The duty to live

[Anastasia]

The letter reads as follows.

I greet you with hopes you are well, Alicia.


I cannot say with certainty who is behind this affront to you, nor can I decisively rule out that the Queen of Air and Darkness may not well be the ultimate culprit of this trickery. However, I do not believe it so unless she has betrayed herself, for even she would not lightly speak of a broken promise. I am aware that the Queen is wroth towards whomever did this, and already prepares the wrath of winter for whom she believes is the culprit.


This act will bring conflict to Fire. The Queen of Air and Darkness will not let this pass. I warn you that you and yours will be possibly threatened by this, and the new order established in Fire may yet prove to change. I do not believe Kossuth will allow things to degenerate as far this time, he has indicated he has no patience for a second war after the first, but he also indicated that he is angry with Seira. I shall send a copy of this message to her with similar sentiments, for her troubles in Fire are not yet concluded. Kossuth may well not wish for Fire to change any further after the war and the vanishment of Eblis, but he may make an exception for Seira.


I would council you towards great caution and greater vigilance, for even if events reveal that you are tertiary to these events, that you are nonetheless involved. My dear friend, do not lower your guard now against the dark fey, nor against Fire or whomever used you in such a churlish and unworthy manner. Know also that winter comes from many sources and not all of them may be allied against you at this hour, no matter how intensely the flames burn before you.


My beloved Faerinaal and my beloved Gwynharwyf speak of the Godsrush. You have my most sincere congratulations in your triumphs. No longer do you and Syala stand alone. I can speak long and well of the benefits to more than a single other in your realm, and I pray that your efforts there will see Sylica's continued growth and prosperity. I laud Antenora most of all, not to disparage the others, but that her rise is the steepest and most profound of any other in Sylica. She is a testament to the meaning you have achieved, and the proof that you shall mark Creation for eons to come. May Sylica only grow in the coming ages, and may eternity settle on you like a fine mantle.


I bid you farewell now, and hope that the day comes where we meet face to face soon. Until that day, may all the stars in the Heavens shine on you and offer you their glory.


QM.

[Ebiris]

What a nice letter! It seems like Morwel is aware of the speculation that pointed towards Imix, perhaps from obvious moves the Queen of Air and Darkness has already made? It's troubling to know that Kossuth is angry with Seira, as many of their adventures in the past were done in his sight - for a time Alicia even changed her primary weapon on account of him, so for someone she'd generally considered 'aloof but supportive' to turn hostile is concerning indeed. Since Morwel is already sending her counsel to Seira Alicia needn't add to it.

For now she'll share the contents of this letter with her friends, both so they can hear Morwel's advice and particularly so Antenora can enjoy the special praise she got singled out for.

[Anastasia]

It's not hard to get everyone together. It's a country manor, a new one that looks out of a childhood fairy tale. White stallions graze in the grasses here, as a fountain burbles in the front. A cool breeze contrasts the warm sun, a hedge maze nearby and many, many fruit tree groves beyond that. It is the idyllic countryside, not a hint of discord or problem at all.

Just outside of the back doors out is a shaded patio where the six of you gather. As Antenora reads the letter and smiles, Syala looks over her shoulder to do the same, hands on Antenora's shoulders. "As nice as the complement is, it also warns of more troubles in Fire. There's too many who don't like the current status quo there."

"Far too many," Jessica agrees, "Displaced efreet nobles and interests alone are considerable. Though speaking of nobles, which of us made this house?"

"I did,"  Latha turns to look over it, "Between my will and the works of a few faithful. It's actually a gift for your parents, Alicia, though I doubt they will use it often. I also intend to use it to entertain guests who prefer somewhere less crowded than Mercia or Liberton."

"Mm." A little noise from Jessica, "Regardless of that, I do think Morwel may be right. This may well be nothing but a means to rile up Fire. Sister, we should take action in Fire, somehow and in some way. At the least Zaaman Rul should be told that trouble looms."

[Ebiris]

"Do remember that we're bound by the peace accords signed to end the war with the efreet," Alicia reminds everyone. "I've no desire to stir things up on fire, and without having anything tangible to warn Zaaman Rul of simply telling him 'there's going to be trouble' is unhelpful at best."

"Nevermind that," Marie says, breezily brushing the whole thing aside. "Morwel warned you about dark fey - there's a lot to take away from that. Is the Queen of Air and Darkness going to cause us trouble elsewhere to make up for the arrangement on that one world? Are we going to see problems from other unseelie that don't like her easing up? Was this entire thing an inside job?"

This provokes a relevant question, are there Fey with divine rank other than Titania and the Queen of Air and Darkness?

[Anastasia]

Oberon is, and a few other fey deities I've never had reason to get into. Same on the Unseelie Fey side. Despite Afina, the greater fey hierarchy has never gotten a lot of time in depth. I can take a bit and go into it if you want names and details.

[Ebiris]

Just knowing that there are others is sufficient for Marie's point that one of them could have done it works here.

I guess that answer serves as a meta-spoiler that it wasn't one of them though!

[Anastasia]

Unless the DM is being trickier than usual, admittedly.

"We don't know," Antenora looks up from the letter, and with a quirk of her lipsup, "Why don't you and Syala try to reason it out with logic?"

Jessica rolls her eyes with a fond smile before, "I'll look into that as well, sister."

"Ahem," Latha clears her throat, "There's another thing to be discussed. I have something for you, Marielle."

[Ebiris]

"Well, our culprit was a ready oathbreaker which makes me disbelieve it could have been a fey," Alicia contributes before they can go too far down that road.

"Oh, is it ready?" Marie pivots on her heel to smile widely at Latha.

[Anastasia]

Latha nods slightly and stands, "Come with me, Marie."

Thus the two go inside and soon enough...

Go ahead and intro your new gown, Marie.

[Ebiris]

"Thank you for making this for me Latha, I know this sort of deception isn't your forte so I really appreciate you going out of your comfort zone for me," Marie says to the truth-obsessed deva as she regards the item hanging off a mannequin waiting for her, both her and Latha strong enough of will to avoid being drawn into the phantom possibilities heralded within the multi-coloured facets it shows in its natural form.

Having been intimate with Latha in the past and generally uncaring of nudity as a consequence of her ethereal form knocking her clothes off whenever she uses it, Marie shows little compunction about stripping off her current fancy ballgown type dress before she garbs herself in Fantasia. Settling it over her shoulders and teasing her hair back out to sweep behind her head, she closes her eyes and the clingy robe alters itself into a rather elaborate green longcoat open at the front and showing a white inner lining behind her legs which are now clad in pants of a lighter green shade to match the shirt worn over her upper body, a fancy pink butterfly bow tie below her neck to add a touch of whimsy to the professionally cut attire. "It can do whole outfits nicely," she approves, adjusting her white gloves and tapping the heels of her leather boots on the ground.

Suitably shown off to Latha she and the artifact maker go back outside to join the others, Marie preening in her new look. "Sorry for the wait, Latha made me something nice."

"You look like you're about to go into court," Alicia says, the outfit a radical departure from Marie's typical airy dresses and elaborate gowns.

"Maybe I'm just being serious!" Marie declares in a voice that's anything but, tossing her hair back over her shoulder.

[Anastasia]

Latha nods to Marie as she dresses, "You're welcome. Be well with it, Marie." Thus you emerge out and...

"Truly the Last Day is on us," Antenora deadpans, before she smiles widely, "It's beautiful, Marie."

Jessica claps slowly, "I like it! It's very fetching on you."

Syala looks it over, "That or you're going to compete with Sune for the most hearts you can enspell. Marie, it's stunning. Gorgeous."

To this Antenora adds, "It's very much like you, Marie." She rises, a shimmer as her armor fades away. She is clad in a long, trailing and clingy gown of soft black. Her hair is tied back with a slender ribbon of white as she offers Marie her hand. Golden earrings join the look, little chips of opal decorating them, with matching bracelets as well. "May I have the first dance, Lady Marielle?"

A soft laugh from Jessica, "There's hardly a dance to be had!"

To this Latha merely bows her head down. The sun sets in a moment, the gentle darkness of the starry night sky above you. The moon is bright and full, more than enough light to be seen by.

At this Syala drifts over to Alicia, arms around her from behind. "A romantic dance, is it? We can't let them dance alone."

[Ebiris]

Marie smiles at Latha for the romantic backdrop and adds her own illusory orchestra to provide a suitably sweeping romantic score for them as she takes Antenora's hand and dances better than anyone can, leading Antenora.

Alicia takes the time to swap out of her own armour for a more restrained silk blue ballgown so she can dance with Syala, trading partners to get Jessica and Latha involved in the mix.

[Anastasia]

Dancing and celebrations, smiles and laughter. It's a peaceful time, an oasis amid greater threats.

Eventually, you dance with Jessica. As you do, quietly, "How limited are we in Fire, sister?"

[Ebiris]

So looking over the thread it seems like we're bound to a peace treaty with the efreet for a century, but I'm not sure if the treaty includes co-belligerents - we're included for 'Cauldron and allies' as an ally, is Imix similarly on it as 'efreet and allies'? I know the dao weren't and Imix wasn't mentioned at all.

[Anastasia]

The dao made a separate treaty when it was clear this was was going south and Baator was dicking everyone on their side, as I recall. They got out, took some lumps and played the long game after Akil bailed the efreet out.

Imix and Zaaman Rul are at a tentative peace as a result of that treaty, for as long as it lasts. I'm not sure either side believes it'll hold, but it is in effect, yes. If nothing else, force replenishment takes time.