Collision Course (Afina, Jaela, Moore)

[Nephrite]

"That's why we brought her here." Moore says. "Sometimes, you have to see and hear things in a certain way to truly understand."

[Anastasia]

"Chaos is indiscriminate," Malonia says, "Six of my battle-sisters, cut down by Chourst for own amusement and nothing else." She raises a clenched fist, "I will not tolerate it happening to others."

Meanwhile...

Afina and 27 come out into the courtyard. They can see Jaela and friend several hundred feet away. The valkyrie with them immediately freezes and turns when you two come out.

Meanwhile...

"There," Malonia abruptly cuts off, eyes on 27 besides Afina. "That is it without any doubt. That is the entropy-spawn of Ygorl." Her voice is as cold as Auril's heart, starting to stride forward. "That is what must be eliminated."

[Ebiris]

Afina's wings beat and she rises into the air, keeping herself between 27 and their poorly considered guest. "No one's eliminating anyone under my watch," she says once the valkyrie gets closer.

[Corwin]

Just what did she return to?

"Wait," Jaela orders, concealing a frown. "As one of Aurora's generals, I'll need to hear more before I allow a guest to exterminate or eliminate anyone here."

With how rigid she seems, appealing to law and reason might well do the trick and give Jaela enough time to figure this out.

[Nephrite]

"Along with that, I think it's proper to hear the accused to be able to speak on their own behalf." Moore says. "As far as I'm aware, 27 has never done anything to intentionally hinder Aurora's efforts."

[Anastasia]

"Move aside," Malonia commands - a voice that demands it as she marches to Afina. However, Jaela and Moore's words bring her up to a stop, as Adrian moves in front of her, arms crossed.

"You know what's going to happen if you force this, and it won't be a good outcome for you." Adrian meets her gaze, "Try it."

Malonia takes a long breath as 27 hides behind Afina, "The power of Ygorl is entropy. It destroys anything it touches, that is the nature of entropy. Aurora is not exempt from that. No matter how useful or how alluring it seems, it all ends the same miserable way."

[Ebiris]

"Why is she even here? This isn't a trial, 27 is one of ours," Afina says, looking over at the ones who invited the valkyrie amidst them.

[Corwin]

Actually, 27 isn't particularly useful or alluring. If anything, he's kind of creepy in a sad stalker way.

"Aren't you giving it too much credit?" Jaela asks doubtfully.

[Nephrite]

"It was my idea." Moore says. "I wanted to bring her here so that she could see that 27 wasn't a threat. I didn't want anyone running into this situation outside of here." He says. "I thought it was the best way to get everything brought out into the open so we could deal with it."

[Anastasia]

"You seem fond of it," Malonia says, "Or at least loyal to it." She turns her glare to all of you, "Your Crusade is too important to be damaged by this. Do you think you can trust Ygorl's power? Do you believe this is something worth protecting?"

"Hateful," 27 murmurs. "Scarred."

"27's helped us, you haven't," Adrian says, "I went along with this because you're warriors who could be useful to this Crusade, and you want to come in here and let you murder him. What the hell?" He takes a step forward, "Do you have any evidence at all, any sign 27's doing something wrong or that Ygorl is against us?"

[Ebiris]

"27 isn't some late-comer swooping in and trying to undermine what we've built. When we were at our weakest just starting out he was there, and while he hasn't always made it easy to understand he has always given us help when asked for," Afina says. "So yes, as a friend and ally he's worth protecting."

[Corwin]

"It's a worthy goal, wanting to help us. Though in this case we aren't following 27 blindly, and it's yet to make us do a single thing of its initiative." Jaela shrugs. "Let's be frank here, 27 is more of a mascot or Ithea's pet and it's hard for me to see it as anything dangerous."

[Nephrite]

"Well, if we're putting all the cards forward, he does have that weird hangup about Tannin." Moore says with a small shrug. "But yes, please, peace, Malonia."

Man, where is Sylvie? This would be a lot easier with the ultimate truthfulness...

[Anastasia]

Moore glances back and sees Sylvie coming out of the entrance hall now.

Malonia's eyes narrow, "It's not too late to wake up. You can think you're controlling him, that you're safe, but you're not. As long as he's alive and part of your Crusade, entropy  has a hand around your Crusade's heart."

[Ebiris]

"When our goal is war and bloodshed, entropy is a necessity," Afina counters.