Wrap up (Various)

[Ebiris]

"It's nice to imagine that it would have prevented all of this, but from all indications each of the traitors were singularly unremarkable before the Duke of Destiny put his claws into them. Another impressionable fey would have taken her role, all the same," Afina says, the what if scenario failing to tempt. At best it just means Willah's replacement wouldn't have taken the trouble to park her throne atop Ilsenine's old one.

Given how unimportant the traitors are to Hell's overall planning and execution of strategy she doesn't think Willah had any say in the Child of Lifasa debacle, so there's no comfort to be drawn there.

[Anastasia]

"Hell's rewards are dreadfully empty," Ilsenine agrees, the two of you heading to court without further comment. Once there, alone with her, she looks to you. "From your actions there, do you feel you are outmatched by Gathgorian?"

[Ebiris]

"Difficult to say for certain, your Majesty," Afina answers, standing attentively beside the throne. "Back when we originally retrieved you I crossed blades with Gathgorian - he was wounded and I was not, though I don't pretend I struck him mortally. Annalise insisted afterwards it was sheer outrageous luck on my part. My skills have grown significantly since then, but it's also true that he's been invested with more power to take Abigor's former role.

"Earlier today I fled mainly to ensure we could escape with Willah, as the confusion of a pitched battle could allow her a chance to recover and flee - or bolster Gathgorian with her talents in that arena. It also seemed poor sense to face Gathgorian in a battlefield of his choosing. If all other things were taken equally, I don't think any battle between us would be a foregone conclusion - I was able to dodge his fireballs unscathed, and Sehanine Moonbow's test pitted my skills against an opponent far greater than a mere Duke of Hell."

[Anastasia]

"Then my command is to make it a foregone conclusion. Afina, grow stronger so that you can crush him like a bug." Ilsenine leans forward, "Let the devils see what their vaunted champion of the Blood War achieves against one of Lifasa's champions."

[Ebiris]

"I'll make certain of it, your Majesty," she smiles herself and bows. "On that note I have a plan to carry forward. With your permission I'll see to it now?"

[Anastasia]

"Go," Ilsenine says, and then smiles faintly. "But there is one more thing. Elena mentioned to me you seem to be attracting the most inane questions and interpersonal problems to deal with lately?

[Ebiris]

Elena and Ilsenine have been gossiping together? She really can get through to anyone!

"It's usually dragon problems, but yes," she nods heavily. "Whenever Baleruk gets into an argument I'm always the one that gets called over to play peacemaker. Or if anyone else is they at least don't complain about it. It's not that I dislike spending time with Baleruk, I just always feel that someone like Jaela could smooth things over much more artfully than I always do."

[Anastasia]

"Do not shy away from it. You will hold lands one day, and with that will come such things. Master handling Baleruk and mere fey concerns will be trifles." Queen Ilsenine says.

[Ebiris]

"Understood, your Majesty," she bows and sees herself out. Next stop, the library! And much like she did with Ash she now studies up for places of elemental power on the para-elemental plane of Ice!

[19:32] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+57 planes
[19:32] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+57 planes --> [ 1d20=8 ]{65}
Library bonus included in that.

[Anastasia]

You read up on a few potentials.

The Iceberg: A massive iceberg floating in one of Ice's frigid seas. Mortals that anger Cryonax are stripped nude and chained to the iceberg to freeze to death as punishment. The souls are unable to move on, animating as ghosts bound to the iceberg. It's a powerful conflux of Ice's freezing nature and Cryonax's power, though many note that there may not be a difference there.

Swirlsnows: A sea not of super chilled water, but of wet snow that is churned by currents of wind that keep it moving. Ice para elementals are said to plunge into the snows to die or grow stronger deep within the depths. Sometimes enterprising mortals and other creatures attempt it as well. It's known that the rogue gelugon Arnow, having betrayed Hell and its own lawful nature to serve Cryonax, is willing to lend aid to those who wish to attempt it. As such, it's known that Cryonax allows and perhaps even favors mortals attempting this.

Frostmaiden's Palace: A great palace of blue ice raised by Auril for when she visits the plane. A vortex of power due to Auril's occasional presence. It is gigantic, unspeakably large (and perhaps infinite) due to Auril's magic. As one of the few areas of Ice not under Cryonax's control, servants of cold that find themselves in disfavor with the Archomental of Ice sometimes defect to Auril here.

Absolute Zero: A rumored, mystical point where the strongest possible cold resides. Said to be far underground of Ice's surface, in deep caverns known to only the greatest powers of the plane. Little is known of it, other than that it sings with unheard of power. Most likely protected by Cryonax rather fiercely, assuming it exists.

[Ebiris]

Absolute Zero sounds a lot like Magmasoul, so could potentially be the best option. The Swirlsnows might be good as well but she doesn't want to have to deal with a rogue devil over any of this.

Frostmaiden's Palace isn't any good to her, she wants pure elemental power not divine power, and besides Auril screwed her before. And the Iceberg just seems like a macabre prison.

Of course even if she commits to Absolute Zero there isn't enough information here to find it, but perhaps an expedition to Ice could find a sympathetic ear to point her in the right direction? She'll need to take someone of course... not Simmer, naturally. Having a think as to who in Aurora can withstand cold, she soon leaves the library and calls on Elena's assistance. "Elena? Can you tell me where to find Mirajane right now, please?"

[Anastasia]

Elena pops in, dressed relatively normal today. "Oh, she's visiting the Graceful Blow," Elena says, "Though I think she's about to leave. You can...yes, she's going, to the Entrance Hall. You can catch her there if you go now."

[Ebiris]

"Thanks Elena. Nice outfit," she adds that recalling how huffy she got the last time Afina didn't comment on her outrageous attire. And so she takes a portal to the golem-lined entrance hall to find Jaela's daughter!

[Anastasia]

You find Mirajane heading to the portals. She's rather flushed and sweaty, "Afina," she greets as you appear, "Before you ask, do you mind if I bathe? I just finished training with the Graceful Blow."

[Ebiris]

"No that's fine, I'll come with you," Afina says agreeably, flying alongside Mirajane as they route themselves towards the baths. "You might enjoy a hot bath all the more considering what I'm going to ask."