Labalyn's memorial

[Anastasia]

Alas, nothing happens.

Generally, in a situation where a rank check is called, a miracle spell cast by you will hew to those results, since it's your own divine power fueling it. In other words, you won't get a second bite at the rank check with it.

[Nephrite]

OK.

"Well, I'm out of ideas." He says as he turns to the others. "I suppose we can keep looking, but I'm not sure what to do here."

[Anastasia]

"We may be out of our depth," Cresiel says at last, "But we can seek advice, and for now ensure the prison is left alone."

"Some aid wouldn't go amiss," Sylvie agrees, "It's not like anyone wants to stay in Carceri under normal circumstances, so I doubt it gets many visitors."

[Nephrite]

"The most recent were, unfortunately, Mephisto and The Adversary." Moore says. "So it's possible they may come back."

He considers for a moment. "Well, let's at least explore a little more and see if we come across anything else. We may still be able to find Eagle's Regret and get them out of here."

[Anastasia]

Okay, assuming no opposition, how long/deep are you going to explore?

[Nephrite]

I think we can afford a while. Let's say at least two hours. We never found any section last time of prisoners who weren't, as we were told anyway, there for some specific crime, so let's see if we can find anything new - and also if Seema / the efreet Moore met are both still in the same places or not.

[Anastasia]

They are but asleep. You come on Seema first, who sleeps deeply and does not respond.

[Nephrite]

"So the layout is the same... which is interesting." Moore says. "Hm... I wonder..."

He will continue on to where he met the Daemon-that-was-the-Guardian and see if there's anything in there. If not, he'll keep exploring past that and see if he reaches the same "end" that he did originally (which was the portal that took him to... wherever it was.)

[Anastasia]

You do not reach the end. Instead it is floor after floor of sleeping inmates.

10 floors.

15 floors.

20 floors.

On and on it goes, each floor surely holding thousands of prisoners.

30 floors.

"Could be infinite?" Jetina breaks the silence, "Endless?"

[Nephrite]

"I don't know that it's infinite, but it's possible." Moore says.

To be clear, at this point, they're finding new floors with new prisoners, correct?

[Anastasia]

Correct.

[Nephrite]

Okay.

"There has to be somewhere they keep certain types of prisoners... too bad we can't ask the guards." Moore says. "...Or maybe we can?"

Have they seen any other guards on their way down or not at all?

[Anastasia]

None.

"They didn't seem interested in talking to us," Xandra points out, "But we lose nothing to try, should we find one."

"Lose nothing to try?" Kaja echos. "This entire thing is madness. Yes, there's a time for mercy, but how many of these ask for it or deserve it? They deserve retribution, not coddling." He bares his teeth at this, all white and sharp.

"It's better to learn from this and from them, and if there's anyone worthwhile, save them." Sylvie doesn't blink at Kaja's words, "Even if that's part of your portfolio, isn't it?"

"I am what I am," Kaja declares loudly, "Redemption requires willingness, regret, sorrow. It's born from the act of putting aside your mistakes and confronting them. It's so much clearer to me now. They will repent or sleep forever, or should they escape that, meet the oblivion they tremble before."

[Nephrite]

"You forget why we're here." Moore says, with a bit of stern tone in his voice. "There are those here who no longer remember the crimes they even were brought here to atone for - or those who are good people who may have ended up here by mistake. Would you condemn them, as well, to this place?"

[Anastasia]

"The exceptions are the exceptions," Kaja says, softening his voice, "I do not mean the ones unjustly imprisoned. But how many could be here, compared to the monsters of the planes?"

"Too many," Cresiel's voice is as hard and cold as a tomb's stone guts,  "No soul should suffer unjustly and be denied their eternal fate."