Miasma (Moore, 86 days left)

[Corwin]

"Indeed, I serve the Triune," Jaela responds without hesitation. "I trust in her when I execute her will, and I am willing to risk myself in the course of my service. That much is a given. However, if your question is whether I expect the Triune to rescue me in the case of an unfavorable judgement, that would be wrong. The Triune would understand my choice and why I've made it. She will not intervene in this matter, and I never counted on that."

[Anastasia]

The unnamed caliph eyes you long a that, studying you openly.

Caliph Hamadan speaks after your words, "You. Even if Hell chooses to break a rule, why should we? Are you conceding that law is meaningless? We allowed Westwind's situation to stand before, and would allow it again were he bound to Hiwa and Hiya a second time."

[Nephrite]

"I do not mean to saw that laws and rules are meaningless." Moore says with a small smile. "Only that there is wisdom in understanding when they should be applied and when one should be given pause on them. In that I think I disagree with my companion, but I would not say her way of thinking is wrong, either." Moore says. He does take a moment to collect himself as well before he says something else.


"However, what I would say is that the level to which Hell is going in breaking the rules set forth in Creation itself need to be responded to. If they are playing with a completely different set than everyone else, it does us no good to allow that. I think laws, much like faith, should be used to guide people into being better. Most hope that punishment is used to rehabilitate someone -- to understand what they did was wrong and how to better themselves. If it is the judgement of the Whirlwind Throne to punish Prince Westwind for his actions, although I would personally disagree, I would not spit in the wind to curse your name for deciding as such. I would just say that this is a unique situation that deserves further understanding due to the time we find ourselves in." Moore concludes.

[Anastasia]

Caliph Hamadan is silent after Moore's words, his gaze swinging to Afina.

"You speak of recompense. What recompense could you offer to make this wrong acceptable, in your mind? What wondrous thing from your forges would suffice, artificer? Is that not what you mean, for you forge as surely as Samem of the Gale or Kassim of the Honored Flame."

[Ebiris]

"What do you want?" Afina replies. "A weapon to split the screaming Earth in two? A shield of Air impermeable to all attacks? An eternal unfeeling guardian of peerless elemental might?" she lists a few possibilities before shaking her head. Offering a golem to replace the guardian Ithea killed so as to placate Sunnis was one thing, but she doesn't see tangible gifts as being truly relevant here.

"None of those fit the crime, do they? If Westwind broke a window, or a vase, I could well replace them. But broken pacts are not so easily made up for. As my fellow general has done, permit me to speak of my own experiences. Facing death in Magmasoul with our Crusade incomplete, I violated what it means to be a fey. I willingly transformed myself into an eternal outsider, rather than allowing myself to die and reincarnate as is proper. I would have gladly borne any punishment from her Majesty Titania for that transgression. Because all things have a price - Queen Titania has only recently made that price clear to me, and I have accepted it. And so my unique status has become something that her Majesty can use to further her own goals, even if I deviated from what was expected of me.

"So too then must Westwind pay a price. My knowledge of the djinn and their pacts is not so great that I can accurately say what he should pay - that is a decision for his peers and Whirlwind Throne to make. But I believe he is a man who understands what is expected of him, and will bear any punishment with the grace of a noble. As his comrade in arms I can only ask that you be flexible and not unyielding in this. Find a price that exalts djinn-kind rather than a punishment that debases this one man."

[Anastasia]

There is a long, thoughtful pause at all of this. As there is...

Go ahead and throw in your own diplo check, fearsome AFINA.

[Ebiris]

[14:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+27 diplo
[14:33] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 38 > [d20=11]

[Anastasia]

A third Grand Caliph advances. This one is muscular and well built, bald and without facial hair. His steps shake the airy ground as he says, "You support your comrade without reservations, ladies? Without fear, without hesitation? Remarkable. Yet, can you withstand this? It is time, oh Whirlwind Throne."

A sudden pulse of overwhelming power is felt. The presence of the Whirlwind Throne and the one on it is overwhelming, choking. You can't think, you can't breathe, you can't do anything but feel it, minds reeling back.

Will saves, all.

[Ebiris]

[17:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+26 will
[17:53] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 44 > [d20=18]

[Corwin]

[19:55] <@Louise> roll 1d20+36
[19:55] <Serith> Louise roll for Serith < 45 > [d20=9]

-8 without Divine Grace, so 37

[Nephrite]

[12:59] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+25
[12:59] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 40 > [d20=15]

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20 vs Finnegan, will do the math if it's close or a good roll
<Serith> EARLYXORNING roll for Serith < 10 > [d20=10]
> OOC: Westwind's specifically excluded from this, so no roll for him.

The aura is overwhelming, intense. Pure intensity, pure spirit - but somehow the three of you endure. You see Finnegan stumble back and go reeling, but the three of you somehow function despite every moment being consumed by a knowledge of the entity before you. His presence is everything here, so massive as to overshadow you as a mountain overshadows a flea.

Yet you stand firm.

The muscled caliph laughs long at this, "Splendid. Nothing is done without strength, good or bad. Your wills are remarkably strong, this is not empty bravado to dare to stand before us and demand we excuse Westwind's great failure. I am the Grand Caliph of the Citadel of Ice and Steel, the right hand of the Whirlwind Throne. I am he who has stood in the fiercest tornado and stayed unbowed. I am he who erodes even the hardest earth into dust. I am the first djinn to serve the Whirlwind Throne. I am older than your minds can comprehend, for I have seen everything in this Creation. I am he who stood before Ogremoch and told him to move - and he moved."

Each boast has him take a step forward, until he stands before all of you. "I am the Grand Caliph Arsama. Which of you is brave enough to face me in single combat? Which of you will have your skull crushed beneath my hands?"

[Corwin]

Jaela cracks a grin, stepping forward to close the distance still remaining between them. "I had a really nice speech about making my challenger understand what it is like to face hordes of Nessians and Lixer himself, but that's probably small change for you, Grand Caliph Arsama. So without any boasting, I am Jaela of Aurora, and I shall be your opponent." It might look impressive to end on that, but she opts for efficiency and asks, "What are the rules of single combat before the Whirlwind Throne?"

[Anastasia]

"Anything you can manage in this anti magic," The Grand Caliph says. He is indeed bald, but looks no older than 30 human years. He is strong, muscular. His entire body is broad and vast, yet not an ounce of fat can be seen on his bare chest. He wears black pants and jewelry, like a wind carrying along all the treasures of the earth. "Make peace with your Triune, for I will send your soul to her."

The other grand caliphs step back and out of the way of the coming confrontation.

[Ebiris]

"You expect her to fight without even a weapon in her hand, while barring any magic?" Afina speaks up, because this just seems absurd to her. What does it prove? How does it relate to Westwind's breaking of his pacts?