213. The Esthan Situation

[Corwin]

[20:22] <Kotono> Finding Alicia isn't too hard. Her, Antenora, Marie and Commander Oberuth are all waiting in the garrison. Once Seira enters, "More devils," The Commander makes a look of complete disgust, "Report?"
01[20:27] <Seira> "As you likely know, Sir, I've left for Pallanth to assist our ally, Latha, in hunting down a devil going by the name of Esthan," Seira speaks. "After learning of the subtle way he was manipulating the populace, something that I found to be unique and in itself worrying, Esthan made contact with us. He wanted to be left alone, and when negotiations broke down, briefly froze time and summoned a cornugon."
06[20:28] * Seira frowns. "I think I need to spend a moment to impress upon you just how powerful the magic required to achieve this is, Sir, and what it means about Esthan's true nature."
[20:29] <Alicia> "I've heard of that sort of magic," Alicia agrees gravely while her familiar nods quite blithely. "Did he actually cast it as a spell or was it an innate ability?"
01[20:31] <Seira> "A spell for the former, and I couldn't tell of the latter for rather obvious reasons," Seira tells her. "I don't think I would be able to recognize it for what it is just as he was envoking the spell had it been some kind of esoteric devil ability.
01[20:31] <Seira> Then, there are also other little facts about him. He knows too much to be anything but a pit fiend-ranked devil, and Latha said she couldn't possibly see beyond his surface. She was entirely unable to see past his lies, and she is particularly skilled in that area. (more)
01[20:32] <Seira> Also, some of the manipulation he had performed on the elves included granting them with magical power, even if only temporarily. No spellgems were involved, as far as I could tell."
[20:33] <Kotono> "It sounds horrific," Antenora opines, "It could be a lesser devil with exceptional experience and skill at magic, perhaps, given unusually large authority. But your'e right, it could also as easily be a lord of the pit."
01[20:34] <Seira> "We're going by that working assumption, since if he's just a buffed up erinyes we'll all have a laugh about it afterwards," Seira agrees with a snort.
01[20:35] <Seira> "No offense, of course," she adds with a shrug, "but given the choice between one and a pit fiend...."
06[20:38] * Seira shakes her head. "Be that as it may, Esthan was in a talkative mood after the cornugon was destroyed. He claimed that he was going to approach us later on, and that my actions forced his hand at delivering his proposal to us. He is not interested in trying to win over our souls, or even bargaining for someone like Latha's, it seems.
01[20:41] <Seira> Instead, he claims his master wishes to form ties with us to face our common enemies. While his original offer was downright insulting and trying to buy us with gold, further talks revealed that they are willing to offer us considerable consessions.
01[20:41] <Seira> They'll try to double-cross us eventually, of course, but the choice of entering a temporary truth with Esthan and his master is not one we should immediately dismiss. That said, I much prefer taking him down with overwhelming force, and King Lorthan has agreed to leave handling this matter to me, while Pallanth would provide its full support."
06[20:42] * Seira looks at Alicia. "There's more to it, much more, of course. But we can discuss the details after one very important question. Would you fight alongside me to eliminate this threat to our world, even when our chances are pretty slim?"
[20:47] <Kotono> "It's an offer you can't refuse, but that you absolutely have to," Antenora grimly continues, "No matter how hopeless it is. You can't let him force his will on to you and ensnare you in his lies and scheming."
03[20:52] * Ko-MinemoreGhostGirls (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #evildunes
03[20:52] * Ko-MinemoreGhostGirls is now known as Anastasia
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[20:53] <Anastasia> "How powerful is he, if he can cast the magic he did?" Oberuth asks Seira.
02[20:54] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
01[20:57] <Seira> "We are talking about the absolute limit for a mortal being, as far as magic is concerned. To travel above that is to go into the domain of the divine," Seira says gravely. "Even if Esthan is largely bluffing and we have seen the full extent of his power, it is already formiddable.
01[20:57] <Seira> Also, as he agreed with my demands to hand us Arondaaq and gnomish lore directly useful towards devising methods to fight the God-King as preconditions to any truce, he either seeks to annihilate us at the meeting I have negotiated, or truly has access to such things."
[21:02] <Alicia> "Didn't Antenora used to have ninth circle magic?" Marie asks, floating over towards the erinyes.
[21:02] <Alicia> "As an innate ability, which is why I asked that question - it would make Esthan far less threatening if that was the case. Still, Planetars have access to similar levels of magic and they're not invincible, so we shouldn't consider things hopeless." She shakes her head as Seira outlines his sales pitch, "I don't really care what he offers."
[21:02] <Alicia> "Anything we give him in return would only be used to cause misery and suffering for others, and I won't have that on my conscience."
06[21:03] * Seira smiles. "Then that's a yes. Alright. It means our chances have improved."
[21:09] <Anastasia> "I'm in as well," Antenora adds, "To my last breath, though let's make sure that we don't have to live up to that."
[21:10] <Anastasia> "And yes. Simply being able to do it implies no other mastery. Someone who can cast a high circle spell can cast all the ones before it," Antenora answers. "It means they've developed the base to reach there and are far more dangerous.":
01[21:10] <Seira> "Sir," Seira speaks up. "Would Balmuria agree to participate officially? I believe the key to a decisive victory is overwhelming strength and knowledge. I'm trying to handle both by gathering allies, and without those here it might be a wasted effort."
[21:12] <Alicia> "Do we have anyone in the regular guard who could even make a difference?" Alicia asks. "I've done my best training out soldiers, but... they're not cut out for this sort of battle," she concludes in disappointment. For them it was just a job, not a calling.
01[21:12] <Seira> "Not in the guard, per se," Seira says, looking pointledly at Commander Oberuth.
[21:13] <Anastasia> "Of course we will," Commander Oberuth smiles faintly here, "I can. Donald can. There's Abagail, though she's still not as talented at magic as Seira is. We can bring regular soldiers...but they struggle against devils at best."
01[21:14] <Seira> "Countess Stronger has cooperated with us, and there is precedent for clergy as well," Seira adds. "I have devised several plans to try and deal with this threat. One of them requires sixth circle spells, which only select few have available."
[21:14] <Alicia> "I hope you have other plans, then," Alicia observes.
06[21:15] * Seira looks offended. "Yes, but I wouldn't give up on Elle just yet."
[21:21] <Anastasia> "Even at best, however," Oberuth speaks up now, "What is your overall plan once you gather up enough resources?"
01[21:23] <Seira> "A final attempt to drive Esthan off our world with the show of force gathered. If he is persistent, to eliminate him. Our research might shed some light on his weaknesses or his master, knowledge which we might be able to use against him tactically. Prepare holy weapons of silver, or passable replicas thereof with the magic at our disposal. Prevent him from escaping at all costs."
[21:24] <Anastasia> "Dimensional Anchor," Antenora says to the last point, "Or some other means to stop teleportation, assuming he's able. If he's a Pit Fiend, he'll be able."
[21:25] <Alicia> "I bet he's preparing his own defences at the meeting point to get ready for you," Marie points out. "If he's got that much magic the place will be a complete death trap after a few days of work."
[21:25] <Alicia> "The sword of the sealed gate will prevent his escape, but Marie is correct," Alicia nods. "There's no way he'll just patiently sit and wait for a civil meeting."
01[21:26] <Seira> "It is quite understandable," Seira agrees, "and even likely. However, we lack the means to track him down or tie him to a spot in any other way. If I hadn't set up this meeting, it would be the same as letting him continue what he is already doing now unopposed."
06[21:27] * Seira pauses. "Also, there is the antimagic option, which I have alluded to. It would serve to seal most of his abilities, although killing him would prove difficult to say the least under those circumstances."
[21:29] <Alicia> "To be honest, if he's a pit fiend then an anti-magic field would hurt us far more than him if it came to melee, and without magic there's little way to hurt him at range," Alicia reasons. "Our best bet would be an overwhelming surprise attack, but given his resources and the simple fact he expects us I can't see it being any sort of surprise."
[21:30] <Anastasia> "Then...is there any way we can fool him when you go to talk to him again?" Oberuth asks. "Some way to make him lower his guard and defenses?"
01[21:31] <Seira> "We have some trump cards of our own," Seira voices. "The Hammer is one. And the force I intend to gather would give even two pit fiends pause." At Oberuth's question, she nods curtly. "Yes, Sir. I believe my intellect would not lose to a devil's. I might be able to achieve this."
[21:32] <Alicia> "At least he probably won't explode when you kill him, right?" Marie suggests cheerily as she alights on Alicia's head.
01[21:33] <Seira> "I'm sure his cloak will remain to become a mantle over my fireplace in the end, complete with the holes in it."
[21:33] <Alicia> "He's hardly a normal pit fiend, from the sounds of it," Alicia sighs. "A pit fiend and an archmage, all in one convenient package. It's sickening."
[21:34] <Anastasia> "This is like trying to take out an army's champion with just a few normal troops. You need something intelligent to even the field," OBeruth observes. "Is that combination rare or is that normal for a pit fiend, by the way?"
01[21:34] <Seira> "I must stress that I merely used a pit fiend as an estimate of my and Latha's of Esthan's true power," Seira cautions. "He might be something unique, which is why research is crucial. I intend to tackle this issue from several ends -- by having Latha ask around with her sources, by having secured access to the Desjardin library, and by asking my father to check in his.
01[21:34] <Seira> All of those go back thousands of years, and might prove helpful."
[21:36] <Alicia> "Try looking into Irrylan, Knight of Dis," Alicia suggests. "My own sources point to him being Esthan's master. It's tenuous but fits what we know so far if you ignore that he's supposedly dead."
[21:36] <Anastasia> "Sources? Alicia, while Seira's doing that," Glancing at her, "What about back in Kelara, the temple of Mystra there? Shouldn't they have a worthwhile library to check also?" Antenora suggests.
06[21:37] * Seira nods thoughtfully. "This might well be another trump of ours," she muses. "We might get a chance to confirm this will confronting Esthan, and confuse him enough to make surprise of some sort viable once more."
[21:38] <Alicia> "It's a library of religious practices and the history of our church. There's no secret lore on devils or anything like that beyond basic bestiaries and the like," Alicia shakes her head.
[21:39] <Alicia> "Oh, and magic, obviously."
[21:39] <Alicia> Marie snickers at Alicia's addendum, repeating, "Obviously."
01[21:42] <Seira> "I know at least one of the libraries contains information on fiends, having seen some of it first hand," Seira says. "So maybe we'll have more luck from that end. In any case, I will be leaving for the Fiefdoms in the morning to try and gather a few capable soldiers to our banner.
01[21:42] <Seira> Unofficially, if I can make it, but they still owe us and it sounds like a good time to collect on that, while building stronger ties of cooperation between our lands."
[21:44] <Alicia> "Just make sure they're trustworthy," Alicia suggests. "Having someone who could turn on us or even simply fail to perform their role in battle is worse than nothing at all."
06[21:45] * Seira nods, understanding the importance of Alicia's words. "I would only contact those alongside whom I have fought. That devil might have been a weakling, but I did get to know these people, and they would betray my trust no more than Donald would."
[21:45] <Anastasia> "Do it," Oberuth nods, "Do be selective, however."
01[21:49] <Seira> "Of course," she agrees. "My other consideration was Oolu. I sometimes wonder whether there was a reason he was captured and studied by gnomes alongside a pit fiend. If there's an awesome might of power trapped inside his perverted body, this would be an excellent time to discover it!"
[21:50] <Alicia> "He is an elder elemental, isn't he?" Alicia asks. "I don't know about magic but he's surely very strong and sturdy. He'd probably be able to outfight a kraken in the water... not so sure what he can do out of it, though," she concludes with a shrug.
06[21:51] * Seira snaps her fingers. "Is there any merit in asking Uatu for guidance to a place we could find a worthy ally? I might be grasping for straws, but as I found you earlier than expected, Alicia, and managed to temporarily receive the elven ring of teleportation, we have a lot more time to maneuver than I originally expected."
06[21:53] * Alicia winces. "I just returned from Uatu a few days ago on an unrelated errand, actually," she admits. "It's... difficult to read, but I got the impression it was displeased with me. I think I've abused its patience too much."
[21:53] <Anastasia> "Really?" Antenora raises an eyebrow there, "How did you m anage tha...Oh." She looks to Marie.
[21:54] <Alicia> "I did nothing!" Marie protests vehemently.
06[21:54] * Seira joins Antenora in staring at Maria dubiously.
01[21:55] <Seira> *Marie, typo, etc
[21:55] <Alicia> Coming to her familiar's defence, "I think it simply wishes to be left alone and not employed as a transport service. But... I don't really know - it didn't say anything, after all. It was just... very abrupt."
06[21:56] * Seira tilts her head. "He's about balance, right? This concerns the balance of our plane of existence. I think a case might be made." She glances at Antenora. "Since Alicia feels like she struck out with Uatu, would you consider appealing to it instead? We hardly lose anything by trying."
[21:57] <Anastasia> "Me?" Antenora says with a look of surprise. "I've only met the thing once, and that was when I was with Alicia and Beth. It didn't seem fond of me at all."
[21:57] <Alicia> "It might be better if someone native to the prime went," Marie suggests hesitantly, not wanting to see Anty banished back to hell.
[21:58] <Alicia> "What about Demedais?" Alicia suggests. "Helm's the one watching over it, after all. Has anyone heard from him?"
01[21:58] <Seira> "My reasoning was that your presence will say something about us, who are seeking such aid," Seira admits. "Although it could go either way."
[21:58] <Anastasia> "I've been keeping tabs on the Temple, and no, he hasn't been back," Oberuth adds then. "Nor has Eudard.
[21:58] <Anastasia> ""
01[21:58] <Seira> At the mention of Demedais, Seira blinks. "Ah, so that is why he hasn't been here when I arrived. I was wondering...."
[21:59] <Alicia> "You didn't give him a Sending as well?" Alicia asks.
01[22:00] <Seira> "Your response made me think that he was here."
[22:01] <Anastasia> "You know..." Oberuth thinks a moment again, "If Uatu can transport creatures, perhaps we're being too obtuse about this. Could he just teleport Esthan back to Hell?"
[22:02] <Alicia> "Oh. Must have been a mistranslation by Celebrimbor," Alicia shrugs, before saying to the Commander, "Sending him there is one thing, keeping him there is another."
[22:03] <Anastasia> "How about the Upper Planes? Send him somewhere he'll get a painful welcoming?" Oberuth goe son, "Let them deal with him?"
01[22:04] <Seira> "Unless we do it ourselves, it is largely meaningless," Seira agrees, putting the issue of the Sending behind them. "And they would deal with Esthan when they arrive as reinforcements, or help, at least. I'm not sure I want to actually send a devil there even if I could. Would you much like someone who did it to us, simply because we could handle a fiend?"
[22:05] <Alicia> "If he dies here he'll get demoted and even if he regains his station he can't come back for a long time," Marie explains. "If he gets banished he could come back immediately. Even if he died on the Upper Planes, it wouldn't stop him from coming back to the Prime. And Seira's right - the upper planes isn't all solars and tulani. Not many of us could handle him any better than you could."
06[22:09] * Seira considers. "This might be unorthodox and even largely impractical, but what if Maria went to the assigned meeting area, say with a teleport ring to get away if need be? If she, say, hid somewhere she won't be overlooked while we decided on a schedule of scryings based on her, we would not be as unprepared for whatever traps Esthan would ready for us."
[22:11] <Alicia> "Marielle!" the familiar corrects, huffing at her name being mangled. "Anyway, I'm pretty good at hiding, but lots of devils have good eyes. But why would you need to scry if I could just have a look around myself?"
[22:13] <Anastasia> "Because doing that is incredibly dangerous if they notice you," Antenora banters back. "Do you rewally want to be eaten? I'm quite sure they would or worse."
[22:14] <Alicia> "Well it's dangerous either way - scrying on me would have you seeing less than I can see, so it just seems like an unneeded complication," the eladrin shrugs. "But, um... yes, I'd honestly rather avoid another friendly chat with Esthan if I can help it."
01[22:15] <Seira> "Because it is my understanding that you would be visible even in your ethereal form, although I haven't used something like that personally and don't quite understand the logistics. My suggestion was intended to minimize the risk to you. If you consider it acceptable without us bothering to scry, that would be enough for me."
01[22:15] <Seira> She frowns. "With two rings of teleportation, you could appear in the area and disappear if detected, but again, it's your call."
[22:16] <Alicia> "Well look at it this way," Marie tries to explain, cupping a hand above her eyes, "With my eyes I could see Esthan from a hundred yards away - assuming he wasn't hiding. If you wanted to see him while scrying on me," she gestures circularly around herself, "I'd have to be within ten feet of him. One of these is more dangerous than the other."
01[22:18] <Seira> "A compelling argument. Then, what's the verdict? The ring of greater teleport would allow for flawless teleportation, and I know the area very well. I could easily describe a location that would be empty and secure."
[22:22] <Alicia> Marie looks towards Alicia expectantly, who spends a moment considering it. "Even if you're good at hiding, I'm not sure you're good enough to escape Esthan's notice," she admits. "On the other hand, he probably wouldn't care even if he did see say... an ordinary looking rat?" she concludes with a meaningful look to Seira.
01[22:25] <Seira> "It's an option," she agrees. "Pointless to try it so early on, but later on, definitely."
[22:26] <Alicia> "Alright then," Alicia moves on, "To the subject of allies, I can try and contact Jamais to see if he can spare any of his forces from scouring the astral for Jubilex's followers - they have their own problems though, so it's not certain by any means."
01[22:27] <Seira> "Jamais?"
[22:28] <Anastasia> "Jubliex?" OBeruth asks as well, "What's all this now?"
[22:31] <Alicia> "I encountered Jamais on the astral plane while dealing with the fallen planetar's sword, and briefly joined his army to assault a fortress of demons who followed Jubilex - a demon lord, think the Abyss's equivalent to the Lords of the Nine Hells," Alicia explains briefly. "I helped in destroying the fortress and defeating the demonic army there, and now Jamais leads his army to find other such strongholds."
[22:31] <Alicia> "It was a very difficult battle, moreso than the one against the devils in the desert," she concludes.
01[22:32] <Seira> "Sounds like a battle I would've loved to see," Seira muses, nodding in approval.
[22:33] <Alicia> "There were lots of pretty succubi and mariliths," Marie smiles winsomely at Seira.
[22:33] <Anastasia> "A shame Iw asn't there," Antenora murmurs below her breath, "I'm glad to hear it ended in victory, thankfully," she adds louder.
01[22:33] <Seira> "Let's go together next time!"
[22:35] <Alicia> "It was an unexpected detour, but I'm glad I participated and helped bring a swift and victorious end to the battle," Alicia smiles. "I invited Jamais to call upon me if he ever requires my aid in future, and I'm sure he'd welcome both of yours as well."
[22:36] <Alicia> "Just try to stay far away from any badly wounded balors," Marie adds with a less cheer in her voice. That was a very horrifying moment when the thing had exploded right as Alicia struck the final blow. She'd hate to have to explain to Mystra how she'd let her mistress die so soon.
01[22:36] <Seira> "In all seriousness, I'll be there if he needs me," Seira comments. "Even if we'll only be fighting the ugly fiends." She smiles briefly, before shaking her head. "Even if our only benefit is in sharing information about our opposition, it would be immensely useful. Most certainly, Jamais sounds like someone to be contacted."
[22:36] <Anastasia> "Regardless, there will be time for commiserating battels later. If you have a week, don't sit here and waste it," Oberuth speaks up now. "
[22:37] <Anastasia> "Regardless, there will be time for commiserating battels later. If you have a week, don't sit here and waste it," Oberuth speaks up now. "How many can we muster?"
01[22:39] <Seira> "Latha committed to perhaps as much as a dozen, and I believe I could gather three more at the Fiefdoms. Then, my father, Donald, Elle, Claris... Oolu, perhaps? A pair of priests, if they follow me, and yourself, Sir? Alicia, Marie and Antenora, quite naturally. I'm not sure about Demedais's end, but the elves would make forces available to us as well."
[22:43] <Anastasia> "A small army," Oberuth says at that, "Even this Esthan can't stand against all of that if we can lure him into the right position."
01[22:44] <Seira> "I'm looking for a way to send a message to his master. This is the best way I can see to do it."
[22:45] <Alicia> "The right position," Alicia repeats. "That's the problem. The battlefield is his to prepare and we need to find a way around that... I don't have any ideas myself at the moment but it's something we all should consider."
06[22:46] * Seira shrugs. "He tries to mess with any of us, and the others will swiftly come to their aid. That would make meddling in our countries's business difficult." As Alicia speaks, Seira muses, "Yes, which my plan for scouting should offset somewhat. Antimagic and dispels might be able to help with some of the inevitable traps and defenses. Also, we have this time to prepare as well."