More Offensives (Afina and Jaela; 84 days left)

[Ebiris]

"By what enemy in particular?" Afina asks. Most invaders would use gates or plane shifts after all, and Aurora wasn't even a thing when these fortresses were being constructed.

[Anastasia]

"My understanding is that the ethereal could be used in such a way," Velasca says, "At least the Duke of Destiny claims so, but Medicant for an army and magic for small forces makes it largely irrelevant."

[Ebiris]

"They must be spread over a huge area then to encircle all of Lifasa. Are they linked by any mechanism or does Silvber just rely on teleporting devils to pass along communications?"

[Anastasia]

"Teleportation and telepathy, as far as I know, as well as runners," Velasca responds.

[Ebiris]

"Does he base himself out of any particular fortress or rotate between them?" Afina asks.

[Anastasia]

"Yes, the four Keystones. Large fortresses at each of the cardinal directions," Velasca says, "A fool's undertaking, but what is Hell if not a nation of fools?" Her voice is reflective, "Are all fools, and we but fools capering about for the entertainment of the divine?"

[Corwin]

"A fool's undertaking is one that's bound to fail, isn't it?" Jaela muses. "I think we don't qualify, then, given all the success." She smiles in sudden amusement. "Actually debating philosophy with a devil would make a fool out of me, won't it? Given how it's all pointless and all? If you actually thought you were a fool before you'd try to do something about it instead of writing angsty poetry and being all reflective when we stop by for a visit." The poetry bit is a guess, but it's probably spot on given Velasca is moody and was an elf. "You don't have a lot of good choices, and that's entirely your fault, but you do seem to be picking the ones that make your life the most miserable out of all the alternatives."

[Anastasia]

Velasca scowls at all of that, especially the poetry comment. She gazes at the fire, face locked in that scowl. "What then, oh great general Jaela, would you do in my situation?"

[Corwin]

"My friend here will vehemently disagree with me, but the Triune has this foolish belief, according to just about any devil out there, that you can always do better. Actions matter, intent matters. Once I've realized I've been deeply wrong, I've taken steps to do better. And you know something? I'm not afraid of my future or about going against the so-called entertainment of my superiors, unlike every single devil in existence, and my life's happier to boot." Jaela gives Velasca a pitying look. "Do you really need someone like me to tell you the obvious? Your actions show that you've already realized you made a mistake. Once a person normally realizes that they try to make amends for as long as it takes."

[Anastasia]

Velasca shakes her head, "That path is sealed to me. Your Triune would only have one answer and it's not one I'd survive. They may humor your mistakes, but you serve them."

[Corwin]

Jaela nods slowly, smiling indulgently in amusement. "You're right, of course. Who would you believe about her dogma, the literal favored servant of the Triune who reincarnated a repented sinner from Gehenna, or your devil-granted education? The latter, clearly. It's been so superior about everything else. I'll stop insulting your intelligence at once."

Velasca is scum of the highest order, no doubt about it, but even having a hand in destroying a Prime would probably pale in the face of Annalise's crimes and the Triune was willing to give her a chance. And the irony is that it must seem too good to be true and will get ignored.

[Anastasia]

"Tsch." Velasca turns back to the fire, and after a few beats, "I know enough to know that what a servant says is not always the mind or intent of the master." A brooding pause, "Well meaning or otherwise. Devils make an art of purposefully misunderstanding for advantage within the letter of what is said, if not the spirit."

Yet she pauses.

"You are not a devil," she murmurs, frowning. "You are not a devil. Bah, prophecy," Velasca scowls even fiercer, tossing the glass into the fire, shattering within the fireplace. "How little that has served the Duke of Destiny. Is it as worthless coming from your side as it is from Hell's side?"

[Corwin]

"I get your problem," Jaela voices. "It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? What can I say, the Triune works like that. You must've known that much from your time as a mortal. Hell believes in the letter of the law, and tries to fuck you over through any loophole they can find. Since they've been doing it a lot longer than any mortal and have an infinite team of minions, they'll always win like any gambling house."

She snorts, shaking her head. Gambling can actually be fun, but what sort of fool does it with their soul? And just for a tiny bit of power, something you can get by training?

"Arborea's just the opposite," Jaela continues, "and not on the planar geography. It's idealistic and lets each person define that ideal the way they see fit. The one rule is that you need to try and be a good person. Not on pain of death, or pain of pain, or anything of the sort. You fail badly enough and stop trying, and they drop you. That's it. Sounds easy, right? So when I look at why people don't rush towards it en masse, what I think is that some people really like their discipline, some are just too lazy and others let their fear - of failure, then unknown, whichever you like - stop them."

Glancing at Velasca, Jaela asks her, "If I'm reading you right and you're actually considering this, which one of them's stopping you?"

[Anastasia]

Make a Diplo check here for reference.

[Corwin]

19:46 <Jaela> roll 1d20+75 (+2 vs elves)
19:46 <Serith> Jaela roll for Serith < 87 > [d20=12]