Heating the Iron (Afina)

[Ebiris]

"Given your previous experience in leadership I think we'll incorporate you as a major within our rank structure, and there are opportunities for advancement for you and the soldiers you've brought," Afina says. "Get your forces in and settled, we'll do the oathswearing ceremony later and tomorrow we can start on training exercises to properly integrate everyone." If Tailiel's habit of getting everyone under him killed is more than just bad luck, Sylvie should be able to spot it when oaths are sworn.

[Anastasia]

"Excellent," Tailiel smiles and...

You mentioned trying to figure out if there's anything to his losses?

[Ebiris]

I can ask Gisfal since he's probably more up on this stuff, but if he's some diabolical schemer who gets up and coming heroes killed in hopeless battles it should ping for Sylvie when he recites the oath of loyalty, like when we rooted out those infiltrators way back.

[Anastasia]

Gisfal's found overseeing the soldiers. He directs them and walks several paces away with you, "Yes?" he asks.

All around are the sounds of practice. Hundreds of soldiers drill, train and sweat. Metal on wood, metal on metal, wood on wood, arrows on cloth, all those sounds make a constant background din.

[Ebiris]

"Had some new recruits turn up," Afina says, fluttering alongside Gisfal. "An astral deva called Tailiel and his group, the Upraised Banner. Heard of them?"

[Anastasia]

"I have," Gisfal says, "The cursed deva himself." He glances at his troops once before leading you a ways away, "I've never met him personally, but I've heard the stories. He's build vast crusades, large ones and small ones. They all end the same way - in disaster, yet he re-emerges in time to begin anew. There are rumors, but I've never heard anything substantiated about him."

[Ebiris]

"I'd only heard a little myself," Afina agrees as they split off to talk more privately. "We can't turn down freely offered help, but I have concerns. I'm hoping if there's more going on than just bad luck Sylvie should be able to tell us when he takes the oath."

[Anastasia]

"Assuming it's known to him," Gisfal says, "Why not have Sylvie spend time talking to him and show him around instead? I dislike leaving a possible source of ruin to chance."

[Ebiris]

"I suppose that could work, too. Elena? Can you work Sylvie towards wherever Tailiel is now, get her to talk to him about his past crusades and plans for this one?" Afina asks of the ever handy blue girl.

[Anastasia]

Elena appears, clad in your jellyfish outfit. "On it," she says, then vanishes away.

Gisfal gives her a long look and then turns back to you. "Let me know how it goes. An answer to this mystery may need to be spread, should it be against his favor."

[Ebiris]

"Unless Sylvie comes running to report something terrible I'll go find her in a few hours and get her impressions," Afina nods. "If it's just bad luck, maybe we can be the ones to turn it around for him."

[Anastasia]

Gisfal nods slightly to that, pausing to rub his chin, "I'd like to know as well, so let me know. I'm worried it could be an actual curse or other problem, but I would think one would be known by now."

As you chat, Elena pops back in, "She's on it," she reports, "I'll let you know if she trips any red flags, we worked a system out."

[Ebiris]

"I'll call for you when Sylvie's ready to make her report so we can both hear it," Afina agrees, turning towards Elena. "Thank you, Elena. We'll just have to wait a little while and see."

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+77
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+77 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{86}
> roll 1d20+94
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+94 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{104}

It's a few hours later when the three of you meet. Just a quiet meeting in Aurora, Sylvie sitting back comfortably as Gisfal waits, drumming his fingers on the table.

"The good news is that Tailiel's sincere," Sylvie says, "There's no sign that he's a sleeper agent or trying to ruin us. If he is, he's completely unaware of it and it's a stealthy power."

[Ebiris]

"So that leaves the possibilities that he's either cursed or spectacularly unlucky in a leadership role while still being lucky when it comes to personal survival," Afina muses. "I assigned him in as a major rather than a colonel for that reason, by the way," she says as an aside to Gisfal. "I don't feel like a command position is suitable either way."