Soiree (Afina)

[Anastasia]

No roll needed since it can't win the check any way.

The devil roars - a sound like the Pit itself screaming in fury. Your magic circle wavers for a mere moment but holds, the fiend erupting in fires that are contained within.

"Auerias! General Auerias!" The fiend howls in the voice of the damned.

[Ebiris]

should that name mean anything? Taking 10 for 49 on planes.

[Anastasia]

Auerias is a powerful general in the Infernal Denomination of Immortal Diplomacy, Diplomatic Branch of Ambassadorial Relations, The Corps of the Lost.

Once you pare away all the titles and diabolical bullshit, it boils down to this. He's a head diplomat under the Dark Eight, the pit fiends who run the Dark Ministry and run much of Hell's infernal business. So high up but not the highest.

Incidentally, your knowledge also tells you its odd for him to be doing this. He's about open or disceet diplomacy, not that level of spying. Granted all devils gather information as a matter of course, but it's a bit outside of his normal bailiwick.

[Ebiris]

"Shouting for your boss won't help you," Afina says, tutting at the pit fiend and pointing at the gelugon. "I want to hear the story out of his mouth. Or mandibles if you like. So make it happen."

[Anastasia]

One problem here, Afina. You got the requested service out of the pit fiend. It's free to leave now. You'd know this since you've used this spell and have ample K:A ranks, so a heads up so you don't look like a fool.

[Ebiris]

I didn't get anything. I ordered it to make the gelugon talk. It shouted helplessly for its boss instead.

[Anastasia]

Oh wow, I completely misread your request then. Okay, strike the last few lines, though I'll keep them there since the info's out and will come up anyway.

The devil roars - a sound like the Pit itself screaming in fury. Your magic circle wavers for a mere moment but holds, the fiend erupting in fires that are contained within.

With a voice of gritted teeth and pain, the pit fiend hisses, "Answer...the...questions. That's an order," The pit fiend snaps.

The gelugon looks on in fury as a few marid laugh, attention focusing in sheer, overwhelming hate. "I will answer as commanded," It grinds out.

[Ebiris]

"The benefits of a hierarchical system," Afina says for the elucidation of the marid, turning towards the gelugon. "State your mission in the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls and name the one who sponsored it."

[Anastasia]

"My...mission is to obtain general information for General Auerias about the marid disposition and culture." The gelugon reports.

The Padisha smiles coldly at that, while the nobles talk and titter amid themselves.

[Ebiris]

"To what end?" Afina asks. "Feel free to speculate if the General didn't educate you."

[Anastasia]

"I do not know. I would speculate he is planning on focusing attention here. The efforts of the Emerald Division have been more unfortunate than usual. Perhaps he seeks to bolster the Brass division to look better to Dark Minister Zapan." The gelugon says this crisply, all while he glares death at you.

[Ebiris]

"Mmhmm," Afina hums, speaking for her audience, "And of course in the long term the overriding goal of every single baatezu plot from the smallest to the grandest is nothing less than placing all of Creation under devil tyranny. Whether you're an isolated prime world or a great power of the elemental poles, they always desire the same result."

Then back to the gelugon she asks, "Who did you have supporting you in the Citadel? Who had you compromised into aiding you?"

[Anastasia]

"Aluse, an elven visitor. Bada, a marid stable master. Hamid, a minor functionary to Shahzada Bijan."

The Padisha merely snaps her fingers and a marid guard rises, bows deeply and vanishes.

"My people, these three are being apprehended as we speak. You may continue, Afina." The Padisha says.

Meanwhile the nobles watch and listen.

[Ebiris]

Afina nods gratefully to the Padisha and then returns her attention to the gelugon. "What information have you passed to your master thus far?"

[Anastasia]

"Five reports of general information." He begins to recite reports. It mostly sounds like trivial information that boils down to 'here's something while we both know I'm setting up and in my grace period'.