Victorious advance

[Anastasia]

"No," A shake of his head, "No memories of Violet at all. If we hadn't gotten that information from the spell, we'd have been completely stymied."

[Ebiris]

"So what motivated him to come here and attack as he did?" Alicia asks. "He must have gotten orders or had his mind twisted towards the goal somehow."

[Anastasia]

"An unnatural compulsion, likely some aspect of the arts performed on him," Naeys says, then quieter, "What I suspect - and fear - is something of the most profane arts there are. The arts of soul mutilation and destruction. Rarely known, even rarer used, the most vile of magic. Even fiends rarely use it, for souls have great value to them. It is the worst situation I can imagine for this, but I would not put it past a powerful fiend."

[Ebiris]

"Do we know anything at all? Anyone he met or worked in concert with, any signal he was waiting on to commence his attack?" Alicia asks, unable to hide her frustration at how thoroughly this has dead-ended.

Makes it rather clear he wasn't even expected to succeed, so what else happened that they missed?

[Anastasia]

"Nothing. It was through and competent." Naeys says, "I very much want to ask Violet a great many hard questions now."

[Ebiris]

"Well, where there's a soul there's a history. I'll make enquiries with the Seldarine if he matches any of theirs or any have recently fallen afoul of the Styx," Alicia says, refusing to be put off. "What's left of him now, does he have any motivation or desires?"

[Anastasia]

"Nothing. A few tendencies as I mentioned. He had some inclination to swordsmanship, hunting and horsemanship. Hardly unusual in an elf and it may be a sign of a natural woodsman." Is the answer you get.

[Ebiris]

"We'll keep him confined somewhere comfortable for now then, in case Violet's hidden other surprises we've missed. Hopefully I'll know more after meeting with the Seldarine," Alicia says. "Did you get anything of use from the other demons we've captured?"

[Anastasia]

"Most only knew this from word of mouth, a crusade and that's all it took. Demons," A word of profound disgust, Naeys taking the ambrosia bottle and refilling. He has a long sip, a deep scowl lessened by the drink. "A few know Violet provided a few key bits of support to this effort. One other knew Cherry, another Radiant Sister, was involved. A relatively weaker one all told, at least."

[Ebiris]

"Not much, demons can be as good at operational security as anyone when they care," Alicia says, drinking her own ambrosia. "Thank you, Naeys. Take some time to rest your mind, you deserve it after this."

[Anastasia]

"I will." Naeys doesn't rise, but instead, "There is one more matter, more for my curiosity. What do you think the goal of this was, really? All of this?"

[Ebiris]

"I'm sorry to disillusion you Naeys, not even I know," Alicia admits, much as it pains her. "The horde was never a real danger to Sylica. That elf was likely intended to kill Jessica's family and cause us grief. But I'm certain there was more and it eludes me."

[Anastasia]

"Well, Antenora will be busy with that in her free time," Naeys has a ghost of a smile on his face, getting up. "I wish her well in that venture."

[Ebiris]

"Rest well, Naeys," Alicia lets him take the ambrosia bottle with him as she sees him off. She'll oversee the rest of the after action details before sending her avatar to Arvandor to see if anyone there can help with her mystery elf killer.

[Anastasia]

List the rest of your after action goals?