Mother

[Anastasia]

"The greatest is where the City of Brass lies, or so the stories say," Zaaman Rul says, "The rest are shrines, but we can go to them." He looks out, "I grew up on the legends of his martial skill. Even my father has spoken of him with as close to respect as he can."

"Which means if this is him, we had best not make any mistakes," Amaryl concurs.

[Corwin]

"Let's save Brass for last?"

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+9 int
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 25 > [d20=16]

"It's the riskiest," Amaryl agrees, "So much could go wrong there. Especially if Akil is on edge about what's coming and he knows. He's a devil lo..."

A beat.

"Seira, I haven't read the histories in some time, but I had an idea that I'm sure Antenora would approve of." Amaryl admits. "Didn't Akil bin Faheem serve the Crimson Firebrand when they unified the efreet?"

[Corwin]

Did he? Ridiculous knowledges and Int and taking 10.

"Where are you going with this?" Seira asks curiously.

[Anastasia]

Yes. The deepest lore suggests it went something like this: Akil wanted to subjugate the Crimson Firebrand so went to parley with him. The Firebrand took control of the meeting and so dominated and impressed Akil that Akil gave him his entire clan and vowed to serve him, which he did loyally until the Crimson Firebrand died.

"It's...the entire thing's just a rigged game. How else do devils and fiends like that play? He's still loyal to the Sultan and he's keeping his seat warm. It's political theater. The Grand Sultan returns, overthrows Akil who is in on it and already have an arrangement. The devils are gone, the Sultan's back and Akil's given some great reward for his service and sacrifice." Amaryl says, "It's...it's something Antenora would come up with, and that means it's the sort of thing devils and a devil ally would too. Think about it. The Crimson Firebrand comes back a legend and a hero, Akil still serves his master and is rewarded and Baator gets rebuked for going a step too far."

Zaaman Rul listens to that, "It does sound like the overly convoluted scheme a desperate devil might unleash. I also can't imagine an efreet who would give up the Throne once obtained. He played the game for millions of years and finally won. Why would he give it all up?"

[Corwin]

"We don't know why, but by the same token you could say someone that powerful and impressive wouldn't have been dethroned by someone clearly less fitting to rule the efreet," Seira says with a shrug. "Let's go and be prominent and see what happens?"

[Anastasia]

Okay, any prep to that and any particular plan?

[Corwin]

We'll use our traveling spells except for Celestial Valor and Glorious Rally. No trickery, just the three of us traveling.

[Anastasia]

"The first is known as Hufrat Alsf, where the Crimson Firebrand created a flame chasm with a single strike of his sword," Zaaman Rul states. "It is a place of pilgrimage for those loyal to the City of Brass, and those who study the legend of the Crimson Firebrand." His lip curls, "Those who adore conquest and strength will flock there. Tyrants."

[Corwin]

"Let's go see if there's increased pilgrimage or any religious signs!"

[Anastasia]

It is flame. Fire burns around you as the three of you appear. Before you is a vast open plane where only light flames sizzle. Here great and tall towers rise, yet they are dwarfed by what lies in the center. A great chasm of fire, in the shape of a gigantic rectangle far larger than even Aurora itself. A chasm where pure crimson flames rise as high into the sky as you can see and farther yet, a fire that burns with a heat you feel even from here.

Amid these buildings you can glimpse primarily efreet, at least on a glance. Wealthy by and large, well dressed and with various bits of expensive jewelry worn, as well as scimitars on their belts.

"Welcome to Hufrat Alsf," Zaaman Rul declares.

[Corwin]

"I could match it with magic, but that's pretty impressive," Seira notes. "Has anyone replicated the feat after him, even in a diminished form?"

[Anastasia]

"No efreet dares, not even a Grand Sultan," Is the answer from Zaaman Rul. "Those fires will burn no efreet, but they will burn any enemy of the efreet empire."

Amaryl looks up and up and up, lost in her view of that pyre. "That must be a divine work," she agrees at last, "Was the Crimson Firebrand a wizard or a creator of great magical works?"

"He was a warrior of sword and strength," Zaaman Rul notes, "He did this as he was. It is said that Fire obeyed him, that Fire even feared him. Rubbish." A burning scoff, "But it is undeniable that he was the greatest of the efreet."

[Corwin]

Dominion over Fire and Strength could accomplish this just as well as divine magic, Seira muses. "Have you been here before, in person?" she asks Zaaman Rul.

[Anastasia]

"As a child," Zaaman Rul states, "Unknown and unrecognized. Not this time."