Nymph interlude (Afina)

[Anastasia]

Gold considers those words as you begin to head back.

Anything else to do here?

[Ebiris]

Nope.

That all said, Afina opens a gate back to Elysium so they can all return back to Aurora.

Also she cleans her sooty outfit again with prestidigitation.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina: 287+11/287, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24)
AC 87, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 3/10/10/8/9/8/9/8/7/6/6/5

[Anastasia]

Home again. You find Aurora rather tense, soldiers drilling and more just generally around. The moment you step through, Elena appears, "We got a message from Hell," she says without preamble, "It's about Muirfinn."

[Ebiris]

Gloating? Or more likely offering a trade. She doesn't imagine any terms they offer would be acceptable. "What are they saying?" she asks curtly.

[Anastasia]

"Go see Adrian in the War Room," Elena says, "He has the details."

[Ebiris]

"Alright," she nods, before turning to Simmer, Arrel, and Gold. "Thanks for accompanying me on my trip, you three. Go get cleaned up or take some time to relax, from the sounds of it something'll be in the offing soon." After that dismissal she goes to hunt down Adrian.

[Anastasia]

Adrian's by himself, reading over some documents in the War Room. "Afina," he says without looking up, "Vlaakith's efforts bore fruit faster than we expected."

[Ebiris]

She'd actually forgotten about that. "I genuinely expected nothing to come of that," she says, a bit surprised. Flying over and taking her usual chair she asks, "What did they demand?"

[Anastasia]

"Here," Adrian passes over a document.

It's written in Infernal, with translations into Common, Celestial, Sylvan and all four elemental languages. It reads (more or less in the case of the translations) as follows:

"Asmodeus, His Dread Majesty, Lord of the Ninth, Archduke of Nessus, Keeper of Malsheem, Great Master of all Infernal, Final Judge of All, Supreme Devil of the Pit, His Most Serene Royal Highness The King of Hell, wishes to invite Aurora to a summit about the fate of Muirfinn. The summit will be held at Shir'kandor, a personal holding of Vlaakith, Queen of the Githyanki.

Representing Hell will be Duke Martinet. He will be accompanied by eight personal attendants, an imp servant, a selected gelugon Infernal Master of Contracts and Records and a single observer from the following: Lord Bel, Lord Dispater, Lord Glasya, Prince Lixer, Duke Malphas, Duke Taelfagn and Duke Gathgorian.

Aurora is invited to match those numbers as they see fit but not to exceed them.

A response may be sent to Queen Vlaakith within nine days."

[Ebiris]

Interesting choice of observers. Bel, Lixer, Taelfagn, and Gathgorian all make sense. The others, though? Do they have interests in Lifasa?

"We lose nothing by attending, though I don't believe any price they offer will be one we're willing to pay," she says, putting the document back on the table.

[Anastasia]

"About my take," he says, rubbing his face. "I don't think even Ithea has enough lives to satisfy whatever Baator wants. If they make a serious offer, what are we willing to trade for Muirfinn? We need to decide on that."

[Ebiris]

"Nothing to compromise the Crusade, and no other lives," Afina says. "As tragic as Murifinn's fate is, we have to weigh him against the millions more suffering under Hell's grip. Just because they don't all have names and faces to us doesn't make them any less important."

[Anastasia]

"Hell," Adrian mutters, closing his eyes. "Who should go?"

[Ebiris]

It's a pity Ithea's so distracted lately since she'd want to send her. "Jaela of course, it was her idea and she's good at navigating that sort of arena... really sending anyone feels like a punishment detail, doesn't it?" she asks with a pouty face.

[Anastasia]

Adrian cracks a grin, "I know. I'd say two generals should go but no more, in case something goes wrong. I'll volunteer myself if no one else goes. As for the rest, statements should be made with them." Rubbing his chin, "Cresiel had some good advice about that. Hell picks up on meaning and social status naturally, so who we bring says a lot."