Walking to Rosewater

[Anastasia]

"That's a good one," Syala speaks up, "I'd wanted to ask that when we were all done."

"It's never good to reveal a traitor, if so often needed," Latha says, "May it only be a weakness and not directly trafficking with demons."

[Ebiris]

"G'renna revealed one when she was staying here as well, though it turned out for the best," Alicia says, considering Marchalu is now a redeemed and trusted figure in Sylica. "They can't all be like that, though."

[Anastasia]

"They can't," Antenora says, "We'll prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

Naeys works and you see but one figure - a tall, broad man. A warrior, a dwarf. You've seen the face a few times, a worker of little note around Sylica. A visitor who came and ended up staying, which isn't terribly unusual. You recall his name is Cynar.

[Ebiris]

"That's not so bad," Alicia says. "Not anyone particularly trusted or with access to much. I'll have Marchalu pick him up." There isn't much point trying to turn him as a double agent now since Malcanthet will expect him to be compromised anyway. He might have even fled if she cared to warn him.

[Anastasia]

"He's minor," Antenora says with a note of relief. "Good."

"My avatar will see to it, in case he tries to make it messy," Syala says, "See how far the well is poisoned and why. If he can be rehabilitated, then we'll try that." A breath is blown out, "Still not so bad a tall. That's a minor thing, and we all expected that to happen occasionally."

[Ebiris]

"What was the whole Umberlee connection about anyway?" Marie asks, still on her questions. "We've never had any serious problems with her. Ask what Umberlee got out of helping them with their ritual?"

[Anastasia]

Naeys scans.

An image. Violet stands behind Malcanthet as the two are before a throne of storms and waves. The figure that sits on it is nothing but fury, a manifestation of it so primal as to make the scent of sea and storm fill your nose.

"Thus, for your aid," Malcanthet says, "We will return 82 known, living Umberlants to you and the souls of 5,382 more. We will also return to you the Blackblooded Trident as well as the various jewels taken from the temple that houses it. Finally, we will agree not to hold any of yours or souls of yours for 6,666 years."

The stormy figure - Umberlee - is silent until in a wet gurgle, "I will tolerate this agreement, demon."

[Ebiris]

"So just business? Can't really argue with that... also lucky Violet was important enough to be on the scene so we get all this first hand. Ask what specific aid Umberlee was meant to provide?" Marie asks, making use of her questions before anyone else gets a turn.

[Anastasia]

In short: Access to lore as well as her blessings to deal with dark waters.

[Ebiris]

"I think I'm done if anyone else wants to go next," Marie says, not having any questions she can think of right now.

[Anastasia]

"Will we seal her soon?" Antenora asks, 'I have questions, but I also would desire time to think over what I've heard already."

[Ebiris]

"I'd prefer to have her put securely away after this, just to minimise the risk," Alicia says. "She's too great a prize for us to be handling casually."

[Anastasia]

Antenora is silent for a good time before, "Why does she hate me so much? Is there any reason beyond the Blood War?"

Naeys inclines his head forward. A flicker, a memory. A party under the nighttime sky, great braziers of fire shed plenty of light. It's behind a great manor house, everything elegant and beautiful in that way Malcanthet's realm has.

Jade. She wears a gown of the utmost beauty, elegant and impossible and a color that matches her name. She sips from a wine glass and says, "Ah yes, I heard of her. Antenora Reynes....mmmm." She says slowly, "Opal blue always reminds me of purples and violets."

A stony silence before, "I am nothing like that devil scum."

"Really?" Jade sniffs, as if she just saw something ugly and disgusting. "My, I suppose climbing little toadies stick together. Though I imagine our dear Queen is more fun than a saint."

"Is there a point to this?" Violet says, voice ice cold. "Anything at all?"

"No, not really," Jade says, an indolent smile on her face. "I'm merely stricken at how similar you two are."

[Ebiris]

Out of curiosity is that the same Jade they killed on Limbo, or a previous holder?

Alicia feels some resentment at Malcanthet's ability to scare up incredibly powerful niche demons so easily to fill out her radiant sisters.

[Anastasia]

Same, for what it's worth.

"Ah." Antenora lets it go at that, "Has she ever known a moment of regret or anything that could save her?"

Naeys asks the question and shakes her head, "No. If she has, she rejected it."