The Cauldron Rises

[Corwin]

It'll take some serious magic to overcome Seira's protections and be overheard, but she doesn't mind acquiescing to the request.

"Sure, that sounds lovely!" she chirps.

[Anastasia]

Cool. Go ahead and set up where you take her, for the sake of world building and all that.

[Corwin]

The pretzels at Waukeen's chosen place are indeed lovely, though as a local of the Cauldron Seira's harder to impress. No confections will surpass her gingerbread palace, after all!

They make their way through the bustling marketplace, nibbling on the pretzels, with Seira relying on the powers of the Veil while passing through a narrow alleyway to become just another half-elf that looks distantly related to her true self. Their path seems utterly random, until Seira pulls them into a hole in the wall place connecting the present terrace with one below it through a winding stairway. Seira takes the lead, passing through gently-glowing corals growing in the outer walls and flicks a nail against one to a cheerful ringing sound. The inner pillar around which the path winds is porous, and in the many alcoves are arrangements of raw fish, seafood, vegetables wrapped in sticky, cooked rice.

"We're alone here right now," Seira says, relying on her superior senses to ensure that. "Not many know about this place, since it wouldn't work so well if it were crowded. I seeded the realm with several, and then Sanzha thought it was interesting and it sort of snowballed from there."

[Anastasia]

"Food, always an amusing decoration," Waukeen, "It's lovely, Seira dear." She nibbles on her roll daintily before going on, "I've heard that Lixer's agents and merchants are quietly buying up the market on black oynx and other reagents related to necromancy. Hardly surprising on the surface, but I've normally seen few signs of him needing to pursue outside sources of them so vigorously. He's likely overextended his supplies somewhat and needs to restock swiftly."

[Corwin]

"It's an infinite plane with infinite dead devils to raise," Seira agrees, licking her fingers clean. "Is there an opportunity to get smuggled in with one of the shipments? Perhaps accurate information about the defenses and layout from those who recently went through Lixer's new place?"

[Anastasia]

"If a person is capable of avoiding Lixer's searches and magical sweeps," Waukeen says, "He takes trade security seriously." A few more nibbles and her roll is gone, then she sits back on the air itself, ignoring gravity completely. "Foreign merchants aren't allowed inside. He pays a little extra for the slight, so few care."

[Corwin]

"I could devise a spell. Maybe a thirteenth circle Veil that fools true seeing?"

[Anastasia]

A gesture at that, "A good way to start," Waukeen says, "Seira dear, keep on doing that, just make sure you're ready. Are you going to be doing this alone or with your friend Alicia?"

[Corwin]

"Alicia's in," Seira responds. "More help is welcome, of course."

[Anastasia]

"Oh dearie, you are up to all sorts of mischief," Waukeen smiles, "I may send direct aid. When are you doing this?"

[Corwin]

"We'll have a date as soon as I confer with Alicia. We're on the same side, but we don't have the same resources and contacts, after all. But it has to be soon, since Lixer's grasp on Avernus will only grow with time."

[Anastasia]

"Let me see who I have available," Waukeen says, "An avatar's out of the question for political reasons. A proxy's possible with the right setup, but both of my war-like proxies are previously engaged." She hums to herself, half closing her eyes as she thinks. "Some stealth is required, so that rules out the typical idea of throwing solars at the problem. Lovely servants, but so rarely subtle."

[Corwin]

"I don't know," Seira muses, grinning at her. "An avatar could be a bold political statement~"

[Anastasia]

"Too bold," Waukeen shakes her head, "You could probably talk Sulia dear into it, she's rather cross with Lixer right now. Some of his minions raided an order of knights that serve her, it was only stopped because one of her proxies just happened to be visiting the area."

[Corwin]

"I'll look into it," Seira promises. "And once we have a date in mind, we could look into the routes we could take based on Lixer's scheduled onyx trade. That should be long enough to find a decently sneaky proxy, too. Does that sound right?"