Emancipation

[Corwin]

"I'd also appreciate," Seira decides to say, "leads into Dis, specifically to rescue the Lost Chalice."

[Anastasia]

"Xera asked the same thing," Waukeen declares, "It's much like the previous situation: Everyone in the know believes he has her, but proof is as ethereal as a ghost's tears." Drumming a finger on her armrest a moment, "How much do you know about the Iron Tower?"

[Corwin]

"Not a great deal," Seira admits.

[Anastasia]

"You may think it's a tower. From the outside, you'd be right," Waukeen says, "If you walked in the front door or were escorted in, you'd be right. Were you hosted there in one of Dispater's elite parties, you'd be right. Yet it's not. It's closer to being a special demiplane from what I understand - there's far more than a tower in there. I've heard stories ranging from entire cities being within, to continents of solid iron where devils of iron rise from the ground at Dispater's command, all floating on seas of molten iron."

[Corwin]

"Ideally, I'll find a shortcut via the Infinite Stair," Seira muses. "The most sensible thing would be to send agents that won't be automatically known to him, the way a deity would be, but a part of me is figuring some hands on action might be good here after all."

[Anastasia]

"Then good fortune with it," Waukeen agrees.

Any other questions or things to add here, Seira?

[Corwin]

That's fine. Let's catch up with Donald and Kascha about their assignments.

[Anastasia]

You get them together at the Cauldron and...

Go ahead. Go ahead and lead, they'll respond since you have something in mind here.

[Corwin]

"I think we're getting closer to decyphering this ritual," Seira muses as the three of them relax in one of the palace's sitting rooms. She gets drinks for them at the bar, glancing over at Donald as she says, "Let's start with you. Were you able to get an audience with Hectarr XXXVII, and did he have any interesting insights?"

[Anastasia]

"Eventually," Donald says, and makes a face. "He wanted to see someone less 'unpleasant'." With an unhidden roll of his eyes, "Antenora satisfied him, and I got some research." Papers are passed over.

Kascha frowns, "You mean someone more lawful?"

"Yeah," Donald waves it off, "Didn't want to waste time arguing with him. He tried to stall us, but Antenora's divinity was useful - most of them speed everything up for that."

[Corwin]

"I'll find a suitable gift to send her as a thank you. Nicely done!" Seira turns to Kascha next. "Were things equally fruitful with Trumainel?"

[Anastasia]

"Eventually," Kascha says, "Here." More papers are produced.

[Corwin]

"Nice! Did you get a chance to ask about our main goal as well?" Seira inquires. "Since he studied the Infinite Stair so much, it was possible he'd know something useful about Dis."

[Anastasia]

"He told me that most doorways into Dis are monitored," Kascha says, then quieter, "I'd assumed that already. He didn't have a magic arrow to solve the problem, but he mentioned someone who might know more."

[Corwin]

"Oh? Who would that be?"