052.8 Jaela and Muirfinn

[Corwin]

[20:17] <Kotono> Soon enough all gather in Jaela's suite. Mirajane is rather tired out after swimming, lying down for a nap. Gathered around a table with snacks and drink, Gisfal glances at Jaela, "As I recently informed Jaela, we confirmed that Abigor has fled Hell. He has obtained refuge in the court of Auril, Goddess of Winter. We're here to find out if we can do something about that."
[20:18] <Jaela> "The plan is to approach Auril with something that either demonstrates for her that keeping Abigor over isn't worth it for her, or to offer her something she might want more," Jaela elaborates.
[20:19] <Muirfinn> Then edges of Muirfinn's mouth turn down in distaste. "Auril. That's unfortunate."
[20:19] <Kotono> Canderella whistles low, "She's willing to betray someone if the price is right. She's cold hearted and cares only about herself."
[20:20] <Kotono> Taking a tiny bit of cut fruit and popping it into her mouth, "She's also nursing a grudge over Talos leaving. She did not take that well. You don't what to know what she did to the Talosians who were in her court when she found out."
[20:22] <Muirfinn> "I can only guess. She is fickle and hateful. Any dealings with her will be difficult. She is not know for her loyalty to any one."
[20:23] <Jaela> "That's what I'm banking on. Of course she's not one for loyalty. That's why we have a shot at this in the first place."
[20:24] <Kotono> "Right," Canderella smiles slightly, "I had best recuse myself from any role in this. The moment anyone realizes I follow Talos and my life and soul are doomed.
[20:24] <Kotono> "
[20:27] <Jaela> "Any direct role, sure. But think you could make a few inquiries? Auril hates Talos, but what about Umberlee, say? Do you think you could get in touch with anyone following her?"
[20:27] <Kotono> "Auril loves offerings dealing with bringing the cold, winter and unfeeling malice." Here Tepen adds in, "On Lifasa, many regions made offerings to her during the winter to applease away blizzards. A wise man wrote that Auril is a snowstorm. She is beautiful in a cold way, but unfeeling and will freeze you to death without caring or stopping."
[20:27] * Muirfinn nods. "Understandable. Auril getting her hands on you is the last thing we want."
[20:30] <Kotono> "Umberlee?" Frowning a moment, "Ah, the Bitch Queen." A rather catty smile passes Canderella's face, "I so love that she has that as a proper title. She's vain and wants everyone to admire her. Enough groveling and offerings will get her attention."
[20:30] <Kotono> "I could," Morniel says, "The connections I have are twice removed and weak, but it should be enough to pass a message or offer on."
[20:31] * Jaela snorts. "You don't have to get her actual attention. You said that Talosians were in Auril's court? I figure the opposite is true, and not just for the two of them but probably all four of the fury gods?"
[20:32] * Jaela glances at Morniel. "Oh?"
[20:32] <Kotono> "Were." Canderella says, "Umberlee was furious over Talos running off. She condemned them to an eternity of drowning while their legs are endlessly consumed by flesh-eating fish."
[20:34] <Jaela> "You don't say."
[20:35] <Kotono> Elder Magi Tepen shudders while Gisfal crosses his arms. "So what you're saying is that Talosians are banned from Fury's Heart on the pain of death?"
[20:36] <Jaela> "More like pain of... pain." Jaela winces. "Yeah okay. Let us know if you think of any contacts we might go to ourselves?"
[20:38] <Kotono> "Oh, I have a few," Canderella says, "But they'll be expensive and they're all demons. How much are you willing to spend on this?"
[20:39] * Jaela grimaces. "Morniel, are your contacts devils too?"
[20:39] * Muirfinn shakes his head. "I have had few dealings with her, but occasionally one of her clergy would come to our shores. Harsh winters often followed, so we usually chased them off before they could start ranting."
[20:42] <Kotono> "No." He shakes his head, "They're a group of mercane who know a half-slaad who spends time with a tiefling wizard who often resides in Fury's Heart."
[20:42] * Muirfinn blinks.
[20:43] <Muirfinn> "That's....terribly convoluted."
[20:43] <Jaela> "Huh." Jaela glances over at Muirfinn next. "Are your own contacts up to date?"
[20:44] <Muirfinn> "Not on Auril I don't believe. She and the Mother Ocean don't really get along."
[20:44] <Kotono> With a thin smile that fades into a neutral expression, "It's the nature of the business. There's no point keeping ties with demonic entities, so we use those sort of friends of a friend when we need to quietly deal with them. Devils are at least stable enough to have easier communications with. A demon will sooner or later find it irresistable to use the connection for woe, usually sooner."
[20:45] <Jaela> "I see. In this case, let's not be so roundabout. The Mercane made such a fuss over being able to meet our sworn enemies and arranging a neutral spot for that, didn't they? Let's just go through them directly and ask to arrange something with a trusted servant of Auril. I'll go myself, with a suitable group."
[20:47] <Kotono> "I can participate, by your leave," Morniel says, "I'm familiar with the Mercane and should there be problems, can help smooth them over."
[20:48] * Jaela nods. "Let's go with a group of three. Canderella, you're excused from this, naturally. We'll call on your contacts if this fails? As for the Mercane, we'll make a request that whoever Auril sends has no draconic blood, and insist that it has to be confidential."
[20:49] <Kotono> "Who is the third?" Morniel asks, "Gisfal, Muirfinn or another?"
[20:49] <Jaela> "Any other volunteers?"
[20:50] <Muirfinn> "I will go, if no others volunteer. I have no love for Auril, but that does not mean we cannot negotiate."
[20:50] <Jaela> "Then we're good. Let's do this as soon as we are able."
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, so what's your plan here? Call in the Mercane and have this happen?
[20:51] <Jaela> OOC: Yes. Maybe in their bank.
[20:54] <Kotono> From there it's a short meeting with Filbrez. After a bit of back and forth on his end he comes before the three of you, "A representative will be here to take you to Union Bank within the hour. Within another one or two a represenative of Auril will be there to meet you. Xatrel will be there as a mediator. Is this agreeable?""
[20:55] <Jaela> "Of course. Are there any rules on magic or what not?"
[20:57] <Kotono> "You will be in the Platina Hall." Filbrez explains, "An anti-magic field covers the Hall, for the safety and security of everyone. The mediator is not affected by the field and can summon immediate support in the unthinkable event of a breakdown in negotiations."
[20:59] * Jaela frowns slightly. "Can we receive information on the negotiators from the other side? Without my link to the Triune, I wouldn't be able to know who I am dealing with."
[21:00] <Kotono> "As soon as they are ascertained, yes," Filbrez says, "Xatrel will be coming to transport you and can provide more information on that. If you need time to prepare after this, it will be provided."
[21:00] <Jaela> "Alright. I promise we won't make the first hostile move, even if negotiations break down."
[21:06] <Kotono> From there it's a trip out of Aurora, Xatrel awaiting with three other Mercane. He is as you remember him, smiling, "Welcome," he says, as one of the other Mercane withdraws a scroll, starting to chant from it. "I see you've taken advantages of our fair offices. The choice of diplomacy was unexpected, I must say."
[21:07] <Jaela> "Once we commit to something, we go along with it."
[21:08] <Muirfinn> "Look at it as a gesture of tentative faith. If you can impress Jaela, something I find to be no simple feat, then perhaps this will become a more regular thing." Muirfinn offers.
[21:12] <Kotono> "Well then," Xatrel smiles genially as a portal opens, "Shall we?"
[21:13] * Jaela nods curtly and leads the way into it.
[21:13] * Muirfinn follows in after her.
[21:16] <Kotono> In moments you stand in Union Bank once more. You stand on a hilltop plaza, a fountain of pure wrought platinum gushing what looks to be molten silver that flows like water. Benches of white and green marble, polished smooth, are all around it. "Are there any questions before we head to the Platina Hall?"
[21:17] <Muirfinn> "It looks about as nice as I remember it." Muirfinn remarks.
[21:19] <Jaela> "Just the same one I had before we left. Information on who we'll be dealing with, that's all," Jaela responds, calmly taking in the casual opulence.
[21:24] <Kotono> "Lura of the Coldheart," Xatrel says, "A frost giant that serves Auril. She's a cleric of high standing and more ice than flesh."
[21:25] <Jaela> It seems like the best chance she will have of recalling anything she knows about this frost giant, while she still has her magic.
[21:27] <Jaela> roll 1d20+45 DI, K:P
[21:27] <Kotono> OOC: K:R.
[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+45 DI, K:P and gets 47." [1d20=2]
[21:28] <Jaela> OOC: Sorry, K:R
[21:31] <Kotono> Lura of the Coldheart is a powerful cleric in the service of Auril. She hails from a forgotten mortal world, long ago given eternal life to serve Auril. Her body is more ice than flesh, making her immune to cold and many other biological weaknesses. Her personality is cold and manipulative, or so the stories say.
[21:32] <Jaela> "Is she alone?"
[21:33] <Kotono> "Yes," Xatrel replies.
[21:34] <Jaela> "Alright. Let's meet with her, then."
[21:40] <Kotono> The Platina Hall is another classical building of marble and opulence, the group lead inside. Within you are lead to a long, rectangular table. It's decorated with drawings of satyrs and nymphs, the legs and panels works of art. As you settle in, your magic suppressed within, "Make yourselves comfortable."
[21:41] <Jaela> The golden aura around her extinguishes. It's what Jaela regrets the most under such conditions, but there is hardly something she can do about it. Maybe one day she'll earn a proper one from the Triune....
[21:41] * Muirfinn nods, taking a seat.
[21:47] <Kotono> Morniel settles in as well, awaiting. Time passes without incident - until at last the far doors open. IN marching is a woman, clad in crude fur garments. Her top to her upper stomach is covered, the middle revealed until her fur pants take over from there. Her skins is a pale, almost clear blue and her flesh gleams like ice. Her eyes are pools of blue, expression haughtily cold as she
[21:47] <Kotono> marches into the Hall. She sits opposite the three as Xatrel clears his throat, "Lady Lura, this is Jaela, Morniel and Muirfinn of Aurora."
[21:48] * Muirfinn stands, bows respectfully, and sits.
[21:49] <Jaela> "Thank you for seeing us," Jaela says. She gives the giant a respectful nod before finally taking her seat at last.
[21:55] <Kotono> "What do you want?" Lura asks, "Get to it."
[21:57] <Jaela> "Your patron gave a disgraced devil sanctuary," Jaela says, respecting that attitude by being direct. "We believe that siding with us would be the better deal, however."
[22:00] <Kotono> "I'm listening," Lura replies, "What's your offer?"
[22:04] <Jaela> "It is my understanding that the Frostmaiden's servants often had clashes with the locals, back on the Lifasa of the past," Jaela says, musing that this serves as a confirmation of their information about Abigor's whereabouts. "Once we retake our world, I see no reason why it should remain that way. Our fey often talk about cycles and the necessity of each stage, and I was thinking that we could guarantee the Cold Goddess's position there in the new society that we will forge upon our world."
[22:07] <Kotono> With a cold smile as she sits back, "You presume that you can order around winter? It matters not if you approve it - Winter is eternal and so is Auril!"
[22:09] <Jaela> "I apologize." Jaela inclines her head. "I thought that you wanted to discuss the practical matters straighforwardly, Lady Lura. I do not contest your words, yet it remains a fact that the devil-occupied Lifasa is not conductive to the worship of your goddess? Abigor would not help with that matter, either, disgraced and exiled as he is, even if he were not marked for death. And it was another fact that worship of the Frostmaiden was limited on our world in the past due to the harrassment her maidens suffered from. I am proposing a future where it is not so."
[22:10] * Muirfinn nods, pleased that Jaela is conducting this so well.
[22:11] <Kotono> "Hmph." Leaning forward at that, "An interesting offer. It may well please the Frostmaiden. Now, what's in it for me to pass it on?"
[22:12] <Jaela> "We cannot possibly offer you anything better than the favor your goddess has already bestowed upon you," Jaela muses. "At the same time, is there anything in particular which has caught your eye?"
[22:14] <Kotono> "I'm always looking for new axes," Lady Lura says, "Iceaxes in particular. All the Mercane have been talking up the new Afina offerings. Xatrel, paper." Paper and ink are provided with a snap of his fingers, the giant scribbing on it before blowing on the paper. It freezes the paper solid, lining it with frost. It is then slid over towards Jaela.
[22:14] * Jaela glances down upon it to take a look.
[22:15] <Kotono> It looks to be instructions to create a powerful enchanted iceaxe.
[22:16] <Jaela> "Please give me a few moments to examine this," Jaela requests, taking a good look. Overcommitting themselves would just look bad.
[22:16] <Kotono> OOC: Make an K:A check then.
[22:16] <Jaela> roll 1d20+27 is it epic or evil?
[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+27 is it epic or evil? and gets 39." [1d20=12]
[22:20] <Jaela> "A powerful weapon," Jaela finally says, looking up from the drawing. "Alright, Lady Lura. I believe we have an understanding."
[22:22] <Kotono> "Pass it onto the Mercane," she says, "They'll bring you back an answer."
[22:23] <Jaela> "Alright." She glances at her sides to see if Morniel or Muirfinn have anything to add at this point.
[22:25] * Muirfinn shakes his head.
[22:25] <Kotono> Morniel shakes his head minutely. "We're done," Lura rises, walking on out.
[22:27] * Jaela places the instructions away, even though she had committed them to memory. Perhaps Afina would find them useful. "It was strange," she muses. "But things went well?"
[22:27] <Muirfinn> "Markedly so." Muirfinn says. "I did not expect things to go so smoothly at all."
[22:27] <Kotono> "It worked," Morniel says, "You did well, Jaela. We'll pay a king's ransom for a messenger, but it's only to be anticipated."
[22:28] <Jaela> "I did not anticipate it one bit," she admits. "Am I going rusty? I really didn't expect something like that at such a high level of negotiations."
[22:29] <Muirfinn> "Not every set of negotiations can be a strong win. Any win without a significant loss can be said to be good."
[22:30] <Kotono> "She's greedy and unenlightened, all too willing to satiate that," Morniel says, "But ultimately is willing to do what we desire as long as we applease that."
[22:37] <Jaela> "Let's return, then?" There is more she wants to say, but this is not the right place for it.
[22:38] * Muirfinn nods. "We should see the Mercane about providing us passage home. I get the feeling that simply opening a Gate would irritate them."