Dust and blood

[Anastasia]

There is no reply to it - perhaps the conversation is done.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa taps her chin and thinks, considering options while waiting to hear back from the others.

[Anastasia]

"Alyssa?" Emily pokes in as you think, "I got a response."

[Iron Dragoon]

"As did I. Just finished corresponding with Bahamut."

[Anastasia]

"How did it go?" Emily asks, coming in fully.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Mmm... Well, I'm not one of the "righteous" so there's that little bump in the road, and he wouldn't talk about his own plans at all, but it seems like there's some sort of underlying competition between Order and Chaos built into the fabric of the plane. From what he implied, there may be no way around it. And he certainly didn't seem to find the idea of a stable balance there appealing."

[Anastasia]

"Helm was also circumspect," Emily admits, "But he's always like that." She comes in and throws herself onto a chair, a little pout on her face. "It's like we're nosing into a boy's club and no girls allowed."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa snorts, "I doubt it's quite as crass as that, but yes, they don't seem happy about interference. I think it's just that it's their own little proxy battle against Chaos, and they've been using it as such for long enough that they feel they own it entirely. I'd bet if we even toed the line in Chaos' favor, their reaction would be entirely different."

Alyssa taps on her desk in thought, "If Malar were less inclined to evil I'd suggest approaching him, but... I doubt he'd be any more open to a balance than they are. So, the question becomes... Can we influence the mortals into a balance with those three actively wanting to proxy-war it."

[Anastasia]

A long silence from Emily, eyes closed, "Secondly, is it worth it even if we can? Thirdly, is it something we should pursue in the first place? It may be simpler to give them the gift, have them owe us favors and merely ensure they don't use it in an evil way."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa raises an eyebrow at that, "Look at you with the first bit of moral flexibility. You, who were angry because I was having demons fighting demons, are less concerned with possible evil application of your help?"

[Anastasia]

"Not an inch of it," Emily retorts, "But this is a battle of law and chaos. Important to me, but not as important as good and evil. Ensure at least no evil is done and allow the forces of civilization to grow stronger. That I can live with."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Well, food for thought: Law and Good are strongly tied together, as you yourself exemplify. By that line of thought, the day will come when you will need to destroy me to attain that final goal.

In any case, in this case, we may want to explain to the Academy exactly why their world is one of extremes, though I imagine all three of the other gods involved will be disgruntled at that as well, and then try to instill in them that absolute genocide is evil in and of itself. Maybe we can steer them into setting up a barrier and isolating the tribes."

[Anastasia]

This gets Emily to smile. "Alyssa, I'm never going to destroy you." She meets your gaze, "I'm going to convert you."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa rolls her eyes, "I may have to summon a few more demons to balance the books, then. In any case, what do you think of that plan? Think we can slip enough influence in to preserve some of the tribe's culture and people?"

[Anastasia]

"What culture they have, yes," Emily agrees, "Unless they fight so hard that no one has a choice."