Gossiping (Afina)

[Anastasia]

"What is it, indeed?" The Padisha laughs again, sweet and light. "But it was not all  your work. I feel Moore's influence and magic in the amulet as well."

[Nephrite]

"I had the pleasure of working with Baleruk to create the piece." Moore says simply. "My forté is in pushing people beyond their limits and allowing them to better see their natural talents. Sometimes, people are blinded by what they think they cannot accomplish. It is the least I can do to aid those to walk the paths that they should, Princess of Coral." Moore further explains.

[Anastasia]

"Limits are for lesser creatures," The Padisha agrees, still idly fingering the emerald. Tracing it, playing with it. "A few decades ago, I met another determined to overcome limits. Now Afina comes to me, proof of that dedication. What do you think of that, Moore?"

[Nephrite]

"I would not presume to disagree with the Queen of All Marid, but if it would please Her, I will offer my opinion on Miss Afina." Moore says.

He clears his throat a bit at this. "She is determined, moreso than anyone I have ever met, to see her goals met. She does not take 'no' as a satisfactory response to something, even going so far as to challenge Creation itself when it does not decide to fit her mold. As a crafter by nature, she finds life something that must be changed to suit the bearer, so she takes steps to ensure that she doesn't have to worry about reaching any so-called limits."

He pauses for a moment. "Even in doing this, she does not forget those around her. She builds on her own merits, but includes those around her, regardless of their station. She allows others to stand with her and support her without trying to diminish their own accomplishments, even if she may not handle things in the same fashion. She does not look down on anyone, only looking up to continue on her own path." Moore bows his head again, finished.

[Ebiris]

"I look down on devils," Afina offers as a correction, but she seems pleased with Moore's description nonetheless.

[Anastasia]

"As you should," The Padisha appends at the end of it, "The only tolerable devil lies entombed in ice by his kin. No matter. Spoken as if Afina were a Queen rather than a general. It is fortunate you are not a marid. Also, Drena, Chan supports them? What of Ben-Hadar?"

"Majesty," Drena stays kneeling, "Aurora has not had serious contacts with the Prince of Elemental Good."

"Ah yes, he has been in an even grumpier mood than usual the last few decades. Your elemental patron is to blame, Afina. But again no matter. What of Olhydra?"

"Nor the Prince of Elemental Evil. While demons stand opposed to him and Olhydra favors demons, Aurora has not had serious dealings with demons nor him." Drena replies, "We have had contacts with Princess Sunnis and Prince Entemoch, though not Zaaman Rul. The Princes of Elemental Evil have been largely avoided."

"Also such a glorious insult to the efreet," The Padisha laughs lightly, "Akil bin Faheem is an intolerable pile of self importance. But," With a growing smile, "I would expect good odds if you oppose him further. His luck is surely running out soon."

[Nephrite]

Moore can't figure out whether or not that was a compliment or an insult, but it's probably best to concede the floor either way.

Since it seems like Drena's got this part under control he just lets Drena or Afina comment on the military matters.

[Ebiris]

She's also a baroness! Though she's starting to think the Padisha is genuinely unaware of her elevation to the nobility rather than deliberately scorning her. It hasn't made much outside of Aurora's court after all, and she tends to lead with General in her dealings with other parties.

"We have traded with Zaaman Rul, though he has sufficient problems of his own to prohibit lending our Crusade support." It was also him that sparked her elemental transformation, but Afina sees no profit in talking about fire here.

"As for the efreet, revenge was sworn after our assault on their slave pens, but we've seen little come of it yet."

[Anastasia]

"The efreet are slow to burn," The Padisha remarks, "They are capable of waiting, wise council is not to forget that." She looks down at her emerald necklace, "What of the dao and djinn?"

[Ebiris]

Afina shakes her head, pleased the Padisha at least seems to be fond of her necklace. An ice sculpture might have placated the traditionalists in her court but the Padisha's opinion is the only one of true import. "We have had no dealings with either, for good or for ill. Our interactions with Air and Earth have both been primarily with the archomentals."

[Anastasia]

"Interesting." The Padisha sits back, "I have found it the other way around mostly, especially for those who seek the magic of wishes. Otherwise, mortals seem to have little use for the Elemental Princes."

[Ebiris]

"Undoing Bel's conquest will take more than a wish. For our task we require an army, one that Princess Chan has graciously provided," Afina inclines her head generously towards Drena. "Our relations with Lord Entemoch and Lady Sunnis came in the wake of an incident involving a sealed Yugoloth one of our generals stumbled across and is of less relevance to our Crusade, Great Padisha."

"Beyond that, mortals do not hold much of a majority within our numbers."

[Anastasia]

"Mortals," The Padisha slowly shakes her head, "As ever a pebble in the great stream of planar affairs, carried away helplessly by far greater currents. I applaud your wisdom. I also wonder. Afina and Moore, if I were to grant each of you a wish, what would you wish for?"

[Ebiris]

Awww, not Drena? Then again his great grandmother can probably grant his wishes just fine. And she can get Tepen to grant her wishes, though she suspects were the Padisha to grant a wish she'd exercise considerably more power than a simple spell towards seeing its fruition. So what would she ask for?

There's no point asking for something beyond even the Padisha's power such as doing away with all devils. If it were possible some self-sacrificing power or divinity would have done it long ago. To free Lifasa? Jaela's Triune haven't managed it, and Alicia and Seira are fighting a mighty struggle to help the world of Benfal in similar straits.

No, the best thing to ask would be for something of substance and duration. Self improvement or friendship. Afina's handling her self improvement fairly well, and while she does have ideas for furthering her elemental affinities they're things that stand within reach but for time and opportunity to pursue them. "Asking the Emir of All Currents to perform a simple service would be short-sighted when one could wish for Her continuing good graces," she replies, cheeks dimpling into an adorably cutesy pixie smile.

[Nephrite]

Moore considers his words carefully for a few moments before he nods, seemingly satisfied with them.

"I would like to think that any in this situation would think of a magnanimous or charitable idea to wish for, one that showed their true character in front of a gathered court of onlookers from across the whole of Water." Moore starts.

"However, I am not one with such grand ideals or desires to the point of trying to impress others by acts of my character alone. To the Maharaja of the Oceans, I would ask only this -- I wish that Aurora and the forces of Water can strengthen our bonds together. It's an easy enough task for us to say something as simple as 'please provide us allies,' but that doesn't get to the heart of what I think would benefit both of our parties. A true alliance, a true pact between our forces, one that strikes fear into the hearts of evil across Creation, knowing that they cannot circumvent or subvert that bond -- that is my wish to the Pearl of the Sea."

He is hamming it up a little bit but it's all honesty.