It's time

[Corwin]

"You'll meet them before long if you stay~"

[Anastasia]

"Hmph." Ajan says, "I feel I owe you that much, for a time," he agrees, "You reached out to me when I was but a servant of a higher power."

[Corwin]

"You have plenty of time to decide on your own goals," Seira agrees. "I don't doubt you've thought of them during your task, but freedom and actually having options changes things."

[Anastasia]

"I retain the gifts for my service," Ajan says, "The Arbiter freed us with his will, and said we may keep what we were given."

"May it not be an unwanted gift," Oberuth murmurs, more to himself than anything.

[Corwin]

"You know, I've been wondering about the Resorts and this is a good chance to ask," Seira muses, ensuring that they are not overheard via divine will and being somewhat obvious about it. "Wasn't there supposed to be a Final Resort after the original five? And weren't they a magical set? Those tend to have fresh powers when you gather them all. We've chatted with the Arbiter, Oberuth and I, but didn't really get a clear answer on this. I don't suppose he told you anything interesting like that?"

[Anastasia]

"I am not certain of it, only that it was not used," Ajan says, "Why I do not know, nor what caused this change."

[Corwin]

"Not knowing about it is the sort of thing that bothers you," Seira muses. "So all the Arbiter talked about was being free and keeping some divine gifts?"

Since subtlety didn't bear fruit, she'll try a bit of directness. An opening like that would likely be taken by someone as intelligent as Ajan if he's in the know.

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Ajan agrees, unperturbed by your question.

[Corwin]

"I guess he wasn't very talkative," Seira says in disappointment. Still, given the outcome was all she'd wanted and more, there's no need to stay disappointed for long.

[Anastasia]

At this Ajan rises, "A lair. It has been a long time," he declares, "I will go find a suitable place."

[Corwin]

"Good luck! I know there are great spots!"

Like I said before, the outer slopes of the Cauldron would have plenty of caverns and gold veins and such. Possibly some lava!

[Anastasia]

He'll figure something out. Okay, do you have anything else to do to wrap this up, since the war looms?

Waukeen wants to talk about that, but I'll stall that a bit on grounds of other people waiting for this to go forward.

[Corwin]

That commander asked us to wait a day, so let's see what waiting a day brings. I'll be using my Fire domain sense to tell if there are large shifts on Fire, and given War and Knowledge I should hopefully catch on to any uprisings or coups.

[Anastasia]

Sure.

The day passes. You await news and at last - you get some. You feel it - Fire itself seems to resonate, a moment of shifting, of adjusting. The taste of war is thick in the air, like a miasma lapping at your lips.

[Corwin]

It feels like you're being betrayed as we speak, Seira sends to the Sultan. Would you like to use this chance to defect?