Rainbows, inspiration and the marid (Afina and Moore)

[Anastasia]

He is a fey. A prince of the courts, though not attached to any. He is a figure of grace and romance, an unique fey who serves as an ambassador of various courts to groups across the planes. He's also an accomplished warrior, as one directly leads into the other. He reports to Queen Titania and no one else, one of her personal diplomats.

[Ebiris]

It's not a bad lineup, but it must be remembered that none of it's concrete just favours and recommendations with no marid actually sticking their necks out. "You have given us a deal to think about," she says, wanting to confer before making any decision. "If it would please you we offer Aurora's hospitality to see to your comforts while we decide our position on your offer?"

[Anastasia]

Moonlight leads them off again. Once they're gone, it's Queen Ilsenine that speaks up, "We desire to be clear, are they offering an alliance with the marid on top of that, or with that instead?"

Morniel turns to the pixies, the marid gone, "In addition to, I believe. Elena," he says, "Confirm that with our guests, would you? A simple yes or no is sufficient."

[Ebiris]

"He said at the start that the Padisha doesn't want to provoke the efreet by entering the conflict," Afina points out. "Support from various fey factions is what they're offering, but it's not a guarantee - the marid will exert their influence on our behalf but that's not the same as Celestia making a decision to support us and sending out its legions the same day," she nods respectfully to Morniel as part of said support.

[Nephrite]

Would Moore know if there were any potential allies from Fire (but not Fire exactly, like the Mineral folks) that we could recruit? 50 on take 10 K:P if that matters.

[Anastasia]

"We could make it dependent on results," Crystal points out, "If they come through on all of these and they work out, we agree."

Most of Fire tilts towards evil. Zaaman Rul, Prince of Elemental Good for Fire, is the exception. His hands are generally quite busy, however. Kossuth, the deity who rules over flames and fire, also has a great deal of power and cares little about good and evil. Thus his worshipers can be potential, too.

[Nephrite]

"Perhaps we can give them less reason to be concerned if we can bring in some allies of Zaaman Rul or Kossuh. We could use it as further leverage." Moore suggests. "I'd be willing to pursue those leads, if we decided to go that route."

[Ebiris]

"We've tried to get an in with Kossuth before and it didn't work out," Afina tells Moore. "We're friendly enough with Zaaman Rul but he has his own problems, still our various elementals seem to get on well enough so I don't think having more allies from one elemental plane precludes help from another."

[Nephrite]

"Well, that was before we had a prismatic General, wasn't it?" Moore says with a smile. "You're right, though, we have both forces from Mineral as well as Air here, so it proves that we can work with anyone. It's just a matter of giving them less excuses while still bolstering our own forces."

[Anastasia]

"It's still an option," Queen Ilsenine says, "Afina, are you comfortable giving your dust away to them, beyond the needs of the Crusade?"

[Ebiris]

"I admit I'm still a bit leery," Afina says. "But dust isn't nearly so personal as blood so the threat should be minimal. Like Crystal said though, we should get our money's worth - there's no other source for anything like it anywhere in the planes, so it's difficult to properly appraise. Asking Baleruk wouldn't be a bad idea though."

[Anastasia]

Queen Ilsenine nods to that, "Very well, the two of you should go do that," he says, looking to Afina and then Moore.

[Nephrite]

"Yes, Your Majesty." Moore says with a nod.

[Ebiris]

"Shouldn't take long," Afina says, flying off to take a portal to the courtyard before flying up to Baleruk's lair.

[Anastasia]

You find Baleruk is indeed in his lair. He sits on his great pile of gold coins, several tools from the obsidian building he commandeered floating around him. Amid all of this is 27, floating in mid air as Baleruk silently stares at the badger-slaad.