The duty to live

[Ebiris]

"Do you know who they're captured by?" Alicia asks. Not even Malcanthet could charm those, right?

[Anastasia]

"No, but I know where," Antenora smiles just a little bit. "Layer 612."

[Ebiris]

[19:08] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+73 improvisation
[19:08] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 92 > [d20=19]

Planes on that layer.

[Anastasia]

612 is known as Ascension. Not for any virtue, but because it's a series of cascading waterfalls. Almost no flat land, only toxic, poisonous water that births abominations throughout. It's said that somewhere beneath the waters a hidden palace resides to an unspeakable demon lord.

Notable is the extremely heavy gravity, which makes flight almost impossible, and the fact that the air is very thin. Breathing in general is a problem on that plane unless you can breathe water and ignore the poison in it.

[Ebiris]

"Not a particularly famous layer," Alicia says. "What else do you know, then?"

Does this narrow down any of the results on the previous check for a pair of robots lost in that particular layer?

[Anastasia]

It does. You recall an old fable, of inevitables 'lost amid the endless waterfalls'. A story of them being sunken down in the waters and lost forever, a vague and old tale indeed. It's said that the gravity was too much for them.

"I'm pretty sure Malcanthet wants to barter them for a favor," Antenora goes on, "As to what the favor is I'm not sure - it may have to do with that quarut somehow."

[Ebiris]

"Hmm. It's not a lot to go on, but the inference then is that she's either taken control there herself or is owed a favour by the local demon lord," Alicia surmises. "There's a lot she could do with a favour from Mechanus, I'm certain, although I don't think even two of those titans are worth the prize Primus holds, and she'd have to go a lot higher than just a quarut to even start on that."

[Anastasia]

"I doubt she even knows," Antenora agrees, "That part is purely coincidental, she has another goal. Something baser, no doubt."

[Ebiris]

"I hope so," Alicia says, having her own priorities and thus being naturally most concerned about covering that angle. "Lets spread the word to our allies? The Seldarine are going after her fairly hard right now so they might find an angle of their own in case it comes up on their end."

[Anastasia]

"I'll see to it," Antenora vows, "Unless, of course, we want to take matters into our own hands."

[Ebiris]

Alicia shakes her head. "This is your project Antenora, keep me updated but I'm sure you can see it through just fine."

Ultimately it's just nice to know, but not the sort of provocation that would make her actively move against Malcanthet.

[Anastasia]

After you deal with that?

"Dear," Syala comes over, "We have various diplomatic invitations. We have the normal invites to Brightwater - Sulia and Sharess, two separate opportunities. We have an invitation to the Seldarine to discuss Malcanthet, though that's open to any of us. We also have one from Mystra, it looks routine enough that she sent it by messenger. But that's not all."

Syala holds up an envelope, a beautiful and pristine white. It's flawless, the writing on it perfect as it reads, 'To Sylica.' After a moment, "It's from Maladomini."

[Ebiris]

"Well, it's been some time since we heard from Beezlebub," Alicia says neutrally, leaning towards Syala and focusing on that one. "What does it say?"

[Anastasia]

Syala opens it.

"Residents of Sylica:

I invite you to the house of Plendus of the Mercane Consortium to discuss matters of mutual interest. We have shared enemies and I have determined it is in our best interests to cooperate on this matter."

[Ebiris]

"Residents?" Alicia repeats in a perturbed tone.

Planes take 10 for 65 on house of Plendus.