy?" Afina responds as she looks it over to determine how much work will be involved. "Elena, if someone on Aurora right now were talking about working with devils, would you be aware of it?" she asks, since if that's true she can cut out everyone except those who went out of the fortress.
[20:04] <Kotono> "I'm being through. Um, I mentioned to Galariel that Gathgorian said it was a guy, and he said to check everyone anyway, in case he was lying." With a hint of embarrassment, "Since he said - yes, Afina," Nodding to her words. "Well..." Pausing here, "Can you three keep a secret?" Going on before an answer, "I can hear a lot around Aurora, but not everything. My concentration isn't that good. I
[20:04] <Kotono> mean..." Pausing, "I know about those breast glasses you got Stille," A nod to Ithea, "I was listening that way when you gave them to him. But I missed something that happened in the cafeteria at the same time, as well as Elrisa's tower."
[20:04] <Jaela> "What about Galariel?" Jaela asks. "Does he listen in at all?"
[20:05] <Afina> Looking askance at Ithea and wondering what breast glasses are, Afina nonetheless nods to Elena. "Alright, that means everyone on the list is a suspect."
[20:06] <Kotono> "Not as much as I do." Elena replies, "He mostly focuses for my name and helping me along. He manages other things more." With a smile, "He says I'm better with people, and he's better working in the background." Going on, next on the list is Tannin. "Tannin stopped by for supplies, for about a half hour."
[20:06] <Ithea> "Wrong thing to focus on, Elena," Ithea says with a mixed expression of amusement and embarrassment.
[20:07] <Kotono> "Well," Going straight and puffing her chest out, "At least Galariel doesn't need glasses to find mine." She devolves into a giggle, "Sorry, sorry. This is serious, I know." Taking a breath, "Next is Arrel. He went flying for several hours."
[20:07] <Jaela> "He is," Jaela agrees with Elena, snorting at Ithea's words. "For what it's worth, I don't believe Dana fits the image of a traitor to us, or a devil spy. I know her best out of us all, I figure. Tannin, though... it's really a stretch. All the information I found on him right after recruiting him suggested he works against fiendish interests without advertising that too much. It feels too roundabout to be right."
[20:08] * Afina nods to Jaela. "We'll check everyone out somehow, but there's more names to go. Lets establish exactly what we're working up to first."
[20:08] <Kotono> "Unless he's a long term devil double agent, before even Aurora came around?" Elena replies, but shakes her head, "It seems pretty thin to me, too. If it wasn't for 27 I wouldn't even think twice of him."
[20:08] * Jaela remains silent on Arrel, since she never really got to know him at all.
[20:08] <Ithea> "Didn't Galariel kick you on your ass when you first met? And you let him see your breasts?" Ithea can't help but ask. At the mention of Tannin though, she does add, "Keep in mind that prophecy. I don't want to cast suspicion on him, but we should still keep him on the list."
[20:09] <Kotono> "Next is Elder Magi Tepen," Going on, "He's been holed up in a corner of the library alone, working on some studies. He says he's getting close to a breakthrough in his magic."
[20:09] <Jaela> "I'm not a devil myself, but I understand them well enough. It's not the plan I would take if I were to make an agent for that side," Jaela muses, before giving Ithea and Elena a chiding look. "This is not the time of the place, considering the topic."
[20:10] * Ithea shrugs. "Sorry," she says, not apologetic at taking a shot at Elena given the ghost's earlier statements.
[20:10] <Kotono> Bowing her head a moment at Jaela's words, "Right! Next is Lief. He goes out and trains in Ysgard when he gets tired of darting around the golems."
[20:10] * Jaela frowns. "It may actually be Tepen. Strong enough fiends can use your senses if they have a strong bond with you, can't they? And what's stronger than a piece of his soul?"
[20:11] <Afina> "But how long was he in the library alone?" Afina asks, "He might not have had a chance to even hear about me coming back with the Quilium armour."
[20:11] <Jaela> "That alone may clear him for good," Jaela agrees. "Elena?"
[20:11] <Kotono> "...you know, that makes sense," Elena replies, "He comes out every few hours for food, drink or to stretch his legs," Elena replies, "I actually talked to him about it before this. Now that he's young again, he hates being cooped up for too long. He loves just taking walks and exercising."
[20:12] <Afina> "Ah, he could have easily heard it as gossip, then," Afina nods, keeping him under suspicion for now. "Next?"
[20:12] <Ithea> "Kascha spends a lot of time in the library, and Kascha went with us when we went to fetch the everblaze," Ithea points out with a frown. "He could have heard from her."
[20:12] <Kotono> After that, "Next is 27." A moment's pause, "I said I was being complete. I don't think we have to worry about a slaad herald, but..."
[20:12] <Afina> "Good point."
[20:13] <Afina> "No, it's fine, we can't leave anyone alone over this," Afina reassures Elena.
[20:13] <Jaela> "I believe we can clear Lief," Jaela says next. "Ithea, you only rescued him from the Duke's machinations due to 27's timely advice, didn't you? He would not have been able to expect it, and so sending an assassin after him would be pointless."
[20:14] <Kotono> "Right," Elena says, "Next is Drena. He often leads the air elementals out flying."
[20:15] <Afina> "Chan's grandson should be impeccable. But then there's all those air elementals going out with him - we should check that they can all account for each other and none went off alone."
[20:15] <Jaela> "Lady Chan's direct lineage? Please." She nods at Afina after.
[20:15] <Kotono> "Next is Kascha - she technically qualifies, and I feel like I should mention her," Elena says, "Though I mean...Kascha? I couldn't imagine it."
[20:16] * Jaela recalls something, then. "Also, keep in mind Dana's armor. A devil agent would be incapable of wearing it, so if my recommendation was not enough, there is that."
[20:16] * Ithea snorts at the idea of Kascha being a traitor.
[20:16] <Afina> "Not likely..." Afina admits uncomfortably, considering how badly she got hurt for her to get the armour at all.
[20:17] * Jaela pauses, here. "In case you did not hear, I just returned from Arvandor, where the Triune personally cured Kascha of Bahamut's curse. Through such direct contact, any trechery would have been revealed. She is not with them."
[20:17] <Kotono> "Right," Elena nods, "Next...I actually thought the Master would make the list, but he's been busy with the refugees of the Burning Aeropolis and helping Gisfal with them. Normally he spends time alone improving himself, but he's been unusually busy."
[20:17] <Afina> "Oh, really? That's good news!" Afina turns to Jaela, smiling.
[20:17] <Kotono> "Oh!" Elena smiles, "I can remove her and she's cured?"
[20:17] * Jaela nods curtly. "I left her with Gisfal to rest after that ordeal. I believe both of them are happier for it."
[20:18] <Ithea> "I can imagine. Good on you for finding a way, Jaela."
[20:18] * Jaela coughs. "Moving on to the next name?"
[20:18] <Afina> "To be honest those refugees seem the most likely to me," Afina comments, "They had plenty of time to be indoctrinated, and one or two could have been left in the cells even after turning to undermine the others."
[20:18] <Kotono> "Next is Baleruk. He qualifies since he's up in his lair working on...the things he works on," Elena finishes lamely, "Those weird paintings or this and that, or about whatever it is that keeps a prismatic dragon happy."
[20:19] <Kotono> "That makes the most sense," Elena says, "I have them as a block question mark at the end, but more on that when we get to it."
[20:19] <Afina> "Yes, keep going," Afina bids.
[20:20] <Jaela> "Only a true idiot would join the side that he knows is allied with his arch-nemesis, Tiamat."
[20:21] <Kotono> "Next is Hanna." Pausing a few moments to scan down the list, "I don't think she's likely for a variety of reasons, so let's move on. Sylvie's spent some time alone as well, but with 21 I can't put any real credit to her being a traitor."
[20:21] <Afina> "Just asking her would confirm it," Afina agrees.
[20:21] * Ithea nods, agreeing with those assessments. "Anybody else?"
[20:22] <Kotono> "The next one up is Morniel - he's been out doing diplomatic missions and being busy with Celestia." Shrugging, "I'd put it at the same category as Hanna. Sage Vul'lath as well - he often works on projects by himself while having his acolytes work out lesser problems elsewhere."
[20:23] <Afina> Somewhat dismayed at just how many of the senior staff alone qualify, Afina braces herself for how many among the general ranks are at risk...
[20:24] <Jaela> "It seems easier to just say which officer was with someone at the time," Jaela mutters.
[20:24] * Ithea snorts. "It does seem to be most everyone, isn't it?"
[20:25] <Kotono> "Next is Ebony," Going on, "She barely qualifies - she doesn't spend much time alone. Between seeing to the Sylicans, the spiders and spending time with Canderella..." Shaking her head there, "I thought they were together for a little while, but I think they're just really close friends. Anyway. Finally we have Mei. Not that she could talk to a devil to betray us and she's brand new, too."
[20:27] <Jaela> "Ebony and Dame Mei? Please, again." Jaela rolls her visible eye. "Next?"
[20:29] <Kotono> "Next it's an analysis of the rank and file. They don't have as much privacy or freedom as the officers," Elena goes on, "It's the nature of how an army works. I organized them by groups rather than individuals, since individually..." A deep shrug, "Completely impossible. Anyway, the main ones who have time outside are the elementals, especially air ones who go flying. Occasionally a few rank
[20:29] <Kotono> and file will go out, but it's not as common. Finally, I have a note about the refugees for the reasons you all mentioned."
[20:32] <Afina> "Hmm, without names it'll be impossible for us to do interviews, won't it? Even if we just had Sylvie do a yes no question to them all," Afina admits in defeat upon hearing that.
[20:32] <Kotono> "...you know, that could simplify it," Elena says, "Have Sylvie ask everyone directly. It'll keep her busy for a few days, but if somoene is willingly betraying us?"
[20:33] <Jaela> "That would do wonders for morale."
[20:33] <Kotono> "It would work, too." Elena says, "But you're right."
[20:33] <Ithea> "Not just the morale, it also gives the spy time to know we're onto them and try to escape or do something nasty before we catch him," Ithea adds.
[20:33] <Jaela> "Good point. Sabotage would be nasty."
[20:34] * Jaela considers this for a moment. "Afina, Ithea, we suspect a spy because the devils knew about your visit to Makan?"
[20:35] <Afina> "We could lock down Aurora to prevent escape, but yes I don't like the thought of telling everyone that they're under suspicion when we rely on them so much for our own future," Afina nods. "If it was a managable number we could keep them under surveillance..." trailing off she nods to Jaela, "Yes, the timing was far too convenient for it to be anything but a tip off that we were about to depart,
[20:35] <Afina> and Gathgarion confirmed it."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Galariel was colorful about his opinion of that. Well, for him, he actually looked irritated," Elena says, "I know Hanna was muttering about it before she took Balyss and returned to Makan's lair."
[20:36] <Jaela> "Since we are looking at both genders due to the possibility he lied, he could have been lying about the entire thing to make us fight each other," Jaela points out. "But all the same, what if we look at past incidents? Were there any other times where the devils knew too much?"
[20:37] <Ithea> "Not before we made the capture of Yian," Ithea says with a shake of her head. "A lot of our operations would have gone horribly wrong if we'd had a spy then."
[20:37] <Afina> "That points again to the Burning Aeropolis survivors," Afina observes.
[20:38] <Jaela> "So we should focus on someone who either joined after that time," Jaela agrees. "How about this? Instead of wide sweeps, we institute a pledge of allegience. Just have Sylvie sit in, perhaps even not visible, and have them recite it as they join our ranks."
[20:38] <Jaela> To clarify things, she adds, "By them, I mean the rescued prisoners."
[20:39] <Afina> "That works, especially since we're about to start integrating them into our forces, and most fight unarmed like her," Afina nods. "Good idea."
[20:39] <Kotono> "Want me to take care of it?" Elena asks, "I can have it done tomorrow, even."
[20:40] <Ithea> "You know, if we wanted to clear everyone, we never actually handed out medals for that battle, and we'd started implementing them for that sort of purpose. Make a ceremony of the event, give out medals along with a request for an oath, and so forth," Ithea suggests.
[20:40] <Jaela> "Have a few test runs with her, first," Jaela tells Elena. "See if she can tell between many people speaking at once. Depending on the results, we might need to break that ceremony up into more manageable pieces."
[20:40] <Ithea> "The ceremony might actually help improve morale at that, for something that might normally lower it," Ithea adds.
[20:41] <Kotono> "On it," Elena says, "Anything else?"
[20:41] <Jaela> "Not right now," Jaela responds. "We start with the prisoners, and then see what next."

[Corwin]

#d

[20:48] <Kotono> The next morning dawns bright for three. Ithea, Muirfinn and Jaela are awoken by Elena and summoned to the meeting room. Here you find Hanna and Balyss, both looking drawn, haggard and exhausted. Balyss is nodding off in her chair, while Hanna sits heavily. As soon as the three enter, "It's done," she announces, "By the scimitars of the Whirling Fury, it's done. The dead there were put to rest,
[20:48] <Kotono> far easier now that Makan is gone."
[20:49] <Kotono> Balyss murmurs something, wings drawing in around her, like a cloak turned into a feathery blanket to keep her warm. "Hours..." she mutters, "Hours and hours..."
[20:50] <Jaela> "You deserve the rest," Jaela says to that. "In fact, why are you even here? Go and sleep."
[20:50] * Muirfinn nods. "Indeed, go rest. A great task, it must have been."
[20:51] * Ithea nods in agreement. "You can tell us if you found anything of interest afterwards as well. You two look like death warmed over."
[20:51] <Kotono> "I don't need sleep," Hanna says, "I can sit here and talk as easily as I sit quietly in my room and meditate. This is more important."
[20:52] <Kotono> Balyss murmurs something, seguing into a soft snore.
[20:52] * Jaela shrugs, leaning back in her seat.
[20:54] <Ithea> "Balyss seemed okay with our recommendations, at least," Ithea says with amusement. "Didn't even wait to get to her room."
[20:54] <Kotono> "The spirits were undead - souls bound to the court instead of passing on into the afterlife," Hanna smothers a tired yawn of her own, "Likely they would have been stolen larvae, lemures, dretches or something like that. Makan managed to make them develop on his own, I'm guessing, or he had a silent patron or did it for him. Take your pick." Shrugging just like Jaela did, "Anyway, the upshot is
[20:54] <Kotono> that we freed the souls. There were some righteous ones who did not deserve it mixed in, and they moved up and on."
[20:55] * Ithea just nods to that, and continues listening.
[20:55] <Muirfinn> "A good thing, yes." Muirfinn nods.
[20:58] <Kotono> Balyss continues to softly snore, slumping in her seat. "The actual resting was incredibly draining," Hanna goes on, "Not resting. I mean...putting them to rest." Struggling with it, wiping her eyes after, "Putting them to rest. It wasn't only channeling positive energy, we have ot face down the will of all the dead struggling against us, for hours and hours. Imagine fighting a pit fiend for 10
[20:58] <Kotono> hours without even a chance ot catch your breath once. It was absolutely exhausting."
[20:59] <Jaela> "You could've called for more help," Jaela mentions. "Though it's admirable you stuck through it, too."
[21:01] <Kotono> "By the point that we realized we could use more help, we were locked in," Hanna replies, "I wasn't sure we'd succeed in managing a Plane Shift, and if we failed we'd likely be overwhelmed." Pausing to yawn, a mouthsplitting yawn that goes on and on and on, "Mmm. Sorry. After we did that we did some searching...came back with some nice things."
[21:03] <Jaela> "Sounds like it was productive, to boot," Jaela says in approval.
[21:04] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm," Hanna drawls, "Oh, before I forget," Hanna sits up, "Jaela, the child from the devil's box."
[21:04] * Ithea blinks. "Child?" she asks, sitting up straighter.
[21:05] <Muirfinn> "I'll fill you in later." Muirfinn says softly to Ithea.
[21:07] <Jaela> "Yes?"
[21:09] <Kotono> "I think you're about to get a sister," Crackling a warm smile, "They were asking around, and I put my name in to adopt that child."
[21:10] <Jaela> "I beat you to it."
[21:10] * Ithea raises an eyebrow at that exchange and looks at Muirfinn flatly. "You sure you can't fill me in now?"
[21:11] <Kotono> "Oh that's ni-wait what?" Hanna blinks and rubs her eyes clear, "You beat me to...you...Jaela, you're too young to be a mother!"
[21:12] <Jaela> "Says who?"
[21:12] <Kotono> Crossing her arms, "Me?" she retorts, "Jaela, you're leading an interplanar crusade against Hell. You don't have time to learn how to be a mother."
[21:13] <Jaela> "It's fine."
[21:13] * Muirfinn turns to Ithea, "Okay, so you remember that silver casket we found in the devil fortress we destroyed? Turns out there was a baby inside that the devils tried to corrupt, but couldn't. It's the distilled essence of joy, made flesh. Supposed to be very powerful when it grows up."
[21:14] <Ithea> "...Ah. Well, Jaela doesn't curse as much as she used to, I'm sure she could be a good mother?" Ithea offers.
[21:15] * Muirfinn shrugs. "Don't ask me. My people pretty much ignore our young until they can walk."
[21:16] <Ithea> "...that explains a whole bunch," Ithea mutters.
[21:16] <Kotono> "Jaela," Hanna takes a long breath, "You're not just looking out for yourself if you adopt that child. You have another life to nuture and develop, one who who will hang on your every word. What happens if you don't come back from a mission one day?"
[21:17] <Jaela> "The same thing that will happen if the devils stuff your soul into a gem on a mission one day, if you adopted her," Jaela points out. "I just have to do my best."
[21:22] <Kotono> Hanna sighs and rubs her temple with her hand. "Why do you want to adopt this child? You don't seem like the type."
[21:24] <Jaela> "There's such a thing as prying too much," Jaela says, standing up. "I'll do a good job, and that's that. Is there anything else?"
[21:24] * Ithea clears her throat. "Hanna, you mentioned finding some nice things?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "I'm your mother. There's no such thing as -" Giving Jaela a long, openly irritated look and taking a breath, "Yes, they're being sorted and appraised right now."
[21:27] * Jaela stretches. "I'm feeling tired myself. Really, anything else?"
[21:31] <Kotono> "Yes, but as obviously you're not interested in talking?" Hanna rises, going to pick up Balyss, who barely stirs.
[21:31] <Jaela> "Not about my personal life."
[21:34] <Kotono> Hanna doesn't respond with that, taking Balyss out and into the portal without another word.

[Corwin]

#ed

[20:45] <Kotono> After going back to her room to clean up for the evening, Elena comes to visit?" Afina?" she asks, simply appearing in her room.
[20:46] <Afina> "Hello, Elena," Afina greets her, having expected she'd show up shortly. "Was there more, about Crystal?"
[20:50] <Kotono> "Yes. She was wretchedly upset," Elena goes to sit on Afina's unused bed, "She sobbed her eyes out...when I got her talking she looked at me and said that the fey of Lifasa continue to fade away."
[20:53] <Afina> "Ahh..." Afina nods sadly, going to sit next to Elena. "I suppose she's mourning, the me she knew is still dead, even if I was reborn in flame. What I did betrayed my fey existence very deeply... all my past existences, they formed an unbroken chain that should have stretched into eternity. I broke that chain, though. It ends with me... there's nothing more selfish, really."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Mm." Elena makes a little noise, "She asked me, rather bitterly, if she should go and seek the means to become a celestial and abandon her heritage, too. If I didn't know better, I think she felt betrayed."
[20:59] <Afina> "Oh, she did. Make no mistake," Afina shakes her head at that. "Fey live a very long time, Elena. Very long indeed. But we're never meant to be immortal, nor are we meant to pass onto the land of dreams that the planes originate from. When we die, another takes our place. What I did, it killed every fey life that would have come after me. It diminished us - them, now... forever. The fall of
[20:59] <Afina> Lifasa has made me into a twisted thing, willing to do anything no matter how terrible to see it freed and the devils crushed."
[21:02] <Kotono> "Mmm." Elena makes the same little noise again, "But now you are immortal."
[21:04] <Afina> "And if one of my past incarnations had made the same decision then there never would have been an Afina Petalwisp in all Creation," Afina summarises her point. "Even with all of that, though... I can't regret it. For Lifasa, nothing is a step too far."
[21:05] <Kotono> "You do what you have to do," Elena says, "You've accepted it that much?"
[21:08] <Afina> "If I hadn't I wouldn't be able to continue. You should ask Galariel, sometime, about how he tested us to get the key to Medicant," the pyropixie suggests, looking out the window and recalling her fierce devotion, visualising her passion to restore Lifasa as an all consuming flame that would burn through any obstacle before her.
[21:09] <Kotono> "I will." Rising up now, "Good night, Afina."
[21:10] <Afina> "Goodnight, Elena," Afina says, deciding to sleep and make the morning come quicker, even though she doesn't need to anymore. Turning invisible and hiding atop her cupboard as is her habit to deter other assassins.
[21:15] <Kotono> Sleep. In it dreams come. Dreams of pure lucidity, utter awareness once again plunging into the shattered light, into the empty white. Floating and drifting along in it, in the emptiness. Dreams of awareness, that become things unknown - things that send revulsive terror deep in Afina, even as her mind recoils, refusing to see, denying herself to look ahead. A maelstrom of these dreams,
[21:15] <Kotono> until Afina is simply awake.
[21:16] <Afina> Well. That puts Makan's last words into better perspective. Once more resolving herself to a sad eternity, Afina cleans herself and goes out to see what's happening on Aurora.

[Corwin]

[21:57] <Kotono> Thus, Elena sets aside a large part of the Courtyard, clearing away of others. Here a stage has been erected, chairs for the four, as well as Sylvie and the Master. As the thousand refugees file in, you notice they look better. Well fed, clean, far less pained than before. A low murmur of discussion trickles amid them, as Elena turns back, "I think that's everyone," she announces, "I'm going to
[21:57] <Kotono> begin now, okay?"
[21:59] <Afina> "Dazzle everyone, Elena," Afina smiles briefly at the blue girl, standing attentively to receive everyone's oaths.
[21:59] * Jaela is content with a stoic presence of support. She doesn't allow herself to forget that this is a real ceremony of allegience, whatever else it might also be used for.
[22:00] * Ithea gives a warm welcoming smile to all the refugees, and waves at them. Even if there is a traitor amongst them, by and far, most of them are surely good people after all.
[22:02] * Muirfinn looks as stoic as usual, off to the side. He gazes out calmly at the refugees.
[22:02] <Kotono> Sylvie nods, "Wow them," she murmurs, as the Master merely nods and watches. Elena turns back and waves, "Alright, everyone?" Her voice raises, carrying across the Courtyard. The buzz of discussion dims down, "Today," Elena begins, blinking and reppearing. She is dressed as a military general, a shiny fruit salad of medals hanging from her tunic. "Today we begin the weighty task of taking up
[22:02] <Kotono> arms against Baator..." As she begins Sylvie glances to the others, "Do you want me to tip my hand if I catch a liar?" she whispers, "Or just make note of them?"
[22:03] <Jaela> "Wait until it's over," Jaela quietly responds.
[22:03] <Afina> "Just note them, don't disturb the ceremony," Afina whispers to Sylvie.
[22:04] * Ithea just nods in agreement for her part.
[22:06] <Kotono> Elena goes on for some time. The Master sits at serene attention, watching. Sylvie's gaze tends to move around more. Elena ,for her part, lays it on thick. Her speech extolls the virtues of victory, vengeance and justice. Occasionally she'll blink and vanish, appearing moments later in another outfit. A bandaged soldier, a brave commander in shining armor, a middle aged other, weeping but proud
[22:06] <Kotono> and then of a common rank and file soldier.
[22:07] * Jaela uses her considerable willpower to avoid any winces or grimaces that want to appear.
[22:08] <Afina> Afina is less restrained, putting her head in her hands at some of Elena's guises.
[22:08] <Kotono> In a low voice, "I'll contribute to getting Elena acting lessons," Sylvie whispers over to the others, corner of her mouth moving as she sits and watches. "Anyone want in?"
[22:09] <Jaela> "No, I think it's cute," Jaela responds quietly. "Just... I'll do the next ceremony."
[22:11] <Ithea> "I'm a little disappointed, personally. She hasn't popped up as a martial artist yet, with the ripped combat outfit and wrapped bandages around her wrists, and all that," Ithea jokes quietly, trying to keep her face straight.
[22:14] <Kotono> Soon enough, Elena wraps up, "Now...one at a time, each of you will come and repeat after me. This is a sacred oath, a vow that we will not rest until Baator is laid low and Lifasa is free!" Elena calls.
[22:15] <Afina> Perking up as they reach the meat of the matter, Afina stands tall and proud to bear witness such sacred oaths! And watch for anyone that sneaks out of giving theirs, even though Galariel should be able to handle that.
[22:16] * Jaela places her gauntleted hand over her heart.
[22:16] * Ithea likewise stands, tapping the bottom of her polearm against the ground as she look overall the refugees, smiling at them once more.
[22:17] <Kotono> Thus it begins. A steady stream, people forming up and coming by Elena. Each time the oath is completed, a cheer goes up through the crowd, another person joining the Crusade! Several look up at the generals as they give their oath, meeting those gazes back.
[22:18] * Jaela nods back at each recruit that looks up at her.
[22:21] * Muirfinn gazes out over the recruits, looking for signs of deception!
[22:23] <Kotono> About a third or so of the way through, another oath. This one is a tall, gangly man shaved bald. He bows before Elena, "I am Simah. I pledge to serve Aurora beyond all others, and faithfully and eternally aid in the reconquest of Lifasa, to the last breath in my body." In a low voice Sylvie murmurs, "One."
[22:24] * Jaela nods this time as well, just as before.
[22:24] * Ithea makes no reaction to Sylvie's statement, smiling and clapping for Simah just as she has for all the others.
[22:24] * Muirfinn holds his position, eerily still through the whole ordeal!
[22:26] <Kotono> Most of the rest go without incident. Near the end, with perhaps half a hundred to go, a muscled, short young elf with wild red hair bows before Elena. "I am the Ash Greenwood," he announces, " pledge to serve Aurora beyond all others, and faithfully and eternally aid in the reconquest of Lifasa, to the last breath in my body." A moment later Sylvie softly murmurs, "Two."
[22:27] * Afina meets this one stoicly as she has all the rest. "Welcome to the Crusade."
[22:30] <Kotono> From there, the last ones finish. A great cheer goes up, a celebration beginning!

[Corwin]

[22:35] <Kotono> Thus, the five plus Adrian and Gisfal gather in the war room. After hearing the basic news, "Two of them?" Shaking his head, "Damn it."
[22:35] <Jaela> "At least two," Jaela corrects him.
[22:35] <Ithea> "Still better than a whole bunch of them. Let's hope it's just those two," Ithea says optimistically. "Plan went pretty well."
[22:36] <Kotono> "What do we do with them?" Sylvie asks, "Quietly arrest them?"
[22:36] <Afina> "But any others have been embedded far longer without tipping their hands," Afina says. "It shouldn't have been unexpected. Isn't putting false prisoners into cells to draw out confessions and discover escape plans fairly common?"
[22:37] <Jaela> "I want to say that we should use it to set a trap of our own," Jaela voices. "But I want to hear what those who have been doing this for centuries longer think of that."
[22:38] <Kotono> "It depends," Gisfal says, "If you've identified a spy, there's ways to make it worth your while to leave them free." Nodding to Afina, "It's a common enough tactic if you have someone who can fool the captives in the first place."
[22:38] <Kotono> "The problem here," Gisfal pauses for a moment, "Is that at least one devil knows about the spies and just about screamed at us to find them. This compromises how useful feeding them false information can be."
[22:38] * Jaela nods herself. "And leaving them in place gives us more time to screen everyone. It is not impossible that a sleeper agent is in place, and simply hasn't tipped his or her hand yet."
[22:39] <Muirfinn> "Giving the spy false information could result in a tactical victory for us, and if the devil controlling them is frustrated enough, they will take care of the problem for us." Muirfinn says.
[22:40] <Ithea> "The concern I have is if these spies could turn others in Aurora if we let them be," Ithea chips in. "I don't want to think it'd be easy, but it is a devil specialty to do such a thing. We already noted that they might have been let in with the other refugees for just that purpose."
[22:40] <Afina> "I think we should confront them, find out what they know, how they contact Hell, who their contacts are, and then kill them," Afina says. "Then we can deal with their contacts."
[22:40] <Jaela> "It goes without saying that we will watch them," Jaela interjects.
[22:41] <Kotono> "My opinion is to simply deal with them now. The value of false information is compromised, and who knows the diabolical politics in play?" Gisfal speaks up, "If we do choose to feed them false information, we need to think this out carefully."
[22:42] <Afina> "Any false information we feed them is countered by the valuable information they acquire just from being here and seeing what's happening."
[22:43] <Muirfinn> "I will bend to your greater wisdom in these matters, Gisfal." Muirfinn says, inclining his head. "I don't have much experience with treason."
[22:43] <Jaela> "Alright," Jaela agrees. "That's good enough to get my vote. But I think that we should announce that the information came from Gathgorian and was later independantly confirmed by us in an interrogation."
[22:43] <Kotono> "I don't know," Adrian counters, "I like the idea of giving Hell a taste of their own trickery."
[22:44] <Jaela> "Devil infighting can only raise morale, and if there are other spies left, it should be nice to pass that bit on."
[22:44] <Kotono> "That's a thought," Gisfal says, "If this is political maneuvering, it might tip off infighting within Hell's command, too. It's unlike them to willingly sacrifice an advantage for no obvious gain otherwise."
[22:45] <Afina> "It also says that we're willing to trust devil words enough to act against our own," Afina argues. "Gathgarion's presence was enough to verify we had a spy, regardless of what he said. We shouldn't imply that we relied upon his words for anything."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Isn't that what we're doing anyway? Near as I can figure," Adrian points out, swirling a finger in the air, "Gathgorian's presence was entirely meant to tell us this. "
[22:46] <Jaela> "It's the truth, and there's nothing wrong with that as long as 'relying' means 'look into things on our own'."
[22:48] <Ithea> "I'm with Afina on this, I'd rather not mention Gathgorian," Ithea states. "We don't lose anything by keeping his involvement out."
[22:48] <Afina> Frowning, Afina mutters, "As far as I knew he was there to kill us and keep us from getting the Blade of Endings... of course in the end he wasn't so I suppose it doesn't matter what I thought."
[22:48] <Kotono> "Hm." Holding his amulet in hand and thinking a few moments, head bowed and lost in thought, "I've been working on sorting out all these politics, too. I have an entire diagram drawn up back at the tower. The upshot of it involving Gathgorian is that Martinet's supporting his bid to take over for Abigor. All the sources I have identify Martinent as the voice of Asmodeus - in other words his
[22:48] <Kotono> lapdog. So if Gathgorian is doing something, there's a chance it has support from Nessus. Taelfagn is also from Nessus, isn't he? I'm trying to wrap my head around the politics of it and figure out the why."
[22:49] * Jaela glances at Sylvie. "So what do you think? It concerns you."
[22:50] <Kotono> Sylvie hums, "I think we should magically interrogate them and wipe their memory of it. If that's possible, from there we decide if we want to capture them or lead them along. Is it possible?"
[22:51] <Jaela> "It's possible."
[22:52] <Ithea> "That might have interesting results," Ithea muses.
[22:52] <Kotono> "If the devils have something in place that tips them off anyway, we probably weren't going to be able to manipulate them well anyway," Sylvie goes on, "So that's no loss. If we find information that helps us decide, great. If not...we haven't lost anything but a bit of effort and magic."
[22:53] <Jaela> "Elena!"
[22:54] <Kotono> Elena so appears! "Yes?"
[22:54] <Jaela> "You've been listening in and looking over our traitors, I assume? How hard would it be for you to redirect each of them when they go through a portal on their own?"
[22:55] <Kotono> "Done," Elena says after a split-second.
[22:56] * Jaela glances at the others. "We can even get them over here, and have the portal back blocked. How about it?"
[22:56] <Afina> "Another way to explain our knowledge would be to ask Yian," Afina adds as an afterthought. "That sounds fine, though. We'll just have to wait for them to next traverse a portal."
[22:56] <Kotono> "I'm for it. This isn't a battle we can win by force, so information seems paramount." Adrian adds.
[22:57] <Kotono> "Incidentally," Sylvie goes on, "I've never studied mind-alteration magic. Who here can manage it?"
[22:57] * Muirfinn immediately shakes his head. "Not I."
[22:58] <Jaela> "Wish or Miracle would do it. And it might not even be needed if we decide to take them in."
[22:58] <Afina> "I could use a small wish for it on one of them," Afina offers.
[22:58] <Ithea> "Don't look at me, all my magic is combat magic."

[Corwin]

[20:14] <Kotono> It takes about an hour or so, but soon enough one of the two stumbles through. Ash Greenwood has a jaunty smile on his face, a tankard of ale in hand. He looks about, "Whoops!" he says, blinking owlishly, "I think I took the wrong portal!"
[20:15] <Afina> "No, this one's fine," Afina tells him. "Have a seat."
[20:17] <Kotono> "Ah, really?" Blinking again, and going to sit, "General Afina, what can I do for you?" Looking about at the others, "Or any of you."
[20:19] * Jaela moves to stand behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "We would like to talk."
[20:20] <Afina> "You lied to us earlier," Afina tells him flatly. "How long have you been taking orders from devils, Ash?"
[20:20] <Kotono> Looking up, with an innocent and amused smile, "M'lady, if you wanted to get close to me, but you need but only ask...or any of you...though I'm not sure what the tu-" That stops his entirely cold, "What?" His voice drops down into the basement, becoming a hoarse croak.
[20:21] <Afina> "You heard. Do you think us fools? That there isn't magic to detect falsehoods and lies?" Afina asks, leaning forward. "How long?"
[20:23] <Kotono> Looking at the fiery, cute pixie before him, as Jaela's hands keep him in place, "I-I haven't!" he protests, "They took e-everything from me!"
[20:23] <Kotono> "He's lying," Sylvie speaks up, "In every word." She sits, hands in her lap and demurely watching the scene before her.
[20:24] <Jaela> "Lying is bad," Jaela insists, pressing Ash further into his seat with her not inconsiderable strength.
[20:24] <Afina> "Thank you, Sylvie," Afina smiles briefly at the blonde before regarding the elf again. "We can drag it out of your head if you'd prefer to be stubborn. You think we don't have ways of dealing with devils and their servants? Even Yian has spilled everything he knows while rotting in our dungeon."
[20:25] <Kotono> OOC: Make intimidation checks, you two?
[20:26] <Jaela> roll 1d20+24+15 I'm pretty scary!
[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+24+15 I'm pretty scary! and gets 48." [1d20=9]
[20:26] <Afina> roll 1d20+7 I'm not
[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+7 I'm not and gets 8." [1d20=1]
[20:29] <Kotono> Terror and disbelief war on Ash Greenwood's face! He looks at Afina, laughing - a strangled laugh, even as the soft whizzing of his terror spreading from his groin is heard. "Y-you're a fairy," he stammers, "C-cute, but..." Staring up at Jaela, pressed down, "Oh, don't hurt me! Don't hurt me!" he whimpers, curling into himself into a ball! "I'll be good! I'll do what you want!"
[20:30] * Ithea just silently watches for now, looking over at the coward then towards Sylvie.
[20:30] <Afina> If he weren't obviously terrified of Jaela Afina thinks she might have had to set him on fire. "How long?" she repeats, vexation showing on her childishly adorable face.
[20:30] <Kotono> Sylvie makes a face at the scene, turning to Ithea, "Sad," sh emurmurs to Ithea.
[20:32] <Kotono> "Don't hurt me!" he cries, trying his hardest to curl into a ball in the chair, even as Jaela pushes his shoulders down. His words switch to accented, halting Infernal, tumbling over one another, "My sovereign Bel, who owns this worthless soul, shall forever use me as his weapon of war!" he babbles, "Don't hurt me! I'll do it!"
[20:33] * Jaela bites down on her sigh.
[20:34] <Kotono> Sylvie does the same, forcing down a sigh. "He's not lying now, if it wasn't abundantly obvious that he's terrified.
[20:34] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[20:34] <Kotono> Sylvie does the same, forcing down a sigh. "He's not lying now, if it wasn't abundantly obvious that he's terrified." Pausing to twirl a bit of her blonde hair as she watches it, "He broke under torment?"
[20:35] <Afina> "Sad indeed," Afina sighs, thinking they should just magic the answers from him and let it be rather than endure this whimpering. "Are you going to answer our questions or just cry about it?"
[20:37] <Kotono> Looking up with shaking terror, "Y-you won't hurt me if I obey?"
[20:37] <Ithea> "No. We won't," Ithea says gently, trying to calm down the poor fool. "Not if you tell us the truth."
[20:39] <Afina> "Don't make promises you can't keep, Ithea," Afina cautions. "We may as well just use magic if he can't keep himself together. Vul'lath, if you would?"
[20:41] <Kotono> Sage Vul'lath steps forward, chanting a few words! Ash Greenwood goes still at this, "It is done. What is the first question?"
[20:42] <Afina> "How long has he served Hell," Afina repeats the troublesome question.
[20:45] <Kotono> After a moment Sage Vul'lath replies, "About four months. He broke under torture, and gave away his soul to stop the pain."
[20:47] <Ithea> "The fool. All he did was trade for an eternity of more pain to stop it then," Ithea says quietly with a shake of her head.
[20:47] * Afina nods to that. A pity, if he'd held out just a bit longer... "What information has he passed to devils since turning?"
[20:48] <Kotono> "Pitiable," Sylvie agrees, "Absolutely pitiable."
[20:48] <Kotono> After a few moments Sage Vul'lath frowns, "Everything he has seen, for it is stored within his empty soul." Frowning even more now, "Allow me a followup, this begs questions."
[20:52] * Afina patiently waits for Vul'lath to do his own investigative followup.
[20:52] <Ithea> "Is this questioning being passed on?" Ithea asks. She doesn't want to mention Teppen in front of Ash if it is.
[20:52] <Kotono> After several more moments, "I asked what he meant by an empty soul. His reply is that his soul was ripped out and tossed into eternal damnation. According to the devil that did this, only a few fragments and an imprint of his personality remain." Frowning even deeper, "Ash Greenwood died months ago. All that's left is a broken tool."
[20:54] * Ithea can't help it, and winces.
[20:55] <Afina> That such things are possible makes Afina widen her eyes. "I'm not even sure if further questions have any point, now..."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Bastards." Sylvie bows her head down, "Another lemure joins Hell and they don't even let his body rest."
[20:57] <Ithea> "Can...can any of the other refugees have an empty soul? Been broken and then the body been told to forget the torture or whatever?" Ithea asks, wondering if there might even be some spies that don't even know they're souless puppets to the devils.
[20:57] <Kotono> "What was done to him and who did it are still in need of elaboration," Sage Vul'lath replies, "Would you care to let the devil that did this do this to others of your realm?"
[20:58] <Afina> "You're right," Afina nods heavily to Vul'lath, recognising the wisdom. She uses her ability to sense evil to see if he even registers or if the devils have a counter for that even while formulating her next question. "Ask that next, what precisely was done to him."
[20:59] <Kotono> The creature before you radiates no evil.
[21:03] <Kotono> Sage Vul'lath nods heavily, closing his eyes. He is silent a time, "He was taken from the Burning Aeropolis to an isolated manor house. The devil there - a pit fiend by description - uses his claws to rip not into his body, but his soul. He chanted words of arcane power and removed his soul, as one could remove the shell from a nut." Here he pauses again, "Then 'liquid darkness' was poured into
[21:03] <Kotono> the emptiness of his soul. Unfortunately, what this darkness is not known to him, but I suspect it is why his body is still animate and functioning."
[21:04] <Afina> "That sounds like the devil that took part of Tepen's soul," Afina notes, "This could be a good opportunity. Ask him about the layout of the manor?"
[21:07] <Ithea> "I'm still curious if the devils can see us questioning him now since you mentioned they can see anything he sees. Do the devils know their spies are compromised? Or do they need to report in some fashion to send that information?" Ithea asks again. "And I'm also still concerned about whether we could have spies that don't even remember becoming spies...though I don't know that he would even know that much."
[21:09] <Kotono> Sage Vul'lath nods once more, as Elena blinks away briefly. Meanwhile, "The front entryway is decorated with statues of the Fallen," He responds, "That seem to watch him. Perhaps golems or other animate statues. He was taken downstairs - there is a secret passage behind the main stairway. Yes, the ninth brick must be pushed in," Sage Vul'lath murmurs, "Down steps, down deeper, to a place of
[21:09] <Kotono> darkness, fear and pain." After a beat again, "He reports by leaving Aurora and vomiting up 'liquid darkness', which evaporates instantly. He has been commanded to ensure he does this, even at risk to his own life."
[21:12] <Afina> "That makes things easier to watch for," Afina nods in relief, "Has he been tasked with any other roles beyond surveillance?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "None," Sage Vul'lath replies, "He is to watch and live here."
[21:13] <Kotono> "I'm worried too," Sylvie finally says, "Can we get some of this liquid darkness? If we can figure out how it works, perhaps we can begin to counter what the devils have done?"
[21:15] <Afina> "Hard to do if it evaporates instantly. Any ideas for that?" Afina asks the group at large.
[21:15] <Ithea> "It's harder for someone to be an unwitting spy if it requires this vomitting, so that's good to know," Ithea comments. "And what if he vomits within Aurora's domain? He did say he needed to leave before vomitting."
[21:16] <Ithea> "Aurora's protections might keep it from evaporating somehow."
[21:16] <Kotono> Elena reappears, "Sorry, had to help with something," she says, "Did I miss anything?"
[21:16] <Ithea> "Nothing major. What of Simah? Has he done anything unusual while we've been questioning Ash, Elena?"
[21:18] <Kotono> "No," Elena replies, "He's drinking with several others."
[21:18] <Kotono> "We could dig it out of him?" Sylvie says, "This isn't a person, it's a leftover shell. There's no reason to keep it alive."
[21:20] <Ithea> "Maybe. I'd like to see if we can keep him alive for now, in case we have any more questions or the like. Still, we'd only need one for that probably. Either Simah or him," Ithea says slowly as she debates the matter. "I'd at least like to wait until we have Simah in a cell here as well."
[21:21] <Afina> "Later," Afina says, "And if we do we should keep it well away from Tepen. There's no telling if it might infect him somehow," Afina cautions. "Any more questions for him?"
[21:22] <Ithea> "Does he know any devil names?" Ithea asks.
[21:22] <Kotono> Sage Vul'lath replies after a few moments, "Several. Mostly the names of lesser pain devils and the like. Nothing particularly noteworthy."
[21:23] <Jaela> "Speaking of the Old Man, has he heard the devils mention Tepen?" Jaela speaks up. "Him or his soul?"
[21:25] <Kotono> A question is presumably asked, and the answer is, "No. The name Tepen or Elder Magi means nothing in particular to him,  unfortunately."
[21:26] <Afina> "Does he know of any others who underwent the same process and ended up on Aurora?" Afina asks more on the off chance since she highly doubts it.
[21:27] <Jaela> "Or in resistance forces," Jaela adds. "If they have any spies...."
[21:27] <Kotono> Again the answer is, "No," At this point Sage Vul'lath speaks up, "Are there any  more questions?"
[21:28] <Afina> "I think we're done?" Afina says, looking to the others as well.
[21:29] * Jaela nods curtly. "I think we don't need to make a spectacle of this. Are we putting what's left of him to rest now?"
[21:31] <Afina> "Unless anyone wants to try and get a sample of that black stuff?" Afina looks at Ithea and Sylvie's way.
[21:34] <Kotono> "I do," Sylvie says, "I'll need to prepare summoning spells and use them to do surgery. I don't know what that liquid darkness is, but I don't want to touch it."
[21:35] <Afina> "We'll put him in the dungeon until you're ready, then," Afina nods to Sylvie, getting up to handle escorting him there.
[21:39] <Kotono> Simah takes another hour or so - but he comces. He walks in, whistling. He stops, "Huh. I thought this was going back to the cafeteria," he says, voice really rather surprised. "Sorry for the interruption!"
[21:41] <Afina> Not inclined to beat about the bush this time, Afina gets right to it. "Did you surrender your soul to Hell, Simah? Were you taken to a manor where a pit fiend clawed out your soul and replaced it with liquid darkness? Are you a spy?"
[21:43] <Kotono> "Oh. Fuck." Simah looks on, "I'm not a spy...I'm..." he pauses a moment, "I'm just trying to make it by. I mean..." Abruptly a second later, he turns back and dashes through the portal - only to reappear coming out of it a split second later. He stops and stares, "...Well fuck."
[21:44] <Afina> "At least you didn't wet yourself," Afina sighs. "Where were you going to run to?"
[21:44] * Jaela sighs. "Please. Did you think about it at all?"
[21:46] <Kotono> "It seemed like a good idea at the time?" Simah finally just shrugs, "Okay look, I'm busted. I'm not even from Lifasa. I'll cooperate if you promise me that I can leave after this."
[21:47] <Jaela> "You will cooperate with us here," Jaela says, smiling at him the way Hanna does, sometimes, "or in a cell. With or without magic. Your choice."
[21:48] <Afina> "So what were you doing in the Burning Aeropolis's dungeon if you're not from Lifasa?" Afina asks, hashing out how he got here to start with.
[21:48] <Kotono> Sighing, "Guess I don't have a choice, do I? I do mercenary work for the Blood War. Got a lot of contacts amid the fiends, and one of them wanted me to do some work with this bunch of prisoners in the Burning Aeropolis."
[21:49] <Jaela> "What sort of 'work'?"
[21:49] <Kotono> "Keep an eye on 'em, make sure they don't fold up and give Governor Yian what he wants," he admits freely, "Subtle work, too."
[21:50] * Afina looks briefly at Sylvie for confirmation on that.
[21:50] <Jaela> "And why did you stay with the Aurora for the past month?" Jaela continues, figuring that Sylvie would comment on any spoken lies.
[21:50] <Kotono> Sylvie nods ,"He's telling the truth."
[21:52] <Kotono> "It's a hell of a place," He admits, "You treat us better than the fiends treat paid mercs." Pausing, "I was gonna forget my past for awhile and get on board. I'm no stranger to fighting fiends, from demons to devils and all the 'loths in between. I've got no compunctions about spilling fiend blood."
[21:52] <Jaela> "Who were you working for at the Burning Aeropolis? Demon or devil?"
[21:55] <Kotono> "Devil. Governor Silvber." He replies easily, "Got the impression that he didn't much like Governor Yian." Pausing a few ticks, "You want the truth, I think we got off on the wrong foot. Name's Simah," Offering a hand out, "Want some help? Free of charge under the circumstances."
[21:56] <Jaela> "Execution, I think?" Jaela muses, glancing over at Afina and Ithea. "Unless he can provide something that leads to Silvber's capture."
[21:57] * Ithea raises an eyebrow, but doesn't dismiss the idea. She's not about to readily trust someone like Simah so easily. And he's already shown with his vow that he's not in it for Lifasa. For now, she watches his reaction to Jaela's declaration.
[21:58] <Afina> "Silvber's as much our enemy of Yian. It doesn't recommend you to us, much," Afina tells Simah, unamused but witholding judgement on whether he needs to be executed. "You willingly subjected yourself to the tortures and indoctrination that Yian gave his prisoners?"
[21:58] <Afina> *as Yian
[22:01] <Kotono> "Ah hell, we don't need to do that," he says warmly, "Governor Silvber's all tied up in the Outer Ring Fortresses. Had to go through more protections than I could count to see him," he replies, "Best bet is to draw him out somehow or another, he's acting like his own little Dispater in there." After a moment, voice growing hard, "General Afina," he draws that out, "I've served in the Blood War
[22:01] <Kotono> for years. I've had worse for months at a time. No weaklings survive; by comparison, Yian's indoctrination was a vacation." Crackling his knuckles, "I can fight, much better than I've been letting on. I can gather information and sneak around with the best of them. I'd probably do great helping Tannin out, seen him around a few times. Geas me if it helps."
[22:02] <Jaela> "If you liked us so much, why didn't you come forward and offer your services?" Jaela asks, now curious. "Why did you lie about your allegience if you claim to want to give it so much, now?"
[22:03] <Ithea> "You clearly don't care about Lifasa, if nothing else," Ithea adds. "Your vow told us as much."
[22:03] <Kotono> "I was getting to know Aurora, and besides?" Shrugging, "I figured you'd hang me as high as a goristro's head. You're right, Lifasa's not my world and I don't care about it. But I'm a business man, not a fiend. I'm offering a fair service, both free and as an apology for this whole thing."
[22:04] <Afina> "I have one question," Afina speaks up, "It'll decide your fate so think carefully and be honest. Have you ever harmed any Lifasan that wasn't already working for Hell?"
[22:05] <Jaela> "I value free choice, so this was your miscalculation," Jaela voices, moving to sit down. "There is my vote, but I won't press this matter beyond it."
[22:05] <Kotono> Snorting, "Yeah, a few times," he admits, "Had to smack around a few that started to break, snap them out of hysterics." He replies, "Part of the job."
[22:06] * Afina looks at Sylvie to see if he's holding back.
[22:06] <Kotono> Sylvie nods, "He's telling the truth. For my side, he's truthful and trying to save his own skin."
[22:07] <Jaela> "And how long would it take you to run away? What if you got a better offer lined up some time in the future?" Jaela voices.
[22:07] <Ithea> "You suggested we geas you. Do you have any way to get out of it?" Ithea asks, following up on Jaela's thought.
[22:08] <Afina> "I'm satisfied there's no need to kill him," Afina says, leaning back and letting Jaela determine if he's worth conscripting anyway.
[22:08] <Jaela> "His future employer could do it for him," Jaela says dismissively.
[22:08] <Ithea> "Or are you going to be giving an honest attempt at working with us?"
[22:08] <Kotono> "As long as it takes my feet ot get away from you," He admits, "Never was any good at magic," he says, "I'd stick with you guys - I've heard of how fast you can travel the Planes and move around. What's the point? You'll catch up to me and make your displeasure known."
[22:09] <Jaela> "The rest of the decision will have to take place without you," Jaela tells Simah. "Who wants to take him to a cell?"
[22:10] <Kotono> "I'll do it," Sylvie stands.
[22:11] <Jaela> "Thanks."
[22:11] <Kotono> Once Simah and Sylvie are gone...

[Corwin]

[22:12] <Jaela> "I'll be frank. He offers to be our spy. That means he will be handling our secrets, the way Tannin does. That gives him leverage and insight into our plans, both things he could always use to find a fiendish sponsor out there that could protect him. Why would we even be contemplating retaining his services?"
[22:14] <Kotono> Elena returns with Gisfal and Adrian in the meanwhile, as they all settle in with the others. Once in place, "I agree," Gisfal says immediately, "Is he pentient at all?"
[22:14] <Afina> "He could be worth retaining merely as a warrior," Afina suggests, "I agree that we shouldn't grant him any great authority or trust, of course."
[22:15] <Jaela> "Not in the least," Jaela tells Gisfal, before shaking her head. "Afina, don't you remember how we worried over rumors? Even as a soldier he will learn much, especially if you consider that he will be doing so while pretending to be drinking with his friends."
[22:15] <Kotono> Adrian hums briefly, "Didn't we have this argument before with Annalise?" he speaks up, "He could be useful, but look at how that ended up."
[22:15] <Jaela> "She had no reason to work with our enemies," Jaela says curlty, expression neutral.
[22:16] <Ithea> "I'm actually curious about the fact that we're okay with bringing in vampires, prophetic slaad, abominable dragons and so forth into the crusade, when we know they too don't have Lifasa's interests at heart...but a human rankles you so, Jaela," Ithea comments. "I don't actually care to bring him in, but I just found that odd."
[22:16] <Afina> "You're right," Afina concedes to Jaela. "Alright, lets give him some supplies and set him loose on Ysgard, that'll be the end of it."
[22:16] <Kotono> "I'd support if he expresses a desire to atone. He's a living mortal, they always have a chance to atone as long as they live. If not," Gisfal frowns, "He's a constant risk, and one that's shown he'll sell his services and do what it takes to survive."
[22:17] <Jaela> "None of them showed any desire to betray us at the drop of a golden coin," Jaela tells Ithea icily. "You can be sure I will act the same way towards them if they had."
[22:20] <Kotono> "I'll deal with it?" Elena speaks up after that, raising a hand meekly.
[22:21] <Ithea> "If you say so," Ithea says with a shrug, but doesn't take it further than that. She does cross her arms, and notes, "He did say we treated him better than anything he's ever gotten before. I found that interesting. Not necessarily something that will change my vote from dumping him out in Ysgard, but still. Interesting."
[22:21] <Jaela> "Not just yet, please," Jaela says, frowning. "Since I'm outvoted about this, we should wait until we had a chance to pass on word to Makaril. The last thing I want is for him to use what he learned of us here to try and infiltrate their camp for his old masters."
[22:23] <Kotono> "Right," Elena stops where she is.

[Corwin]

#ed

[19:43] <Kotono> The next day Afina passes in work at the forges. She loses herself in it, seeing to Aurora's prosperity and continued might. At some point - she isn't sure when, so lost in her work - Crystal joins her. She hangs back and watches, silent for a time, head semi-bowed.
[19:46] <Afina> Aware of Crystal's presence, Afina sets aside the axe she'd just made and turns to her fellow fairy if not fellow fey. "Is it always going to be like this, now?" she asks, fluttering over on wings of flame.
[19:52] <Kotono> Crystal sighs. She draws it out, "I don't know." She admits this much, "I go back and forth between sorrow at what happened, anger at Hell for causing it to go to this and despair that things are so ill-fated that your choice may have been an understandable one."
[19:54] <Afina> "If you want you can damn me for being an overconfident fool that got complacent and suffered her just desserts," Afina offers, "But anything's better than moping around and looking at me like I have some terminal wasting sickness."
[19:59] <Kotono> "You're lucky this isn't the old Court. Her Majesty may have been less inclined to forgive a failure in disposing of a problem," Crystal's voice is followed by a deep sigh, "But Her Majesty has her own problems, too. In the immediate term, your services won't be needed in the fey realms. Introducing a fey who left the Cycle will cause a variety of ultimately unrelated arguments into the
[19:59] <Kotono> current negotiations and politicking. Past that, Her Majesty is inclined to accept your condition."
[20:02] <Afina> "It would be hard to assassinate her own assassin," Afina remarks dryly at the thought of this happening back in the Gloaming Forest. "Alright then, I have plenty to stay busy with here. We uncovered a devil spy amongst the Aeropolis prisoners yesterday, and I acquired the Blade of Endings. How have things been going for you?"
[20:10] <Kotono> "Two fold. The public first," Crystal decides, "Queen Ilsenine is doing political visits, talks, calling in favors and trying to rally as much support as possible. We'll bring back allies, I believe, but the question is how many. Some oppose Ilsenine for this or that, personal or public distastes. Some believe it is best to fortify non-fallen worlds instead, in case Baator attempts this
[20:10] <Kotono> again, rather than throwing troops against an accomplished coup."
[20:13] <Afina> "Hell isn't going to be put off by any number of fortifications. The only way we can be truly safe is by fighting back as hard as we can," Afina asserts. "You remember how fearsome the defences of the Gloaming Forest were when we all combined forces?"
[20:16] <Kotono> "I agree," Crystal nods slightly, pausing to flutter in the air and rub her temple, "Of course, convincing fey of something they wish not to believe is a difficult task, even on the best of days. We fight on." A pause, "In personal...Her Majesty is suffering from nightmares again. When we are put up for the night in noble guest quarters, it has become habit for me to share Her Majesty's bed
[20:16] <Kotono> - for she needs one to cling to as the nightmares take her, someone to hold her during her darkest moments." In a quiet voice now, "It may be that someone is influncing her nightmares in some way, making them flare up, but as of yet we've not found evidence of it. If a powerful noble has decided to take personal offense to Ilsenine, it may be we never find proof."
[20:19] <Afina> "You can cast dispel evil, can't you?" Afina asks her paladinly friend. "Do that when her nightmares next flare up. If someone's causing them they'll suffer an unpleasant surprise. And if you do find out one is responsible, remember I can kill them without having to be seen and advertise my failing to other fey."
[20:28] <Kotono> That does draw a slight nod, "Yes," Crystal agrees, "If we find out who, we'll be in touch," Crystal says, and then finally she reaches out. She lays a hand on Afina's shoulder, grimancing, "You're hot as an oven," she says, yanking her hand back. Shaking it with a grimace, "Afina..." Stopping that and looking at her, "You're my friend, but I need time. But when I return, we'll resume and
[20:28] <Kotono> lead on...for Lifasa."
[20:32] <Afina> "I may be able to do something about that, but one thing at a time," Afina shakes her head rather than get into her prismatic potential. "Good luck out there, and bring everyone back safe."
[20:34] <Kotono> "Promise," Crystal finally smiles, turning away, "Until we meet again, Afina!"
[20:36] <Afina> Waving Crystal off, Afina goes back to work.

[Corwin]

#t

[19:41] <Kotono> Jaela goes to Hanna's quarters. After some knocking, "Yes?" Hanna's voice calls from inside, "Enter."
[19:43] * Jaela opens the door at the prompting. As she steps aside, Jaela calls out ahead of her, "Did I give you enough time to rest? Feeling better now?"
[19:50] <Kotono> Hanna lies on her bed. She is topless, wings wrapped around her front to provide modesty, and her blanket over her lap. A tall pitcher of water and a glass is nearby, the pitcher about three fourths drained. "I'll need a few more hours, but the worst of it's past," she goes on, "We don't tire like mortals, so when something drains us enough to cause it, it always seems to hit hard. At
[19:50] <Kotono> least for me."
[19:52] <Jaela> "I knew it," Jaela agrees, kicking the door closed. "But you're too stubborn to take perfectly good advice and go rest on your own." She grins at her mother, and pushes the pitcher of water off to the side to take a seat on the table. For a change, she doesn't feel the need for her armor, and her own weight would hardly dent it. "Still, I figured I might as well come and read you a bedtime story."
[19:54] <Kotono> Hanna rests back, letting her wings fall away as she lies down, then onto her side. Propping her head up with one hand, "I suppose you acquired that trait honestly," she murmurs, smothering a yawn with her hand, "What sort of story?"
[19:54] <Jaela> "The best kind! It's got axes in it."
[20:00] <Kotono> "Sounds bloody," Hanna opines, "That is a good kind."
[20:03] <Jaela> "It better be," Jaela quietly mutters. "Before that, though. About earlier today. It's not easy leading a Crusade and having family around, you know? There's things you can ask me, but the people I fight with and my subordinates sure as hell can't. You get me? I'm trying to take a step back from the troops as it is."
[20:07] <Kotono> "Yeah." Hanna admits, "I apologize, I was tired and wasn't thinking straight." Admitting that much with open candor, "Still, Jaela...I was serious. Raising a child is a huge responsibility. It'll change you in ways you never expect, and give you a whole new suite of responsibilities."
[20:09] <Jaela> "I know that. And that, too." She nods. "It just felt right. It's not like I had some secret reason. I'm the one who first picked her up, right? Maybe it's got something to do with that. I gave it a couple days to think about it, just so I don't jump into something I can't handle blindly. But here we are."
[20:12] <Kotono> "What if you die and don't come back? What if your soul is dragged screaming into the Pit, Light help us?" With a sad yet serious face, "These are risks we face in fighting Hell. Who takes over for you? Who mends the broken heart of your child?"
[20:14] <Jaela> "Isn't it obvious? That'd be you. Same thing if it were reversed." Jaela shrugs. "Let's be honest here. You face the same risks as me. I might be more prominent here at the Crusade, but I'm also harder to take down, and you surely have your own enemies from your past to make up for any difference and then some."
[20:23] <Kotono> With a soft little nose Hanna draws the blanket up to cover her up to her chin. "You'd best raise that child well, then," she finally says.
[20:24] <Jaela> "Yeah." Jaela crosses her legs and cracks the book open. "And with the heavy stuff out of the way, here goes!"
[20:28] <Kotono> Thus you read, stories of greataxes and mastery, hours passing...