Meeting at the light

[Corwin]

"Yes. Let's start by asking them for their offer first, and tailor ours to that."

[Nephrite]

A nod follows that.

I think we're good to reach out.

[Anastasia]

Okay then, gimme a quick summary of your plan going forward, you two.

[Corwin]

"How about Celestia provides a lawyer for the specialist portions of the negotiations?" Seira suggests. "I'll ask Lady Honeydip's for her time, and together our insights should be sufficient. Can you arrange for the invitations while Moore and I work through our list of acceptable demands and trade offs?"

"We absolutely need one of two things, here. Either freedom for all slaves, or freedom for the xorn who make up the absolute majority and the ability to launch strikes at slave owners without dragging things into a war, much like was the situation previously. We'll need a lawyer to put it better, of course, but that's what it comes down to."

Moore nods. "I think that's perfect. So we have our minimum acceptance... I imagine they'll have some counter offers but hopefully it won't be as embarrassing as what the Sultan tried."

"Yes. Let's start by asking them for their offer first, and tailor ours to that."

[Anastasia]

Soon enough Barachiel is back and says, "The dao are interested in a meeting at neutral ground within the hour. A mutually agreeable meeting ground in Mechanus was decided on: Gear 4992, also known as Treeline."

[Corwin]

"They chose a neutral ground? That works for me just as well," Seira agrees. "I'll see you there~"

I'll take my party home, change into my adventuring outfit and ask Valar and Honeydip to come instead of Oraga and Donald. They might learn more about the opposition by meeting their leaders face to face, and could have insights (such as how dao have a lot of non-xorn slaves) that they could share with me IC. The looming dragons can continue to loom, I think they're neat!

Donald will be asked to make extra sure that no efreet slavers are moving across the planes, and to let me know if he hears of one so we can hit it extra hard. I made a promise to the Sultan and I'd feel bad if he couldn't take me seriously after that.

[Anastasia]

Okay, that's fine. Moore, any prep on your end?

[Nephrite]

No, unless Barachiel wants his allies to attend specifically.

[Anastasia]

He's going to send a legal mind as requested but that's it. Are you going alone on your side or bringing anyone?

[Nephrite]

he will go alone

[Anastasia]

Thus everyone gathers at Hope's Landing for this. Moore, Valar, Honeydip, Seira and finally an unassuming human. His head is shaved bald and he walks with a cane, perhaps 50 years old. He is pale and weathered, wrinkled. "Duke Moore, Great Lady Seira," he bows to them, "I am Donyas. Lord Barachiel commands me to serve you, and serve I shall."

[Corwin]

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Donyas," Seira greets him. "Were you filled in on our goals?" Her own team had been, quite naturally.

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Is the answer. The old man pauses to tap his cane on the ground, "By Barachiel's thunders, we will forge a victory for holiness this day."

[Corwin]

"Let me take us over, then."

[Anastasia]

"For victory," Valar seconds, waiting on Seira.

Moments later you are there. It is a forest - a forest with the music of the gears in the background, ever churning and clicking. There is a sense of peace and harmony here, and as you take it all in?

All of you can notice something. The forest is symmetrical on both sides. Perfect, everything mirroring each other. In the center there is a path ahead, to what looks to be a log cabin.