The eternal battles forward

[Ebiris]

"Of course not," Alicia smiles back. "Your soul's already been wounded, the deed is done. Of course with Shendilvari's support I'm sure yours at least will heal. Eventually."

[Anastasia]

"Oh Alicia," Malcanthet tosses her hair back with an airy laugh, "I've long since healed entirely. Do you think I didn't prepare to mitigate these risks before I underwent this procedure?"

> roll 1d20+2 Antenora rank check
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 10 > [d20=8]
Back: Away for 1hr 29mins 17secs
Away Deactivated: Auto Away reactivated
> roll 1d20+10 Malcanthet +4 strata bonus
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 12 > [d20=2]

> roll 1d20+68 (+15 divine insight)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d20=3]

I can't read her. I still suspect it is a lie.

Antenora doesn't sound happy about it, but she doesn't betray any sign of it visually. She just sits there, posture straight and rigid.

[Ebiris]

Alicia is certain it's a lie, but it's not as if she can call the bluff here. "How fortunate for you," she says mildly. "In any case, I think it's about time we wrapped this up don't you?"

[Anastasia]

Malcanthet regards you for a few moments, "Really, there's another matter I wish to discuss as well." she says, relaxed in her seat.

[Ebiris]

"Oh? Well since you have us here talking civilly do go on," Alicia invites, gesturing a hand towards Malcanthet for her to raise any additional concerns.

She has an idea of where this is going and why Vlaakith was chosen as intermediary.

[Anastasia]

"We've had our differences," Malcanthet goes on, a little smile on her face. "You loathe me. Antenora would have my head decorate the Felic Gate and Syala would love to see Sharess sharpen her claws all over me. You know well that I've played and predicted you before, and that has to burn deep inside of you."

Antenora regards her coldly before, "Is there a point to this, demon?"

"We both have bigger enemies in Creation and better concerns than a petty catfight between all of us." Malcanthet waves a hand. "We could keep quarreling and keep bickering amid each other, but what's the point in the end? Both of us have greater enemies and greater problems than each other. Rather than another eon of strife, how about we agree to focus on other enemies and leave one another alone?"

"The point is each soul we save," Antenora cuts her off the moment she finishes. "The point is each demon we send howling back to the Abyss, or to oblivion. The point," Antenora slams her hand down on the table, "Is each soul that realizes that no, they made a mistake and they can do better. Everything you do is poison to the rest of Creation, to every soul you touch. Every pretty word out of your mouth, every flash of your body and your allure is merely camouflage for that poison."

"The point is," Malcanthet cuts right in, "Is that you can't tolerate someone who hurt her." She smiles sweetly despite that. "So loyal. You really should have been born a hound archon."

[Ebiris]

Not where she expected this to go. Maybe Alicia should stop trying to predict Malcanthet since she's clearly so bad at it.

"Ladies," she says mildly as everyone gets all excited. "Anyway, the problem with such an arrangement is the same one with your initial offer for Violet, it's all too easy for you to stir up some random demons and send them rampaging our way. Don't get me wrong, it's nice practice, but I don't see any value in tying my hands behind my back should I care to make reprisal."

[Anastasia]

Antenora glares absolute death at Malcanthet, and slowly says, "And if you hurt her again, I will end you." Antenora's voice is tight and angry, as she half rises from her seat, as if to lunge at the succubus queen. Vlaakith merely glances at her, ready to react.

Meanwhile Syala puts an hand on Antenora's arm, no words but a gentle, calming presence. At this Antenora breaths out and sits back down.

"I do. We've both proven we can hurt the other and make our lives miserable," Malcanthet counters, "I'm not discussing some empty promise where both sides work around the letter of it and ignore the intent, I want a real agreement that we both abide by."

[Ebiris]

Alicia feels rather bad for Antenora getting all excited on her behalf when she's personally rather unruffled by all of this. It's somewhat refreshing to just sit and talk things out with an enemy, even if she's left feeling like she's the unreasonable one because she keeps refusing every offer. But Malcanthet is an enemy for good reason after all.

"Lets say we did have such an agreement, completely left each other alone from top to bottom," Alicia speculates. "We'd get a perhaps one third reduction in demonic armies trying to besiege Sylica," the word 'try' doing a lot of heavy lifting there, "Perhaps my more homely paladins won't have to worry that every pretty face that flirts with them is a disguised succubus. But how would it work in practice? Unless you tell me everything you're involved with, some of mine go about uprooting a murderously carnal cult somewhere - could be Shar's, could be Glasya's, could be Graz'zt's... but then some demon shouts 'Oh no, we're with Malcanthet!' and so we just have to lower our swords, shrug, and let them carry on undermining civil society and killing people? And honestly, if I did know about every one of your operations, sitting on that knowledge and doing nothing with it is a particularly inventive form of torture even for a demon."

She shakes her head in conclusion. "It's impractical. We have what must be called irreconcilable differences - even if we're not at each other's throats every moment of every day, there's always going to be something beyond the pale that we'll end up fighting over."

[Anastasia]

To this the succubus queen is silent long moments before, "It may be so," she concludes at last. "Then we've exhausted the limits of this conversation." Her voice is rather business like now, no sign of anger or scorn.

Antenora's eyes narrow buts he doesn't comment.

"If that is all?" Syala concurs, a glance to you.

[Ebiris]

"I'm afraid so," Alicia stands up. "Should you ease up on the murder and torture then of course we'd have far less reason to try and make your life miserable. That's as much as I can offer."

[Anastasia]

"And if you three want entertainment..." Malcanthet smiles lazily, "Assuming you don't seek it all amid yourselves." She turns and walks out then, gone.

[Ebiris]

She doesn't doubt trouble is going to be in the offing soon if only so Malcanthet can make a point about how much easier life would be had they accepted her offer. In any case she nods to Vlaakith and moves to leave herself, intending to gate back to Sylica once they're outside and off this astral island.

[Anastasia]

Your departure is unopposed.

Once you're flying away?

I'm sorry, Alicia. I lost my composure.

[Ebiris]

It's alright. I'm sorry you had to be put in that situation. Just please don't worry on my behalf, things like that are like water off a duck's back to me.

She gives Antenora a smile before she opens a gate back to Sylica.