Yearning for liberation (Afina)

[Ebiris]

"It's nice to hear it said. Although we must remember the Crusade comes first, and with it a lot of demands on my time. I wouldn't be a very attentive noble until Lifasa's free, and even afterwards I expect to be busy for a very long time."

[Anastasia]

"You can't do the same thing forever," Bubbles says, "You'll need fallow periods to rest and prepare for the next Crusade. Otherwise you'll burn out, dearie. It may be a year, a century or longer, but something will give."

[Ebiris]

"True," Afina agrees. "I'm just pointing out there needs to be balance, I won't ever be able to commit to politicking full time the way the Padisha for example does."

[Anastasia]

"You'll work it out," Bubbles says, "I'll check back in a few days."

Okay, beyond waiting for more from Ebony and Bubbles, doing anything else during the week?

[Ebiris]

Nope, just focusing on keeping the troops sharp.

[Anastasia]

Make another Charisma check.

[Ebiris]

[20:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15 Rei
[20:11] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+15 Rei --> [ 1d20=2 ]{17}

[Anastasia]

The next morning you get a missive from Sylica. Ebony delivers it to you, a handwritten note. "It's from Syala," she says, "Your eyes only."

[Ebiris]

"Thank you, Ebony," Afina accepts the note. "I'll read it in my quarters and get back to you," she says, still cognisant of the need for secrecy. There's plenty of people with sharp eyes that could read a note over her shoulder from a respectable distance away after all.

[Anastasia]

The handwritten note is as follows:

"Dear Afina,

This letter is enchanted and will go far longer than it would otherwise be able to. Enclosed are intelligence reports about your targets, likely enemy dispositions and the names of several resistance members who hold positions within the occupying force. Some of these are noble mortals press-ganged into a horrible service, others are opportunists who believe Semyaza will fail and want to cover themselves.

Justice will be done as it needs to be once Benfal is liberated. Until that time, please ensure that as many people on this list as possible survive, no matter how innocent or guilty they appear.

More than one of the names belong to devils. Antenora's unique position allows her to reach fiends in a way others cannot. There may be hope for these devils; as such, I ask that you spare them as well. Many or perhaps all are merely opportunists who believe they have nothing to return to if this occupation fails. Nevertheless, Antenora insists they be given the chance. I understand the difficult position this puts Aurora in. If you feel Aurora cannot comply with this, please send word back with Ebony immediately.

Syala."

What follows is a great deal of information, dozens of pages somehow crammed into a single sheet of paper.

[Ebiris]

It's troublesome but Afina's dire feelings towards devils generally only extends towards those involved in Lifasa's subjugation. For the rest she only really musters general dislike. Still, actually executing it will be difficult while maintaining secrecy. Probably will be best to extend general orders to allow quarter where requested, and anyone taking surrender can check names against the list centrally at Aurora via telepathic communication? That way they won't have the list out in the wild where devils could intercept it or capture someone with the knowledge so as to root out potential traitors in advance.

Confident in that plan, she goes back to find Ebony again. Once that's done, she says, "Ebony, tell Syala her suggestions will be heeded, though I'll need to share the information on it with Tepen so he can verify it against what forces in the field discover during the battles."

[Anastasia]

A nod, "She trusts you to disseminate the information wisely. Will there be anything else?"

[Ebiris]

"That's all. It'll help a great deal with forming our strategy," Afina says. She'll speak to Adrian and Gisfal about the tactical information before giving the names to Tepen since he usually acts as their telepathy hub. Then they can put the information to use in refining their war games.

[Anastasia]

Time passes.

You are in your room, taking a break before getting back to things. You're simply sitting back and letting your mind go as it will, decompressing from the last several tasks.

Several knocks and a call of, "Afina, I'm back," from Bubbles.

[Ebiris]

"Come on in, I'm just resting for my spells," Afina calls, currently sat on the windowledge as she lets her mind sort itself out to reset her mana flows or whatever it is they call it these days.