Gray sidhe (Afina, 87 days left)

[Ebiris]

"The Gray," she answers. And that to be fair is a name she wouldn't have blurted out in front of everyone. "He was invisibly floating over Ettan's hiding place, and we initially took him for a devil minion until Jaela attacked him and he retaliated. I'm mostly sure he was observing the site of Bel's appearance on our world, but if there's a chance they have some sort of accord with the devils we need to know about it. As it was we had to abandon our mission to capture Ettan in light of the interference."

[Anastasia]

"The Gray?" Ilsenine murmurs, "He is real? I've never heard his presence directly confirmed before." The Queen leans forward on her throne, "I do not know, but finding out strikes me as wisdom incarnate."

[Ebiris]

"Which comes back to my need for help," Afina nods. "Who should we approach to learn about the reason for his presence?"

[Anastasia]

"I have contacts," Ilsenine says, "Duke Irrleas of the Court of Spring would answer my questions. So would Princess Butterblossom of the Court of Flowers. Alternately, perhaps...we go even higher up. This is a matter that concerns Her Majesty, for if the Gray is acting, the Queen of Air and Darkness is acting."

[Ebiris]

"He is an extension of her will," Afina agrees. "Though hopefully we can get information from Unseelie mouthpieces without having to dare go that far directly."

[Anastasia]

"I will defer to your preferences in this affair, as it is a military matter," Queen Ilsenine confirms. "If that is what you wish, inquires can be made simply as well."

[Ebiris]

"I've come to you for advice, your Majesty," Afina says, shaking her head. "What do you think is the best approach for getting to the truth of the matter, and then being able to do something about it if it does in fact turn out they're supporting Hell?"

[Anastasia]

"Ah, I misunderstood your intent," Ilsenine says, "Asking the Unseelie directly would be the simplest measure, but also the most likely to be lies and propaganda. It would also be the quickest. That is, assuming asking of the Gray gets a serious reply at all. Duke Irrleas and Princess Butterblossom are both of royal blood and in important enough courts to be aware of the mysteries of the planes, so they would likely know. However, it would involve diplomacy and meeting them. Finally, seeking Her Majesty is the most direct way and we have no idea if it will work, or if we overreach above our stations, but should she favor us, the rewards may be vast. Further, did you still wish to meet her, Afina?"

[Ebiris]

"I would," Afina answers, since what fey wouldn't? "Given the places we've visited, and the increased interest in Lifasa from the mighty after Bel's appearance, I don't think we'd be over-reaching to go that far."

[Anastasia]

"Then we will leave when you are ready," Ilsenine says, rising from her throne. "Skye, see to matters here while I am gone."

"Yes, your Majesty," Lady Skye bows deeply.

[Ebiris]

"I'm prepared to leave at your leisure, my Queen," Afina reports, seeing no reason to delay further.

[Anastasia]

Bringing anyone else? Where precisely are you going to gate to? Any prep I need to know about?

[Ebiris]

I'll gate to wherever Ilsenine says I should gate. Afina's never visited the sylvan realms. We'll just go by ourselves, no special prep needed.

[Anastasia]

Your gate opens up into deep, thick forest. No mere glade here, but wild and untamed nature. The way is almost impenetrable, unless you can fly or otherwise maneuver through nature's full splendor. Ilsenine leads along, "We must seek the Queen's realm, or see if she intervenes to bring us to her. We are reasonably close to places where gates to the grand court appear, but they are not always where or when you want them."

[Ebiris]

The barriers and difficult terrain of the natural world are of absolutely no impediment to Afina at least! She looks around and asks, "Is any one direction better than another from here, then?"