Advancement

[Ebiris]

Considering soul larvae are used as consumable spell components in the lower planes, Alicia can't even muster up outrage that Malcanthet is being especially derelict in her duty over and above the demonic norm. It's just more depressing evil awfulness even if the existential horror of 'Robeaux's' existence represents a novel twist.

"Then lets ask the Adversary and see where this will take us," she says. Their interest in Rosewater is obviously known to the enemy so there's nothing lost by asking at least.

[Anastasia]

Do you want to be the one who asks them or leave it to Syala or Antenora?

[Ebiris]

Let Anty take it since it was her idea.

[Anastasia]

Sure.

After perhaps a half hour, "The Adversary is willing to meet us," Antenora says, "He'd like to discuss this personally."

[Ebiris]

Alicia isn't surprised. "Anything worth talking about usually is done in person," she says. "Where does he want to meet? Since we're the ones asking we'll have to go along with it."

[Anastasia]

"Mechanus, on neutral ground," Antenora answers, "I'm surprised, I'd have thought he'd have insisted on somewhere to his advantage."

[Ebiris]

"That is surprising," Alicia agrees. "I expect he'll be asking for something substantial and that's to put you at ease, since your tastes are well known. Who do you want to go with you - or who has he requested, I suppose?"

[Anastasia]

"Marie," Antenora says, "The Oinoloth will use both law and chaos to get what he wants, I have no doubts I'll need her insights. Jessica as well, she's the sneakiest of this, and he requested her presence."

[Ebiris]

"She's working on looking for clues on divine seeds but I can call her back," Alicia says, not having a problem with those choices. "When are we doing this?"

[Anastasia]

"1 day," Antenora says, "Time enough to prepare."

[Ebiris]

"Lets hope this goes smoothly. Sooner Rosewater is wiped out the better off we'll all be," Alicia says.

Lets get a quick update from Jessica on how her search goes when we call her back and then we can move onto this meeting?

[Anastasia]

Sure.

"We're digging at phantoms right now, mostly," Jessica says, "Though Waukeen did have an idea of them. A few phantasmal things that might refer to them?" Jessica says at last, "One reference to the bottom of the Infinite Stair, another to a gate in the Astral. Obscure things." She sits by you and explains, "If they're out there and not in the hands of powerful entities, they must be hid beyond compare. If."

[Ebiris]

"It's been a long time since we've been to the infinite staircase but past excursions have been fruitful," Alicia says, considering that as something of a lead. The bottom of the stair is a more concrete goal than any other.

[17:34] <Ebiris> roll 1d20+91 buffed up planes check for the bottom of the infinite staircase
[17:34] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+91 buffed up planes check for the bottom of the infinite staircase --> [ 1d20=5 ]{96}

[Anastasia]

The bottom of the Infinite Stair is something theorized but never found. It's said it contains all manner of things and treasures - from everything ever dropped off the side of the stairs there to ancient relics to older things yet. The lillend believe that there is no bottom, for what it's worth, at least officially. Unofficially you've heard opinions vary amid them, a fragment of a report from Ebony mentioning a discussion with Vivantha.

What and whereever it is, if it exists, the way to find it isn't known.

[Ebiris]

"Of course infinite and bottom... well they're exclusionary, aren't they?" she concludes. "We can put out feelers with the lillend, though it'll be uncharted territory. Know anything more about this gate in the astral?"