Meeting at the light

[Anastasia]

The Grand Sultan blows out a long breath, "Our relationship with Hell is close and special," he says, "To openly turn against it will draw its own problems and is untenable." His fingers drum on his armrest nigh constantly now, a pause to stroke his chin. "Were Hell not in its own plans and angles, you would be defeated already."

"I think not," Barachiel interjects here, "If you are willing to repent of your sins, I will grant you asylum in Celestia. That will guarantee your life and safety. We will not relent, not on this, not now."

[Corwin]

"Would you like to ask Zariel about the special relationship Asmodeus offers those he claims to favor?" Seira voices idly. "The entrance of the Hells into the war would place our short-term victory in doubt, yes, but there would be no doubt that all efreet from top to bottom will lose immediately in the bargain."

[Nephrite]

"Then what is your pride for?" Moore asks. "If it only serves to be something you believe you have, but at the end of the day you're just thought of as extensions of Hellish interests, that's not even really pride — that's just a lie that you try and convince yourself is truth."

A breath here. "Despite how special your relationship with Hell is, you can't deny that Akil is aiming to stab you with a blade of their own make. What kind of ally is that? Do you think they care about your pride as a leader? Has Duke Martinet been advising you personally of your social position? I imagine you know that answer and you know it's 'no'."

Another pause. "Live with your pride and the pride knowing you did everything you could to make the EFREET proud, not Hell."

[Anastasia]

"Political realities are political realities," The Grand Sultan retorts, "Of which you seem only loosely connected to, upstart."

"Connected enough to put you on the spot," Donald chimes right in. "But hey, you needed a break from sucking devil cock, huh?"

Jetina gasps at that while Xandra looks unimpressed. The Grand Sultan gives the elf hybrid a disdainful look before, "I can offer you great gold, treasure, secrets. Bend on these demands and I can make your war worth waging, and I can get back to ruling the efreet properly. Come, it is the best outcome from this, better than you'll have any other way. I can deal with Akil without this war in my way. I can deal with my politics without this farce."

[Nephrite]

Moore just smiles. "I have faith and hope in my allies, just as the efreet have faith and hope in you. If you asked them, I think they'd agree they want you ruling them, not Hell. You will find yourself on a lonely island I fear, too late to see what could have been."

[Corwin]

"When you contacted me," Seira tells the Sultan, "I was in the midst of marshaling my armies for an all-out assault on the City of Brass. As we talk, they wait patiently for my orders." She leans forward, and while not achieving a full transformation her other form is overlaid over her, clad in a mantle of stars. And if she takes a bit of quiet inspiration from Io's imposing form doing much the same, well, only Moore would be able to call her out on that.

"I am telling you this to clarify the options available before all of us. Getting bought off is not one, nor is us giving up regardless of the opposition we would need to overcome. Barachiel has offered you sanctuary, which is a viable option. Moore has spoken of another, a favorite of mine where you seize control of efreet society and pull it in a fresh direction by force of will. Judging by your nation's history, efreet recognize such strength and are cowed enough to follow it after a token demonstration of power and capability, so this is feasible."

Seira pauses briefly. "Option three is an outright alliance with us. The Hells would be deterred, and you will have all the power and quiet you need to resolve internal issues, at which point we can reexamine our arrangement. Unlike the Hells, we will in fact honor our word and leave when requested. Option four is one where everyone loses, the efreet chief amongst us. Bring Asomdeus's legions into the war, become their puppet or get eliminated along the way, but yes, the fighting will grow far more bitter. At least until Kossuth puts his foot in, I suppose. Finally, there is option five, which is things continuing as they have before. That, however, you've agreed is untenable for your side. Do you see any other alternatives I've neglected to cover?"

[Anastasia]

Here the Grand Sultan is quiet. He regards all of you, "I request a three day recess," he says at last, "To consider the situation in good faith."

[Corwin]

I think this calls a brief considering on my part of whether he is, in fact, negotiating in good faith.

22:14 <Seira> roll 1d20+68+25 sense motive, +25 moment of prescience due to opposed check
22:14 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 105 > [d20=12]

[Anastasia]

Going to do anything similar, Moore? I'll resolve any attempts at once, since it's so obvious I think everyone wants to do this if they have ranks.

[Nephrite]

Sure, Moore would try too.

Take 10 for 82.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+105 (+5 ???, +7 ???, +20 ???, +6 ???) Barachiel
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 116 > [d20=11]

Seira and Moore both believe he's stalling for time - beneath his facade you note a real sense of pressure and desperation.

[Corwin]

"Before you insist upon it, I would like to point out one more obvious matter," Seira voices. "The dao have entered the war on your behalf, and the war is not going well for either of you. It has occurred to all of us here, naturally, that we might resolve our conflict with them independently. Once more in the interests of honesty, if you're not ready to discuss our options at this time, I will approach the Great Khan instead."

[Nephrite]

Moore will just wait to see what he has to say to that before adding anything.

[Anastasia]

Barachiel...smiles, faintly.

"The Khan can be more agreeable," Barachiel confirms, "Our main thrust of war was always against the efreet and you are aware of that. I dislike sparing the dao, but I would consider it under these circumstances. Earth is balanced. Fire is not - it needs our attention far more than Earth."

The Grand Sultan rises, tense, tight. "Three days," he repeats, "And you will have an answer."

[Corwin]

"I will hold off on my assault," Seira asserts, nodding once. "For three days, I will only use violence on Fire in defense of my interests. Any efreet leading raiding parties or slave caravans off Fire during this time will not be covered by this promise, however. I trust this is fair?"