[22:25] <Kotono> On returning, Muirfinn and Ithea easily enough find Jaela and Afina in the library...
[22:27] <Ithea> "Been a while since I've seen you, Jaela. How'd your many quests all go?" Ithea says, greeting Jaela after waving to the pixie. "Oh, and I don't think you've had a chance to meet Muirfinn yet? We've had a bunch of tortles and catfolk join Aurora's ranks recently."
[22:29] <Muirfinn> "Ah, yes. Good to meet you, Jaela." Muirfinn gives a courtly bow from the waist, showing off the decorations on his shell. "Your friends speak highly of you."
[22:29] <Afina> Having met Muirfinn herself already, Afina gives him a nod as well as Ithea. "We just got back from the plane of Water, where we found a fountain of youth. Tepen is young again, and Vul'lath was able to safely leave the Astral plane and join us."
[22:29] <Jaela> "Yo," Jaela greets Ithea back, for once without her eyepatch and with both eyes in proper working order. "Ring got reforged. Got Kascha back safely. Afina an' I got the Water of Youth, so Vul'lath is safely aboard. Tepen became a hunk. Success, success, success, unexpected success."
[22:30] * Jaela glances at Muirfinn, then. "No shit? Well, nice to meet'cha, then!"
[22:31] * Ithea blinks. "You've been busy!" she says, wondering about the 'hunk' part, but focusing on Kascha. "Kascha's back? Oh, that's great, I...I need to see her again then. I hope she'll forgive me for that mess in Marambor."
[22:32] <Jaela> "She was in terrible pain for ages after reviving. They bitched me out for it, you know, when I came to wish her well."
[22:32] * Muirfinn blinks at the brash language, but nods all the same. "You as well. It is good to hear that Tepen is doing better as well." Hearing that Kascha is back, Muirfinn adds, "Kascha has returned? That is also good to hear. I would speak with her, when she has the time. I feel responsible for her unfortunate situation."
[22:32] * Ithea grimaces at that.
[22:34] <Jaela> "Think she's taking it easy and hanging out with Arrel."
[22:35] <Ithea> "We'll both talk to her later. First I guess we should all catch up since we're finally together. As I was mentioning, on our end we got a bunch of catfolk and tortle recruits, stopped a devil plot on Earth, talked with Morniel, he wants to see about reorganizing Aurora's forces when we can all get together with him, oh and found out Sylvie's -really- pissed off Chauntea apparently," Ithea says.
[22:35] * Muirfinn nods. "I will speak with her once we are done here then. To you, I apologize. Their anger should be directed at myself, not you."
[22:36] <Ithea> "Morniel also suggests moving Aurora to another plane, I think we should head back to Ysgard probably, unless either of you prefer Elysium or some other place," Ithea adds.
[22:37] <Jaela> "Yeah well I'm her friend so I'm there for her." Jaela seems briefly irritated, and eagerly accepts the change of topic offered by Ithea. "I actually think we should go to Celestia. Tyr's got a second divine realm there or something. If we can get sanctuary for everyone onboard, it'd be best to go there and sort things out properly."
[22:38] <Afina> "Ysgard suits me," Afina allows. "I can go up and start piloting it shortly." Sylvie's issues were already expected to her. "Remember Morniel said taking Aurora to Celestia would be a bad idea? What with Baleruk and Annalise being here?"
[22:40] <Ithea> "Ysgard is probably good for the morale of our first bunch of recruits, that was one of the reasons I suggested it, though I don't really care between Ysgard or Celestia, I mostly just agree with Morniel that moving Aurora back to one of the heavens is something we should get done," Ithea comments.
[22:42] <Jaela> "We could make the portal mechanism work faster with only a few days of work, and then Gate into Ysgard and enlarge it enough to pass," Jaela muses, accepting their opinion. "How about it?"
[22:43] * Muirfinn nods. "I find that acceptable."
[22:43] * Jaela frowns again. "You're from the ocean? That sorta thing?"
[22:43] <Afina> "That would be quicker than moving on our own power to a portal," Afina agrees. "I need to rest after that trip to Water, so start tomorrow?"
[22:43] * Muirfinn nods his head. "We are a coastal species, yes."
[22:45] <Jaela> "Ever got to know any sirenes or mermaids while back on Lifasa?"
[22:45] <Muirfinn> "Every once in a while, they would pass through our territory. We would trade on occasion. Why, are you looking for something in particular?"
[22:46] <Jaela> "Afina learned something about... what was it, Operation Parch?" Jaela asks, consulting with the pixie. "Figure we could try to do something ourselves."
[22:47] <Muirfinn> "I'll help with whatever I can." Muirfin nods, the skin on his face scrunching up with determination!
[22:47] <Ithea> "I just met a mermaid a bit ago, though she wasn't from Lifasa, I think. Interesting girl, she was floating in the air, moving like she was swimming through it. Also gave me a free beauty makeover," Ithea comments. "Sorry, rambling. Anyway, do you need mermaids that are specifically from Lifasa? What's this operation about?"
[22:48] <Jaela> "You don't read the interrogation reports?" Jaela asks in genuine surprise.
[22:49] <Afina> "The oceans are where resistance to the devils is at its strongest, from reports from captured devils," Afina supplies. "I presume since most devils are ill suited to life underwater."
[22:49] <Ithea> "I usually do, but I haven't read the last few," Ithea admits. "I got distracted with everything in Marambor and didn't have a chance to catch up."
[22:49] * Muirfinn looks at Ithea. "There are interrogation reports?"
[22:49] <Afina> "Anything we learn from captured devils is recorded, so details can be checked later and not forgotten," Afina tells the tortle.
[22:50] <Jaela> "What it comes down to is that our people are fighting there, despite being outnumbered. And Afina's right. The devils suck at that sort of fight, but we're decent enough in any region."
[22:50] <Muirfinn> "Very efficient." Muirfinn nods.
[22:55] <Afina> "There are millions of devils that have tainted Lifasa directly or indirectly. However long it takes, every one of them will be found and punished," Afina swears.
[22:55] <Kotono> As the party talks, not so Elder Magi Tepen returns to the library. He nods once as he passes the party, going to get the book he left behind.
[22:56] <Jaela> "I think we need to either help the resistance however we can, with gear or by working together on an attack. Or if they want off world, we need to do that for them. Just think how much more they'd know about the situation! Or how they could help us get one of the higher ups into an ambush. A pit fiend would spill a lot more in interrogation!"
[22:59] * Ithea blinks at the sight of a youthful Tepen. "Meeeow~!" Ithea says in appreciation, finally understanding the comment about him turning into a hunk. She freezes as she realizes just -how- she reacted and groans. "If anybody tells Adrian I made that noise, they will die horribly. I get enough cat jokes without screwing myself over worse."
[22:59] <Jaela> "You can't take me."
[23:00] * Jaela coughs, then. "Fuck it, let's be serious! Let's help our guys on Lifasa!"
[23:00] * Muirfinn eyes Tepen and then Ithea. "...right."
[23:00] * Ithea is suddenly thankful for that blush job Blue did, as her cheeks are surely colored naturally on their own. "I will -poison- you if that's what it takes for Adrian not to find out," Ithea promises.
[23:00] <Kotono> Tepen pauses and blinks at Ithea, "I'm sorry?" he says, giving her a look. "Did you say something?"
[23:01] <Afina> Cocking her head at that odd little interlude, Afina nods after. "Once we've maneuvered Aurora onto Ysgard we can prepare an expedition. Land or water, we can manage either."
[23:01] <Ithea> "...nothing Tepen, you look good though!" Ithea says cheerfully, trying to mask her blush.
[23:02] <Jaela> "Anyone we could approach there?" Jaela asks Muirfinn. "Mermen leaders, that sorta stuff? The deeper under the sea they live, the better."
[23:03] <Muirfinn> "On Lifasa?" Muirfinn gives Jaela an incredulous look.
[23:03] <Kotono> Tepen merely blinks again before giving Ithea a look, reddening a little bit himself and making haste away.
[23:03] <Muirfinn> "Perhaps if the devils didn't get to them before now."
[23:06] <Afina> "Shall we assume that they didn't?" Afina asks, interjecting. "Who would be isolated enough but with power and influence to matter after the devils started consolidating their hold?"
[23:06] <Jaela> "Something to look into," Jaela says neutrally, and then leans back in her seat. "Another thing I wanted to try is getting Morniel to coordinate some attack against the devils. Doesn't matter where, just so long as our army actually fucking fights someone and doesn't feel all stale. I'm afraid the soldiers will get rusty at this rate! So I figured, we approach Morniel and ask him to ask Tyr if there are any devil enemies of the Triad he wants gone. Cooperation with them and we get to kill devils. How does that sound?"
[23:07] <Afina> "Ysgard offers good opportunities for practice, but better to shed real devil blood," Afina agrees levelly.
[23:08] <Ithea> "Sounds great to me, really," Ithea chips in.
[23:08] <Jaela> "We can only say so much that we're on their side where it counts. Deeds speak more and all that."
[23:08] * Jaela glances at Ithea and Afina. "Only thing I was wondering about, should we make it a joint army thing? Or just the Aurora? Both could have benefits."
[23:12] <Ithea> "Joint army could be the better option if we can coordinate them well. Since Morniel's already planning how we can restructure Aurora's forces for more efficiency, we wouldn't have too much more work, I think," Ithea muses on that.
[23:12] <Jaela> "...he is?"
[23:13] <Ithea> "I did mention this earlier, didn't I? He wants us to get together with him and plan it out," Ithea repeats.
[23:13] * Muirfinn nods. "He discussed with us earlier a few of his ideas."
[23:15] <Jaela> "Yeah whatever. Since it seems like the easiest option right now, how about we see if he's around?"