Crushed Slavers

[Corwin]

'Lodge a formal protest that Eblis's boys ambushed me while I was on personal business on Fire, and attacked with lethal intent,' Seira thinks to Sanzha, seeing a refuge in audacity as a valid tactic for dealing with the efreet. 'And furthermore, complain about some upstart who acted on his own and tried to prevent Amaryl and I from enjoying our quiet stroll while pretending to act on the Sultan's orders. Perhaps inquire if the Sultan would stand for such an insult were he to decide on a visit to the Cauldron?'

Responding to Elle, Seira says out loud, "We're bickering with the efreet at present, but time will tell how they decide to resolve this. There's plenty to lose if they cut all ties, especially given the pressure they're feeling from Aurora's expats and Celestia."

[Anastasia]

'It will be done,' Lady Sanzha sends back.

"Speaking of annoying things," Donald says, "I think Alicia's off on a quest right now, Sharrans. She has Emmaline, who I think one of us should meet, see if she has anything useful and establish us as friends. If she fully shakes off Shar's evil, she'll be a useful ally."

Elle's expression is cooler, "She has a lot to repent for if she followed Shar, mislead or not."

"So?" Donald shrugs, "Antenora had more as a fiend and look how that worked out. Dear, give her a chance."

'Oh dear, you may not want to go to the City of Brass. You're officially under arrest according to the efreet. Amid other threats.' Sanzha sends.

[Corwin]

'I am distinctly not arrested,' Seira sends to Sanzha.

"What about that Sharran Emily kicked over to us?"

[Anastasia]

"Slow going," Donald says, "He has a bunch of nasty traps in his mind, and we aren't sure if they're divinely provided or not. Divinations were murky, so we aren't just anti-magicing the problem away. It's all deep stuff when we tried to probe in depth. He should be done soon with the people I have on it, though."

'I noticed! I believe the efreet are not amused with me, because they contacted me directly. I've made a splash.'

At that moment, you feel it. Your connection with Sanzha grows stronger, felt vividly.

Node level up, go check it out.

Lady Sanzha: Item Strengthening (Padisha's Glory; enhancement bonus rises by 1 to +7 and extra damage 3/day rises by 1d6 to 3d6.)

[Corwin]

And so I did.

'Very nice! You're doing a great job, Sanzha. Now that we're had our fun, though, inquire in whatever roundabout way you can whether they've made their choice to make an enemy out of me over a disagreement with a few devils who aren't even the Sultan's subjects?'

"So our choices right now are seeing whether Alicia has a few Sharran leads to toss our way, or exploring Earth for exceptional xorns?" Seira muses out loud. "I don't want to make a fresh move on Fire until we weigh a few pros and cons there."

[Anastasia]

"It'll take a few days regardless," Donald stretches back.

Kascha rubs her restored arm slowly as she listens, "There's one thing I'm worried about. What if they attack the Cauldron directly? Are our defenses ready for that? At Aurora, we always had to worry if Hell would try something and they'd manage to break through. If they ever had, we may have lost completely."

[Corwin]

"If who attacks?"

[Anastasia]

"The efreet?" Kascha says slowly, "Since we attacked them?"

[Corwin]

"Our treasury will grow?" Seira muses. "There's always one of me in place, and it would take a rare efreet to match me. Since Cauldron defense takes priority, the rest of you will be recalled as needed. For a regular army, our own forces should be sufficient if I don't feel like taking to the field for some reason. So that leaves a powerful attack, such as enough of Eblis's kids or monsters like Akil bin Faheem. The Cauldron is dimensionally-locked, and unlike Aurora's shield it would take a deity to even try to override my will on this. I've played with space in the walls, so tunneling will be a slow and thankless job. Therefore, there are only two entry points - via the portal network, or through the main entrance." Seira thoughtfully rubs her chin, saying, "Let's see. The latter is guarded and located far enough from everything to allow us to respond to an attack in time, and the former are actually screened via intent. You can't use them while intending to cause us harm, so that limits those who could conceivably overcome this. And the portals are also guarded, of course. But, really, I just don't see the need for such escalation? Do the efreet really want me to make it my mission in life to travel across Fire meting out justice where I see fit?"

[Anastasia]

Kascha frowns, "I wouldn't think so, logically, but when has everyone always ran on cold logic? Besides the Inevitables."

"No, you're right," Donald agrees, "Which is why we have allies if someone seriously tries. It's the same reason we don't strike at the City of Brass: It's too dangerous to be done lightly. Besides, I'd totally kick the Sultan's ass."

[Corwin]

"To the best of my knowledge, of those who've made Fire their home only the original and current Sultans, Eblis and Kossuth could overwhelm our defenses single-handedly. So that's four people, one of whom may not even be alive and another who has no reason to move against us. If either of the remaining two acts, we'll have to call on our allies. Essentially, Donald is right. An attack like this is not just about logic, but about apprehension as well. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm scared of the thought of assaulting the City of Brass with the intent to wipe it off the face of Creation. And both Eblis and the present Sultan need to consider their reputation as well. If they make the attempt and achieve anything short of total victory, their stock will fall. A demon, slaad or celestial might go for it anyway. But those two? I just can't see it. Instead, what I would do is attack enemy interests elsewhere, which is why I'm reminding everyone not to travel anywhere on their own, not even to friendly destinations, and to keep an extra-vigilant eye on our interests across the planes."

[Anastasia]

"Caution," Donald agrees, "We'll have to do this carefully."

Kascha smiles at that, "I can do cautious. I've had enough dying for a long time!"

[Corwin]

"Naturally, if any of you have an idea for better defenses or to keep things safer in some other way, I'm always here to listen."

[Anastasia]

Nods all around at that and...

Next moves? This may not be what you do next, just want a status check on what your plans are here.

[Corwin]

OOC-wise, I'd like confirmation that my boons to Elle and Donald took place. I'll figure something out for the other participants later.

Next moves: Is Oraga back? How did the Celestial raids fair? What is Celestia's next move? Is there progress on the Akil bin Faheem front from Zaaman Rul?

I also want to chat with Kascha over her Node goals/goodwill tour of the elemental planes and the Gith.