Zariel

[Ebiris]

"My name is Alicia," she speaks now. "Seira and I are from Daa-vid's world. We were originally tasked with his judgement, before we ascended to divinity. That task must now go to other hands, but we heard of your tale. Of being enchanted by Daa-vid into striking Torm, and being banished to Hell for it. It never seemed just."

[Anastasia]

"It was a travesty," Zariel intones, staying where she is, lying back against the tree. "It is a mockery, and not once will I accept it." Sitting up against her tree now, "Cast Torm down, let him burn in whatever inferno claims him. Let all who stood with him suffer and burn. If the Heavens have such a one, then cast them all down!"

"No." Antenora says that single word, "I am Antenora, servant of Alicia and ascended. I was once Della the Bloodflier and you are a fool, Zariel." Her gaze meets Zariel's, "Forgiveness is what separates us," a gestures at everyone, "From being no better than you. Is that your flaw, fallen? Can you not find it in you to forgive thanks to what that gnome did to you? Can you not forgive yourself and forgive the Heavens for his wickedness?"

"Would you return to suffering? I am Empress Sulia and I know much of suffering, of martyrdom, of pain and misery. Would you doom yourself to an eternity of self destruction?" Empress Sulia asks.

[Ebiris]

"I feel Torm was in the wrong," Alicia says. "You were not in control of your actions, there is no need for punishment when one is turned into the mindless weapon of another's will. But does that justify bending knee to Asmodeus in turn? There is much we still don't know Zariel, but that Daa-vid and Hell had pacts, and he could have offered you up as a servant to Hell while still under his control is a theory I had. Why did you become the Lord of Avernus?" she asks it directly.

[Anastasia]

Tell them. Let not the wound fester any more, Zariel.

The light of Chronias shines brighter, illuminating the forest. Zariel glares at Alicia at her words, "Better to serve and get revenge, to show them what they deserve.  Everything Torm did, his anger and his madness...let it rot! Let it rot as his child rots in Dis! I deserved better!"

"So you did, my poor child," Ilmater's flesh cracks, blood seeping silently from a hundred bladed wounds (war sweeps forth, the regiment slicing the undying again and again, as their blades crumble away). "But it was not by that coin alone that you purchased your seat in Hell."

[Corwin]

Setting aside the mention of a child in Dis alone until a better time, Seira notes, "It's not like your only choices were to bend knee to Asmodeus and do nothing. We've managed well enough striking out on our own, and I don't doubt you could have as well. So why choose it? And like Ilmater asked, what did you end up giving him? You can't possibly feel any lingering loyalty to him, not after the way you were treated in Hell."

[Anastasia]

"He told me I was wronged! He was the one who agreed with  me, gave me so much! He valued me, unlike Torm," Zariel snaps, eyes ablaze. Literally so, flames dancing within. "He understood! He showed me an alternative to the House of the Triad and Celestia, one disciplined, one that means something.  He cared!" Those final words are virtually spat out, "Unlike Torm, who rages meaninglessly in the Abyss now! He cared! He came to me, unlike you!" Her gaze is on Ilmater, spitting at him, burning his cheek as he does not react.

"Zariel," Ilmater says, "You chose to turn away from us. As we cast out Torm, we would be willing to restore you. Yet you chose Asmodeus and Hell. Our light and forgiveness cannot reach someone who chooses to embrace the darkness of Hell." His voice is heavy, sad. "One lost in pain and pride, unwilling to accept the betrayal that so clearly still wounds you."

"You don't care!" Zariel growls, "LIAR!"

[Ebiris]

"Enough of this petulance," Alicia says disgustedly. "Seira, Sulia, and I braved Hell, we fought past Asmodeus's children and sacked the Bronze Citadel to liberate you. Don't say that we don't care - we who have never even met you risked so much. I don't expect you to bow down in thanks, but don't say to our faces that we don't care. Even Ilmater worked to restore you to health just now. Respect that, even if you don't appreciate it."

[Corwin]

"He understood, alright -- how to manipulate you, while you were at your most vulnerable! Even if you ignore your entire upbringing, did your time in Hell teach you nothing? Do you still think Asmodeus cared, even as he let you be taken by Bel? Nothing there happens without his say so, and all plots go back to him. Bel, too, was betrayed, same as you were, this time to make a suitable spot for his son, Lixer. So he cared for you? Asmodeus? Is he capable of caring, you think?"

Seira scoffs, shaking her head. "We cared! Enough to take on Avernus, enough to go there and bring you back. We came, and this time we actually got you out of a terrible situation without swapping it for another or for a set of chains. If that's the only way you listen to others anymore, haven't we earned the right for a proper talk of our own? If you're open to alternatives, how about listening to another, one that this time doesn't need you as a sacrifice?"

[Anastasia]

Let me get Diplo checks out of both of you, +7 bonuses. You both said the right things, just want to see how effective the words were.

[Ebiris]

[18:24] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+59
[18:24] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+59 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{71}

[Corwin]

20:24 <Lucille> roll 1d20+52+4+7
20:24 <Kobot> Lucille rolled 1d20+52+4+7 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{72}

[Anastasia]

Zariel glares at both of you, anger coming off her in palpable waves. Yet she slowly calms, "...damn you," she whispers. "Damn your logic."

"Logic is our greatest strength to see beyond pain and see the truth of things," Antenora smiles, "Is that not a lesson you have learned well, Zariel? That when the heart screams, the soul is a placid to weather the storm?"

Slowly, the fallen exhales, "...thank you," she finally says. "For saving me. At least someone finally did."

[Corwin]

"You're welcome," Seira responds, appearing unaffected by the fiery glare. "I'd like to believe that we've only started, though. And to get somewhere, we really do need to understand the circumstances of your pact with Asmodeus better. Just what did you offer to him to gain the position of Lord of the First?"

[Ebiris]

Alicia inclines her head at that thanks, her demeanour softening a little. "It was our pleasure, and I do mean that," she says, not asking anything further so Seira's question can be focused on.

[Anastasia]

"My service, my loyalty," Zariel says, "That was enough, that I forsook what I was and aligned with Baator."

"All he ever wants and the one thing you must never give him," Empress Sulia murmurs.