Meeting Hell (Afina, Jaela, Tryll)

[Corwin]

'And all that aside, don't forget you're dealing with devils,' Jaela adds with a mental shrug. 'If one of their lords just up and left for a few days, his or her most trusted advisors would spend that time wisely stabbing them in the back.'

[Anastasia]

"Next is General Albade, representing Bel."

A towering, growing pit fiend, this devil wears full armor save for the emblem of a broken blade hanging from his neck. His body bulges with muscles and he stomps forward as if attacking the ground itself.

"Next is Contract Master Fulfro, Infernal Master of Contracts."

The gelugon that advances forward is a typical specimen of their race. He wears a black cloak and blue clothing of fine make, worthy for a prosperous merchant. His bug-like eyes study Aurora as he takes his seat, never once leaving all of you.

"Now...joined by his pet imp Damian and 8 attendants, is Duke Martinet, the Constable of Nessus."

Martinet strides forward and takes the center chair, his eight attendants standing silently behind him. His pet imp floats above his head, before coming to rest on Martinet's shoulder.

Chance for K:P before this kicks off.

[Ebiris]

Taking 10 for 52 on my part again.

[Yuthirin]

<Kobot> Yu rolled 1d20+27 KP --> [ 1d20=19 ]{46}

[Anastasia]

General Albade is a front line commander in the Blood War. Unlike most generals, he prefers to lead from the front rather than the rear. This is all so he can find more demons to personally slay and ensure he gets the utmost out of his troops. He is a capable marshal and is also an infernal paladin of tyranny. Like many long time soldiers in the Blood War, he last lost sight of most other things in favor of the destruction of chaos.

Contract Master Fulfro is an Infernal Master of Contracts. It is a position only given to gelugons and pit fiends, as they oversee contracts, soul pacts, bindings and so forth. They are masters of the law. As such, it is not uncommon for one to be given extra-judicial powers to enforce Hell's rules when contracts have been fouled up or knowingly done incorrectly. A devil that makes such an error seldom survives those attentions.  As for Fulfro, little is known of him.

Martinet is a Duke of Nessus. He serves as Asmodeus's voice and is in fact an unholy cleric of Asmodeus. He is noted as being loathed by all the other Lords of the Nine, Archdukes and Dukes for his arrogant, smug nature. He is the corrupt, self serving face of Hell's propaganda and diplomacy. He has the power to ignore planar effects and abilities that target his alignment through diplomatic immunity. How that works isn't clear, save for that it is the will of Asmodeus.

[Yuthirin]

Feel free to kick off, I guess? Not sure what to do with that info right this moment.

[Anastasia]

We're waiting on Jaela here, to be honest.

[Yuthirin]

Oh right, Corwin's on a different time schedule. I keep forgetting. Sorry.

[Corwin]

It's just unfair that diplomatic immunity works that way, Jaela muses, nevermind that it's only for the devils. Still, she doesn't let her personal feelings get in the way of filling the others in on her insights into the devils facing them.

My K:P result of 60 presumably hits what Eb got?

[Anastasia]

Yes. You also get an additional tidbit.

Jaela also knows the following:

The darkest of whispers claim that Martinet can directly contact Asmodeus, which allows the Lord of the Ninth to send an aspect to Martinet if he desires. This is unconfirmed.

"Let us begin," Martinet says, smiling with pearly white teeth and fangs. "I trust we're all eager to get to the meat of this discussion."

"Oh yes, I imagine you're eager, aren't you?" Damian says from his perch on Martinet's shoulder.

"We have Muirfinn of Aurora," Martinet sits back, hands steepled together and smirking, "You want him back. Let's discuss what we'd like in exchange for him. We'll return him in exchange for the book that binds the demon-spawn known as The Father."

General Albade growls low in his throat at the mention of The Father, like the rumbling of a great infernal volcano. Lady Kaessa's expression of beautiful poise sours, as if she just smelled something unpleasant.

"A small price to pay, isn't it?" Damian asks.

[Corwin]

"What's the matter, they don't feed you in Hell?" Jaela asks, projecting genuine curiosity.

[Anastasia]

Knight Temtral speaks, his voice an otherworldly rasp that tickles your ears. "Do not discount the horror of The Father."

"Ahem," Martinet coughs into his hand and smiles, "We may disagree on many points, but we agree that a creature like The Father has no place in Creation."

[Corwin]

"Oh yes," Jaela finds herself agreeing. "He's the worst. Do you mind sharing your plan for dealing with him?"

Even as she diverts a mental thread to listening to their response, Jaela thinks to her group, 'Thoughts on their offer?'

[Ebiris]

'I'd almost think it's too good to be true,' Afina answers, keeping her face blank. 'On the face of things I'd accept it without a second thought.'

[Anastasia]

'Hell has no love for chaos. Nonetheless, I doubt they only gain a victory over chaos from it.' Antenora sends to you, 'There are deeper motives and reasons to obtain The Father.'

Morniel is silent throughout, and...

> roll 1d20+58 Morniel Sense Motive
<Kobot> Sunshine_Ko rolled 1d20+58 Morniel Sense Motive --> [ 1d20=6 ]{64}

'Albade knows something, though I am not sure what.' Morniel says, 'He is not wholly pleased.'