Soiree (Afina)

[Ebiris]

"It's hard to bridge such different mentalities," Afina agrees.

[Anastasia]

After a few hours, at least you have a good buzz going. The booze is top notch and that's when Lucas comes out. "Ahem." he calls, "Lords and Ladies, if you'd be so kind as to swim out with me, we have an amusing diversion for all of you."

[Ebiris]

Afina doesn't rush out because that would unseemly, she just goes with the flow as everyone goes to watch this amusing diversion.

[Anastasia]

You head out into a lawn of seaweed, a great field amid the palatial manor you emerged from. Farther up and ahead is the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls, looming over all the city. But that's not what's important.

Ahead is a throne. A dozen marid soldiers stand guard around it. Sitting on it is the Padisha of the marid, a coy, tight smile on her face. As the nobles come forth, "My people and honored vassals," she begins, "We do not apologize for interrupting your festivities, for it is our right and we have a good reason. Today, a devil infiltrator was discovered within the Citadel."

A pause which is taken by all, gasps and murmurs rippling through our crowd. "My people, you are protected. The devil is bound as we speak and is no longer a threat." The Padisha snaps her fingers. It appears in front of all of you, ahead of you but before the throne. It is a gelugon, bound in glimmering strands of water that pin its body like rope. "General Afina of Aurora, come forth. This is one of your areas of expertise. While merely cracking the devil's mind like an egg is not beyond our power, we prefer to leave the honor to her."

[Ebiris]

Well this is interesting alright. Afina swims towards the Padisha and stops next to the Gelugon before curtsying. "Maharaja of the Ocean, am I to understand you wish for me to interrogate the devil? Or would you rather it be disposed of immediately?" Interrogation isn't her skill, but disposal she can do alright!

[Anastasia]

Amid all the murmurs of your guests, the Padisha smiles indulgently. "Do as you will with it, so long as I find out why it was here. Show us Aurora's power, and entertain us if you can. We are watching."

The gelugon gives you a dazed look, but one that still shows dull disgust and hatred.

[Ebiris]

"An interesting challenge you put to me, oh Princess of Coral," Afina says, drawing back a little and rubbing her chin as she studies the gelugon. "Aurora takes its fair share of devil prisoners, though our standard practice is simply to use magic so as to rip the required answers from their minds, or turn them pliable so they speak without reservation." She swims a slow circle around the devil as she considers. "Torture is of course fruitless, but particularly so against beings so inured to suffering. And appeals to better nature? Hardly."

She stops in front of the ice devil now. "But there is perhaps something you'll admit to. Who is your superior, devil? Who will punish you for speaking to me? Who will seek my death for interfering with his plans?"

[Anastasia]

Just hoping he'll spill it like that?

[Ebiris]

It's worth a shot, I have a plan beyond that but him naming his boss would make things neater.

Although I'll take 10 on 49 for planes for names of particular devils that might want to spy on the padisha, and pit fiends in their service.

[Anastasia]

The devil naturally doesn't reply.

Hoo boy, that's a complex one for Afina. There's a few angles that this could come from. For the rank and file, there's the Dark Ministry and the Denomination of Immortal Diplomacy. Put simply, they're the devils who deal with unofficial diplomacy (and occasionally official) with various immortal powers who are neutral or opposed to Hell. Most likely this would be the business of one general or another in Hell's machinery there. Unfortunately that's lots of known possibilities and probably just as many unknown ones.

Further, the acts and arms of various high nobles and peerages of Hell could be involved. It's known Levistus has a natural interest in water, while Mephisto also has some interests there. Not to mention various lesser nobles that may be acting for them or their own interests.

In other words, you need a lot more to narrow it down.

[Ebiris]

"No?" Afina shrugs and turns to her audience. "Sometimes they like to brag about how Zquumaj or whoever will punish you horribly for your interference," she explains. "As I said, the most efficient way is to simply take what you want from the creature's brain with magic, but I understand if that lacks the necessary spectacle." She turns back to the Padisha, "Parent of the Waves, if you will allow me a half hour to make preparations, I believe I can make the process of inquisition sufficiently entertaining."

[Anastasia]

"Of course," The Padisha says, "If you need assistance, you merely need to ask."

[Ebiris]

"If it behoves the Pearl of the Sea, a twenty foot wide air bubble over the sand here would be ideal," Afina asks, that saving her a bit of effort. Once that's done she proceeds to draw a magic circle against evil calling diagram in the sand, only taking a few seconds for her level of skill.

DC is 20 for this, it takes longer if you take 10 or 20 but I hardly need to do that. The roll is made secretly, so my mod is +41 if it matters.

Once that's done she proceeds to perform a greater planar binding spell to call forth a pit fiend. Going by names she's seen in various interrogations back in Aurora she elects to choose one mentioned as holding high office in the Dark Ministry.

I assume between interrogation reports and planar knowledge I can pluck a name fitting my requirements from that. Using empower spell so will DC of 34 to resist being called. I'll infuse a spell empowered dimensional anchor into the calling diagram the round before he's summoned. 10 minute casting time, hence why I asked for time to prepare since this may take a couple tries.

[Anastasia]

No problem.

> roll 1d20+25
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 26 > [d20=1]

Amazingly, it works the first time. Fire fills the open air as a pit fiend appears, clad in glimmering chains of magic as you bind it into the circle. It roars - a sounds that curdles the water all around the sphere - and glares at you with absolute hate.

[Ebiris]

"Ah, how fortuitous. The calling went easier than expected," Afina says happily, bowing to the Padisha. "I needn't tarry at your pleasure any longer, Princess of Coral."

"Hello, Duruzel," she then greets the pit fiend in Infernal, floating in the water just outside his summoning circle. "I have summoned you here for a simple purpose. This lowly gelugon," she indicates the ice devil, "Was found spying in the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls. Your role is simply to exercise your authority over it so that any questions as to its purpose may be answered. As immortal diplomacy is one of your principal functions, I hardly think we need to barter for this service."

Opposed charisma checks here, with a bonus of +0 to +6 depending on bribes. Since I offered none, that doesn't really apply!
[20:47] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15+25 opposed charisma moment of prescience
[20:47] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 51 > [d20=11]