Cauldron Festival

[Corwin]

Seira nods gratefully. "Thanks. Having more won't hurt, either. Lumenbur is doing a lot of liaising work on this, actually." At the mention of programmed slaves, she purses her lips. "What measures have you tried to deal with such magical programming? How about antimagic?"

[Anastasia]

"Antimagic usually works, but it just suppresses it, and if done properly, they don't realize it," Zaaman Rul says, "There's an entire industry around slave control, some of the methods are insidious. Programmed suggestions and triggers, so that when conditions are filled it happens and changes them. What's worse at the ones secretly loyal, and smart and good enough to fool our frontliners and send word back. We've lost entire rings to that."

Here the Prince of Elemental Good stands, a sweep of his hands, "We can't reliably stop our escape routes from being stopped, so we move them, alter them. The efreet do their best to counter them and eliminate agents. What's worse is that we need sympathetic people inside, and when they're caught, we lose a valuable resource. If we're lucky they flee here for sanctuary, knowing they're to face the headsman's scimitar otherwise."

[Corwin]

"I understand. I'm not looking for some quick fix, either. I do plan, however, to become more involved and I've got more resources these days. At the end of the day, a minority of efreet have actually built their lives around reliance on slaves. Most could make the transition to paid servants fairly painlessly, especially when the alternative would be an effective embargo or high tariffs and taxes on goods. But I'd need to encourage them properly. I believe it all hinges on whether I'll be able to deal with Bin Faheem, and whether economic pressure will do its job."

[Anastasia]

"Then problem is that it's well off and rich efreet who do, who hold all the power. If a common efreet is too poor to own a slave, they're too poor to affect policy," Zaaman Rul says. "Make it expensive more than anything else. Make them lament the coin they're losing." A smile comes at that, "Make the greedy bastards hurt for what they've done."

[Corwin]

"And do it gradually enough they don't rebel, thoroughly enough they don't have another recourse," Seira continues. "I think that should work, and those who are the worst of the lot are a finite amount. If they refuse to change, we'll take them off the board entirely. Which does bring me back to my original question of whether you had an idea where we could catch Akil bin Faheem outside the City of Brass."

[Anastasia]

"Let me wait for my report, because it should concern him in part," Zaaman Rul says, "He's slippery, tricky and strong. I'll not give you possibly outdated information when new information is coming."

> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=72 ]{72}

!

Yegola leaps up over a swipe from the dragon, bringing his blade down like a saw. It severs the entire claw off, the dragon bellowing in pain, as Yegola advances in. He's winning!

[Corwin]

Seira keeps her attention on any signs of cheating from Shar, even as she cheers on her champion! Privately, lest he be distracted. There's a time and place for everything, after all.

"Of course," she voices in response to Zaaman Rul.

[Anastasia]

"When?" Oraga rumbles.

"Soon," Zaaman Rul says, then smiles, "Is now soon enough?"

A figure walks through the flames -an efreet. He wears a vest, white pants and is bare headed. He kneels before Zaaman Rul, "My master," he intones. He is broad, a bit short, but pure muscle. Not a hint of weakness on him, a hard, unyielding face.

"Rise, we have questions of you," Zaaman Rul smiles, "Welcome back. Rest." A chair appears, to which the efreet shakes his head.

"I am not weary. There is still much to do."

[Corwin]

That is a sad state of affairs given their enemies are legion, Seira muses. "Conserving your strength is a good thing from a tactical perspective," she notes. "Resting while we can sometimes lets us fight a little bit harder during the times we must do so."

[Anastasia]

A pause at that and the efreet sits. "Princess," he nods to you, "Not all of our kin agree with the dark pacts and infernal slavery our race practices."

"To which we are grateful," Zaaman Rul says, "Tell us, what is going in court? What prompted a private meeting of court?"

"The Aurora did," The efreet says, curtly. "One of Aurora's officers have struck against the slave operations of the efreet, again. Jaela did some time ago, and now Moore has. The Grand Sultan does not intend to take this lightly, something Baatorian diplomats are all for supporting. The devils were surprisingly generous with offers of support as well, they make no bones about wishing to smother every last spark of Aurora. Additionally...the Nemesis of the Heavens was in attendance, my liege."

"Eblis?" Zaaman Rul's attention becomes sharper, hotter, a palpable thing. "Why was he attending court?"

"I know not," The efreet says, taking a long breath out, "The Grand Sultan had to invite him, though it is not unheard of him to see court when he visits, as you know, my liege."

"Was anyone else notable attending?" Zaaman Rul says, "Any other diplomats or people who shouldn't be there?" He gestures sharply, waving him along, "What else, Atesh?"

"The entire diplomatic corps of Baator was in attendance, including Imperial Ambassador Hasalur. He was unusually assertive, he's largely maintained the status quo since recently obtaining the position." Jann grunts after it, "His masters want Aurora crushed. The Firelord had a delegation in attendance, though they did not participate beyond court courtesies. The Dao High Faris was in attendance and supported the action, though more guardedly. A tyrant of Bane was there as an observer for reasons unknown, along with a dark...thing that watched with the Sultan's blessing. Human in shape, but not. We were forbidden from addressing it by the Sultan's decree, and it never spoke."

[Corwin]

"The dao?" Seira asks in surprise. "I know they've been having their own problems with the xorn--" She pauses, glancing at Atesh. "Actually, is there often a dao representative at the Court, or is it as rare for them as it is for Eblis?"

[Anastasia]

"They keep some relations, they are not the marid or djinn," Atesh replies, then glances at Zaaman Rul.

"I trust Seira. Speak to her in confidence," Zaaman Rul commands, "She is a bright flame."

"There's an official ambassadorship, but they're not too involved with the court beyond functions. Dao and efreeti relations are long established by ancient rules. It's unusual, but not unheard of. Most diplomacy between the two take place on higher levels. The High Faris is currently Ataman, a stodgy and traditional fellow. Unbending, though strong and intelligent." Atesh explains.

[Corwin]

Seira nods slowly. "I see. It makes sense, looking at things like that. Back to the events of the private meeting, it seems as if devils will be appearing more frequently on Fire? Is the Sultan alright with this?"

It also means that her plan to eliminate the diplomatic link between the efreet and the devils is even more important, now.

[Anastasia]

"It's hardly unusual, but they'll be aiding them more against Aurora for certain. They have common cause now," Atesh exhales, "I hope they're as powerful as the stories make them out to be. Regardless, the Sultan has no problem, they've cooperated for far too long for that to be a problem - and devils that step out of line are properly punished. Death or worse if you overplay your position as a diplomat or attache is a known risk of taking this posting."

Zaaman Rul adds in here, "The Treaty of Flamesky is ancient. They know the game and the limits. Not that it can't be used to a better end, a few nudges in the right ways and a devil suddenly seems guilty of crimes against the Grand Sultan."

[Corwin]

"From my understanding, Akil bin Faheem tends to get the better of any recent deals with devils due to his counterpart still learning the ropes?"