Okay, this sort of thing is usually fairly fancy. So a few questions.
1. How are you dressing for it? Feel free to describe since it may matter.
2. Are you taking anyone with you?
3. Any precautions taken before you go?
She'll go with the jellyfish/squid themed dress she wore to visit the Padisha, albeit this one more pink than blue so no one can accuse her of just wearing the same outfit! She'll go by herself since she knows she's there to be gawked at and so can't have the luxury of a date to hide away with. And no precautions beyond her usual buffing routine (said routine now also includes summoning Garm and Fenris, who'll both be given water breathing when they come along with her, though they'll probably wait in the stables or whatever equivalent her host has for animals)
When your transport arrives, you find it's a whipcord slender marid. He's dressed in turban, a dark blue tunic and pants. They're well made and he has a clasp with a symbol of a starfish on it. He takes one look at the three of you and raises an eyebrow. His voice is dry, sarcastic.
"A prism pixie and if I don't miss my mark, two hounds of the hunt." The marid eyes both of you, "Are they coming as well?"
The hounds are there to show that she's exalted sylvan nobility, but clearly some people make a living out of being hard to impress. "I'm sure my host has a place for guests to stable their sharks and seahorses, you needn't worry about entertaining my dogs," Afina answers, hovering in the air with two gigantic hounds of shimmering coat flanking her. "Afina Devilsbane, a pleasure to meet you."
"Lucas," The man says shortly, "Thrilling," he says dryly, "We have waterless stables if they need it. Well, we do after that horrid business with the sea tigers."
"They're quite adapted for aquatic environments, but since you have those stables we may as well put them to use," Afina nods. "Are we travelling by Gate or Plane Shift?"
"A gate, of course," Lucas says, "Do I look like a commoner barbarian?" He says that with no real heat. "For nobility, you lack a stick firmly lodged up your ass."
"I'm working on it, I've only recently been elevated," Afina confesses.
"Good. I know several forests if you need help finding a stick," Lucas says, bone dry as he begins to wave his hands and chant.
"I'll manage somehow," she says, letting him cast his spell.
The dryest of chuckles as a gate opens. "After you, ma'am."
Letting Garm and Fenris precede her, Afina flies through the gate!
The portal is wet.
You step into a dry room. A simple room with stone carvings of sirens all about, as well as a stairway leading down, soon submerged. Behind you is a double door.
"Our courtesy room to those who need to cast water breathing spells or have companions who need to stay behind." Lucas snaps his fingers, the rear doors opening and a pair of elven servants emerging. They bow in perfect sync.
"Take care of Lady Afina's hounds," Lucas says, "These are not common hounds but the companions of the Lord of the Hunt. Treat them with the utmost respect."
"Yes, sir," Both say at the same time, each gently leading a hound on back.
She nods approvingly at Lucas's warning. "It would be a bother to get the bloodstains out," she agrees.
"Quite," Lucas says as he leads you down the stairs. "Do you require time to change or freshen up, Lady Afina?"
Afina briefly fixes her hair, or at least what pokes out from under her hat. "No, I'm ready as I am."
Down you go. You swim along and down, to an underwater hall. Here marid mix and chat, a classical party. Everything's the same except it's underwater - servants swim instead of walk, the dress is light to account for being underwater and made up for with jewelry rather than cloth and so forth. There's easily over a hundred marid here - ?
"Ahem," Lucas clears her throat, "Assembled lords and ladies, Shahzada and all friends. I introduce Lady Afina Devilsbane, General of the Aurora." His voice carries far better than it should, surely heard all across the hall.
She's here to provide entertainment and diversion, though not in her usual way of dancing and such. So upon being presented Afina will meet the first person to approach her or otherwise go help herself to the hors d'oeuvres.
"Afina!" Shahzada Badahur approaches you before anyone else can even move, and once he does, no one dares move to intercept him. "Good to see you again. I see you're taking a shine to marid life and culture."
Excellent, a familiar face! "Fortune favours me to see you here, Shahzada. It's a pleasure to see you again," Afina swims over to meet him and then curtseys. "I must thank you for introducing me to Bubbles at the Padisha's court as well, she's been a great help and we've grown close."
"You're welcome," He says, "I'm surprised she's not with you."
"Well I'm coming here as a favour to Guluba after she helped me out of a tight spot recently," Afina answers. "It wouldn't be fair for me to bring along company of my own to monopolise my time when I'm sure there's many others she'd like me to meet."
Speaking of, she's coming over, "Afina!" she calls, burbling and bubbly. "Oh, thank you, Shahzada, but Afina really must meet everyone!"
Afina gives Badahur a wry look before nodding to younger marid. "Well then, why don't you show me around, Guluba?"
What's going to follow is a lot of hobnobbing. What's your goal and general attitude here?
My general attitude is to be gregarious and welcoming (I may indulge some alcoholic social lubricant to help that), my goal is to provide everyone that listens with lots of interesting stories about life as a fey assassin, a general of Aurora, a magical artisan, and a fashionably prismatic pixie. I won't get into grim and grisly details about the fall of Lifasa unless someone really digs for that story, the idea is to keep conversation light and amusing.
Diplo check then, +2 circumstance bonus.
[19:32] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+20 diplo Rei junior do me a solid
[19:32] <Rei-Junior> Ebiris rolled 1d20+20 diplo Rei junior do me a solid --> [ 1d20=4 ]{24}
What happens next is a few rather boring hours. It's petty socialization and small talk, soul draining in a stupefying way. Lots of the same questions and curiosities, inquiries about your nature and Aurora dominating. The booze does help and makes thing more pleasant the more you drink of it. One such encounter...
"Ah, General Afina," This marid is dressed in a green military uniform, medals and ribbons pinned to his chest. He is strong, square jawed and muscled. He carries a trident on his back, even in a situation like this. "Inspector Shamza of the Royal Dolphin Infantry." He offers you his hand, his other firmly wrapped around a mug of booze. Whatever the booze is, water doesn't mix with it and it doesn't leak out. The taste is only so so, though.
Indeed, some sort of fruity gel-based alcohol suspension would be a far better method of getting sauced under the waves. "A pleasure, Inspector," she says with a tepid smile. "I take it the dolphin part is iconographic, as it's not the dolphin cavalry?"
"Just so," The Inspector takes a drink and says, "Dolphins are inferior to shark mounts anyway. We specialize in scouting and recon through individuals and small groups. How does Aurora do that?"
"Coure eladrin, air elementals, and pixies," she gestures at herself with her free hand, "Form our mainstays for that role. Stealthy, and quick enough to get out of trouble if discovered too early. In fact let me tell you about how they fared during our assault on the Burning Aeropolis..." she says, launching into a story about how their lighter elements fared in pathfinding for the heavier forces during that battle.
Make a Diplo check, unless you have a higher ranked skill related to storytelling or speaking. If so, you can use that instead.
[20:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+18
[20:19] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 19 > [d20=1]
You get polite nods and patience as you weave your story. "Interesting," The Inspector says.
Make a Sense Motive check here too.
[20:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9
[20:22] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 29 > [d20=20]
Afina's pretty sure that's a polite way of saying that he is uninterested and finds your storytelling lacking. Severely so.
Well tough for him! She's here as a guest, not a dancer, she's even going above and beyond by trying to tell people interesting anecdotes. "Of course when the Nessian pit fiend appeared, it was a bit much for our mere recon elements to handle. Fortunately I was there and had that thing dismembered in short order. They like to try dispels and overpowered fireballs, but neither of those are much threat to someone like me, and his hide parted easily enough to my blade, same as any other devil's. That about wraps up the battle, really. Once something like that happens even devils are going to lose heart. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Inspector."
As you walk away, your hostess whispers to you, "Sorry, he's a bit of a jerk if he doesn't like you right off. Win a few important battles and he thinks he's untouchable. Ass."
"At least he wasn't rude about it," Afina murmurs back as they go off to mingle with hopefully more appreciative audiences.
A few hours pass. It's chatting, smiling, small talk and more. Afina's the flavor of the hour, virtually everyone coming up to you. One such discussion...
"Ah, Lady Afina." A smiling male marid greets you, plump and florid, cheeks a deep and dark blue. He wears enough jewelry to buy a nation and reeks of sweet smelling perfume. "Payam. Yes, I am THAT Payam," he smiles and waves it aside, "Tell me, how much seed money would I need to put into your enterprises to see a 25% profit?"
"I'm sorry, Payam," Afina demurs, "But our Crusade is not run as a private enterprise. All funds acquired are put directly back into the cause of freeing Lifasa and eliminating devil-kind wherever we come across them, so an investor looking for profit would need to look elsewhere. I told the representatives of Union Bank much the same when they approached me before."
"What? Nonsense. You're sitting on a gold mine," Payam says, "A pixie of your talent could be making a fortune each year." He pauses to frown a little bit and lean in towards you, "Tell me you at least have a private money vault. I can't imagine you're worth less than 500,000 gold, even with such an attitude."
"Probably not, Payam," Your hostess speaks up, "Not everyone only sees the luster of gold."
"All the gold in Mammon's vault means little to me so long as my world suffers under the yoke of devils," Afina shakes her head. "If I liquidated my belongings then I'd be worth far more than that sum, but better a blade in the hand than gold in a vault considering my lifestyle."
"All the..." Payam shakes his head, wandering off.
Once he's gone, your hostess adds in a quiet voice, "Sorry He's a bore and most people don't like him, but he's so rich that he gets invited everywhere."
"It's hard to bridge such different mentalities," Afina agrees.
After a few hours, at least you have a good buzz going. The booze is top notch and that's when Lucas comes out. "Ahem." he calls, "Lords and Ladies, if you'd be so kind as to swim out with me, we have an amusing diversion for all of you."
Afina doesn't rush out because that would unseemly, she just goes with the flow as everyone goes to watch this amusing diversion.
You head out into a lawn of seaweed, a great field amid the palatial manor you emerged from. Farther up and ahead is the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls, looming over all the city. But that's not what's important.
Ahead is a throne. A dozen marid soldiers stand guard around it. Sitting on it is the Padisha of the marid, a coy, tight smile on her face. As the nobles come forth, "My people and honored vassals," she begins, "We do not apologize for interrupting your festivities, for it is our right and we have a good reason. Today, a devil infiltrator was discovered within the Citadel."
A pause which is taken by all, gasps and murmurs rippling through our crowd. "My people, you are protected. The devil is bound as we speak and is no longer a threat." The Padisha snaps her fingers. It appears in front of all of you, ahead of you but before the throne. It is a gelugon, bound in glimmering strands of water that pin its body like rope. "General Afina of Aurora, come forth. This is one of your areas of expertise. While merely cracking the devil's mind like an egg is not beyond our power, we prefer to leave the honor to her."
Well this is interesting alright. Afina swims towards the Padisha and stops next to the Gelugon before curtsying. "Maharaja of the Ocean, am I to understand you wish for me to interrogate the devil? Or would you rather it be disposed of immediately?" Interrogation isn't her skill, but disposal she can do alright!
Amid all the murmurs of your guests, the Padisha smiles indulgently. "Do as you will with it, so long as I find out why it was here. Show us Aurora's power, and entertain us if you can. We are watching."
The gelugon gives you a dazed look, but one that still shows dull disgust and hatred.
"An interesting challenge you put to me, oh Princess of Coral," Afina says, drawing back a little and rubbing her chin as she studies the gelugon. "Aurora takes its fair share of devil prisoners, though our standard practice is simply to use magic so as to rip the required answers from their minds, or turn them pliable so they speak without reservation." She swims a slow circle around the devil as she considers. "Torture is of course fruitless, but particularly so against beings so inured to suffering. And appeals to better nature? Hardly."
She stops in front of the ice devil now. "But there is perhaps something you'll admit to. Who is your superior, devil? Who will punish you for speaking to me? Who will seek my death for interfering with his plans?"
Just hoping he'll spill it like that?
It's worth a shot, I have a plan beyond that but him naming his boss would make things neater.
Although I'll take 10 on 49 for planes for names of particular devils that might want to spy on the padisha, and pit fiends in their service.
The devil naturally doesn't reply.
Hoo boy, that's a complex one for Afina. There's a few angles that this could come from. For the rank and file, there's the Dark Ministry and the Denomination of Immortal Diplomacy. Put simply, they're the devils who deal with unofficial diplomacy (and occasionally official) with various immortal powers who are neutral or opposed to Hell. Most likely this would be the business of one general or another in Hell's machinery there. Unfortunately that's lots of known possibilities and probably just as many unknown ones.
Further, the acts and arms of various high nobles and peerages of Hell could be involved. It's known Levistus has a natural interest in water, while Mephisto also has some interests there. Not to mention various lesser nobles that may be acting for them or their own interests.
In other words, you need a lot more to narrow it down.
"No?" Afina shrugs and turns to her audience. "Sometimes they like to brag about how Zquumaj or whoever will punish you horribly for your interference," she explains. "As I said, the most efficient way is to simply take what you want from the creature's brain with magic, but I understand if that lacks the necessary spectacle." She turns back to the Padisha, "Parent of the Waves, if you will allow me a half hour to make preparations, I believe I can make the process of inquisition sufficiently entertaining."
"Of course," The Padisha says, "If you need assistance, you merely need to ask."
"If it behoves the Pearl of the Sea, a twenty foot wide air bubble over the sand here would be ideal," Afina asks, that saving her a bit of effort. Once that's done she proceeds to draw a magic circle against evil calling diagram in the sand, only taking a few seconds for her level of skill.
DC is 20 for this, it takes longer if you take 10 or 20 but I hardly need to do that. The roll is made secretly, so my mod is +41 if it matters.
Once that's done she proceeds to perform a greater planar binding spell to call forth a pit fiend. Going by names she's seen in various interrogations back in Aurora she elects to choose one mentioned as holding high office in the Dark Ministry.
I assume between interrogation reports and planar knowledge I can pluck a name fitting my requirements from that. Using empower spell so will DC of 34 to resist being called. I'll infuse a spell empowered dimensional anchor into the calling diagram the round before he's summoned. 10 minute casting time, hence why I asked for time to prepare since this may take a couple tries.
No problem.
> roll 1d20+25
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 26 > [d20=1]
Amazingly, it works the first time. Fire fills the open air as a pit fiend appears, clad in glimmering chains of magic as you bind it into the circle. It roars - a sounds that curdles the water all around the sphere - and glares at you with absolute hate.
"Ah, how fortuitous. The calling went easier than expected," Afina says happily, bowing to the Padisha. "I needn't tarry at your pleasure any longer, Princess of Coral."
"Hello, Duruzel," she then greets the pit fiend in Infernal, floating in the water just outside his summoning circle. "I have summoned you here for a simple purpose. This lowly gelugon," she indicates the ice devil, "Was found spying in the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls. Your role is simply to exercise your authority over it so that any questions as to its purpose may be answered. As immortal diplomacy is one of your principal functions, I hardly think we need to barter for this service."
Opposed charisma checks here, with a bonus of +0 to +6 depending on bribes. Since I offered none, that doesn't really apply!
[20:47] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15+25 opposed charisma moment of prescience
[20:47] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 51 > [d20=11]
No roll needed since it can't win the check any way.
The devil roars - a sound like the Pit itself screaming in fury. Your magic circle wavers for a mere moment but holds, the fiend erupting in fires that are contained within.
"Auerias! General Auerias!" The fiend howls in the voice of the damned.
should that name mean anything? Taking 10 for 49 on planes.
Auerias is a powerful general in the Infernal Denomination of Immortal Diplomacy, Diplomatic Branch of Ambassadorial Relations, The Corps of the Lost.
Once you pare away all the titles and diabolical bullshit, it boils down to this. He's a head diplomat under the Dark Eight, the pit fiends who run the Dark Ministry and run much of Hell's infernal business. So high up but not the highest.
Incidentally, your knowledge also tells you its odd for him to be doing this. He's about open or disceet diplomacy, not that level of spying. Granted all devils gather information as a matter of course, but it's a bit outside of his normal bailiwick.
"Shouting for your boss won't help you," Afina says, tutting at the pit fiend and pointing at the gelugon. "I want to hear the story out of his mouth. Or mandibles if you like. So make it happen."
One problem here, Afina. You got the requested service out of the pit fiend. It's free to leave now. You'd know this since you've used this spell and have ample K:A ranks, so a heads up so you don't look like a fool.
I didn't get anything. I ordered it to make the gelugon talk. It shouted helplessly for its boss instead.
Oh wow, I completely misread your request then. Okay, strike the last few lines, though I'll keep them there since the info's out and will come up anyway.
The devil roars - a sound like the Pit itself screaming in fury. Your magic circle wavers for a mere moment but holds, the fiend erupting in fires that are contained within.
With a voice of gritted teeth and pain, the pit fiend hisses, "Answer...the...questions. That's an order," The pit fiend snaps.
The gelugon looks on in fury as a few marid laugh, attention focusing in sheer, overwhelming hate. "I will answer as commanded," It grinds out.
"The benefits of a hierarchical system," Afina says for the elucidation of the marid, turning towards the gelugon. "State your mission in the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls and name the one who sponsored it."
"My...mission is to obtain general information for General Auerias about the marid disposition and culture." The gelugon reports.
The Padisha smiles coldly at that, while the nobles talk and titter amid themselves.
"To what end?" Afina asks. "Feel free to speculate if the General didn't educate you."
"I do not know. I would speculate he is planning on focusing attention here. The efforts of the Emerald Division have been more unfortunate than usual. Perhaps he seeks to bolster the Brass division to look better to Dark Minister Zapan." The gelugon says this crisply, all while he glares death at you.
"Mmhmm," Afina hums, speaking for her audience, "And of course in the long term the overriding goal of every single baatezu plot from the smallest to the grandest is nothing less than placing all of Creation under devil tyranny. Whether you're an isolated prime world or a great power of the elemental poles, they always desire the same result."
Then back to the gelugon she asks, "Who did you have supporting you in the Citadel? Who had you compromised into aiding you?"
"Aluse, an elven visitor. Bada, a marid stable master. Hamid, a minor functionary to Shahzada Bijan."
The Padisha merely snaps her fingers and a marid guard rises, bows deeply and vanishes.
"My people, these three are being apprehended as we speak. You may continue, Afina." The Padisha says.
Meanwhile the nobles watch and listen.
Afina nods gratefully to the Padisha and then returns her attention to the gelugon. "What information have you passed to your master thus far?"
"Five reports of general information." He begins to recite reports. It mostly sounds like trivial information that boils down to 'here's something while we both know I'm setting up and in my grace period'.
It's certainly not of any import to Afina but it's not for her benefit she's doing this. "What contingencies are in place in the event of your capture or death? Who will step in to fill your role?"
"I do not know. Another agent will be sent or activated, that is standard protocol," The devil reports.
"Is there anything else you wish to be enlightened about by this devil, Maharaja of the Waves?" Afina asks, turning to the Padisha now.
"No," The Padisha says, gesturing. From the waters a blue trident appears before you, "I don't feel like getting up. Execute this trash for me."
Afina reaches out to grab the trident and studies it a moment.
Is the trident appropriately pixie-sized?
It is once you grab it, shrinking down.
She prefers lighter weapons as a rule, but one can hardly deny the Padisha can she? Hopefully it's holy otherwise it won't be able to actually kill a gelugon. "Your part is done, begone," she dismisses the pit fiend, clearing her summoning circle as she swims behind the gelugon before driving the trident through its neck with both hands!
Presumably its helpless right now so I can coup it. Damage would be 1d6+9+1d6 (last is sneak attack) as a maximised crit for a coup so 36 damage before any enhancements the weapon has. DC 46 fort or dead.
No need, the trident is beyond such petty things.
> roll 1d20 needs a 20
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 6 > [d20=6]
The gelugon's body is sucked into the trident, leaving not a speck behind. A moment later it's in the Padisha's hand and sized for her. "The gelugon's soul will not be allowed to return to Hell. Such would be...insufficient for the penalty it has earned. Thank you, Lady Afina," The Padisha smiles, "You continue to surprise and amuse us."
Afina bows deeply. "It is my pleasure to have brought some entertainment out of such proceedings, oh Emir of All Currents."
The Padisha smiles and speaks aloud, "Know that you are protected, our people. Baator's arrogance is little more than comedy before us. Go and enjoy the rest of your celebration in peace."
At the same time, you hear the Padisha's voice whisper in your ear, "You remind me of The Artist's work, the rainbow on the canvas of a pixie, but his touch is only faint on you. How curious and how lovely."
is the Artist a pseudonym of Renbuu?
You have the K:P to be unable to fail this. Yes. His titles are The Lord of Colors, The Ever-Changing and The Artist.
"Many painters have touched my canvas," Afina says softly. Wait that sounds quite suggestive, doesn't it? Not how she meant it! "Renbuu and Baleruk were inspirations, but I'm my own piece in the end."
The Padisha takes 10 on her Sense Motive check for a total (after various bonuses) of 112.
"A unique piece?" The Padisha murmurs, "You give me more reason to want you as mine and mine alone."
"Just as I've had many influences, so too do I have many motivations and loyalties. No mean feat for one to cleave through all of them for herself," Afina says, still speaking quietly. Though she is flattered. And still unsure if she's being hit on or if the Padisha wants her in the same way Lathander wanted her; as an exceptionally powerful and fabulous servant.
The Padisha speaks without speaking, sound despite her lips being still. "Swear fealty to me once your world is free and I shall make you a princess of the marid. Consider this offer." The Padisha says, "You will have all you ever could dream of and far more you could not."
Afina mutely nods. She'll consider it, and Lifasa's freedom is still a ways off so it doesn't hurt to keep her options open. Though unless her circumstances change greatly she can't imagine herself accepting.
Once that is aid and you nod to it, the Padisha and company vanish. Once gone, you see that save for your hostess, the other marid are gone.
"Oh...oh...the Padisha clearly favors you," she gushes, "I know Aurora's famous and important, but that's remarkable!"
"The marid are my favourite genie race for a reason," Afina smiles back at Guluba. "And this party turned out more interesting than I expected, you can invite me back anytime."
Guluba smiles, "Thank you! I will!"
Good to move onto your next todo?
Yeah, think Jaela has a daemon she wants to gank. Can invite Bubbles along for that.
Double date time it is. I'll move you along once Jaela finishes up in her room in a few posts at most.
Closing this one.