Options and hopes (full party)

[Corwin]

[23:05] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+38+15 K:P, divine insight
[23:05] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 63 > [d20=10]

[Anastasia]

Afina knows that sort of thing can be one of two things: The actual result or blocking magic. Most blocking magic does make it fail outright, but it's not impossible for that to be a result of warding.

Ithea would know that darkness is a symbol of Hell and the deepest, most absolute darkness is in Nessus. It could be a sign that they're in Nessus or an agent of Nessus took them.

Jaela would know what Ithea knows, as well as that such darkness signifies the action of a Duke of Nessus, the Nessian Pit Fiends or the Lord of the Ninth himself.

As they take that in, "Balyss is communing with Selune," she adds in a soft voice, "We're hoping that turns up more."

"Nessus," Sylvie murmurs, "The deepest layer of Baator."

Sylvie just took 10 on her skill checks.

[Corwin]

"That's where the sign seems to be pointing," Jaela agrees grimly. "But if that's right, they won't be held there forever. There is only so much personal attention a Duke can give someone before they fall back on their routines."

[Ebiris]

"I don't think they're just going to shuffle Muirfinn and Lief between prisons," Afina says. "If they're in Nessus it's because something's going to be done to them there. We all remember the things we saw in Castle Crumbling?" she asks, looking around the table. "Those skulls that were made from Solars, right? What would Lixer make out of those two given the chance?"

[Corwin]

Jaela shakes her head. "I think he'd keep them alive as bait for the rest of us, which could give us a chance."

[Anastasia]

Adrian grimaces, slowly rubbing his face with his gloved hand. "I try to forget most of what I saw there. You're right, it makes them damned good bait - right in to the enemy's strongest defenses. How the hell do we attack Nessus? We don't even know where in Nessus they are. They could be in some forsaken corner of Malsheem and surrounded by Nessians."

Morniel bows his head for several moments, "It is at times like this that we must look to Celestia the most. When it seems there is no hope is when faith is most precious. We need to seek the knowledge to enable us to help them. Few have gone to Nessus and returned; information is scarce about it, that is the first trial we must overcome."

"Yeah," Adrian says, looking up. "I doubt it'll be as simple as a plane shift or a gate anyway, so we can't just rush off to Nessus and hope we get lucky. But there is one thing. We just got a new recruit from Celestia, apparently Erathaol sent him because he can help against the Duke of Dest-"

This is interrupted by Elena reappearing, "Balyss went into a seizure," she announces, "She's speaking in tongues!"

[Merc]

Ithea leaves the war room and runs off to check up on Balyss immediately after Elena's warning!

[Ebiris]

That sounds ominously like someone seeing too much with their divination and getting some kind of backlash. "Where is she now,  Elena?" Afina asks, set to follow Ithea's example.

[Corwin]

"Adrian," Jaela says quickly, while they wait on Elena's answer. "You and Gisfal make sure Aurora's safe, just in case our foes got enough information from Muirfinn and Lief to try something when they think we'll be in disarray."

[Anastasia]

"Yeah," Adrian says, "We'll get it done. Elena, Galariel, I want a full status report."

Meanwhile Elena says, "In the Selunite chapel," she says quickly, before going over to Adrian and Gisfal. As those two get into it, the Afina, Jaela, Ithea and Sylvie race to there. They find it full - Hanna's there, as is Priest. Both are pressed back from Balyss by an aura of silvery light around her. She floats a few feet off the ground, convulsing and uttering words in languages none of you understand. Her eyes are rolled up, only the whites of them visible. A massive smile is fixed on her face.

[Ebiris]

"She looks happy at least? Does that mean it's good news?" Afina asks as she flutters to a stop between Hanna and Priest.

[Anastasia]

"It has to be Selune herself," Hanna steps back and next to the others. "There was a moment of overwhelming presence when this began."

[Corwin]

It does seem likely, and so Jaela settles in to wait out Balyss's altered state.

[Merc]

Ithea looks in concern, though she's somewhat calmed by the smile on Balyss' face. Hopefully it's some sort of good news regarding Lief and Muirfinn...

[Anastasia]

Balyss twirls in the air, coming to face the party. Her eyes open, nothing but pools of silvery light. "One is lost from the view of the moon, where darkness will never end." Her voice is different, feminine but distinctly not that of Balyss. "A night without ending and the moon, while the other dies and now lives forever as the dead. Beware Negation! Beware the serpent, for he has feasted on the mind. Mourn Muirfinn, free Lief."