Wrap up (Various)

[Ebiris]

Nothing personally relevant although Chain should be dealt with at some point. Interesting that she didn't mention Lief, was her role merely to play hostess?

"Describe the circumstances of your involvement with Lief. Provide as much detail as your understanding allows of the magic that was performed on his remains."

[Anastasia]

"I was to watch over Lief for the expected Aurora counter-attack. However, I believe I was simply to occupy and weaken Aurora before the Duke of War engaged them." She replies, "The Duke of Destiny oversaw the magic and I was not allowed to directly view it. However, I did see him produce what he said was a branch of Yggdrasil. It is probable that was the focus of the ritual."

[Ebiris]

That's a deeply disappointing setback. She wishes she'd taken more time to examine the ritual setup surrounding Lief, but the immediate mission took priority over merely hoped for retribution. "Not so important after all, hmm?" she can't help but observe. More and more it's clear that the traitors are mere patsies of little power or consequence by themselves. "What of other prisoners under your charge? Tell us who else you had captive, where they are held, and how they are guarded."

[Anastasia]

"They're dupes, fools," Queen Ilsenine says, voice quiet. "Tools charmed into thinking they matter. The only truth in Hell is that devils only matter as tools to their superiors."

What follows is a lot of dry details. Lots of prisoners in the gorge, 8460 prisoners in the gorge. They're surrounded by bearded devils for security, pain devils to torment them and overseen by erinyes. The gorge itself is a soul-strewn inferno sealed against planar intrusion and obscured so that scrying and the like is ineffective there. Her castle falling into it certainly did damage and caused chaos down there, though how much so depends on how the erinyes reacted and how fast they reacted.

[Ebiris]

Probably dead or moved out of reach, not worth pursuing then. "Speaking of your alleged importance, Willah; what contingencies are in place in the event of your capture?"

[Anastasia]

"I have been informed that I am a non-person in Hell if I am weak enough to be captured," Willah replies, tonelessly. "I am to sell my life as dearly as possible if I cannot retreat. I am to protect the Sigil of the Soulsworn above all else, even my life."

[Ebiris]

Were it not for the casualties suffered during the diversionary raid on Lethe, this would count as one of the cheapest missions Aurora's ever undertook. No one took so much as a scratch from Willah or her vaunted army.

Must sting a bit.

"Good news for us," she says, a smile tugging at her lips. "Hmm, lets talk about your fellow traitors then. Yian was very forthcoming, as I'm sure you've already gathered by how your day has gone so far, but as useful as he was his information is probably a bit out of date. Describe the talents and responsibilities of the remaining seven traitors, as well as any psychological weaknesses you've observed in them."

[Anastasia]

Queen Ilsenine frowns at Willah and interrupts. "A moment. There are a few questions I wish to ask before that."

[Ebiris]

"Of course, your Majesty," Afina bows deferentially. "She is here at your pleasure."

[Anastasia]

"Was it worth it, Willah?" Queen Ilsenine asks, fluttering up to meet the pit fiend's eyes.

There is silence for a stretch, until Willah says softly, "No."

"Good." Ilsenine smiles coldly, "I command you to never forget that, to never stop thinking of everything you threw away. You will spend every moment you are not serving my commands to reflecting on your enormous sin. When it becomes too much, you will beg to be destroyed. When at last Aurora sees fit to grant your wish, you will thank us for obliterating a failure like you. Then, and only then, will you know peace from your folly."

"I understand," Willa says, soft and toneless.

[Ebiris]

Afina was actually thinking of asking that question as well, though she was going to leave it till the end and then just have Willah stew on it. Still, Ilsenine expressed Afina's own feelings quite sufficiently just now, so she can only nod along, otherwise waiting until she's given leave to resume her own interrogation.

[Anastasia]

"Continue, Afina," Queen Ilsenine says.

[Ebiris]

"Thank you, your Majesty," she nods, before repeating, "Describe the talents and responsibilities of the remaining seven traitors, as well as any psychological weaknesses you've observed in them."

[Anastasia]

Thus it begins.

"Harkin is a paladin of tyranny and serves Bel. He is a leader of troops and a warrior dedicated to the destruction of everything that opposes Hell. He has overseen hellfire engines being created and other such things. He sees to much of the military action the traitors do. True devils respect him the most of any of the traitors, he is a born leader. His weaknesses are a disinterest in his foes, because he sincerely believes Hell will triumph."

"Velasca wields her body as a weapon sharper than a knife. She is strong, confident, unseen. Few see her until her claws rip apart her victim. She administrates like that - giving orders than executing those who fail them when they least expect it. She expects the most out of anyone she commands and views not giving this as treasonous. She has no use for torture except for pragmatic uses, as death is the proper reward for defiance. She rules the Tree's Corpse, which suffered a setback." Here Willah laughs emptily, "She busies herself with spies and information gathering, as well as assassinations. Her weakness is that she is so wrapped up in stealth that she sometimes misses opportunities calling for a bolder approach."

Ilsenine interrupts here, "Velasca was the former elf?" After a nod from Willah, "Afina, was the tree of souls Aurora struck the same tree?"

[Ebiris]

"The Elven Tree, I believe so," Afina confirms. "Apasa was present at the battle and communicated briefly with Ithea to note that Velasca was hiding while her duty burned."

A setback, indeed.