Heating the Iron (Afina)

[Anastasia]

"Agreed," Gisfal nods slightly to you, "I'm not fully comfortable with him as a major, but anything less would be a slight."

"As far as a curse, maybe," Sylvie says, "There's something there. Nothing I can find myself, but something I feel with 21. I...can't really put it into words," Sylvie admits, "Perhaps he crossed Beshaba? It could be the work of a deity, beyond us to understand or counter easily."

"That wouldn't be the first time I've heard her name bantered with him, since she seems to favor him with her own brand of misery," Gisfal says, "How rarely is someone so dogged by Beshaba's black luck and yet still survives to fight again?

[Ebiris]

"As far as we know nothing short of the Three can elude 21, so at least we can rule out active malfeasance on his part. No deception, no sins visible?" she confirms with Sylvie, a bit concerned by her strange feeling.

"Another angle might be looking into his past crusades, see if there's any sort of link between them that might point to who's cursed him or why? Honestly," she makes a pouty face, "If I had his track record I'd retire to a life of contemplation and seclusion or whatever it is celestials do when seeking enlightenment. Try and get to Chronias or something like that."

[Anastasia]

"Everyone has sins," Sylvie counters, "His are minor and suitable for a celestial. Otherwise you're right, no deception there."

Gisfal smiles just a little bit, "He's not suited to Chronias, regardless. Celestials who retire from crusading rarely retire forever, and often go to other duties or simply living in their Heaven. Some seek only that, others are the type to never retire.

[Ebiris]

"I think we've done what we can for this juncture. I've given his forces a day to get acclimatised and tomorrow we'll start on training and integrating them with our existing ranks. I'll help you out with that, Gisfal," she says to the eladrin before nodding to Sylvie, "Thanks for helping with feeling him out today, Sylvie. I appreciate it."

[Anastasia]

So just going to admit him in now, barring any unusual happenings?

[Ebiris]

Yep.

[Anastasia]

The first of them are in the Aurora thread now, more will be added later. More coming.

Do me a favor and make an Intelligence check.

[Ebiris]

[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+11 int
[19:43] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+11 int --> [ 1d20=4 ]{15}

[Anastasia]

A little time passes until a pixie comes up to you and interrupts you as you head to the forges. "Baroness Afina," he greets, kneeling before you, "Her Majesty wishes your presence at her luncheon. Please do not worry about dressing up for this, it is not a formal affair."

[Ebiris]

"Thank you. What time will her Majesty be taking her luncheon?" Afina asks since she's not so privy to Ilsenine's schedule these days and the shifting day/night cycles of the planes coupled with her own lack of regular sleep means she doesn't have the best track of these things.

[Anastasia]

"In twenty minutes, Baroness," the pixie replies.

[Ebiris]

Well it's a good thing she's not expected to dress up! "Thank you," she repeats, "I'll be there." That gives her time to go back to her room and drop off the blueprints for those golems before she can take her time in visiting Ilsenine's suite.

[Anastasia]

Ilsenine awaits alone, a meal laid out by servants as you approach. Fruits, honey, berries and milk.

"Afina," Ilsenine greets you, "Please be seated." Once the servants are gone, "I need advice." She looks serene and composed enough, yet you notice her idly moving about a few berries with her fork.

[Ebiris]

Afina sits herself down and gets some honey-glazed apple, pausing with it on the approach to her mouth as Ilsenine asks for her advice. "On what subject, your Majesty?" she asks, wondering what on earth Ilsenine could ever need her advice over.

[Anastasia]

"A delicate matter I need your opinion on in two ways. I need it as a Baroness of this court and I need it as a woman," Ilsenine says. She slowly eats and lets silence fall. "I am beginning to debate where this courtship with Moore should ultimately proceed to. I know that you are not wholly comfortable with this, but...I trust you, Afina."