The Cauldron Rises

[Anastasia]

Amaryl hums at that, "Really?" She smiles a bit, "Well, Seira and I are usually in telepathic contact and..." A blush follows, demure.

"Ah! What about business! Avernus! Bel! Lixeerrrrr!" Kascha blurts out.

[Ebiris]

"I do it on rotation," Alicia answers on more serious topics. "Jessica got to be my proxy recently so she could visit Balmuria and check in on things there," she gestures at her sister. "Since I can only have one I just hold it in reserve and then give it to someone who needs to visit a prime so they can do so without causing disruption. Once I can make more I might pick some to have the role permanently, but it's floating for now."

[Corwin]

Seira nods thoughtfully at the answer. Then, to spare Kascha from further embarrassment, she says, "Alright. To business, then. I'll start with what I know. Donald successfully visited Avernus, so we know a bit about the conditions there. And Waukeen paid me a visit earlier, so we know Lixer is buying onyx in massive quantities and paying extra to keep the merchants from getting too close. This should be enough to chart a path for us, and possibly sneak into Lixer's place for Zariel, on top of letting us know Lixer seems over-extended at the moment, but won't be for much longer."

She pauses to take a sip from her tea, before continuing. "Waukeen will offer assistance. She doesn't want to send an avatar, so I asked for aid in infiltration and stealth. She did, however, suggest that Sulia would be willing to go all in with us. You know her best, so what do you think, Alicia?"

[Ebiris]

Alicia puts her teacup down now as she focuses on the matter at hand. "Sulia is a good catch, Syala mentioned Lixer's forces had overextended themselves onto a world she has interests in and only got stopped because one of her proxies was close at hand, I don't think she's pleased with him at all. As for what else I've learned? The Bronze Citadel - Noir Jardin now, by the way, is cloaked in unholy power that protects the undead from positive energy, bolsters their power, and revives them if they fall. Also fallen demons on Avernus have been rising as spirits that fight for the devils. And no one quite knows just what became of Bel - Marie suggested this might all be a con job and Bel's still there in the shadows helping Lixer rule publicly until something else happens. We'll know more on that if and when we find Zariel, I suspect."

She pauses to drink her tea a bit, "I was thinking we'd keep this fairly straightforward. Lixer's defences are going to be untested, and he can't rely on Bel's when every devil that fled the coup is going to be selling knowledge for a chance of survival. In essence I'll attack Avernus to draw Lixer out and keep him busy, while you infiltrate his castle and get Zariel out. Jessica's skills would help a lot on that side of it."

[Anastasia]

"...I see one flaw in the logic," Amaryl finally speaks up. "Are we certain Zariel is still underneath Noir Jardin?" She puts her teacup down, "Why wouldn't Lixer move her if he's going to be seen as vulnerable?"

[Corwin]

"Donald will be an asset for you there," Seira agrees. "Waukeen's proxy to round out my team, perhaps, and Sulia to join your own? And come to think of it, this might be the right situation to bring my avatar along with me...."

At Amaryl's question, Seira shrugs. "We don't have absolute proof she was ever there. However, it would make sense that the plane's past rulers would be kept imprisoned close by, which suggests the seat of power. Since Lixer and Bel's movements are occluded even for more established deities like Waukeen, we don't have any way of telling without going to take a look for ourselves. Do you disagree?"

[Anastasia]

"We may have to face Lixer's proxies," Amaryl points out, "As well as his avatars. I doubt we'll see the real thing, with how Aurora reported his behavior." She sits back and exhales, "I..." she pauses a moment, hesitates before pushing on. "Do we have secondary objectives if Zariel isn't there, beyond throwing twigs in Lixer's face?"

"I don't think Lixer is really a coward," Kascha's quieter when she speaks up now, still blushing a bit. "Um, a lot of Aurora's command thinks he's one, but..." Trailing off on that, pausing for a bit more tea, smiling now, "I remember some of my lessons before I died. Wizards aren't meant to be on the front line when they can help it." Quickly blushing again and clearing her throat, "Present company excepted, of course. He's not going to give us the chance because he understands he's not a brawny warrior or a beautiful duelist. We shouldn't count on meeting him, but I think it's a tactical choice rather than a personal failing."

Gently smiling now, Amaryl pats Kascha's hand and holds it with both of hers a moment, "I didn't say he's a coward, but your point about understanding his motives is well taken. The wise trees sway with the wind, rather than facing it head on."

"So he'll pelt us with necromantic and evil spells through avatars instead," Jessica says, "If he chooses to get involved, he'll have a mobility advantage we can't beat. He'll be able to teleport, we won't." Exhaling once and resting back in her chair, wings wrapping around herself like a warm cloak, "I think you're right and we'll have to sneak in, do the job head on. Try not to resort to open combat and being detected until we have to. Let's remember this should be at least in part a stealth mission, unless we want to take on a few armies."

[Corwin]

"I can only see three benefits, here," Seira comments. "Breaking Zariel free is the main one. Then, we get to make him look weak, which should cause more instability in Avernus and might well get Zguujaj moving on it once more. Finally, we could gain the advantage of learning more about what happened with Bel. The thing is, if we don't act to try and find Zariel now, we might as well give up. A better opportunity won't come knocking, and I don't see a way of improving our chances."

[Anastasia]

"You're right, of course," Kascha agrees, "But Amaryl's point bothers me. Why wouldn't Lixer move a high priority target. He has a home on Nessus? If I were him, I'd move her there and let a hundred Nessians guard her." Sitting back, watching her ioun stone move around her head like a comet and its many trailing lesser comets, "I hate to think we've already failed our main objective."

"The only thing worse than devils are the mind games they provoke," Jessica says, rather firmly. "Have a secondary goal or two if all else fails, but don't let those mental contortions stop you."

[Corwin]

"That's broken logic," Seira disagrees, shaking her head. "Who cares if he has a summer home elsewhere? The Nine Hells purport to be a rigid dictatorship with the Lord of the Ninth as the undisputed top. Nessus is certainly defended better than the other layers. So by that reasoning, shouldn't Hell have all its high-value prisoners at Nessus? And yet, we know this isn't true. So what makes Lixer the exception? I guarantee you that Daddy doesn't love Lixer any more than he cares for the other Lords, and Lixer knows that."

[Anastasia]

"Daddy also doesn't want Lixer to fail," Kascha says, "But...Empress Sulia will be going as well, you mentioned?"

[Ebiris]

"Unfortunately a lot of what we have to work on is supposition," Alicia admits. "But the geomantic setup for containing Zariel and drawing out her power for Avernus isn't something they can easily move without sacrificing the power she offers, which I don't think Lixer would want. Not to mention... it makes him look weak, doesn't it? Noir Jardin is his brand new seat of power, his statement of stepping onto the big stage. Would his pride let him shelter his important things elsewhere and give Glasya more to mock him over?"

[Corwin]

"That's another good point. Can he even afford to move Zariel to begin with?"

[Anastasia]

"Ego matters," Amaryl agrees, "When will we be striking, precisely?"

[Corwin]

"As soon as we can go have a chat with Sulia and secure her aid, I figure? I'll need time to consider new stealth spells, so I'm fine with going tomorrow."