Meeting Hell (Afina, Jaela, Tryll)

[Anastasia]

"Your gratitude is accepted," Queen Vlaakith says.

"To the second point, I am willing to divulge certain details of that," Martinet says, "But I propose we settle that after Muirfinn is brought here. I move for an hour's recess for arrangements to be made."

[Corwin]

Jaela decides to show some flexibility by agreeing, albeit with visible reluctance.

[Anastasia]

"Then we have an hour's recess."

All of you are escorted back to your quarters, where refreshments await.

A chance for y'all to talk, rest, do anything or just skip along as you please.

[Corwin]

"Once we resume, I want someone to go and check in on Muirfinn," Jaela says once they're alone. "That it is in fact Muirfinn, that his soul's there, that the devils haven't infected him or turned him into a bomb and the like. Mirajane and Tryll, I think you're the best choice for this. Any objections?"

[Anastasia]

"It's only sensible," Mirajane agrees, "I wouldn't put it past Hell to do so."

"I'm certain the devils have their own telepathic bond, just as we do. The reactions and the ways they synchronize are too precise for anything else. We're only hearing half of their conversations, just as they're only hearing half of ours. Assuming they don't have a way to hear ours."

[Corwin]

"Even if they do, an offer this far from what I expected can only mean they want this. Perhaps even need this. Let's figure out why." She nods at Antenora and Morniel. "Keep letting us know when they think the devils are lying, directly or by omission. We've got a shot at driving at the truth eventually."

[Yuthirin]

'We can do this.' Tryll says, 'And if there is corruption, I can excise it.'

[Anastasia]

"Good," Antenora says, "We may yet get to the bottom of this. I only hope it's really Muirfinn and not a fake."

[Corwin]

Jaela nods, resolving to another lengthy wait.

Let's skip ahead!

[Ebiris]

Afina has no idea how she'd tell a fake apart from the real, so just trusts Tryll and Mirajane know their stuff. She doesn't have much to add to the conversation anyway.

[Yuthirin]

Good to move along.

[Anastasia]

An hour passes. You all reconvene and Queen Vlaakith snaps her bony fingers. In between the two tables a glowing portal appears and through it Muirfinn appears. He is clad in a simple brown robe and unmoving, as if deeply asleep.

"His mind and psyche have been submerged in mindless nightmares for months, awareness disintegrated by the vile touch of a powerful evil." Vlaakith says it slowly as Muirfinn gently settled onto the ground. "He will not awaken without outside intervention by the one who did this."

"The Lord of the Ninth is responsible for Muirfinn's state," Martinet says smoothly, "It will be lifted on the successful conclusion of our negotiations."

[Ebiris]

For the first time here Afina shows some emotion, a flicker of distaste passing across her face.

Also when the immortal soul-devouring lich queen calls something vile, you know it's bad.

[Yuthirin]

Tryll takes a look at Muirfinn's mind!

[Anastasia]

How are you doing it and what information does it provide?