Diplomatic aftermath

[Corwin]

"We were all born to be free. It is neither propaganda nor wishful thinking. Yes, our starting positions in life as well as our natural talent were spread unequally. I wouldn't say something silly like how everyone has an equal probability to accomplish the same task if they try their hand at it. But we have a basic dignity to us that cannot be taken away, not by fiends and not by efreet and their allies. We are not property. Furthermore, it is deeply offensive to us on a personal level when we see people treated as property. We might avert our eyes, or try to rationalize it, but in the end it unsettles us deep down because if we search within ourselves, there is no fundamental difference. We can't delude ourselves that the slavers would treat us differently if only they had the chance, if only they triumphed and caught us at a moment of weakness. Still, we find reasons to stay our hand, to keep the status quo, sometimes at almost any cost."

Seira pauses, studying the flow of ice for a long moment. "The Grand Sultan changed my mind. As we sat there, and he had the audacity to demand I officially sanction their depravity and then tried to bribe me with money to make this problem go away... I got to thinking. Why am I clinging to the status quo? I want to act, everything that makes me who and what I am is telling me to act. So who is stopping me? Certainly not that small man, caught in the shadow of a far greater being and posturing to keep his political power. Thus, we are at war, as far as the Cauldron is concerned. I wouldn't presume to speak on Celestia's behalf."

[Anastasia]

"Aaaaaah," The Padisha says slowly, as the arch of water flows faster, grows wider. "So you seek to make a tsunami to sweep away the old and bring in the new. You can no longer stand by."

[Corwin]

"I will be the best friend anyone can ask, and a stalwart ally. But to my enemies, I no longer intend to give a quarter. Too many terrible deals have been made, and continue to be made because there are always greater threats, and always some common interest along those lines. Would we have an easier time opposing Shar with Celestia and the Hells working together? Perhaps, militarily. But Hell's way is to subjugate entire Primes towards that goal, and that's a price too high to pay. What meaning is there in defeating Shar's nihilism, if we crush it with Hell's tyranny? In our battlefield of ideas, what good is it to burn oblivion with ingrained, institutionalized slavery? I don't believe we truly can, not like that."

[Anastasia]

"So to war we go," The Padisha says, "I have heard the dao joined the efreet in this war. I have not heard of the djinn, but they will find your cause an agreeable one. A war between the genies, the quasi and para branches will be sucked in as well."

[Corwin]

"It seems likely. And the efreet will learn that their subservient races may not be as all-in as they themselves are. Their very cultural attitudes ensure that the way the efreet treat those they deem weaker or subservient will be remembered, and paid back at the right moment."

[Anastasia]

"It will spread," Amaryl says, "It can't be stopped now."

To this the Padisha waves her hand, the arch of water falling apart. "The archomentals of good and evil will involve themselves. They can't resist such a chance."

[Corwin]

"It shouldn't come as a surprise that I've asked for the help of the princes and princesses of good," Seira confirms. "As for the others... Imix is likely to be involved, and possibly Ogremoch, but I don't expect them to leave their respective planes. As for the others... we shall see."

And that's a good thing to be reminded of. Talking to Yan-C-Bin might well avoid his entry into the war, and perhaps even Ogremoch would choose equal-opportunity greed over some principled opposition to their forces.

[Anastasia]

"In turn, other forces will come," The Padisha says, "My people's blood will turn the currents of Water red." She looks to you now, "Can you endure the funerals for the lost as sweetly as the cheers of victory? I have seen war before, in person and in memory. There is always such suffering, no matter how high the ideal."

[Corwin]

"I've served in wars, myself." In fact, a very real part of Seira is War. "Even now, I wonder whether a diplomatic solution existed. Still, I've also felt the souls of my followers as they fought bravely and gave their lives for something they believed in. So even though it's hard, I can support them, for they are placing themselves in danger so that innocents, be they those enslaved by the efreet or their would-be targets, would be shielded by their heroic efforts."

[Anastasia]

"There have been wars I could have joined," The Padisha continues after that, seeming to accept your answer.

"The price was too high for you?" Amaryl asks, "Too many dead and lost?"

"Too many," The Padisha agrees, "You think that we would have settled our intractable family differences ages ago. Yet none of us can bear what we would lose to have a chance to triumph." Below, the water level rapidly begins to descend, soon nothing but a thin inch of water on the ground, hunks of ice lying about. "I hate the efreet and what they do. I love my people and wish to see them prosper." Here she looks on, "So often I weigh how much blood will be spilled, how many will be forced to reform here or be destroyed forever, or suffer a fate worse than death."

The Padisha looks to you, "You can look on at your followers, knowing some will be captured. If they are lucky, the are immersed in the Styx and sold as Blood War slaves. If they are not lucky, it bears not speaking of." Her expression is sad, sorrowful. "You are War, so surely you understand this?"

[Corwin]

"I'm taking a chance that we'll succeed in establishing a better Creation, and I'm gambling everything on my belief that people want to be free," Seira responds, looking back at the Padisha. "I understand perfectly what you're implying, and I don't need to be War to see the depravities that exist in Creation right now. Luck alone is the reason I am here now, and not one of those whose fate bears not speaking of. I am only asking of my followers to risk what I would risk myself alongside them. As for those unlucky, we won't rest until they too have been rescued and delivered their rest. And by the end of it? Not only will we live in a better world, but the very rules of the games will be forced to change. Some things would be so beyond the pale, that our enemies will think twice before crossing that line."

[Anastasia]

"It will hurt. I know I will be hurt, that I'll cry, that I'll lament," Amaryl adds to that, gaze cast down. "But a battle worth fighting is worth fighting."

To this the Padisha looks on at you both long, expression unreadable. "And what role does Sanzha have in this affair?"

[Corwin]

"She's reaching out to the elemental princess and princesses of Good on behalf of the Cauldron," Seira responds, seeing no reason to conceal this. "Our realm might be lead by Amaryl and I at present, but I hope to have her ascend alongside us. If we're making a big tsunami, might as well form a pantheon while we're at it?"

And this should also state that Sanzha is quite happy to be a part of the Cauldron rather than seek a return to Water without actually saying it in so many words.

[Anastasia]

To this the Padisha turns back to the waters. They begin to rise once more, refilling themselves from nowhere.

"Then," The Padisha considers, "How will the victors be rewarded?"

[Corwin]

"Aside from the obvious gains on the battlefield," Seira responds, "as I've said, this is a battle of ideas as much as arms. I don't subscribe to the belief that Good and Evil must remain in balance on the Inner Planes, so we shall strive to defeat their beliefs with our own. My vision has a greater cooperation and trade, where each of us has a place to shine and nurture our people while being able to rely on the support of the others. Attitudes will shift, slowly but surely. Instead of cautious negotiations for mutual defense pacts against common enemies, such offers of assistance in a crisis will become natural. Such things might sound fanciful right now, but wasn't the cause we're fighting for in the same place mere decades ago?"

Observing the Padisha, she admits, "Being focused on the goal as I am, I can only speak in general terms. Did you have something more specific in mind?"