A Return

[Corwin]

Seira sighs, deciding that this conversation could do with more wine. And it wasn't even one she had intended to bring up, but they're all in now.

"I can see where you're coming from, but maybe enabling our teenage daughter in making a dumb mistake was the wrong move? We spent much of today fighting Shar, and Alicia did it even more, so just as Amaryl was wondering whether Shar had another plan we learn to our surprise that Emily isn't where she is supposed to be, but instead exploring some Prime on her own that Shar's got her eyes on. To our luck, nothing happened on that front. I guess even Shar can't be everywhere, all past evidence to the contrary."

She doesn't feel right only chiding her biggest supporter along the divine, especially one who was trying to do a nice thing for their family. "If it were me, I'd charge her with retrieving a priceless, ancient artifact. Something equal in worth to this or 21. Give her a few hints, and send her on her way?"

[Anastasia]

Waukeen waves a hand, "I didn't think she'd break the damn ring," she sighs, rubbing her forehead, a little shot glass of fine booze in her hand. She shoots it down before going on. "It was an artifact and it could only be destroyed by putting in the core of a dying world and then slaying it. Perhaps that was Shar's game, but I don't see why or how. I don't even blame Emily that much, it's simply unthinkable, as is the money I'm going to lose for not being able to rent it out any more."

Sitting back after as you enjoy some wine yourself, "She'll have something to do from it, as will the wizard she's latched onto for who knows what reason. I thought she'd make a simple dalliance, I'd watch her as I watched the ring and she'd get out of her system safely and could be lectured at leisure when she gets home. Besides, I'm supposed to spoil my nieces."

[Corwin]

"Fair," Seira concedes, raising her glass in salute before downing the shot. More is poured for her through her control over magic, though she makes an effort to refill Waukeen and Amaryl's glasses herself. "I did think that she might've been sneaking off to meet someone on the Inner Planes, so it's not that big a leap. That wizard better not jerk her around, though, or there will be fire and unicorns!"

[Anastasia]

"That there will be," Amaryl promises, drinking as well.

A pause for everyone to drink, "What I want to know is how they broke that damn ring, and how I can copy it." Waukeen adds. "I have them presenting themselves to an avatar, hopefully shortly."

[Corwin]

"Toss any knowledge about that my way, and I'll see if I can stealthily help Emily on the quest you'll send her on? Assuming you're taking my advice there, anyway. As for that wizard, Elle and Sanzha's information makes me think she's the one that might've had an encounter with Io, and there's only so many possibilities to begin with. Maybe it's all his fault somehow. Celestia was certainly up in arms about his supposed sighting. Perhaps you could confirm it one way or the other?"

[Anastasia]

"I cer-" Waukeen stops you cold and says, "What, did you say IO?!"

Amaryl nods, "She did, Io. The Father of Dragons, right?"

[Corwin]

"It's only a rumor at this point," Seira stresses. "But the name carries a lot of weight. From what I got off my contacts in Celestia, the wizard seems like a good candidate. I was actually going to look into this myself soon enough, before the present situation muddied the waters. I'm no longer sure I even want to make contact, so I might just have to rely on you, here."

That level of surprise, however.... "Io is not a facet of one of the Incarnations, is he? I thought it possible, with the name and what we know of the mythology... actually, could you tell us what you knew of him, from before?"

[Anastasia]

"No, no," Waukeen says, calming quickly. Breathing out, "He's the Father of Dragons. He's to the dragons as the Elf Father is to the elves or Moradin to the dwarves. He disappeared a long time ago and from what I gather, left commands for Bahamut and Tiamat. Aurora ran afoul of that, as I recall hearing. Anyway, I always imagined he spent too long studying himself and draconic perfection and lost track of time forever. He was always studious."

[Corwin]

"His kids are terrible but he sounds pretty nice," Seira muses. "Anything you could tell me of his old haunts? Likes and dislikes? Good ways to approach him?"

[Anastasia]

"Oh, give Bahamut a chance. He's a little stuffy and sometimes terrifying in that way only dragons can be, but he has a noble heart." Waukeen says, "Also one that appreciates the value of gold. I've made good money bartering with him before."

From there, "Io used to have a divine realm that traveled the planes, essentially a highly improved demiplane. He usually visited various dragons and kept himself out of local politics. A little like Aurora, I always wondered if Medi got inspiration from it from Io's divine realm."

[Corwin]

"Is the realm itself lost? Could I go there?" Seira inquires, perking up. Taking inspiration from it wouldn't be a bad thing, given what she heard from Kascha about Aurora. "Do any records exist that you could toss my way for my own improvements based on it?"

[Anastasia]

"It vanished with Io," Waukeen says, "Nothing concrete, he always hoarded his secrets."

[Corwin]

Seira breathes out a mou of disappointment.

"I suppose we'll know soon enough," she says, nibbling on a pear. "In the meanwhile, would you like to hear about my goals for the Inner Planes?"

[Anastasia]

"By all means, dear!" Waukeen says.

Go ahead and elaborate as you like here, Seira.

[Corwin]

"Donald's discovered during his tour of the Inner Planes that the xorn of Earth appear to be gathering under some Great Xorn figure, planning to free their brethren from dao slavery," Seira says, discarding the pear's core in her plate. "Meanwhile, over on Fire, Akil bin Faheem has fallen out of favor with the other efreet nobles."

She steeples her arms on the table, leaning forward. "I see it as an opportunity, Waukeen. Air and Water have no use for slavery, while supporting the Great Xorn should allow us to push back against the dao slavers. As for Fire, I intend to take action and slay Akil bin Faheem openly, and tell the efreet exactly why it came to pass. If we prepare the ground properly, we could usher in an era of emancipation across the Inner Planes!"