Advancement

[Anastasia]

Silence is the answer.

I know you, daemon. I only question why you have made the choices you have made.

Jessica's quiet as well, watching the exchange.

You think you know me, angel?

Antenora gestures, a trail of opal blue light lingering in the air after. A sweep of her arm. Your poison betrays you, even if you have stilled your tongue. It's hardly a secret to us, devil. Even now, you chose Mechanus. Perhaps you have forsaken your lawful nature, yet still have many contacts here.

Another few moments before Antenora continues. Why?

For one moment it flares - a feeling of drowning in poison. It fades with the slightest effort of your own divine will, cleansing yourself of such a sensation.

We agree on one thing, angel. There is no future in Hell.

We agree.

[Ebiris]

"You have that much in common, even if you took that knowledge to different conclusions," Alicia says mildly as Marie returns with her Sharran treasures.

[Anastasia]

The sword and armor are examined.

A hand, death white and colorless, rises to grasp the blade. When contact is made shadows run up the Oinoloth's arm. He does not react to them.

In the air a scroll appears, of white letters on black parchment. Antenora takes it and scans it momentarily, "This should do," she announces.

[Ebiris]

"Then if there is no further business we'll take our leave," Alicia says. Maybe he just wanted to get a look at Jessica and take her measure?

[Anastasia]

The Adversary is gone, leaving the party alone.

Wordlessly, Antenora hand you the scroll.

[Ebiris]

Alicia gives it a read once it's handed over.

[Anastasia]

It looks like details about Rosewater - how to reach it, defenses and so on and so forth.

I'll get into details over the weekend, but we're near session pause time so I'm being handwavy for now.

[Ebiris]

Satisfied with that, they go home so they can plan their assault and lance this particular boil on Creation once and for all!

[Anastasia]

Rosewater

To reach Rosewater, you must be invited, been touched by the Styx or bear this scroll. You must travel the River Styx for 66 miles from Khin-Oin, any means of transport besides teleportation will do. I suggest magic to make yourselves unseen and unknown for this journey. With this scroll you will find Rosewater.

There is a trivial enchantment to make the weak lie down to die within. It is of no consequence to you, merely showmanship. Crush a golden statue of Malcanthet beneath Violet's manor if you wish to end it.

The demons will resist, there are legions of lusty thralls who serve the succubi and lilitu within. Slay them. This will be no great problem for you, they are for lesser beings. They are lead by a balor of no great power or renown, notable only for the triumph of a night's relations with the Queen of Succubi. His death will win you little honor, for he is a speck sent there as a pawn.

Teleportation is stopped by the astral links being severed around Rosewater. You will not be able to overcome these means from outside, but you may be able to inside. Your divine will shall suffice to do so. I will not oppose your effort.

There are whore houses and other entertainments, as well as dungeons beneath them. The demons and demon thralls within are of little consequence.

Beware Samora. She is the spawn of a green dragon and Malcanthet, though wholly free of divine potential. She is a sadist who can inflict pain on anyone with a word and a gesture. She has dallied with several devils who serve Belial and is served by the spawn from those couplings. She resides beneath Violet's manor. Samora and all of her spawn like nothing more to incapacitate a foe with pain, strip them and use them until they pass out from the pain. Violet finds them distasteful but Malcanthet allows them to live.

Robeaux is a powerful tiefling warrior who enjoys cutting his foes with blade and word. He is not quite a true threat, but he is an annoying foe is you are so foolish as to be ambushed by him. Unlike most demons, he is not immune to poison. He has been given a dark paladin's blade that bestows on him greater unholy powers.

Violet is strong. Stronger than she should be, for she has glutted herself on her research. She will be a worthy foe, should she live long enough to face you. Her magic is now potent.

Expect archers, spells and hidden catapults to oppose you as you march in. The true danger is Violet and Malcanthet herself.

---

You are back in Sylica. You sit in Antenora and Marie's garden, the plants a riot of colors and tangles - except where Antenora sits, which smooths itself out into orderly rows.

"We have our means in and information," Antenora begins, "Information I believe given to betray Malcanthet. Such is the nature of the yugoloths. We also must know that we cannot rule out the Adversary's double betrayal."

"We have our chance now," Latha concurs, "We take it and crush them. Alicia, I wish to go for this battle. I must test my new self."

"As will I. I will carve my ascendancy in the souls of the leaders of the wicked." Antenora concurs, "Jessica?"

"I have searching to do, though I can take a respite to watch Sylica. The divine seeds are my interest right now, Antenora." Jessica admits, sitting beneath a shady apple tree. A ripe red apple sways in the breeze, a short fall into Jessica's hand. She takes a bite before going on, "You want a mailed fist, not a silken sneak."

"A chance to fight Malcanthet? I'm going," Syala says, "This is long overdue."

[Ebiris]

"We are going to have to sneak in there so they don't see us coming," Alicia says, politely ignoring Marie as she braids daisies into her hair. "But myself, Syala, Antenora, and Latha should be plenty. We can make ourselves invisible and fly over the Styx - for the distance needed it should take a little over three hours. We can remain stealthy to bypass the initial defences and open our assault by attacking Violet or one of the other notables directly, gut their strongest defenders before they have a chance to prepare or rally. That way if Malcanthet does appear, she won't have much local support to count on."

[Anastasia]

"That hinges on an important fact: How strong is Violet now?" Antenora asks, "How far has her profane arts taken her? A first strike to slay her and capture her soul makes good sense, but it's worthless if she's become too powerful to assault."

"Nor if she's protected enough to make an ambush impossible," Jessica muses aloud. "Those are also worse case scenario. A third as well: Could she be a proxy of Malcanthet?"

Latha looks up at the sky, lost in thought for a few moments. "Reasonable worries, but also only worries. If we are not sufficient to do this, vanishingly few are and Violet may never be stopped."

[Ebiris]

"We've already handled one proxy of Malcanthet," Alicia points out. "But from my read... I don't think Violet would be a proxy. She's already gaining power quickly, power borne of theft. I don't think Malcanthet is naive enough to trust a part of herself to a demon with that skillset."

[Anastasia]

"Unless she's getting a lot out of it," Antenora says, "Is it possible Malcanthet is being augmented in the same way?"

"It doesn't change our plans," Syala points right out, "Consider it, but we aim to win no matter how strengthened they are."

[Ebiris]

"Yes, it's not as if we're going to scare ourselves out of acting just because the enemy is strong. Be aware of the risk but the cause requires it to be braved," Alicia says as Marie stands back to admire the cute little bouquet she's put into the war goddess's hair.

[Anastasia]

At this moment Jessica looks over, "Marie, that's good work. You should wear more flowers, Alicia, they suit you."

Antenora cracks a smile and clears her throat. "No fear, only rational consideration. A fair fight is a just thing, but knowing your foe is a wise thing."

"How pretty," Latha agrees, "Though I think more of a splash of color would work with Alicia's hair. Something with more strong, bright colors."