A new hill

[Anastasia]

Queen nods slightly and lets Alyssa talk.

"Charmed," Empress Sulia smiles.

"Ahem," Emily says, "I just have a few questions to ask."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa returns the smile and lets Emily go.

[Anastasia]

"Does the name Ordial mean anything to you?" Emily begins with, "Perhaps tied to another unused transitive plane?"

To this Queen considers one moment, "No, it means nothing to me, child." she answers at last.

"I..." A blush from Emily, "Please don't call me that. I'm not just my mother's daughter." Her voice is even and polite, but firm as she meets Queen's gaze.

The lillend meets that gaze before she inclines her head forward, "Emily," she corrects herself.

Emily's silent a few more moments, fists balled up. "Do any other new or unused transitive planes mean anything to you at all?" Emily asks, rather hopefully.

"It does not." Queen's answer is firm. "I'm sorry."

At this Emily sighs, "Thanks anyway," she says, crestfallen. "Thanks for your aid in this, Aunt Alicia."

That gets Queen to glance at Alicia, before, "Aunt Alicia?" she asks Alicia, outright.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa looks on bemusedly at the small confrontation over 'child.'

[Ebiris]

"As I said, she's the daughter of two dear friends," Alicia says to Queen. "I should introduce you to them sometime. But to narrow down the point further? The Ordial Gate is a particular location in the astral plane that was created by the Incarnations to connect with a different transitive plane. One that was never used in favour of the Infinite Staircase. As the Gate cannot be reached by travel through the astral, you can see why Emily thought this might be a productive avenue," she explains things a bit more for Queen's benefit, in case the extra context leads to better insight.

[Corwin]

I finally ran into a helpful Guardian, Seira speaks to Alicia. When would you have a few moments to come over and hear what he had to say?

[Ebiris]

Everyone wants to speak with her right now!

Is it urgent? I just got back from Pandemonium and Bel had beaten us there. I'm about to try for Limbo and I'm helping Emily and Alyssa with the Ordial Gate as well.

[Corwin]

Not urgent. Shame about Pandemonium.

[Ebiris]

Shame, Alicia agrees. I'll come to the Cauldron as soon as things slow down here.

[Anastasia]

Queen is silent until Alicia finishes, then, "Go to the Roots," she says, "You may find some knowledge there, if there is knowledge to be found."

[Iron Dragoon]

Anything to roll to find out more about that?

[Anastasia]

Not in this case, the realm's just not known enough to even allow it.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Where is that, exactly?"

[Anastasia]

"Below, at the base," Queen explains, "I will have one of my trusted servants show you in."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Thank you very much. I appreciate the hospitality."