Thus you walk the halls of Hope's Landing with Barachiel. Well, flutter, as your case may be.
"I would hear your full thoughts and measure of the Great Khan," Barachiel says, "As well as any insight into his motives, no matter how shaky, small or speculative." He walks besides you, hands clasped behind his back.
"It was interesting." Moore says to begin, "He had six other dao with him that all wore masks. Do you know anything about those?"
He continues on. "He was very quick to agree to free the xorn, which was surprising to me. His motivation in all of this is... mm." He pauses here to consider. "It feels to me like he was dragged into this war out of necessity and not out of any want or love for the efreet. I don't know the politics in play with regards to Hell, but would you say that the dao have less influence on them from Hellish interests, or about the same as the efreet?"
"Less," Barachiel says, "For the masked men, it is a tradition used when a Khan wishes for his aides to be anonymous - including hiding their natures. Masked dao altered by an ability of the Great Khan, which provides them near impenetrable disguises. It is usually a defensive measure, a particular application of the talent for illusions and alterings most genies have."
Moore nods. "He at least wanted to seem like he had some trusted aides, then." He says. "I think they're a lot more desperate to get out of this war than even the Sultan is -- mainly because they don't have the backing he might have. He was very quick to accept freeing the xorn... but the treaty's stipulation that the Cauldron and we more or less leave them alone is interesting to me too -- what if they were to choose to want to ally with us, for example? It begs a lot of questions."
The halls meander on - bright with light from above, as Barachiel considers, "It may be so, or that the Great Khan has his own reasons. It may be he sees a failing venture and is willing to pay to avoid becoming entangled in a planar war. It may be factors we cannot know right now, it may even be to our woe and his gain if he gains peace. Seek the answers to this, should you gain any insight from others connected to Earth or related planes, such as Crystalle."
"That was the other part -- their stipulation in the agreement to have a separate meeting about my relationship with him." Moore says. "I'm not comfortable letting them dictate what sort of relationship I have with other planar entities, but it could be that it was just something thrown in there to make us waste time even discussing it."
"It could be," Barachiel says, "Unfortunately, the negotiations did not go long enough to discern that." He pauses at a window, looking up. "Do not let them dictate, even if it forces you to spend capital there you would elsewhere."
Moore nods. "It sounds like there'd be more negotiations anyway, which I would be honored if you would attend when it occurs."
He turns to look out the same window. "All in all, I didn't detect any duplicity from the Great Khan when he was speaking about things. I did expect more resistance."
The mountain above is bright, the view straight up unimpeded from this angle. It seems to be brighter than ever, chasing away any shadows.
"Then push towards an agreement we can live with," Barachiel agrees, "I may attend the next meeting. Now...what was your opinion of Seira's performance, as well as Donyas's?"
"I think Seira pushed them a little hard on slavery." Moore says. "I understand that that's her focus, and perhaps it was a tactic, but the whole point of these talks was to get the ultimate goal of the efreet penned in more, so I was a bit surprised at her insistence. At the same time, that's her passion for all of this, so If she hadn't, I think I'd have been more surprised. Ah... Donyas didn't have much of a chance to do anything, admittedly, I think we were both letting Seira handle the matter and be support when needed."
A smile after that. "He did help clarify a few matters, so I think it was good that he was there."
Barachiel listens to all of that, "You've done well. Continue to do so," Barachiel says, turning back to you. "There is much more to be done yet." Then he is gone, leaving you by yourself.
Moore will go outside to find the others -- they have a trip to Mineral in store for them again!
It's simple enough to gather the party, Kaja asking the obvious question.
"Well?" Kaja asks, "How'd it go?"
"It went well. We have a ceasefire for the time being with the dao." Moore says. "I've been asked to go get Lord Crystalle's opinion on the matter, so that's where we're going next."
"A safe journey," Jetina smiles, "This should be quick and easy."
"No reason to be lax," Cresiel says, falling in step just ahead of you. "We have enemies beyond the genies."
"Yes, agreed. I'm waiting for them to make their move, on that note." Moore says, as with a gesture he takes them back to Mineral!
Greater Plane Shift, if it matters. No prep needed.
Give me a d100, and not for the reason you're thinking.
[22:33] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[22:33] <Penuche2> Nephrite invokes Penuche's magic: < 61 > [d100=61]
You appear in Mineral. Unremarkable by itself.
You feel an odd jostle as you do, like you bumped into something on the way.
"Did anyone else feel that?" Moore asks.
He immediately tries to think of what might have caused it! Could something like a teleport beacon or something similar do that, perhaps?
He will take 10 on Spellcraft for 86, if there's any magic immediately in the area that's odd or anything like that.
Not sure if any other knowledge checks would be appropriate -- I assume he'd know if Crystalle has the ability to keep people out of Mineral, but would anyone else be able to affect it?
Gimme K:A real quick.
That would be 105, then.
Did something try to interrupt or scramble your teleport? It's the only thing you can think of, or some kind of unusual interference. It's plausible you grazed against some sort of odd planar energies that 'bumped' your teleportation, either when you touched the Astral in it or when you arrived on Mineral.
Moore makes a sour face. For now he'll continue on to Crystalle who may know more about the phenomenon.
You are admitted in without hesitation, none blocking your way. This time the courtyard is filled with dozens of clusters of crystals, each resonating with a pale blue light. In them and from them you feel Crystalle's presence, all at once surrounding the party.
"Lord Crystalle," Xandra says, "Thank you for seeing us."
Moore smiles and offers a bow. "Lord Crystalle, I wish to bring you news of the negotiations Lady Seira has myself were part of with the dao. There are some lingering questions Lord Barachiel would like your opinion on, as would I, if you would share them."
Instead of just repeating everything himself, Moore will use some magic to replay the events!
He would like to use Permanent Image for this, which I feel like could do what he wants here as long as he's focusing on modifying it and maintaining it.
If that won't work then let me know and he will just do a fade to black recap.
Just a quick summary of the questions you want answered is fine.
In that case:
"We're particularly interested in whether you have any knowledge or opinion on why the dao are being so willing to broker peace. I have suspicions about them being so willing to back out of things at present. I would also personally ask if you know why they may be wanting to try and target our diplomatic relations." Moore explains, after the summary is given.
The various crystal clusters hum, a loud pitched noise that resonate. In that hum you can hear the following.
"Dao politics are as dark as the delve they call home. The war is likely getting in the way of some political play, or something else to their benefit. Otherwise they would not leave so quickly." Is the answer you get.
"So you expect that, on the surface, this may help us in the war against the efreet, but as far as the dao are concerned, it will benefit them more in the long run?" Moore asks, making sure he clarifies!
"They have some reason or angle that benefits them," Crystalle agrees.
Moore nods. "That makes sense. They were too eager to agree to this. With that in mind, what do you make of their request to have a meeting about our relationship? As far as I'm concerned, I don't have any intention of changing what we've fostered together for their benefit at all... even if they tried to push some sort of agenda onto Celestia because of it."
"I do not know. They may wish to use you as a means to meet me on better terms," Crystalle continues, "It makes little sense otherwise."
Moore nods. "It's about the only thing that makes sense. I will keep you appraised and, for what it's worth, do not intend to agree to any terms of theirs without speaking to you first."
A breath in and out there as he considers.
"One... other thing that is a bit of a curiosity to me. When I came to Mineral, just a bit ago, I felt something... ah..." He wiggles his fingers to dismiss his Permanent Image first. "It felt almost like either a teleportation interdiction or redirection. If something like that was being used here, I'm assuming you would know about it, correct?"
"I do not sense anything in Mineral," Crystalle agrees, "It was not from here."
Moore nods.
If that's the case, was it just random? Hmm...
"Thank you, as always, for your time." Moore says, bowing low. "Is there anything you have need of my services for?"
Crystalle hums loudly, a sonic pitch that echos about the courtyard.
"Yes," Crystalle says, "I have need of a Ring of Elemental Command for Air Elementals. Do you have one?"
"No, but I will procure one." Moore says. "I'm sure we can liberate one from somewhere, if need be."
"I will wait for it," Crystalle agrees, "For such a thing of Air is rare here."
Moore nods. "I will return when I have one."
If he isn't stopped when he turns to leave, he will try and Greater Plane Shift everyone back to Hope's Landing!
Getting back is easy.
Kaja rubs his ear as in the meantime, Cresiel says, "Those rings are not trinkets. They're expensive and rare, as well as powerful."
Xandra adds, "Will we seek one aggressively, or merely be vigilant for one to cross our path?"
"Well, we can't just go beat up every evil dragon and hope to find one in its lair." Moore says. "I'll see if Melia can spend some time looking for one. This seems more like a favor, than a direct request, anyway."
A smile after that. "I'm sure we could go find some evil dragons if we looked carefully enough, though."
Kaja's smile grows by the moment.
"It's good to have a passion," Jetina quietly says, "But one that doesn't make you look so bloodthirsty, please?"
Kaja just chuckles and adds, "Now then, are we still on duty or do we have leisure time to see to other duties?"
"You're all free to do as you please." Moore says with a smile. "We'll likely hear something in a day or so, especially since the Sultan gave us three days for him to consider the treaty. So rest up for now."
If he isn't immediately grabbed by something he'll go and just fill Barachiel in on what Crystalle said, limited as it was.
Under the circumstances, meeting with Barachiel is as simple as wishing to. In that moment he is besides you, "I will hear your report now," he declares.
Moore bows his head. "Lord Crystalle believes that the reason the dao are being so forthcoming is that this ultimately is to their benefit more than anything." Moore explains. "It is likely that they have something else happening in the shadows. Further, he believes that they want to try and use me and our relationship with him to better their own in some manner."
"It is within our own estimations," Barachiel says, "Does he have any idea who or what is benefiting them?"
"He did not say, only that the war was likely getting in the way of whatever it was they were scheming." Moore says.
Barachiel considers, hands behind his back as he looks up at the light above.
"We can't discount the possibility of the dao having another war prepared, one they've kept from us," Barachiel says at last.
"The longest shadows are cast by the brightest light, hm?" Moore asks. "It feels to me like Hell has been too silent in all of this, but... I know trying to understand their intentions is a fool's journey."
A pause.
"A efreet sultan loyal to Hell. A dao bribed into cooperation with Baator," Barachiel says, "All with minimal cost and coin to the Lord of the Ninth." His voice is grim, "It feels too much like a plan Hell would unleash. Should the war go in the efreet's favor, throw in fully to finish it and force a treaty. Should it go poorly, supplant the Grand Sultan with one far more cooperative, and give the dao something that draws them into Hell's orbit in exchange for the concessions they'd have to make in any treaty."
"I'm sure they never planned for this war to break out to begin with." Moore says. "But I'm sure they knew how to exploit it... that's the only thing any of them do know how to do well."
"More, they'd suffer no backlash with Akil in power," Barachiel continues, "Because why would he care that they manipulated the last Sultan? At worst for them, slavery is a disease that can always recur in time. What's thousands of years to Asmodeus?"
Moore nods, and he takes a breath in. "We can't let things end up happening like that. If the Sultan ends up falling into that sort of situation..." He shakes his head. "We simply have to be ready to counter whatever it is they're planning, thousands of years or no."
That gets Barachiel to smile. "Welcome to eternity, Moore." He looks back down to you, "These wars are the exceptions to the rules, and instead we usually work in ranges of centuries, millennia and eons."
Barachiel's smile bolsters you, a palpable warmth and love filling you. It's like being under a warm blanket with a loved one on a cold day. It leaves you feeling refreshed, comforted, a feeling of absolute compassion. "It also shows us how exceptional Aurora's victory was. So often even when we defeat Hell, they move to gain from their loss or win in spite of that victory."
Moore nods, as a smile breaking out over his face that he didn't realize he needed.
"We can make a miracle happen again." Moore says. "I believe it... we can bring hope, because it's something we believe it. Hell can never understand the true meaning of hope, and that's why they'll never be able to truly win, even for all their scheming and machinations."
"Never let that hope go," Barachiel agrees, "As long as you hold that and keep your heart pure, you'll go far."
Moore nods. "Understood. Thank you for your counsel."
Good here, Moore?
yep
Okay, going to get all of you three together now for round two of DIPLOMACY WARS. New topic time.