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[Anastasia]

"Ooze is Ooze," Valar continues, "No one really wants Ooze's help and it's disorganized regardless. I don't think they'll be a meaningful factor, even if Bwimb II wanted to interfere. Just as well, I've visited Ooze."

[Corwin]

"That's two down," Seira agrees.

[Anastasia]

"Predictably, Magma is tilting generally towards the enemy," Valar continues, "Though there's magma force naturally in both Earth and Fire as it is, so it can be difficult to discern an uptick easily. However, our sources suggest they're at least getting a lot of volunteers."

[Corwin]

"I did have plans to visit Magma more and attempt to create another Omni," Seira muses. "Is there a convenient way to suggest that Magma would be best served staying out of the War while I do that?"

[Anastasia]

"I can think of a few, so long as you don't mind risking Fire and Earth interfering," Valar says, "Or simply doing it quietly as you can."

[Corwin]

"Give me the options and I'll see what works."

[Anastasia]

"Get holy ground there and use that as a base," Valar begins, "That makes it a challenge to any who would interfere. Do something on a large enough scale to make the point to Magma, even to a fairly dimwitted elemental."

[Corwin]

Seira nods slowly, saying, "I have a modest embassy serving as a portal to the interplanar hub of the Cauldron. Let's see if we can enlarge it. Perhaps I'll see about recruiting a few of the locals while we're at it, and I would appreciate a list of suitable persons to approach. What of Smoke and the quasiplanes?"

[Anastasia]

"No coherent response yet," Valar says, "A few tokens on either side, but that's normal," Valar says.

[Corwin]

"We'll give them more time, then," Seira muses. "How are the rest of our reinforcements? I believe Lathander's contingent already arrived to bolster our defenses, allowing us to send more of our forces out to fight the efreet. Have there been others?"

[Anastasia]

"Ben-Hadar's not participating, of course, and Chan's spoken for along with Zaaman Rul. Entemoch and Sunnis are largely occupied with Earth and their own issues there, as they naturally oppose the dao and slavery." Valar says, "Though they're much better established than Zaaman Rul, thankfully."

[Corwin]

"I'll shop around in Brightwater, then. If we have a wider defense coalition, it will only make the Cauldron safer. What of Celestia's efforts in the War, Valar?"

[Anastasia]

"They're doing well - hitting efreeti targets and building up forces. I've heard that they're preparing a large strike," Valar says, "But I've not confirmed it yet. They want to set the tempo of the war before the efreet do again."

[Corwin]

"We want that as well," Seira agrees. "Please coordinate with Romiel. Our own plans to deploy Lady Honeydip's forces and my personal participation would be far more effective, were they to coincide with a fresh Celestia push against efreet and dao forces."

Nodding to herself, she asks, "Is there anything else of relevance that we should go over, my friend?"

[Anastasia]

"That's it - if you're preparing ot go out in a week, I'll tell them that and we can coordinate a big attack before the efreet can do the same," Valar says.