A pleasant walk

[Anastasia]

Thus you walk the halls of Hope's Landing with Barachiel. Well, flutter, as your case may be.

"I would hear your full thoughts and measure of the Great Khan," Barachiel says, "As well as any insight into his motives, no matter how shaky, small or speculative." He walks besides you, hands clasped behind his back.

[Nephrite]

"It was interesting." Moore says to begin, "He had six other dao with him that all wore masks. Do you know anything about those?"

He continues on. "He was very quick to agree to free the xorn, which was surprising to me. His motivation in all of this is... mm." He pauses here to consider. "It feels to me like he was dragged into this war out of necessity and not out of any want or love for the efreet. I don't know the politics in play with regards to Hell, but would you say that the dao have less influence on them from Hellish interests, or about the same as the efreet?"

[Anastasia]

"Less," Barachiel says, "For the masked men, it is a tradition used when a Khan wishes for his aides to be anonymous - including hiding their natures. Masked dao altered by an ability of the Great Khan, which provides them near impenetrable disguises. It is usually a defensive measure, a particular application of the talent for illusions and alterings most genies have."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "He at least wanted to seem like he had some trusted aides, then." He says. "I think they're a lot more desperate to get out of this war than even the Sultan is -- mainly because they don't have the backing he might have. He was very quick to accept freeing the xorn... but the treaty's stipulation that the Cauldron and we more or less leave them alone is interesting to me too -- what if they were to choose to want to ally with us, for example? It begs a lot of questions."

[Anastasia]

The halls meander on - bright with light from above, as Barachiel considers, "It may be so, or that the Great Khan has his own reasons. It may be he sees a failing venture and is willing to pay to avoid becoming entangled in a planar war. It may be factors we cannot know right now, it may even be to our woe and his gain if he gains peace. Seek the answers to this, should you gain any insight from others connected to Earth or related planes, such as Crystalle."

[Nephrite]

"That was the other part -- their stipulation in the agreement to have a separate meeting about my relationship with him." Moore says. "I'm not comfortable letting them dictate what sort of relationship I have with other planar entities, but it could be that it was just something thrown in there to make us waste time even discussing it."

[Anastasia]

"It could be," Barachiel says, "Unfortunately, the negotiations did not go long enough to discern that." He pauses at a window, looking up. "Do not let them dictate, even if it forces you to spend capital there you would elsewhere."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "It sounds like there'd be more negotiations anyway, which I would be honored if you would attend when it occurs."

He turns to look out the same window. "All in all, I didn't detect any duplicity from the Great Khan when he was speaking about things. I did expect more resistance."

[Anastasia]

The mountain above is bright, the view straight up unimpeded from this angle. It seems to be brighter than ever, chasing away any shadows.

"Then push towards an agreement we can live with," Barachiel agrees, "I may attend the next meeting. Now...what was your opinion of Seira's performance, as well as Donyas's?"

[Nephrite]

"I think Seira pushed them a little hard on slavery." Moore says. "I understand that that's her focus, and perhaps it was a tactic, but the whole point of these talks was to get the ultimate goal of the efreet penned in more, so I was a bit surprised at her insistence. At the same time, that's her passion for all of this, so If she hadn't, I think I'd have been more surprised. Ah... Donyas didn't have much of a chance to do anything, admittedly, I think we were both letting Seira handle the matter and be support when needed."

A smile after that. "He did help clarify a few matters, so I think it was good that he was there."

[Anastasia]

Barachiel listens to all of that, "You've done well. Continue to do so," Barachiel says, turning back to you. "There is much more to be done yet." Then he is gone, leaving you by yourself.

[Nephrite]

Moore will go outside to find the others -- they have a trip to Mineral in store for them again!

[Anastasia]

It's simple enough to gather the party, Kaja asking the obvious question.

"Well?" Kaja asks, "How'd it go?"

[Nephrite]

"It went well. We have a ceasefire for the time being with the dao." Moore says. "I've been asked to go get Lord Crystalle's opinion on the matter, so that's where we're going next."

[Anastasia]

"A safe journey," Jetina smiles, "This should be quick and easy."

"No reason to be lax," Cresiel says, falling in step just ahead of you. "We have enemies beyond the genies."