When you do arrive, though, you have already calmed yourself. It immediately becomes apparent that Scinnari is watching Azyra's efforts with what approaches obsession; what ever her loyalty, you are certain she loves the daughter you share... Of course, whether her love can trump her loyalty remains to be seen.

Cracks have already appeared in the shell when you arrive. Hairline, but distinct and growing. You stalk to Scinnari's side, and lay yourself down- Scinnari jumps at your presence, but smiles, leaning against your flank once you lay beside her. Together your attention focuses on watching your daughter's emergence- or at least, hers does. Your mind wanders in dark places, and it is difficult to keep up this pretense, knowing what is to come.... But you don't know, do you? For instance... she already seemed to feel guilty about it, perhaps you can make her feel more so. Yes... You find the idea most appealing.

“What do you expect?” you ask, the sadism of your intent allowing you to hide your real intent flawlessly. Instead, your words are a loving purr.

“Expect?”

“I suspect she will take more after her mother.” you continue, “Humanoid... feathered wings. Perhaps horns, a tail, but I suspect she will look more like you. Not that I would wish otherwise, my /dear/.” You worry that you may have given yourself away, the last word said too viciously, but she seems oblivious.

“I.. I would quite like that, my lord.” she offers timidly. You nod in agreement.

“As would I... Though I do hope she takes after her father in some way.” you reply, “Hmm.... The beautiful form and intelligence of her mother, and the magical talent of her father, perhaps.” you continue, as if talking to yourself.

“Perhaps she will have... horns, or fangs like your own, my lord.” Scinnari suggests tentatively.

“If only you knew..” you think, but aloud reply otherwise. “It doesn't matter to me. I'll love her all the same, even if she looked like a human- Familial loyalty does exist in dragons, even Reds, in abundance, even if not to the degree of erinyes...” you say, watching Scinnari out of the corner of your eye. She flinches at 'erinyes', and you pretend not to notice as she stands, drawing away from you.

The dark red of the shell slowly fractures before you, and tiny claws tear away the remaining unbroken section. Your daughter slowly rips her way out of the interior, discarding the eggshell around her. Unsteadily, she stands. Having seen her previously, you are not surprised.

Near three feet tall, and mostly humanoid, she has a pair of straight black horns pointing up and backward. To your satisfaction, they even twist slightly like your own. Her feet and her hands have elongated claws, looking almost comically oversized, presumably because claws grow more slowly than everything else will. Her skin looks faintly red in the dim light of your lair, and patches of deep red scales exist on the back of her shoulders, her face, arms, and legs.... Her eyes have the cat's-eye, or rather, dragon's eye pupil, not the human or erinyes version, though that hardly stands out. Her face is angular, somewhat reminiscent of an elf's... or a red dragons, if it occurred to make the comparison. Her tail, too, stands out. A scaled, very draconic tail extends from the base of her spine, much thinner, yet still bizarrely thick for such a small creature. And her wings! Oversized, clumsy protuberances, bearing gray and red plumage- a pale gray, but the central vein of each feather as deep a red as her scales....

Despite her elven features, she's of a slightly heavier build than an elf, and the scales and horns, not to mention wings and tail, prevent her from appearing to be anything but... unique. While you care, it doesn't bother you in the slightest; first of all, there's magic, should she need to appear normal, and secondly, it's only fitting that /your/ /daughter/ be special. Unique, even.

“F-father?” she voices with some difficulty as she looks up at your looming form, someone who knows, intellec-tually, exactly how to speak, but has never done so before. “Mo-other?” her words have the alien quality of someone trying to say a word they've never heard before- that ever-so-slightly imperfect accenting and stressing. Presumably, the only way she's speaking at all is by forcing unused vocal chords to function.

“Of course.” you say, a deep and gentle purr. Bringing your head down to her level, you stare at her for a moment before whispering, “I glad to finally see you, Azyra.”.

“I- love you, too, mother... Fath- Father.” Azyra seems embarrassed, her skin is flushing a deeper red... You lean in to join in the hug as much as you can, and Azyra clumsily pats you on the brow.

“I'm glad to /see/.” Azyra replies, intent of her words almost lost in her strange phrasing. She steps forward unsteadily, and you move to clear her path of the cushions that had protected her egg. It would be unreasonable to make her attempt to walk on those... and the point of this exercise is to be as reasonable as possible. Something must show on your face, as Azyra pauses, and would probably have flinched were she better coordinated.

“Fah-ther?” she asks, and you hurry to allay her fears.

“Nothing, my dear.” you reassure her, bringing your tail around you, forward. You offer her the tip of it as a hand-hold, and guide her forward. She approaches much more stably, if still without much experience. Scinnari, though you haven't been looking at her, seems to have finally found her tongue.

“Azyra- My daughter...” Scinnari says, almost haltingly. With clumsy fingers, Azyra accepts the robe Scinnari brought her, draping it over her shoulders inexpertly. Scinnari assists, guiding the slit in the robe over Azyra's oversized wings. It settles and Scinnari seems to waver for a moment before sweeping Azyra up in her arms, cradling her. You do not fail to notice her steal a glance at you.

“Moth-ther!” Azyra squeaks in protest, protest that you suspect is mostly feigned. “I ca-an sss- tand-”

“I love you, Azyra. My daughter.” the words seem to be almost reverential. Awkwardly, Azyra returns the embrace.

“Azyra, please, you have nothing to be embarrassed over- Your mother loves you dearly, as do I. You are my /daughter/... My princess.” you reply, nuzzling her very gently. Despite your efforts, Scinnari rocks , and you are forced to halt. Azyra giggles. You give into the urge to make another veiled cut at Scinnari. “Your mother and I are overjoyed to have you as a daughter.... as family. As I have told you, I have been looking forward to your arrival.”

“I- We love you, Azyra.” Scinnari confirms.

“Both of us, very much.” you corroborate. Contemplating your memory you decide that... yes... It's about time. Scinnari should be... Yes.... As you draw away, you see Scinnari's tears, and her expression... sad. Bittersweet. Of course... Rage burns in you.

“Azaladon?” she asks mentally. You hear her voice in your mind, and respond in kind.

“Yes?” you think back, listening to her gather her will, steeling herself to do the deed. The silence stretches on, and you do not prompt her. Let it be all her doing...

“ I'm sorry.” she answers, with what sounds like anguish. Which is nothing compared to the light of realization in her eyes as she blinks open, still present, the next moment.

“Mo-mother? Father? Wha-at is go-?” Azyra is interrupted as Scinnari gently shoving Azyra away from her. She faces you... defiant. Afraid but unwilling to beg.

“Azyra, my- little girl. I love you, I always will. Right now, though, please... leave. One of your father's servants waits outside; it will... attend to your needs. You must be hungry...” Scinnari says, trying to direct Azyra towards the entrance of your lair. Where, indeed, one of your lizardmen stand waiting to serve. Azyra is reluctant to go, though, and instead grabs at the sleeve of Scinnari's dress.

“M-mother!” she says louder, confused, with perhaps a hint of panic entering her voice. “Wh-ay? Wha-t is go- going on?”

"So.....Would you explain stealing our daughter and making me use a wish just to ask this question?"

>>14151556
You... You do realize that that will utterly destroy the aura of omniscience we've constructed, right? Let's shoo our daughter out of the room, (if it gets messy, she doesn't need to see it.), and ask. Possibly reinforcing that she is currently very fleshy and vulnerable while we are several tons of armored, clawed, angry dragon.

The fact she is not already dead stands as proof of our affection for Scinnari. Her only hope of salvation lies in wholly throwing in with us. No more serving two masters. If we can learn the true name of her superior and bring him to task, and win ownership of Scinnari through either negotiation or threat of force, we will pursue that.

However, it should be excruciatingly clear that no force in Elysium or the Nine Hells will be allowed to separate our daughter from us.

>>14151596

This is key. Do nothing to dispel the illusion that we simply know everything in advance. Play our cards close to our scaly chest. Reveal nothing, but gain everything.

So, how should we be treating Scinnari on this? I'd rather not get all dragon up in this bitch with her, since it's obvious she didn't want to do this. There's a bigger underlying issue here, which is her superiors. They need to be................. dealt with.

>>14151601
I agree with this. Azaladon has a bad case of the loves for Scinnari. Hopefully we can really, truly gain her loyalty here.

Tell our dear daughter to go, and that we will be with her shortly. We love her and will be there as soon as possible.

Then turn to Scinnari and say nothing, just stare. Wait for her to say something.

"Scinnari my love, you must choose whom you serve. Choose your infernal master and I will slay you here, and then find you in hell and grant you a permanent death. Choose me and if need be I will go to war with hell itself to keep you and my daughter."

>>14151832
Mommy and daddy need to talk about grown-up things for now Azyra. I will come to be with you shortly, my darling princess.

>>14151848
Well, that's the truth. I think perhaps we should see the situation first before proclaiming undying love. She's still a devil after all. On the other hand, we should give her the benefit of the doubt after all these years serving us and being our companion, consort, and even mate. If we can wrench her free of whatever is controlling her (if something is controlling her) then secure her loyalty to us then that would be ideal.

>>14151596
Seconding shooing our daughter out of here. We have...things, that must be discussed.

And yes, we need to maintain our facade of omniscience.

>>14151930
Lovingly shoo her out, she has just been born after all and I for one don't want any of her first memories to be bad. This is from both a practical and fatherly standpoint.

>>14151379
No way.
She does /not/ leave.

She stays here.

We spent a damn Wish, we aren't letting her wander out of our wards.

Make sure we have the ring and amulet both on our daughter, and that she knows not to take them off. Instruct the lizardman that he is to defend her with his life, and nobody else is to see her. Lastly, check on her location once every five minutes. Just in case.

We aren't taking any chances now.

seriously guys

>One of your father's servants waits outside

Who exactly is waiting outside?!

Don't let her go!
Keep her in our protective area.
If anything /we/ should go outside.

>>14151984
>>14152001
Our entire lair is warded, and the magical items we gave her even more so. If she's not safe in the lair then we have serious problems above and beyond Scinnari.

Fact is, we don't want her around for this conversation. Get a hundred Chosen if you want, plus our mindbroken and death cultists, they can watch each other and are the closest thing we have to absolute loyalty. But we need to be alone for this, she can't hear what transpired.

>>14152001
So wait, you think Scinnari or her masters would have had a contingency in place, on the off-chance that we would expend a Wish and seal the security exceptions before she could escape?

I suppose it's possible, and you have a point. But I also don't want one of the first memories Azyra has is of her two parents fighting.
Can you think of any way around this?

>>14152013
>>14152033
Ah
Alright then

>>14152001
Lizardmen. Mentioned in passing earlier, we have worshipers waiting on us. Meant to cover that in the post, evidently didn't.
###########################
“Azyra, please... step outside, as your mother suggested.” you say. She glances from Scinnari to you, looking frightened, then backs away. She's scared, but obeys, and you wait until she passes out into the entrance hall of your lair before speaking again. You stare at Scinnari the whole time, though, eyes boring into her.

“Scinnari...” you whisper sibilantly. “Scinnari. May I inquire as to... why?” you ask with an air of sadness. “You, of all people, should know... quite how much of a betrayal that would have been.”.

“I regret the necessity, my lord. I... would not have done so, if I had a choice.” she replies. After a brief pause, she bows her head and adds a quiet, “I... am glad that I have failed, my lord.”.

“Necessity....” you repeat incredulously. “Pray tell, what could possibly necessitate stealing my daughter away from me, lying to me, plotting against me...” each point is punctuated by a step, and she scrambles backwards as you bear down on her. “Do tell, I am most interested.”

“I- I do not have a choice, my lord!” she shouts, retreating before you. “And I did not lie! I am a /devil/! If my superiors give an order, I /obey/- I cannot do otherwise. I would not have let Azyra come to harm- You /know/ that- Please, lord!”

“This order.... Was given by Jezirba, or Zevaana, perhaps?” you ask, dredging the name of her superiors from your memory.

“I... I cannot say-” she begins, and you interrupt.

>>14152045
“You would steal my daughter away, but would not tell me who ordered such an action?!” you roar in anger. “I would suggest you choose your next words with exceptional care... The time has come, /my lady/, to choose a master. What shall it be; the hells or myself?” Your words echo around the room, distorting eerily in the hot, damp air and the unnatural cavern walls.

“I... My lord-” Scinnari says, and you draw yourself up, towering over her. She looks down, at her feet, before audibly calming herself, and answering you.

“My... mistress, Jezirba, plotted this... She intended to bring you into conflict with her superior, Zevaana. I believe she intended to-” Scinnari pauses again, choking on her words- whatever the actual value of the information, she evidently puts great weight by it. “She- ordered me to take Azyra to the city of Basserak- I- Zevaana, under arch-duchess Glasya has the entire city, effectively, under her influence, for soul-harvesting and interacting with the Prime. I believe I would have passed into Malbolge from there, and- I would hope, you would have followed.”

Basserak. Northern city... In the more central Angevin states, you recall. Supposedly independent, seen as a capital of corruption and politics for the surviving nobility of old Angevis.

“Ah... lead me into the hells themselves. And you know that I would have /followed/... As you would have followed Azyra into the Abyss, if you had to?” you ask. Scinnari does not answer, but doesn't argue, either. She seems ashamed, and rightly so.

>>14152064
>My... mistress, Jezirba, plotted this... She intended to bring you into conflict with her superior, Zevaana
Perhaps we can use this, then? Make a deal with Zevanna, to have Jezirba taken care of and buy Scinnari from the Hells?

>>14152064
Inform Zevaana of Jezirba's treacherous actions.
And try to gain Scinnari's true name through manipulation of Zevaana.

Sorry, but this image seems fitting in a way.

ok just got here, what i think you guys are forgetting is that scinnari is a devil, not a mortal.

for her betrayal is not a matter of thinking its a good idea, but she must follow an order if it is given by a superior, because that is the law.

why hadent she given us some kind of warning? well these are, again, devils we are dealing with here, they could have simply told her in very structured phrases not to reveal anything.

in this case my opinion is that punishment would be inappropriate, like beating a fish for not breathing on land. its not a concious choice, but simply its nature.

but what can chaaaaannge, the nature, of a ma- er devil? i remember there was some talk over investigating ways of freeing scinnari from the infernal beuracracy, and i think if we want to continue to utilize her services, that should be our main concern.

>>14152098

Devils know their underlings aren't ever fully trustworthy, and Zevaana would know Jezirba is ambitious.

What kind of contract does Scinnari have? What are the termination and escape clauses? We need to go over that contract with a fine tooth comb, get her out of it, and then worry about dealing with Jezirba.

>>14152096
I don't like it. I mean, sure, it takes care of the problem, but I think we should be taking care of it personally. Like, putting out the message that fuck with me, and I will fuck you up. Period. Your superiors, whatever, they get you SECOND. They have to wait until I'M done with you.

But I could be being silly.

>>14152064
>>14152045
Well, that's one major disaster averted.

Ask her why she didn't tell us of this, if she truly didn't want to go through with it? Did she prefer to have Azyra all to herself down in the hells, to raise among those who would use her and see her dead? Is that all her daughter is, a chip to be expended in the games she plays? Is that all /we/ are to her? Ask her who she truly serves, here. This is the defining moment, if she claims to serve us but ever betrays us again there will be no third chance. There will be no mercy. The hells themselves would be /torn asunder/ by our fury as we hunted her for final death.

Even if she answers that she can only serve the hells, we will not harm her. (well, we say that, and technically eternal imprisonment isn't harm)

But the key is, this is her time to decide. She can either swear herself to us and renounce loyalty to her hellish superiors or face the rest of her life without us, her daughter, and the empire she has been hoping to build.

Then if she has special conditions on how she can renounce the oath, such as an actual physical law saying she can't unless released from it, well we can attempt to free her from said oath. We know who to pay a visit to, after all, and we have a chip in the game we can cash in with Zevaana now.

(this is mostly to just ramp up the emotional flux and uncertainty, she has no idea what is going to happen at this point so it's time to see if we can truly take her back)

>>14152098
No, and why would her superior have a goddamned true name? Those things would be the ultimate trump card in devil politics, I doubt she knows it.

No, I think that we should reveal this betrayal in exchange for releasing Scinnari of her obligations. Plus, perhaps, some more things such as not utterly destroying her soul-income city and laying waste to her status in the hells by doing so.

Devils fear demotion even more than death. If we threaten to destroy all her assets topside, thereby forcing her into a demotion, she would be much more likely to aid us. After all, one erinyes for a revealed betrayal by a top (wo)man plus we allow her to continue her operations unmolested? Hmmm.

>>14152096
Second! Smart, I like it.

>>14152186
Well, as >>14152142 said, Zevanna probably expected something like this.
But perhaps we can still negotiate; we now know that Basserak is on of her major sources of souls from the Prime. In exchange for Scinnari's complete and total extraction from the Hells and into our service, we can guarantee the safety of the city and an uninterrupted supply of souls.

Regardless of what the plan is, Scinnari is still under orders to perform the action until she is relieved of it otherwise. Otherwords she is a loose cannon and an immediate liability until the situation is resolved. So we need to make sure she is restrained in a *effective* manner until we have ensure she is ordered to do something other than kidnap our daughter. As much as I hate to suggest it, the "Expert on Infernal Affairs" book looks to be a fairly humane option for the short term. Either that or nomnomnom, which really doesn't solve any problems.

>>14152222

That would mean a contract, which would mean fully understanding the extent of the obligation of protecting the city.

>>14152247
Seems so, unless she has already broken ties by telling us this of course... no way to truly know.

I suggest speaking to her first. If we have to bind her into the gem then I want her to know we are just doing it temporarily for now, until we can break the grasp of the hells. Perhaps leave it so she can telepathically communicate with us (but only us) as I imagine being locked in a gem without a body is fairly boring.

>>14152247

well there is an easy way to test that, by simply asking the right questions, and if so, giving the right commands to the contrary.

shes ultimately rooting for us, so i think its safe to count on her to swing any grey area conflictions in our favor.

>>14152303
That's a good idea. Start asking her probing questions that she couldn't possibly answer if she were still loyal to them rather than us.

>>14152303

Well in consideration she tried to bolt the moment of hatching, I think I'm correctly worried the moment we walk away. She may very well be compelled to enter "MUST JACK MAH BABY" mode and she has no way to help it. I don't think asking any questions will simply help the situation, unless we get her to bring her superior directly to us. At the end of the day, she has the ability to teleport around and that is an extreme liability.

>>14152369
She can't teleport anywhere unless outside our lair now that we've locked it down.

>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKOMLQuvfoM&feature=related

Appropriate mood music considering what just happened.

rolled 72 = 72

I had been searching everywhere for an appropriate picture of our lovely daughter when she grows up a bit. Found one, see if anyone else also approves. Perhaps she sheds the feathers later on? and the scales develop more properly around her?

>>14152511
There's another one that I think she is based off of and is much closer to the description, but I don't have it. It's a sort of yellowed parchment-like picture with the woman reclining on a stone pedestal, some bones on the floor around her, and a tiny dragonet alighting on her hand.

“Very well... Now tell me, Scinnari. Tell me; what do you choose? The hells can hold your loyalty, or I can, but evidently, not both. So tell me... Which is it? If you claim loyalty to me and betray me again... I will kill you here, and pursue you to the hells to finish you once and for all- I will regret the necessity, but I will.” you pause, choosing your phrasing for the lie with care, “On the other hand... if you choose the hells... If it is by limitation, I of course understand. I am not pleased, but can understand; I will not harm you. If it is by choice... Again, I will be most reluctant to harm you- I believe I truly love you, to say nothing of how it might affect Azyra.” you say, voice growing soft. Your next words are anything but, though.

“Which is why I find this betrayal- /most/ excruciating. If you doubt me words, consider the fact that you are still alive. I would not have extended such mercy to anyone else, I think, given such a... break of trust.”

“My lord- Do not think that your mercy is lost on me.” Scinnari says, bowing her head to you. “I- thank you, for your mercy to me, and for considering Azyra. I- I believe I have come to love you as well, my lord, but I have not choice in this matter- I /cannot/ abandon the hells- I am an Erinyes, a Devil, a vassal of Glasya, a fallen angel. I have no /choice/.” Tears shine in her eyes... It actually pains you to do this.

“So be it.”. The words are dull, angry, and sound like a death knell. They linger in the air, but do not echo. You begin casting. Scinnari, obviously, is aware of this, turns to run, desperately trying to get to where she can teleport. Running to the entrance, towards Azyra- Or would be. Unlike a human, you have more than your hands. Your tail sweeps around, scattering gold and gems, and catching Scinnari a tremendous blow to body- not life-threatening, except perhaps to a human, but sufficient to knock her halfway across the room. She recovers exceptionally quickly, though, flapping her wings and stabilizing while still in the air- But still too late. You finish casting, and she slowly disappears, as if made of vapor, and being drawn slowly into the massive black diamond you brought. An unearthly, almost ethereal scream sounds, echoing even when she can no longer speak, only ending as she is finally contained within the gem.

>>14152582
“You said you would not harm me!” her voice echoes in your mind, disconsolate and defeated. You wince, and turn towards the door.

“And I have not. You are, however, no longer in any position to harm our daughter, and still alive to be freed, should a way to secure your loyalty be found.” you reply mentally. “I do not believe that the hells would be the most... hospitable of options to raise our daughter in.”

“You would have come for her!” Scinnari replies, her words echoing weakly in your mind, but defiant. As if challenging you to disagree.

“I would have.” you agree. “However, I prefer not to engage in conflict with a member of the Archduchess's court, if not necessary. “ You stalk through the outer curtain, to the entrance hall to which you sent Azyra. To your displeasure, she is still there. The lizardman next to her kneels at you arrival, while she instead looks up at you with fear and reproach.

“What did you... What did you do with mo-ther?” she demands, evidently having heard Scinnari's final scream.

rolled 21 = 21

>>14152589
She is.....waiting to be freed. I did not do anything to her, but the masters that she serves made it necessary to place her somewhere safe in order to keep her, you, and I safe......

All very true, kind of, we do feel bad about it, kind of, and well, we /do/ feel bad about it.... right?

>>14152589
My dear beloved daughter, I have done nothing but keep her from hurting you. She is here, as she always has been. She was being controlled by an evil person far away, and knew in her heart that this was needed. She will be free once again to be with us both as soon as I save her from the evil person. Know that she said she loves you, as do I, and that she is sorry she can not be with you at this moment.

>>14152589
"What was necessary. She is not harmed, if that is what you are worried about. She is, however, indisposed."

Well, at least this gives us some more time to come up with a better plan.

We might be able to use one of our a wish to free her from service to the hells. But that I think is a option we should exercise we great care.

Tell Scinnari that we want this to be temporary, and that everything we said was true. We hope in earnest that she can be freed from the clutches of her masters, and if possible would like her aid in doing so. Tell her it pains us to do this, and ask her what she would have wished done? Does she truly still wish to be free to kidnap her own daughter, to take her to the hells? Does she wish to subject her daughter to that?

If not, we ask her to understand. We will free her to interact with Azyra under our supervision, provided she not attempt to flee the binding again afterward. And we ask for her help in hellish politics, after all this will be in her favor. She will be free, an empress on the mortal realm if we succeed. For we trust and care for her... just not her masters.

>>14152644

This sounds pretty good. Emphasize that Scinarri loves her very much, but a sacrifice had to be made to keep her safe.

Of course, with all the conspiracies surrounding us and our daughter now, she'll cone to know the truth sooner or later... I fear what will happen if we sugar-coat it and keep her naive and coddled for too long.

>>14152705
I doubt it. That's something you would generally require epic magic to do. A wish is ludicrously powerful, but sadly not that powerful.

I think we should try and get Scinnari to understand why we did this and not be resentful. I want to get her to concede that it was needed as a temporary measure, she would know that as much as anyone.

Seconding trying to make this more pleasant for Scinnari and convince her we didn't want to but had no other choice. Ask her if she can communicate with Azyra currently, and if it would be okay for her to have supervised time with our daughter under heaving warding provided she not try to run like she did before.

Speaking of which, ask her why she tried to run if she was truly sincere in wanting to be with us and free from the grasp of the hells. If she truly didn't wish for all this to happen then surely she could see the need?

>>14152761
Seconding trying to get Scinnari to see the necessity of our current arrangement. As someone under orders to attempt to complete her mission, she must see our need to keep her imprisoned.

>>14152589
Don't lie or dissemble. Not to our daughter, who is fully as intelligent as a grown human and deserves to learn of the world as it is.

"I bound her away. Scinnari- your mother- loves you a great deal, and perhaps even me as well, but she is a devil. She is unable to disobey her superiors even if they should order her to do things which she most certainly does not wish- things like stealing you away to the hells, where you would be wholly under their control and kept far from me- perhaps from your mother as well, if they ordered her away. I cannot break their hold on her, sadly. The kindest thing that I could do for her was to bind her where she can do you no harm."

Sigh. "I am sorry, Azyra. It is a bitter thing to have happen on your day of hatching, and neither I nor your mother would have wished for it."

Give her the protective items that we had crafted before we're done here.

>>14152838
Agreed. I want to, if at all possible, make her understand and see this as a temporary measure that is required. Not a betrayal or anything of the sort, merely keeping our daughter safe until we can free her from those trying to make her do things that (she says) she doesn't want to.

rolled 95 = 95

>>14152891
2nd

>>14152892
>>14152891
After giving the protective items to Azyra, talk a little to Scinnari.

"Look upon the bright side, my dear. At least this way you may still communicate with our daughter, even as you are physically constrained so that you cannot fulfill any orders to harm her. Is this not better than returning to your mistress empty-handed?"

rolled 51 = 51

>>14152891
>>14152930
More eloquent version of mine, like it. However, I don't know if we want to overload our daughter as well as not sugar coating it. Telling her the truth is fine, but telling her every little detail might confuse her. That and as a parent, I don't want to even get into the "Why? Why? Why? Why?" scenario.

We can also point out, ironically, that our little surprise is far less so than what she tried to pull on us. Indeed, it's an extraordinary mercy.

Next step in plan after emotional consoling, we teleport with an entourage to the city she mentioned and find Jezirba. Gather backround information as needed and deal with her...I'm thinking of imprisoning her soul like we just did to Scinnari would be sufficiently worthwhile. Then send an message to her superior that Jezirba intended to play us off against about her plot and you'd like to rectify the situation in a productive manner.

Other points to consider:

-We don't have luxury of messing up when deal with Jezirba initially. Can't simply arrange a meeting and an attempt a soul capture, that'd just end with her teleporting away before we finish casting. At the very least we'd need to knock her unconscious to do this.

while we are trying to avoid entanglements in infernal affairs we could try to bargain for Scinnari freedom from her superior if we help her deal with her superior (however devils are not to be trusted.

could ask Scinnari if we knew her true name we could negate their orders.

Even if Scinnari is taped we should allow her time with our child.

btw does this picture looks similar to our winged elf form?

-We love Adventurers! If we want to take the long approach here, do the third party adventurer hire we've used in the past to accomplish whatever objective we want in that kingdom. I think we have a bored paladin sitting around in our town we might be able to extend our an offer to, I'm sure he can find someone to take care of our problems in a timely manner, ignoring the distance between our island and the target city.

I'm really for repeating the soul capture. Devils don't like messing around with the soul cycle, much less even so with those own kind. It shows we mean business and we can be agreeable to coming to terms for Jezirba's ambitions for using us as a pawn.

I'd also love to buy out Scinnari's exclusive services for the rest of our daughter's natural lifespan (with no infernal interference) if that could be managed. It's not forever and is short enough it may be considered

>>14153052
How about the rest of our lifespan, natural or not?

This has the added awesome of making our life something she will want to preserve.

>>14152589

"Here's a new necklace for my precious! It's got your mommy inside it so she can stay with you forever!"

The point should be made that Scinnari's imprisonment is cruel, but it is far, far less cruel than what her infernal masters would inflict upon her for failing to steal our daughter away. Imprisoned in this gem, she cannot be harmed, nor can she do harm. Given her loyalties, it is either this or her destruction, and a war against hell we probably could not win.

Perhaps we could make a pact with our daughter and Scinnari. Upon Azyra's majority, if we have not found a means to eliminate the threat Scinnari represents one way or another, the soul gem will be handed over to her to do with as she sees fit. Whether it be to free, destroy, or keep imprisoned, it will be entirely up to her.

If Scinnari can be safely freed beforehand, then we would happily do so.

In the mean time, we have the rearing of a daughter to undertake, and an offensive devil to be brought low.

>>14153176
How about no. Are you TRYING to force Scinnari into corrupting our daughter and turning her against us?

I think the "visitation rights" is a good plan, and using powerful anti-telepathy spells on the gem to ensure it can't contact anyone but us in the intervals between.

>>14153176
I suppose that could be an acceptable compromise, for us. We should probably speak about it privately with Scinnari first, and if she agrees, announce it to our daughter.

>>14153214
Disagree. Bad plan and it is just asking for having yet another crystal in our lair that tries to whisper lies to everything around it.

>>14153209
No matter what we do, she is duty bound to win over our daughter. The easiest thing we can do to facilitate that is to force her to choose between us. Instead we should make it clear that we don't want to, and will not do so.

>>14153235
Listen. If we can't find a way to solve Scinnari's loyalty conflict then we are damn well not going to let her go. She knows more about us than is safe for anyone else to know, plus she is part of our hoard as far as we are concerned.

“My daughter... I suppose you deserve a full explanation if anyone does.” you decide aloud. Absently, you dismiss the lizardman at her side, and explain to her, “Your mother... in addition to being my consort, is a devil. A vassal of the hells... Infernal power. While I do not care about where she comes from, I do care as to where her loyalties lie.”

“But... she's, she i-s my mother...?” Azyra's words carry confusion... Perhaps you over estimated her ability to grasp this topic. You back up.

“I love her, and she claims to love me.” you state, “And we both love you, of that there is no doubt. Despite this, though, her master in the infernal heirarchy decided that manipulation of me would enable her to terminate /her/ superior... This was to be done by kidnapping you, forcing me to pursue, and then blaming the event on your mother's superior's master. It was assumed that I would do the rest of the work...” you allow yourself to bare your teeth briefly.

“What I have done is... captured... your mother. She is perfectly alright, and shall remain that way- You can even speak with her, if you want. But it was necessary to... restrain her.” you explain, “So that she would not be able to fulfill the commands she felt driven to obey.” You suspect you lost Azyra somewhere along the way, but she isn't admitting it, and nods after a brief pause. “She loved you very much; I... deeply regret it, but saw the necessity. Your safety is most important, on that we both agree.”

“I... Really?” she seems slightly overwhelmed, and you suppose it was a lot to dump on someone who is literally minutes old. “If... if you say so, daddy. I would like.. like to talk to her, though...”

>>14153298
“And you shall.” you agree. You would much like to move on to a different matter, but certain trivialities remain: The ring and amulet remain, the protective device you prepared with Scinnari's assistance. Paranoia burns again within your mind; it has been weeks since they were created, and Scinnari has had ample time to tamper with them... But no, the enchantments feel unchanged. You detect no difference. “Here; a pair of gifts your mother and I prepared for you.”

Worried or not, her eyes light up at the sight of the golden necklace and ring, and she exhibits a childish joy in donning them. By the time she's done, all seems forgiven. You offer her your tail, and she clings to it as you lift her onto your shoulders.

“Now, my princess, perhaps we can see about treating you as you deserve...” you offer, and she giggles at the title.

#################################

“Indisposed? I never agreed to this.” Scinnari's voice echoes in your mind, her commentary interrupting your conversation with your daughter. You do not break flow, and reply to both.

“But you should have. After all, among other things, it is far less cruel than what you tried to do to me. It is, also, the best way I have at hand of keeping you safely removed from Azyra.” you counter. “You are secure, cannot do the will of the hells, but still survive and can spend time with your daughter. I see this as /eminently/ reasonable. If anything, I would think you would've leaped at the chance.”

“You think /much/ of your 'mercy'.” Scinnari's mind responds to yours, biting and sarcastic. But impotent... aware of her defeat. Broken, perhaps.

############################

[What do you do next? If nothing with Azyra, what preparations to you make for paying Scinnari's superiors a visit?]

>>14153303
>You think /much/ of your 'mercy'.
"Ah, so you still have fight left in you! But in all seriousness, my dear, I think that the current arrangements, while not ideal, are better than if you had escaped. Either you would have returned to your mistress empty-handed and as a failure, or you would have remained nearby to attempt to kidnap Azyra again, as ordered.
"And besides, I *do* fully intend to find some way of securing your loyalty. I have not found any other being come close to your value to me as a consort, nor do I wish for Azyra to grow up without a mother."

>>14153303
Assemble the army!!!!!!!!! We march to war!

>>14153303
I think much of it because it would have been afforded to no other. No other, in all the multiverse. You claim to love me, to care for our daughter, to wish to be with me, yet at the same time follow commands that stand opposed to all of those things. I care for you deeply, as I never have before; I have afforded you what luxury I could after you attempted to betray me utterly in the worst way possible. I believe that you did not wish to, be it for your own perceived gain at being my consort or through genuine emotion. I also know that you tried anyway.

If you love your daughter, if you love me, then you know that this is what is required. If so, even now your words and attempts to be free are prompted by a desire to follow the commands of your infernal masters rather than what you desire. I will let you be with our daughter, watch her grow, and remain unharmed while I work to break the chains of obligation that hold you.

But make no mistake: You knew what the results of this action would be when you took it. If when I have broken your bonds to the hells you decide I was 'cruel' in giving you these mercies rather than killing you, then you may go and never be troubled again. For your service, our daughter, and my affection I can manage that much at least. However, think on the situation as you lie inside the gem. What other option was there?

Problems:
If we go now, we have no idea where Jezirba is in that city - assuming she's there, which wasn't confirmed - what she looks like (which she can probably change on a whim anyways), or how to identify her.
If we go later, she'll have had plenty of time to prepare for us.

As I see it, we have three choices for revenge:
Get Scinnari to identify her. This is our only chance if we want to do this now, I think - just go to where Scinnari was to go and hope we can get access to Jez from there. Take jewel-Scinnari with us. This relies on Scinnari placing more value on us than on her immediate superior, of course, though it's worth remembering she might be able to curry favour with Zevanna by stopping this scheme to undermine her if she spins this right.
Summon Zevanna or otherwise contact (directly) her, get her to punish Jez or give us the means to do so, and bargain for Scinnari's services for however long. We'll have to go over any contract REALLY closely.
Summon Jez with something to ensure she can't escape.

Pretty sure you don't need the true name of an outsider to summon them, but them might have to want to come, similar to resurrection, so that would stop the third option unless we can disguise whatever they can find out about the summoner.

Also didn't Scinnari sign a contract with us in like the second thread? Isn't this breaking that contract?

>>14153303
Contact Seffy. See what she has to say on the city of Basserak. See how far our chosen have progressed in martial skill, and see if their adamantine armaments are appropriately widespread thus far.

See if we can go about making a set of barding for ourselves in dragon form out of the adamant. It will help even the odds in battle, an extra layer of armor over our natural armor.

Investigate everything we can about Jerziba. I think the consensus is we have to take her down first and trap her, then we can use both her and Basserak as bargaining chips. Zevaana will surely want to take personal vengance on the one who betrayed her, in fact it will be something she is REQUIRED to do in the devil hierarchy or be seen as weak. Same with the city, if we raze it then she will lose immense status... something devils fear even more than death. We must use this as leverage.

So the first order of business is to spend time with our daughter. Ensure she has a wonderful Birth Day. Then we move on to sending /everything we can/ to get information on Jerziba.

>>14153438
It might well have been a breach of her contract with us, actually. I don't think that's actually possible though.

Spend time with our daughter for now. We want to make sure she has a wonderful first day of life, and when she's all tuckered out we can start in on the evil mastermind stuff.

>“You think /much/ of your 'mercy'.”
Yes, I do. Being kept safely until I can arrange for their professed desires to be fulfilled is more than I would give to any other being in all the multiverse who tried to steal two of my most precious possessions. My generosity in this matter shocks even me.


>>14153438
>Also didn't Scinnari sign a contract with us in like the second thread? Isn't this breaking that contract?
Contract wasn't enforceable or magically binding. All it did was convince other people that we had her under control.

>“Now, my princess, perhaps we can see about treating you as you deserve...”
Everyone living in our lair is to understand that Azyra is utterly sacred and her life is to be considered of such value that every one of them should die before she suffers a single injury. She gets whatever she wants within reason- that is, she is to be treated with the utmost respect and deference, but not utterly spoiled. They are additionally to understand that Azyra is not to leave our lair without our expressly given order, and that her activities are to be reported to us- particularly anything unusual- without her knowledge.

>what preparations to you make for paying Scinnari's superiors a visit?
We must know a handful of mages who either are or who we suspect of being diabolic scholars, given how long we've been researching that topic. Drop by in whatever guise is appropriate and demand all information they have on Jezirba and Zevaana on short notice. Spend money and favors as lavishly as necessary to learn what they know- and if they can get us either true name, make it WELL worth their while.

Make sure that we have an area anti-teleportation field with a bypass for us when we go in. Devils are teleporty bastards.

>>14153438
here, razing the city is a bad idea. Seriously, why? Granted we can't conquer it, but scorched earth is just wasteful. Purging it of Jezbira/Zevanna's servants - or perhaps giving some demons or rival devils an access point is more our style and probably more effective.

Barding isn't a bad idea except when the hell are we going to use it? When we're with our armies, we can't show our true form, and other times we're typically in humanoid form, so we can't just lug dragon barding around on the off chance we'll have time to put it on.

I like the plan, though, IF we can think of a decently safe way to pull it off. If not, going to Zevanna first is probably best. Yeah, we'll have to bargain for Scinnari, but we're powerful enough that the services of a single erinyes should definitely be within our power.

Spending time with our daughter is good idea - and have we made plans for what she's going to be up to? We need, like, tutors and shit. Trustworthy ones.

>>14153303
Lock away Scinnari's gem. It is to be heavily warded against mundane and magical detection, communication, divination, or influence of any type; as far as anyone but us knows, it- and Scinnari inside it- should not exist. Additionally, we should be alerted immediately if anything accesses or disturbs it in any fashion, if Scinnari contacts anyone, or if anything otherwise changes or goes wrong. As a final measure, ensorcel the gem so that if it would be damaged, it is instead teleported to our possession.

We want to keep her trapped, we'd best do it right.

>>14153573
That's not how soul collection works. The city is corrupted and everyone born there goes directly into the coffers of the hells, full stop. Razing it is the only way to end that.

Also, it's not wasteful if we aren't gaining anything from it anyway. It's well outside our sphere of influence.

>>14153573
>Barding isn't a bad idea except when the hell are we going to use it?

Better to have and not need than need and not have. If we ever get into draconic combat I want to be armored.

>>14153626
Plus, shit would look awesome in our hoard.

>>14153626
Granted. Let's check how much it'll deplete our stocks, though - adamant weapons for our troops are much more likely to get used, and are useful since they can penetrate DR.

>>14153612
Pretty sure that's not at all what Scinnari said. It's 'under her influence' - I would take that to mean pretty much the entire upper class are either baazetu or have pledged their souls to baazetu, not that everyone their automatically forfeits their souls.

Not that we're gaining something, but that it'll cost us a fuckload to raze a whole city. If we try to do it ourselves, that's really dangerous; if we take an army, that'll cost a lot and bring the gaze of the world on our heads.

>>14153573
>Contract wasn't enforceable or magically binding
Riiiight.

>Azyra
Good stuff. Agree on all of this.

>Mages and true names
Whatever guise is appropriate means not Prestor, and make sure anti-teleportation also blocks other planeshifting. Otherwise, yes. Also hold off on Basserak (except maybe getting some info - the kids are back from Rhasver, send a few of them, maybe? If we trust them to resist devilish temptations) until this shows results or not, as the case may be.

>>14153711
Not everyone has to worship devils for them to harvest the souls. Most don't in fact.

>>14153731
Lawful evil societies, people. Devils get souls of lawful evil people- if you die lawful evil, they got your soul. That's why Scinnari's been trying to set up our own mini-infernal bureaucracy.

>>14153743
If it's FR-based, whoever you worship gets your soul, unless you sold it at some point before or after death. Even if it isn't, don't gods normally take possession of their worshippers' souls? WD?

Alternatively, ask some of those scholars the extent of the corruption. The more worldly, spell-flinging type might know something about it.

>>14153810
It's not FR based, because FR is retarded.

>>14153820
But FR cosmology gave us Mask of the Betrayer!

Generally agree, though.

It depends. If you're the worshipper of a Lawful Evil God who has some sort of arrangement with hell, you become a petitioner in that god's realm... usually.

If you're not, then your chances of ending up floating down the styx are very high if you're lawful evil. Only the direct intervention of your diety is likely to rescue your soul, and that's very rare as anyone with half a brain does not like to make deals with devils.

Point out to Scinnari, when she objects, that while we care for her deeply we are not like foolish humanoids. Love her we may, and it will make us forgive her much... but we're never blinded by it. Our love has shielded her from what we would have normally done, but a betrayal is exactly that: betrayal. Even involuntary. She could have trusted us with the plan and avoided this fate, but alas, it was all her own doing. And love alone is not enough of a shield, we will not let even those we value most take a dagger to our heart.

>>14153959
That... is interesting. Still think we shouldn't raze the city, mind, but my objections are practical rather than in principle now. I don't think our orb of storms can focus enough power to do a decent job of it without fucking over the rest of the Angevins, who will probably know who to blame after that hurricane we cooked up.

I would ask how specific devils/groups of devils get the souls from the Styx - wouldn't general lawful evils be as likely to end up in the hands of other devils as in those of Zevanna's servants? - but I don't think it really matters for purposes of what we're doing here.

>>14153810
Lawful Evil ends up going to hell, according to Fiend Folio II. Lawful evil at time of death- that's why Devils are okay with things other than Pact Certains, as the Pact Sinister variants drive the signee towards lawful evil.
######################

You spend the remainder of the day with both Scinnari and Azyra, though obviously much more physically with one than the other. After all, you tell yourself, Scinnari's superiors don't even necessarily know that Azyra has finally hatched.

Azyra takes a childish joy in seeing everything for the first time, and is viewed as your avatar, by the lizardfolk that worship you. The tunnels of the volcano prove she has excellent vision in dim lighting, if not quite as good as your own, and she is absolutely ecstatic when you let her ride upon you as you fly her up to your castle. There, too, she is introduced as your daughter and princess, and you share a quite enjoyable meal, Azyra's first.

You have to discourage her from attempting to fly, as she's already eager to do so on her own, but, you suspect, not yet ready. Additionally, she expresses quite an interest in the town of Mza itself- something you would not object to were she somewhat older, and capable of taking care of herself, but for the moment you will settle on depending on her inability to descend the mountain.

Towards midnight, around eight hours after her hatching, she begins to exhibit signs of sleepiness, and you return her to your lair, staying with her until she falls asleep. You instruct one of your most trusted lizardmen to stay with her, and depart to attend to other matters while she sleeps.

>>14154011
I was thinking more along the lines of two red dragons burning the city to ashes.

Also, dude, we don't actually /want/ to raze it. We want to use that as a threat over Zavaana. We have two chips currently, and hopefully more later. One: her inferior who she will want back to punish. Two: her source of soul-income, which we can destroy. Both are things she really REALLY wants, so we can use them as chips to cash in for Scinnari's freedom.

Scinnari, of course, is your foremost concern- her new 'body' requires suitable protections, enhancements, and defenses, should it ever be damaged. You do not intend for her to ever be freed by anyone but you.

Empirical study determines that she can communicate with you at moderate ranges, but only ever contact others if they are holding the gem- Dangerous. But easily enough limited... The dwarves have recently drawn out a miniscule vein of adamantium- you give them the size of the jewel, and they forge your share into an amulet into which you can clasp Scinnari's gem. Durable, safe, and not totally cruel... The irony of how she once wore your 'gift' around her neck, and you now wear her around yours is lost on neither of you.

Turning your attentions to the /important/ matters at hand, you look northwards- Basserak. Basserak.... Near the center of the shattered Angevin states, north of even Seffestranias' domain, it is an established and ancient city-state. And, from what you determine, wholly dedicated to political machinations and plotting... A city perfect for devils. Historical research suggests that even more so; it has been plagued by devil-cults and has a place in several common bardic stories, generally the location of sin, hedonism, and soul-selling. Lovely place.

Following rumors of a devil-cult, and with some exceptionally tricky scrying, you determine the truth. The cult does exist, and is, in fact, in place below the palace of Basserak. Discourse is had at length with Scinnari on the subject.

“Her plans? Her /plans/? I /told/ you I had no part in this- I was merely a minion ordered to obey!”

“And I believe you, if nothing else, evidenced by the fact that I did not immediately kill you.” you reply calmly. “None other in the multiverse would receive such mercy from me, and mercy it is- you may still interact with your daughter, and witness her grow. Far better than you may deserve, but I am... soft in regard to you.” You wait, making sure Scinnari has subsided before continuing. “Now. If you could inform me as to how Jezirba intended to proceed with this, that would go a long way towards... ameliorating some of the sentence you deserve.”

“ 'A long way' towards 'some' of the...” Scinnari replies with contempt. She goes silent again, and you're almost about to try coaxing her again, when she begins explaining.

“Jezirba is in charge of Zevaana's pursuits on this plane. She planned to inform Zevaana that I had seduced a powerful sorcerer, once I arrived in Basserak. Zevaana would come to deal with matters personally, and negotiate for Azyra's release. Jezirba was counting on your... pride, to prevent you from dealing with her, and your competence to prevent Zevaana from surviving.”

You can't resist putting in a quip of your own. “Evidently you didn't /quite/ convey a sufficient image of that.”

“Jezirba has /always/ been a foolish, short-sighted whore.” Scinnari snaps back at you, as far as telepathic communication can 'snap'. “She also does not have much appreciation for dragons, something that I take no small amount of pleasure in seeing come back to bite her.”

>>14154083
And who would have the authority to release you from the hells? Would Zevaana have that ability?

>>14154083
"What, after that? Is Jezirba the kind of 'short-sighted whore' that would revel and gloat in her victory? To perhaps, come and finish me off, weakened as I would be, after battling Zevanna?"

I'm wondering if we can trap Jezirba by playing along with this plan of hers.

>>14154083
I think we should inform our devil waifu that she shouldn't be so pissed with us. She was the one who forced our hand in this, regardless of what she wanted. We're not even planning on keeping her like this for very long, what would her hellish masters have done with a betrayal like this? What would /anyone/ other than us have done? We're trying to be as polite and loving as possible in this situation, but she's acting like we have committed some great crime towards her. Ask her what alternative she would have offered, exactly? What other way could have kept our daughter safe while I set about /attempting to free her from her infernal masters/, god damn.

Surely she doesn't regard this as any sort of betrayal. Not after forcing us into it.

>>14154201
I'm agreeing with this. If we can convince Jerziba that the plan is working and get her to summon Zavaana, then meet with them and be all "Wat up bitches?" while having our death cult, mindbroken, and lizardmen all around...

That might be the best way to handle this.

>>14154065
Apologies, I thought you or whoever was advocating just burning the city to the ground. Was a bit of a WTF moment there.

>>14154254
Wouldn't this require us to free Scinnari, though, since the plan was for her to take Azyra to Basserak and then to Malebolge? Do we want to do that before we buy her loyalty? Plus it involves putting Azyra in danger. And it assumes Jez would be present in or after the battle...

Mind, perhaps contacting her saying we want her help overthrowing her superior since Zavaana tried to steal our daughter? If she thinks Scinnari stayed loyal to her and fed us a line about whose fault it was? Would at least keep Azyra out of the way.

>>14154232
You know what, I think this is a good move. Get all these issues into the open. Also I think we should play up our omniscience even more by telling her that we've always... always been trying to look out for her. When we saved her from Finn by running him through with a dagger, what happened? She failed, was almost captured, and kept the knowledge of her failure from us later... yet we did not move against her. Not even when she failed to mention a dragon hunter looking for us did we reprimand her.

No, we've been trustworthy and never tried to harm her. She brought this all on herself, we did not want to do it. Drive that point home.

>>14154232
She's smart enough to have put this together already. She's just whining about it because even the kindest result of this series of events was rather unpleasant for her.

>>14154083
Hmm. My ideal scenario here would be to teleport in with an elite kill squad or three, grab Jezirba, and while we have a claw through her throat but she's still alive call up Zevaana and carefully explain that her minion here has ROYALLY fucked up, but out of respect we're willing to talk this out.

The question is, how can we make that happen? What wards would Jezirba have in place? Can we scry her and get to her that way? How effectively could she escape our wrath? What forces could she call on for support on short notice? We need to know, and I don't think Scinnari would. Check our spy reports, maybe.

Get out of Scinnari how long she had before she had to report in with me- there's no way her superior knew exactly when Azyra would hatch, after all. We probably have days or even weeks in which to act.

>>14154324
It would require risks... but we can mitigate those risks. Enchantments on Azyra to let us snatch her back from wherever she may be, for instance.

I also like the flair that we will be sending Scinnari into what can be termed as nothing other than a crucible. We will be giving her one last chance to earn our trust. It will be her job to convince her superiors that all has gone according to plan, and somehow keep both herself and our daughter from ever going to the hells. This won't work against the orders she has been given. If she fulfills her duty to us and we break her bonds through a deal in the process then hopefully all will work well.

Yes, it is dangerous though.

>>14154324
If we can cast some sort of spell that completely prevents Azyra from being taken to another plane then this sounds like it could work.

Ask Scinnari why she didn't just tell us all of this in the first place. Why did we have to wrench it out of her like this? Didn't we have some measure of trust built up? Sound hurt.

>>14154328
I like this. Bring up the the shit with Finn and Blackjack and look even more "Just As Planned" than we do now. Talk about giving her the benefit of the doubt all these years and never once replacing or harming her. We even trusted her with our secrets and took her as a mate! It will drive home even more how we are awesome and know almost everything, as well as how we care for her and how foolish she was to risk that.

>>14154437

It is probably in her contract that she can't give up information unless she's in danger of being utterly destroyed, or there's some sort of information of greater or equal value traded.

Seriously need to see that contract.

>>14154484
Maybe, maybe not. We should still ask.

See if she thinks she could prevent Azyra from being taken to Malbolge.

You know, we don't have to risk Azyra for this.

How would the bitch know what our daughter looks like? Just get a street urchin with red hair, dominate it, polymorph some wings onto it, and cast a spell to make it appear as an [evil] subtype.

BAM

Instant decoy.

Perhaps there's some means by which we can turn this into a promotion in the infernal ranks for Scinnari, and deliver to her Jezirba's station.

>>14154537
I think I just had an evilgasm.

DO EET. Tell Scinnari not to go to Malboge though, just send the decoy through with another minion or something. I don't want to go to the hells, shit is dangerous.

This is going to be Scinnari's final chance. We know that she can betray her superiors. It happens all the time. This is her test, her chance. If anything she said before is true then she must prove it now.

>>14154537
>>14154575
Seconded

>>14154537
That sounds like an idea we should do regardless of what plan we eventually settle on. Having a body-double for our daughter sounds like good insurance.

>>14154537
I love it.

>>14154501
Have we even talked to her about buying her contract out yet? I mean, granted we don't have to give her a choice in the matter, but hopefully she'd at least be able to give us a reasonable idea of normal circumstances/cost so we have some idea what we're bargaining to.

And all this assumes Jez will even be there. Granted she's apparently an idiot, but are we sure that she won't end up being in the Hells watching through a scrying pool or something while her minions do the work?

>>14154575
Except a higher-ranking devil is presumably more expensive to buy the contract of.

Also ask her if she's only got the one contract binding her or if there's multiple relevant ones - it might be like one to Jez, one to Zev, etc.

>>14154595
And if her contract forces her to ie tell Jez? This isn't something she can just choose to disobey - at best it's probably pain of death to disobey a contract.

Fifthing the body double, if we can be sure it can't just be TRUE SIGHT'D through, since doesn't that reveal polymorpher's prior forms?

>>14154575
If we are breaking her out of the infernal hierarchy then she doesn't need a promotion. I would prefer to use any leverage we get out of this in order to wrest her from their grasp rather than putting her even deeper into their politics.

IMaybe I'm wrong, but I think Scinarri isn't being honest here about how tight she's bound - she 'couldn't' tell us what was going on - but did. She just wants things both ways. We just merge her personality into asha and keep them both in a mortal body.

>>14154635
Yes, but WD said that given some time (like, 5 hours or something I think?) it becomes ineffective. Also, a true polymorph actually turns the object into something else. Dispel magic and the like don't work to undo it, you need a wish or more polymorphing magic. So probably won't read anyway.

>>14154671
Yes, that's why we need to have her explain. Catch her in the lie, as it were.

>>14154676
Think it's like 24? Anyways, not a spur of the moment thing. Good call on the true polymorph, though; assuming we can cast that or get someone trustworthy to do so that would work.

We should check our servants for demonic taint. It wouldn't surprise me if Jez had mortal servants keeping an eye on Scinnari and us.

“But Jezirba. Where will she be?” you ask.

“Malbolge, of course. Ostensibly to report her success to Zevaana, but she will make sure she's perfectly situated to take over Zevaana's holdings, should Zevaana suffer an accident at your hands.” Scinnari replies dully.

“Hmm... Ignoring how difficult it will be to find and isolate Jezirba on Malbolge, what should I expect from her?” you ask. To terminate the offending erinyes permanently... The least that you will consider an acceptable outcome of this.

“Very little. She is a /passable/ combatant, but much prefers the maneuvering and politics of the Infernal Hierarchies. I do believe she has... 'taken up' with a pit lord, though, by the name of Anurnac Shub-Ziggur.”

“A- A pit lord?” you repeat dubiously. “How did an erinyes manage that?”

“I do not /know/.” Scinnari informs you with exasperation. “I have been away for several years, if you recall. That said, I believe he intends to use her a... mouthpiece in Glasya's court. Glasya does not openly discriminate, but it is accepted that erinyes are her favorite courtiers. Jezirba, naturally, uses Anurnac for intimidation, authority, and violence, when necessary. She is a /contemptible/ warrior herself.” Whatever the truth, Scinnari's derision for her superior certainly sounds heartfelt.

“I see... And where could I locate Jezirba, to test that point?”

“Ossiea, citadel of Glasya.” Scinnari replies as if it were obvious. “That is where she runs things from.” She pauses for a moment, then continues, “She would have arrived to check on the condition of my... escape, had I actually succeeded. To make sure she knew what had happened before sending for Zevaana. This could still be arranged, if you were to release me.”

“Ah... release. I ask you, Scinnari, supposing I let you leave, what would be the result?”

“Lord?”. Dull, disinterested, but not enough to keep her from replying.

>>14154575
You know, I just had a paranoid thought.

What if this was a plan of Scinnari's all along? She "kidnaps" our daughter we chase her, come into conflict with, and then squash her superior, and then she acts the rescued princess while taking the place of this Jezirba.

So by stopping her when we did we fucked up all HER plans and that's why she's seeming so uncooperative and vexed. And everything she's telling us is just an attempt to salvage the plan we wrecked before we find out that there was no order from the hells to begin with.

>>14154753
Thought of that long ago, the answer is simple. We kill her. It's easily the simplest of any of the outcomes we are dealing with here.

>>14154753
She would have told us if that was the case. Plus I doubt she would endanger her offspring like that.

>>14154791
This is a good point. We likely would have been willing to aid her in her own advancement without all this plotting. No reason to do so.

>>14154753

That seems like a possibility, but I don't know that she would willingly use our daughter as bait like that unless she was under orders.

Unless she's an actor of the highest caliber, enough to fool even us, I doubt it. But then again, we've already learned the dangers of assuming...

>>14154753
The thought that Zevaana might have orchestrated this and be placing an underling to take the fall had occurred to me.

Also, won't Jez just be banished if we kill her on this plane? Mortal enemies, especially of the immortal sort, aren't something we want, at least as long as they're living or animate.

>>14154773
But how do we tell if that's the case? Can't exactly ask Jez, now can we?

>>14154791
Wait, why the fuck would she have told us? Also it's not like Azyra would have been in a great deal of danger - we wouldn't have harmed her and Scinnari would have been there to keep an eye on her.

“Tell me. Would you head back to Jezirba? And tell her what, exactly, that you failed? So perhaps you would try and remedy that failure?” You wait, and she struggles to formulate a retort.

“Do not think you /can/ justify this, 'my lord'-”

“Can't I? Were this true punishment, I might seal this gem in stone, or perhaps lead. Failing that, it is still more generous than any your mistress or other devils would grant.” you pause, to enumerate points. “You are alive. No one can issue you orders. You have the excuse of legitimate inability to obey, and you are still able to visit our daughter. Is there any way that I could have been more merciful? More reasonable?”

Scinnari does not respond, merely sinking into silence.

“And beyond that, there are many other things I could have held against you- You, on multiple occasions, have withheld information from me, or plotted counter to my own interests- yet I have never called you on it. Even when I saved you from Finn, back in Freeport, you attempted to keep the knowledge of your failure from me.

“Even beyond /that/, Scinnari, I trusted you. I have had no other mate, and Azyra is my only daughter.... And many times my life has been in your hands. Indeed, it could be said that it /always/ is, considering all you know.”

Scinnari neglects to reply, perhaps even sulking. You pretend not to notice, changing subjects shortly.

“Scinnari. What would it take to free you from the infernal hierarchy?”

“It can't be done.” she replies, words tinged with resentment. Mentally, you cluck at her.

“My, my, what have I done? But no, you said that it was possible, if unlikely. Before Azar, I think. Were you lying?”

“I /never/ lied to you!” her reply is an enraged wail, and you pause, again, pretending to ignore it. At length, she obliges. “It cannot... permanently be done. For a time, of course, it can be made to happen... It would require a compact of some sort with any superior of mine, though. And likely the exchange of souls.”

“I see....”

>>14154823
Hmm...souls. That's the one stickling point. How to acquire souls for trade.

>>14154807
Because turning an allied/patron unique Red Dragon King into an enemy by doing something like this behind his back is a bad, bad return on investment for raising a rank, especially when she could just ask us "Mind helping me climb up in rank?" and we would have gone "Sure."

>>14154847
Well, first up we FLATTEN THAT FUCKING CITY.

Then, any survivors have their souls torn out and used as currency. We did it to Cygnis' brother, shouldn't be any problem. We'll even turn them into little coins. A bag of souls.

>>14154823
I'm beginning to think that this a case of "Our love cannot be"

>>14154847
Find someone with souls, take them from that someone?

Hell, we can evidently Soultrap, so perhaps we should trap some random hobo's souls, pass them over?

I'm kind of interested in getting together with Seffy and curbstomping some stuff, but that may be a stupid idea that I should not be repeating. Either way, though, if Jezirba shows up with a pit fiend in tow we may have some problems.

>>14154823
I see, I see. And how "expensive" would this exchange be? If I were to exchange three powerful souls... Asha, Varra, and their bardic compatriot. Sworn to me in life, but sold after death, willingly, to your superior. In addition I would deliver to her Jerziba, the erinyes who betrayed her, and deigned to refrain from burning to ashes her most productive soul-factory of a city.

Would these terms, perhaps, be enough to enlist your services for the rest of my life. Open ended of course, I have no intention of ever dying. And if not, what would?

>>14154863
Ah, but it can. Enough souls and anything is possible.

>>14154899
Why would we sell the souls of people loyal to us when we can just grab random other peoples' souls instead?

>>14154858
>>14154858
But she obviously never expected we'd pull off what we did. Indeed after she absconded with our daughter we were on the verge of doing exactly what she wanted. If no one had thought of using the wish like we did we would have rushed right into hell. For the most part I'd say she read us almost perfectly. Face it. We can't be sure she really cares for us. She could have been planning this for years.

>>14154933
Point. If we can just trap a bunch of souls and give them to her then that would be best. I was just putting that forward as well. But yes, if we can trap a bunch of souls and sell them in exchange then that would be excellent.

Personally I don't think this is worth salvaging. But too many people like Scinari too much for me to bother much with that.

Anyhow, we can't really deal with devils. No matter what it'd turn around and bite us in the ass if we play their game. Is there a way we can make them play ours? Who would need to die? What contract would need to be burnt? Preferably without revealing our identity to the bulk of hell to do it, though that's likely impossible.

>cannot be freed

NONESENSE, IF THERES ONETHING I KNOW, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CANNOT BE UNMADE, NOT EVEN A PACT WITH A DEVIL.

>>14154933
The souls needs to be willing, if I recall correctly. Though, maybe only when being caught by devils, I'm not really sure.

>>14154968
True. And if in the end that's what has happened then we know our next course of action. For now, however, she has earned the benefit of the doubt. Yeah yeah, not the most /pragmatic/ action but remember, Azaladon is <3 with her.

In short, if it comes to pass then we can deal with it then.

>>14155025
If this is Azaladon all <3-y dovey, he... well.... Brrr... Wouldn't want to see him on a bad day.

>>14154968
So we buy her loyalty and then she'll keep pretending to love us since it's in her own best interest.

Although it IS worth remembering how long she's been pressing us for children...

>>14155005
>>14155019

agreeing with these, how do you fight order? introduce alittle entropy!

pic related, its our face when we dont play by the rules.

>>14155045
We've had a demonstration of that. Remember Asha? Torture until her mind was broken, then forcible breeding with random strangers for a period of 20 years?

>>14155060
You know, I'd like to look into that. Find out if there's anything she could have done with our daughter to get ahead in the hierarchy that would have been tempting enough to risk betraying us.

>>14155019
Agreed. Even if we have to break out the EPIC MAGIC in a thousand years or so, we're going to get her completely free and bound only to us... by choice, not by laws of reality.

Because, yeah, epic magic could break her free seeing as it rewrites the basic principles of reality every time it is used.

>>14155084
Considering the love she (and all erinyes) have for their children I seriously doubt it was a scheme. They are fiercely protective of them, that much we can know is not an act.

How many wishes does the Dao have leftg? We could just wish her free.

Then go annihilate that motherfucking erinyes.

You guys are too attached to Scinarii and she /knows/ that.
Just look at how she speaks with us even now.

>>14155160
We can't do that, sadly. Wish can't free her. We have one left, by the way.

Regardless, we need to start in on the plan we made before to lure Jerziba up here somehow.

>>14155180
We are attached to Scinnari because we can roleplay and it makes sense.

>>14155180

i dont what what you were implying with that comment, but it made me think on some profound things.

ask yourself, *why* would anyone want to oppose us? certainly we desire materiel things, but we are but one creature, and our works and the order we bring provide a better existence for all in our domain, we are called evil because we only wish to enjoy the fruits of our labour, and have fewer restrictions on our methods. we are opposed because our opponents do not know better, they fear death, or loss of possetions, or they mearly covet power and control, ignorant of the uselessness of power without aim.

we wish to free scinnari, because the wise being seeks preservation and improvement, not destruction and disruption. to do otherwise, would be a waste of existence, both yours and of those around you.

Consensus is contact Seffy and see what she would charge for aiding us in this. We might not actually do it, but knowing would be nice.

>>14155326
Dude. We tortured Asha until her mind broke. We're attached to Scinnari because she's ours and we're a red dragon, ie greedy as fuck, ie don't like losing what we consider ours. Granted there's more there, but it all comes from that, I think. Certainly did until our daughter.

>>14155326
They wanted to use us as a catspaw. They did not know we are a Dragon, they merely thought us a very powerful - but MORTAL - Sorcerer.

They fucked up - BIG TIME.

i think its funny to imagine az's thought process like these threads, a teeming multitude of voices crying out, a hivemind of entities each sinister individualy, but through deliberation actions ultimately come out as productive.
heaven help any being who attempts direct telepathic contact with us.

>>14155365
+1 to this from chat.

>>14155326
Ehhh-

>>14155366
Okay, that makes more sense.


But what actually meant was that we are letting to much bullshit slide and that is not good.

>>14155365
Elaboration:

Our plan is to polymorph Varra into the child we use as a decoy and ourselves into Scinnari. We will go to the meeting place and contact Jerziba, telling her that the plan is a success. We will have pre-teleported in our entire assassin cult and other two mindbroken, plus perhaps some lizardmen.

We will also contact Seffy before executing this to see how much some support would cost us. I am personally against this as it would cause complications if we had to transform, but it's a good thing to know anyway.

Should we call in Cygnis too?

>>14155412
No. Too far away anyway.

>>14155398
We do cut Scinnari WAY too much slack. Way, way too much. We always have.

Personally, I'm inclined to leave her in the gem after this, seal it away, and never mention her existence to Azyra again. Raise our daughter ourself, don't deal with devils after taking our vengeance here, and close the Scinnari chapter of our life.

>>14155387
That would be hilarious to watch. If, once they made mental contact, they tapped into the source of Azaladon's motivations, and made a direct connection with the /tg/ hivemind; a veritable deluge of memes and reaction images, all pumped straight into their fragile psyche with the force of a thousand suns!

>>14155428
No. Fuck that sociopathic mess. We have an honest emotional connection here. It not only makes sense but it adds flavor to the story. If you want to act like an emotionless robot fine, but do it in Emotionless Robot Quest.

>>14155433
They'd turn into a gibbering mess, muttering strange things about an 'Emprah', arguing with themselves over which number is better, 3 or 4, and gaining a strange obsession with Paladins.

>>14155405
Wouldn't truesight kind of put a damper on that plan?

>>14155471
...what the fuck? Deciding to sever ties with someone is something that people do in real life all the time. People with emotions. Having an emotion tie to someone and thinking you'd be better off without them are NOT mutually exclusive by any means- a lot of serious tragedy has happened both because of it and because people weren't willing to admit it.

>>14155428
No we don't. She's our waifu, it only makes sense that we would cut her more than others. You seem to want to punish her for the very reason we took her on: she's a lawful evil devil. I like scinnari and want to keep her around if we can.

>>14155366

>tourtured asha

pff, thats just rewriting faulty code, information is cheap, but the mechanisms that house it are valuable.

>>14155383

i fully agree, and i hope im not comming off wrong. destruction is easy and expedient, devils in general are a disruptive force, and their loss would be little mourned, scinnaris superiors in particular have demonstrated themselves unreasonable, so i do not foresee any drawbacks to persecuting them with extreem prejudice.
but for scinnari herself, i think we should put real effort into getting her out of the nine hells influence. as i mentioned above, if theres a way we can change the nature of a being for the better, (and there is, always a way) then that is eminently preferable to termination.

>>14155503
This. We knew damn well what we were getting into when we took her on. While she had every opportunity to fuck us over, we also had every opportunity to either dump or kill her.

>>14155500
She couldn't help it and you're a moron for holding that against her. It's like shooting the family pet for chewing the sofa.

>>14155482
No. We have an amulet that prevents truesight from seeing through our polymorphing.

>>14155503
Agreed

We try our best to save our devil waifu.

>>14155527
>It's like shooting the family pet for chewing the sofa.
People do that, you know. Or, at least, I've known people to have dogs put down when they wouldn't learn not to piss on the furniture.

What will she do if freed? Will she run back? We certainly can't let her go off and do her own thing, the daughter we share is in too much of a risk for that, if nothing else. Does she even want to serve us, after all this? Sure, sure it's her nature, whatever, is this a risk we want to keep hanging around or what?

>>14155428
That is stupid. +1 to the people who want to keep Scinnari around like before after we free her

She is useful & the dragon is clearly in love with her and its just reuired to put her in the gem for now. Free her after we buy her services and continue where we left off with a newfound understanding and trust

Plus now we look like we know everything haha

>>14155387

how would this relate to our genesis though?
could the binder predict what the result of her creation would be? perhaps the way we are is what precipitated us going outside her plans, foiling them for the time being.

>>14155552
Yeah and I think we've already covered this in "sociopathy". Just because people do it doesn't mean it's normal.

>>14155603
People doing it enough is almost the definition of normal.

>>14155543
Second, Scinnari we shall make you our empress! The perfect evil love, even if we have to bend reality over and rape it with magic.

I'm spotting samefags all over the radar cap'n!

>>14155610
That's the point. They don't do it enough for it to be considered normal. Go up to someone and ask if they would shoot their dog for peeing on the sofa. I bet the answer is going to be "no" most of the time. The fact you can't understand this leads me to draw very scary conclusions about your mental state.

>>14155615

polite sage

>>14155630
The fact you have serious arguments over the internet leads me to draw scary conclusions about yours too!

>>14155636
It's rather obvious, especially the guy who keeps "seconding" himself after every post he makes.

>>14155661
Doesn't matter, your pointing it out contributes nothing.

>>14155405

im supporting this since there hasent been many alternatives posited itt. it certainly beats 'fly to town, wreck shit."

though in my opinion, if there is a way to expose jez's treachery to her superior, and have them fight it out, that would be so much the better.

>>14155677
Does so!

>>14155630
We should be discussing what we should do and why here, not insulting one another and reframing arguments to support personal attacks. Please stop.

>>14155405
This is a generally solid plan as long as we can make adequate preparation. I am somewhat concerned that bringing in too many minions would set off tons of alarms; it would likely be a better plan to have them on standby elsewhere to teleport in when we give the signal, with just polymorphed decoys actually in place, so that we can use only deception rather than force when drawing out Jezirba.

>>14155661
There are a bunch of people in chat. When a good idea is posted, it's always nice to see who agrees with it.

Even if Seffi did see our true form, it would hardly be the end of the world.
Inconvenient, certainly. But in the face of the things we're to face, perhaps it's a cost worth paying.

>>14155724
No. We've worked too hard to hide our true identity to just toss it away now.

We need to cover ourselves. Tell her we can polymorph into a dragon, and have magic to cover the rest of the draconic stuff. It's truthful enough and solid enough to hold up to any scrutiny she would apply to it, I would guess.

After all, spellcasters turning into various other creatures is hardly unknown.

one thing we have to keep in mind, is that jezriba has few ways of knowing our kid is out of the shell, i say hold off on rushing in untill we have a solid plan for fucking her over long term.

>>14155747
We prepped a potion bottle full of something firey for this way back, as I recall.

>>14155747
We had a fake potion made up for this purpose. It's filled with alchemists fire and has a red dragon stopper.

>>14155767
Yep. A flash with a dragon theme to it filled with alchemist's fire. We can drink it with no ill effects (we laugh at fire, after all) and then just polymorph. Simple and easy to do, and should cover our asses.

Seffi may possibly already know what we are, either through her own means, or by whoever's been leaking that little tidbit. By the way, did we ever find out who that was, or who our "friend" was? If so, I think I missed a thread somewhere.

>>14155756

but how? only thing i can think of is to contact zevaana somehow, and corroberate with her to ensure jez's demise, and maby gain a favor aswell.

course the obvious drawback being it involves dealing with a devil

>>14155786
Tiamat blew our cover to one of the Blues.

Lez-something. I just call her Lezzybian to aggravate WD.

I agree that we should create a dupe, and go along with Jezirba's plan as she initially schemed it, but instead reveal to Zevanna Jez's intent to use us to assassinate Zev.

>>14155800

lets keep in mind who are the beligerent parties here, what would we get from bringing her into this? if it was anything else id agree, but i dont want any manipulative scheemers getting involved in this if we can do it by ourselves, and im fairly confident that we can.

though there is the posibility of using this as leverage to get scinnari exonnerated. hmmmm.

>>14155703
Agreed.
Perhaps scrolls of teleportation and such doled out to our strike team?

>bitch-queen of malbolge is ruining our life
>become epic sorcerer
>learn epic spells
>plane-shift malbolge into negative energy plane
>enjoy devil waifu for rest of magically-extended life

See how those fuckers enjoy shadows.

Further scrying and discourse with Scinnari grants some information, and you set about putting it to use. First of all, simply the fact that there is a sizable devil-cult is a threat; you know quite well how dangerous fanatical individuals can be- you make a point of creating them, after all. Additionally, there are generally a number of devils of various ranks present in Basserak. Another threat to deal with. And, of course, this Anurnac Shub-Ziggur. Why devils must have such unpalatable names you fear you shall never know, but a pit lord is a serious threat, even to one of your power.

But two of your power... The fact that this opportunity presents a chance to get more information on Seffestranias makes it more appealing, or at least less unappetizing. The thought of /paying/ her for assistance smarts, but should it be necessary, you can easily afford all but the most exorbitant sums.

##################################

“Ah, Lord Prestor. I have not had the... pleasure of your company for several years. What do you desire?” Not the most polite of greetings, but nothing terribly objectionable. And she /did/ agree to see you at the drop of a hat-

“Intimdation.” you state shortly. You've come as Lord Prestor, ostensibly, her profitable neighbor to the south. Nothing terribly exceptional about your visit, except, perhaps, how unannouced it was.

“I shall hunt you from the corners to the depths of the earth, and I will rend your body apart, by fire, fang, and claw.” she replies blandly, settling on her illusory hoard and staring at you. While the 'hoard' remains as false as last time, her collection of armor, weapons, and standards has grown considerably, presumably the result of her successful campaigns. “Or did you want it directed at someone else?”

“A particular fiend has earned my ire.” you reply. “I intend to confront and terminate it. I do, however, have information to suggest it may be highly paranoid and have powerful friends to call upon.” you say, doing your best to give a vague picture of the details without any solid information.

“A fiend... How interesting. And why don't you just summon up or bind this creature, and slay or torment it at your leisure?”

“I have yet to meet it. I did, however, detect and thwart one of it's plots. I intend to give it the illusion of success to lure it out of hiding in Osseia, and kill it.” A gamble, assuredly, but you don't think Seffestranias happens to be well-studied in planar matters-

“Osseia? Osseia, citadel of Glasya, daughter of Asmodeus, queen of the sixth?” Seffestrainas shifts, standing and approaching you- she's (obviously) larger than you remember, and exhibits a fresh-looking scar or two. None of which seems to hinder her. “Should I understand that you are pursuing a devil of some sort?”

“An Erinyes of Glasya's court, yes.” you reply, unpleasantly surprised.

“And you desire my... assistance.” she continues. You do not reply, and she continues. “Two thousand gold.”

“How... baffling cheap.” you remark dryly. She bares her teeth in a /very/ vicious-looking smile.

“I refuse to assist without some modicum of compensation; could you blame me? However, I have not had the opportunity to kill devils for quite some time. I will assist you in this matter.”

“Quite eager, for how little you know.” you observe. Again, she seems unperturbed.

“I have yet to run into the devil that could match /me/. When is this?”

“Shortly. The next week, at the latest.” You have a few more things to prepare, but... Yes, the can be done. You were planning on getting a few other things together as well...

>>14155894
Two thousand gold? For a Red Dragon of her age, two thousand gold is pocket change. I guess she /really/ doesn't like devils.
Or she's just that arrogant and self-assured in her power.

>>14155917

Sounds to be the former.

Or her bloodlust is simply that great

>>14155917
>>14155930
Or it's a trap. Which in my (paranoid) mind, is the most likely case.

>>14155917
There's something here, perhaps she has pacts with demons?

But no, regardless we can't second-guess at this point. Go forward with the plan.

Red Dragons?
When are we heading back to Underhome for the upgrade into Black Dragons?!

Sounds like Seffy is on board. Onward!

>>14155957
This. We'll have backup anyway from our other sources, and we can always teleport out in retreat if we absolutely have to.

We might want to tell her that we have magic that allows us to temporarily take the form of a dragon, though. Just so she knows that we'll be using magic (well, she'll THINK she knows).

>mfw our target anticipated this and bought Seff before we did, and she's setting us up for a massive backstab

I don't think WD would do this, but I think I'm as paranoid as Azaladon is.

hmmmm, that is very fortuitous,

but, on the matters at hand, i dont think it would be possible to get cygnis's help in this, without revealing our nature (unless we want to do that, i mean, we are definitly unlike any chromantic dragon out there, and we 'did' save her and help with her problems)

having a strike team ready to port in is the obvious course of action, but we have to be wary of potential blocking fields after we ourselves port in, perhaps a magical item that serves as a 'tunnle', having the anchor in out lair and the paired object project a zone which you can go in and out off.

i dont realy know if we should contact zevaana, mainly because its hard to tell just how valueable our information is, i can easily see her taking the hint and move on her own, giving us nothing.
...then again that can be a good thing in of itself, saves us the trouble at anyrate. ah, but we promised devils to fight for saffy, that complicates things somehwhat. perhaps insist that we be involved somehow?

>>14156058

It SEEMS...
That if she had done this...
She'd ask us for more money.

She could easily GET more money from us for this job.
And if she wanted to betray us, she'd have no qualms about it.
And it would be less suspicious.

Though perhaps she intends to simply take all we have after we're dead.

rolled 37 = 37

>>14155715
how do you get on chat?

>>14156096
Go to mibbit.com
select IRCHighway from the drop down list
type in a name int the left text box, and #dragonquest in the right.

>>14155894
Make certain that Seffy knows that we expect at least one pit fiend to be amongst our target's close allies. She'll probably stay confident but might appreciate the heads-up.

Go forward with the plan aside from that. Do NOT bring our death cult along as support- this is a straight-up fight and therefore a waste of their talents, not to mention that a bunch of them might get killed and that would ruin our breeding program something nasty. Do bring (or rather, have on standby awaiting our magical command to teleport in) lizardmen elites, Varra, that brainwashed bard guy, and... dammit, we need more strong servants. Make sure that we can lock down teleportation around us- I don't think we'll need to worry about interdiction from the devils, since they can all teleport without error and wouldn't rob themselves of that ability in their sanctum.

Make sure that we get as much information from Scinnari as possible about what she expected at Osseia, without explaining the actual plan to her.

>>14156065
>(unless we want to do that, i mean, we are definitly unlike any chromantic dragon out there, and we 'did' save her and help with her problems)

Oh FFS.

No.

We do not involve Cygnis. Period. She is to be enslaved and mindbroken at a later date. We do not reveal our identity to her until she is enslaved and broken. We do not go NEAR HER unless we're ready to enslave her.

AND THAT IS NOT NOW.

>>14156153

i disagree, but i feel misanthropic tendencies will get the better of azaladon

Cygnis would likely be a liability in this, no matter how you look at it. I mean we'd be letting on we're a red, allying with a very real and evil red, going to hell, and taking Cynis' general instability it would just be one more thing we'd need to keep our busy eye's on in a fight, for negligible assistance, what with any anti good weapons the devils may have and all.

>>14156172
You're mistaking misanthropy for pragmatism.

rolled 10 = 10

>>14156137
thank you

>>14156172
That's nice.

You're still wrong.

>>14156172
Scinnari is our waifu, she gets spoiled and second chances, all those things.

Cygnis is not. Never has been. She will get enslaved and bound (or mindbroken) and used in every way we can think of. Sadly we haven't actually had enough free time as of late to follow through on any of these plans. Shit just keeps on happening. Once we *finally* get some downtime, though, she's going into the hoard.

>>14156188

the two are not mutualy exclusive.

but, it would likely take very extreem circumstances to get her to tolerate us, let alone work with us. there might have been a chance during the whole freeport business, but thats past now obviously.

however binding is not outright killing, so atleast she wont go to waste, its just the idea of having a willing gold dragon on our side tickles me.

personal preference you might say.

I rather like this red's style.

Oh sure, she'll meet a very messy end one day, and perhaps sooner rather than later, but she's definitely a force to be reckoned with.

I wonder when the last time she was courted by anyone? Maybe it couldn't hurt to flirt.

>>14156287
Yeah, binding seems real willing from what we've seen thusfar.

>>14156302
She doesn't know we're a dragon, dummy.

>>14156308
She might not care one way or the other.

>>14156315
Perhaps, but it'd give her leverage over us.

We don't give our rivals leverage over us.

>>14156322
What possible leverage could that be?

>>14156193
We're bringing that "transformation potion" with us, right?

Because red dragon double-team is too awesome to pass up, and we can wink at Seffy when we chug it. Hilarious.

>>14156339
Hi, you're obviously new here. If you go to the sup/tg/ archives and look up 'dragon quest' you can read the entire quest up to this point and not be completely ignorant of what you're talking about!

We have thusfar kept our identity as a dragon secret.

>>14156287
We don't have the resources for a binding. That shit is epic level magic requiring resources that a world-spanning empire had TROUBLE pulling together.

It isn't happening.

>>14156347
Yes, yes we are.

>>14156347
Yes. It will help to maintain our secret identity.

>>14156348
Hi, I'm not new here, and you're an asshole.

I never said nothin' 'bout courting her as a dragon.

Your strike team, once assembled, is surprisingly sparse- Just those that you think you can get in and keep track of easily. Varra, equipped with suitable disguise and a rather expensive amulet to protect her from an Erinyes' true sight, magical equipment as you can provide. Yourself, prepared as ever, with the only seriously major preparations being the all-too-obvious potion-bottle you prepared when you last visited Beren, and a ring you commissioned in Morinth that allows you to prevent teleportation in a hundred foot radius, and, of course, you are capable of restricting individual targets at will. Scinnari, too, will be attending too, as you are loathe to leave her behind. She is not entirely ill-disposed; she looks forward to seeing Jezirba getting her due.

Seffestranias does not visit Mza, though assures you she is already busy poking around Basserak. Her exact words were “....smell more devils than I have scales.” and were not terribly encouraging. Despite this, scrying confirms that she is in Basserak, and she seems to have a vested interest in opposing devils. You do your best to ignore the vague feelings of unease her agreement has generated, and set about your plan. Naturally, of course, you have a few dozen of your more martially-skilled lizardfolk at your beck and call, specifically, with Asha ready to teleport them through.

>>14156388
I may be an asshole, but you're an idiot. Given a choice between the two, I'll choose asshole every time.

Why in the world would she have any interest in doing the deed with a mortal such as our persona?

Furthermore, why in the world would we take the risk? Especially when we JUST had a daughter born to us yesterday?

>>14156388
No courting Seffy, dragon or otherwise. That shit is a powder keg just waiting to explode in our faces.

“This is...” Scinnari begins at you, then giving the mental equivalent of a sigh. “Well, I hope it works.”

“Of course it shall.” you think back, bending down kiss Azyra good bye. “I think it shall. Now where should we teleport to?”

Instructions make little enough sense to you, but evidently adequate for the spell- the establishment you arrive in is an empty room, with a single door leading out.

“Open it- Say you're me and are done with Jezirba's business.” Scinnari instructs. You are uncertain as to the value of her instructions, but do think it unlikely that she would betray you in such a clumsy manner. Then again....

“Come along, Azyra.” you order. Varra was quite reluctant to take part in this plan, but hardly had any choice. Besides, she has always been eager to kill things. She gives a vaguely-childlike grunt of assent, and you open the door. Mentally, you reach out for Seffestranias.

“I am here. Can you locate me?” Technically, you gave the tracking device to Varra, for Seffestranias to home in on, but you didn't see fit to inform either of them.

“Indeed. I am above... Oh, how interesting. It appears that this cult is housed out of a brothel. Devils of ill repute.” Seffestranias voice appears in your mind, mocking. You have a moment's trouble, trying to sort her's out from Scinnari's sarcastic retort, and end up ordering Scinnari to silence. “Very well. This may be just an entrance, though. Do be ready to arrive.”

“Don't worry- There is little I would miss it for.” she replies. “Following.”

Sighing, and hoping your help is as skilled as she seems to think she is, exit the door. A foyer, and a startled concierge looking up from a small group of clients. One of them whistles at you-disguised-as-Scinnari, and you scowl.

“Scinnari. Finished with Jezriba's business.” you intone in your best affection of Scinnari's voice. Not terrible, but certainly not great. Scinnari does not hesitate to inform you of the quality of your impersonation.

It does, however, seem to work.

“Oh? Speak with Alma, through the back. She'll send word.” the concierge replies, and you nod, turning to the door she gestured at.

“Right. Through here, through to the back, and there's a secret door in the back wall...” Scinnari instructs. You cautiously follow as directed.

rolled 34, 8, 92 = 134

Rollan.

rolled 18, 90, 10 = 118

big money, no whammy

rolled 77, 43, 6 = 126

>>14156445
Come on dice, don't fail us now.

SPLIT YOUR LUNGS WITH BLOOD AND THUNDER

>>14156457
Oops.

eh, two out of three aint bad

...right?

We are so fucked.

>>14156473
Here you go.

>>14156414
Don't be an asshole. Come one. Play nice.


>>14156457
>>14156468
Noted.

ALL THE ROLLS ARE UNDER 150!

PREPARE FOR TELEPATHY BLACKOUT!

>>14156469
>>14156468
>>14156457
Welp, time for popcorn.

>Incum standards

Wow captcha, that was almost a real phrase!

while we are waiting, lets talk about azyra

if we take the obvious path in making her in our image, we will get a cunning and powerful progency, but with dubious motivation and goals. familiar bonds will probably be too strong for treachery, but what would she be good at without our guidance?

call me crazy, but i think a altruistic upbringing would be best during the formative years, so shes well grounded untill she learns the vaguatities of dealing with the world in greater detail, if she questions our actions or motives, we simply explain the reasoning, if we cant, then it might not actualy be a good idea, the truth of somthing is self evident afterall

>>14156798
>vaguatities

Wut?

>>14156798
You are both crazy and stupid. We raise her to be the best little evil princess we can. She won't betray us because she loves us, end of story. And it doesn't matter how powerful she gets, she'll never be as powerful as us simply by default due to all the templates she got stacked on.

No, raising her to be "altruistic" is a no-go. We want her smart, capable, competent, and fully in line and understanding what we do and why we do it.

>>14156819
This.

Nobody is more loyal than daddy's little girl.

>>14156815


vagarities*

plural of vagarity, being erratic notions or actions, unknowable details.

>>14156839

Yeah, never mind that the emphasis was on the misspelling of the word, not the existence of the intended word.

>>14156839
That's still not a word. You are looking for "vagaries".

Jesus, you are on the internet already, how hard is it to look up a word?

>>14156828
Yeah, I don't even see why we'd be talking about this.

>>14156819

>understanding what we do and why we do it.

thats the whole point, if we jump strait into the powerbroking training, her first impressions are going to be from that, no different then any tinpot tyrant who craves power, and hasent a clue on what to do with it. its icing without the cake.
i want to avoid as many evil overlord tropes as possible with her, and i think a strong utilitarian upbringing will go along way to making her a confident and intelligent being, we have her whole life to show her the ways of the world, but only childhood to form her personality.

You head towards the black, practicing your vocal imitations under your breath.

“There. Left... on the right. Third wall board. Knothole.” Scinnari orders. You decide you'll debate her phrasing later, and obey. Fingering it, you trigger a small blast of flame, which naturally doesn't bother you, then find the catch. It slides open, and Varra-come-Azyra and you step through. A massive chamber, a long, spacious warehouse, with several tables and abundant glyphs of various wardings and enchantments. Wonderful.

“Alma?” you ask, casting about. Scinnari is not forthcoming on this.

“Yes? Milady?” A young woman replies, looking up from a table. What looks like another devil of some variety is sitting at a table discussing something with a trio of mortals.

“That is a harvester devil- And I fear it my be one I know. Try to avoid his eyes, if at all possible.” Scinnari warns, serious worry evident in her voice. You nod, and edge to one side, leading Varra with you. The one who is presumably Alma, though, was filling out a ledger when you passed through. Accounts, it looks like.

“Send word to Jezirba that Scinnari has completed her business.” your reply, your second full-volume attempt. While your voice normally has an exceptional range of tones you can give, actually attempting to reproduce a specific one is surprisingly difficult. Internally, you commune with Scinnari. “What is his name, and what do I do if he notices me?”

>>14156864

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vagarities

this is silly

>>14156950
In one word: no.

She will get the best education we can give her in the way the world really works, and at the same time know that daddy is always there for her. These are not mutually exclusive. Why are we even discussing this? It was decided ages ago that she'll be our left hand in all matters to complement Scinnari as our right.

>>14156962
>harvester devil

Well...fuck.

“Enian. And pray. Quietly.” is Scinnari's unhelpful response.

“I see. Very well. Ixganthrael? You heard her.” Alma orders. A small red imp unfurls itself from a rafter, and takes off down one side, around a corner and out of sight.

“Please, milady, take a seat.” Alma offers, about the same time that Scinnari gives you similar instructions. You step out into the center of the room, taking a seat behind the harvester, and that provides you a view of where the imp went- You are suitably impressed with the information: A portal nearly two dozen feet in diameter sits at one end of the warehouse, descending below it, and curving up almost to the rafters. The blasted plains visible through it seem to visually convey the stench of rot and decay... Malbolge, assuredly. Scinnari confirms your guess.

“I see why you seem to so enjoy more... material pleasures.” you comment absently to Scinnari, brushing her gem with your hand, “I suppose they're somewhat rare... 'down' there.”

“You have no idea.” Scinnari replies sardonically. You pause, and take the time to attempt a status-update to Seffestranias. You are, however, thwarted. You detect nothing, and no one answers your call. Sealed against contact- Suddenly it occurs to you that Seffestranias was not informed as to what to do, should you drop out of contact. If she assumes the worst before... Tiamat's ten thousand t-

“Ah, Scinnari, my dear. So happy to see you again. I should hope you're getting tired of that overly-proud reptile you're currently working on?” The voice brings a more immediate problem to bear, namely, the Harvester demon who has just finished with the mortals. Lovely. A moment of panic shoots through you, and you sense that Scinnari is likewise terrified, if for other reasons.

“Respond exactly: 'Yes, this is it.' Gesture at Varra, hope he doesn't notice your atrocious voice.” Scinnari commands, and without better option, you obey, though the words stick in your craw.

“How wonderful. Perhaps we will see you again within Malbolge... or here in Basserak. Say... you sound different. I should hope you were not injured in the severing of... ties with your current target?” the devil says,

“Not at all.” Scinnari instructs, “Don't let on to any weakness. Drop Jezirba's name.”

“Not at all. Though I'm sure he would have liked to; I doubt he is pleased with Jezirba's orders.” you reply, praying, as previously instructed. Somehow, some way, something must have heard you- A loud groan sounds from the roof, and your words are almost drowned out.

>>14157004
[Fuck. Peopel were getting whiny so I went and posted some of it, the rest is still in production. Never fear, this train wreck has a long way to go before it grinds to a halt..]

>>14156973

im not saying she shouldent be, i dont see how ensuring she has concern for things beyond herself is a bad thing.

>>14157013
Ignore the ingrates then. It's worse to interrupt in the middle of a block of text than to have us wait longer for the whole thing. You're doing a damn good job man.

>>14157034
Concern for family, friends, and power. In that order. The rest of the world can burn.

>>14156308

But she will once this goes down!

>>14157040
Power comes first as it's needed to tend to said family and friends. Family and friends with insufficient power means that they're temporary at best.

>>14157040
Friends and family are a MEANS to power.

>>14157056
Thats a pretty fucking boring way to look at anything.

>>14157076
No, thats an evil mastermind way to look at things, moralfag.

>>14157094

Moralfag? Thats pretty fucking funny.

The simple point is that looking at any and all conceivable relationships in one way (means to get moar power) is incredibly monotonous and unrealistic. You remind me of that guy.

And I doubt thats a mastermind, evil or otherwise, thinks (if they're actually a developed individual instead of a GROSS CHARICATURE as you seem wont to endorse).

>>14157076

That's a pretty LAWFUL EVIL way for looking at everything.

Which we are.

>>14157094

i assert again that power is meaningless without direction, all im trying to say is that we should stress the rationality of our actions, *why* we do things, not just how to do it.

>>14157152
We're more Neutral Evil than anything, actually. But anybody who thinks being Evil means not being allowed happy feelings (like "love") doesn't know what they're talking about. Evil overlords who don't understand it and its power, well, they're not following the list they should be following.

>>14157141

You seem to be under the delusion that this base assumption is all there is to this equation. A large amount of elegance and nuance lies within something as simple as 'Friends ad family = power'.

Welp, thanks to Tiamat we are officially in possession of the worst kept secret in the multiverse.


At this point is there anyone who doesn't know we're a dragon?

>>14157189
It does at least imply that friends and family are worth having, keeping, and protecting.

>>14157152


DnD alignments are a way to typifiy behaviours, they don't enforce jack shit unless you some sort of individual who is bound to exemplify such virtues like a paladin or blackguard. You can be a phenomenally greedy/prideful individual, yet still have actual PEOPLE you care about outside of that, for different reasons.

>>14157189
A fair point, and perhaps I'm not attributing the nuances to the phrase that you are. I can accept that. Would you explain it to me, so I fully understand your meaning?

>>14157195
Holy fuck I cannot believe I missed that detail when reading the last bit of narrative. Goddammit Scinnari. Goddammit.

>>14157195

Oh. Wow. You're right.

Sonofabitch. Is there anyone who doesn't open their goddamn mouths at the first opportunity?

>>14157216
see
>>14157208


I never said that they were worthless, or not worth loving or caring abut. I said that they were, first and foremost, a means to an end.

Everything else comes second to power, or we will surely lose it.

>>14157241
Thats a bit more understandable, but it does leave the question of whether they're worth anything outside of that. Would you sacrifice all of them to increase you power?

And what specific purpose do we put this power we gain towards, if everything we do is only for the purpose of getting more of it? Do we have an ultimate goal yet?

“Hmm... It did not look terribly windy when I was last out...” Enian comments, looking perplexed at the roof, then back at you with a calculating gaze. “Do you think that...?” You are, however, saved, by a voice from behind you.

“Scinnari? It is done?” you stand and turn to face what is presumably Jezirba, and... Anurnac Shub-Ziggur. Not to mention a small cotierie of lesser devils, the worst of which look to be a pair of ice-devils following behind him. Jezirba herself is actually rather unremarkable for an erinyes, with dark brown wings vaguely reminiscent of an owl. Unwilling to answer, and suspecting it would be a more in-character, you give her a totally impassive visage, and step to one side, drawing attention to 'Azyra' without totally yielding her. Jezirba seems to buy it.

“Ah... And this is the dragon's daughter? How... twisted looking.” Jezirba comments. “Wouldn't you agree, Anurac?”

“Small. Weak. Bizarrely formed, but otherwise unremarkable.” Anurac replies, voice incredibly deep. “I do not see why you insist on getting it's father involved. Or even that he would- I would not go out of my way for such an abnormal creature.” You refrain from commenting, and allow no expression to show, but within the pocket of your robe, you activate your teleportation-prevention ring, and resolve that the pit-fiend, commander of the hells or no, and extraneous target or not, will not be leaving the place alive. The roof creaks again, very ominously. Off to the left, you see Alma get up and move for the door, as if to check something.

Damnit, this also means that almost everyone that counts knows our daughter is a half-dragon, and a significant percentage of those will know that she's a erinyes half-dragon. At the point the only people who won't have the exact right tools to fight us will be fools. We're going to have to up the level of our game from here on out.

>>14157300
“Odd.” is Jezirba's sole comment on the noise, though Anurac glances about with paranoia, “Very well. Thank you, I shall... fetch lady Zevaana. She will want to handle these negotiations personally, I think. Anu-”

Whatever else she was about to say is cut off as Seffestranias blasts through the roof like an angry god, engulfing the two ice-devils away in a short burst of crimson fire, the crushing them beneath her massive claws. Chaos, screaming, shouts- You shove Varra backwards and immediately begin targeting Jezirba with a dimensional lock. Seffestranias has proved an adequate distraction in this, and you manage to get it off, and see the green shackles manifest about Jezirba. She shouts of treachery, and you barely remember to down your 'potion' before reverting.

Large as the warehouse is, it can't hold a dragon, and you feel mere wood splinter and shatter above you, giving way. A burst of fire washes over you, and you bat Ixganthrael, the imp, out of the air with a lash of your tail. A second blow crushes it below you, just as you stamp down on Enian, absently savoring his scream as you grind downwards.

Seffestrainias is engaged with Anurac, a flurry of lightning blows that belie their size. Screams, shouting, and, of course, the sound of roiling flames blur about you. Target one... Jezirba. Without her, this is a failure. Lunging forward, you manage to grab her in your jaws, but almost kill her as Anurac deals your head a solid blow. She screams in agony as your fangs bite down on her, but remains alive, and so not all is lost- Backing up, you allow Seffestranias to duel with Anurac, while you place Jezirba on the floor. Dimensionally shackled, she can't escape, and Varra moves forward, holding her down as you prepare to trap her soul.

[Dice 3d100]

>>14157304
Ah well, whatever. We just keep it contained as long as we can. If only extraplanar beings and other dragons know then we'll be fine.

rolled 19, 100, 55 = 174

Fuck that pit fiend

rolled 46, 5, 93 = 144

>>14157312
COME ON DICE

>>14157355

Really? Did you honestly delete your last post all for the sake of a reroll? C'mon bro...

rolled 68, 52, 15 = 135

IT'S GO TIME!

rolled 38, 30, 49 = 117

>>14157312
Come on, dice!

rolled 89, 46, 77 = 212

>>14157312

>>14157361
I must confess, I F5 this thread entirely too often and I didn't see that. I mean, not saying it's impossible but... would have had to been /damn/ fast.

>>14157421

We can always use
>>14157377
instead if there is any question. Didn't see it either though.

>>14157444
>>14157421

Either the post was deleted and remade, or the numbers rolled for the dice somehow changed within the same one post.

>>14157312
Varra has shifted into a different form at this point, too, right? I don't want her sitting around looking like something that would make Seffy ask awkward questions. Not to mention that she needs a form with an adult frame and muscles to fight.

>>14157476
Actually I think there's been a time thing put on deleting your post's,, like you have to wait a certain amount of time, something about someone in /v/.

Though they could have just changed it back, I don't know.

>>14157476
Could you have just seen it wrong? We haven't had problems like that in a loooong time, IIRC. But once again, anything is possible and the next roll post in line isn't that bad. So whatever, not a big deal either way.

>>14157500

I swear, I'm wholly confident the numbers were different. Honestly though I'm not going to care much beyond wondering why that had to have been the case. Getting drowsy and I have an odd habit of noticing random details especially well when tired.

Wait, we're sageing.

We're still on page four even though three people have posted.

>>14157496
There is a time delay in both posting -and- deleting posts. Takes forever to do that, I should know, I misspeel things all the time.

well since things are winding down, concerning our little princess i think what we can all agree on though is not just helping her learn, but help her learn 'how' to learn, seek knowledge everywhere, dont shut out debates, outrage at slights is useless, the truth of somthing being self evident, that sort of thing

This been archived yet?

>>14157611
If you do archive it DO NOT FUCK UP THE TAGS.

>>14157611
>>14157624
It's taken care of, chill.

Your efforts are hinder twice by various interlopers. Varra manages to draw her bow, knock arrow, and perforate an Imp flitting about your head, but not before it gets a vicious stab in at your neck, sliding it's barbed tail under your throat scales. Though it goes down, you find yourself coughing on blood and cannot complete the enchantment adequately. You are forced to draw further back from the portal and the duel between Seffestranias and the pit fiend. You devour one of the healing potions you brought along, and attempt it again. This time you are caught by surprise, and nearly bowled over by some spell of Anurac's. Your spell is disrupted, and Varra is scorched even beyond what the magical gear you gave her can handle. Jezirba starts to crawl away, bleading from a dozen fang-marks on both sides of her body, but you beat her down with your tail, pinning her beneath it.

/This/ time, you manage it. You pass the new gem off to Varra, and attempt o send the signal to Asha- No success. Too much of the wards defending the building are intact. Well, that can be fixed. You lash out, demolishing the wall you entered through, and revealing half a dozen rooms in various states of use. It had already been dark when you arrived, and Seffestranias' crimson, and your own deep blue flames are probably visible for miles around. To say nothing of the pit fiends' blazing orange hellsfire. A few minutes further effort demolishes enough of the building for you to feel confident trying again.

“Hear me! Protect Varra.” you order to your minions, lowering your head to reiterate your command to Varra, “Protect that with your life.”

Turning your back on them, you approach the brutal duel between Seffestranias and Anurac... And Anurac's minions, as he's been summoning with abandon. Damnation.

“You red /lizard!/ I will flay you to the bone, feast on your flesh, and use your scales to armor my /minions!/” Anurac roars as you finally shift your attention fully to them. You do not have enough information to tell whom he's addressing, but Seffestranias answers.

“Another once spoke as you did, devil. By the name of Igalil.” Seffestranias words are strained, as she's evidently panting for air, and Anurac's claws have been shredding her scales. She does have a palpable advantage in size, though, and whatever the devil's power, when she lands a blow it is felt. As she does now, feinting, blinding with a blast of fire, and sweeping the devil's legs out from under him with her tail. He tucks his wings around him, rolls- You attempt to bring your claws down on him, but he rolls aside, spinning to his feet.

“Igalil.” Seffestranias pants beside you, bleeding from a half-dozen rents and tears in her chest and arms, “didn't last too long. I never knew how one of you could beg and scream.”

“Really? I somehow doubt that /you/ were responsible, outcast of Tiamat's! Perhaps I will give you to her, or perhaps I wi-” The rest is lost as he summons a pair of kytons, drawing them into the Prime from the hells. Deciding to leave Seffestranias to the fiend, you turn your attention to crushing the chain-devils. One dodges your tail blow, but the other doesn't, and it knocks him towards the far wall. Out of the corner of your eye you see it set upon by your lizardmen soldiers, and disappear under a doze vicious blows.

The remaining one you simply eat, distracting it with a feinting blow before devouring it whole. Looking back up, you watch the exchange of blows between Seffestranias and Anurac, looking for an opening...

rolled 11, 50, 17 = 78

they see me rollan

rolled 31, 15, 12 = 58

Rolling.

>>14157819
Goddamn /tg/ dice!

>>14157816
we hatin'

>europeenes silav
...

Why the rolls?

>>14157846
WD said that he forgot to ask for 3d100 in chat.

Somebody want to try and drag those averages up with another try?

>>14157819
>>14157816
Goddamnit you fuckers! This is why you don't roll unless asked for!
Goddamn!

rolled 55, 60, 37 = 152

>>14157859
>>14157805
Alright, one more try.

rolled 10, 16, 17 = 43

>>14157859

If that'll actually help, sure. I kinda want this to not go totally SNAFU.

rolled 78, 72, 61 = 211

>>14157876

Oh. Oh wow. I'm really sorry.

>>14157876
your rolling privilages are REVOKED!

rolled 37, 23, 40 = 100

Let's give it a whirl

rolled 24, 63, 3 = 90

fukken teegee dice

>>14157863
I think you missed >>14157859.

It was a fun quest, guys. We had a good run, but tg dice decided it wasn't meant to be.

>>14157925
We're looking for an opening, not trying to block a blow.

'Course, we probably just attacked Seffy by accident, so we might well be raped.

hope this does not make it worst

>having ewslaw
Looks like we'll be having devil stew...

Also, image for stat debate on IRC

>>14157992

>>14157992
>>14158015

I suck at rolling dice. this is the forth time i tried

This better work

rolled 26, 9, 65 = 100

why doe tg not want me to roll dice? roll.... roll...

>>14158014
Your "AVERAGE(A2:U21)" is wrong, it should be AVERAGE(B2:U21). Your results are low.

rolled 83 = 83

>>14158065
you did it, congratulations

thank you :)

here is a picture of a valkari

Things seem to be going straight to- well, straight to hell. You can dimly make out a bell ringing out in the city, tolling out an alarm, you suspect, and devils are pouring. Drawing back, you scowl and roar out a guttural warning in draconic. Though hardly elegant, it gets the point across- Seffestranias leaps out of the way as you unleash a lightning bolt, then another. The first connects, knocking the pit-fiend back somewhat, but he manages a counterspell of some sort, and the second merely flashes across the intervening space and vanishes before reaching him. Seffestranias leaps at him, and another blinding series of blows are exchanged, with a sickening shredding sound. You suspect Seffestranias caught the worst of that.

“The two of you? Ah, how sweet, a mated pair. I shall make a necklace out of your teeth, bestial animals. Co-” His latest taunt is interrupted as Seffestranias lets out another billow of her crimson flame. It doesn't harm the fiend, but blinds him, and you dart forward to knock him through the floorboards... And let out a roar of agony as his vile claws blindly find your flesh, ripping off scale and gouging deep into your vulnerable flesh and muscle underneath. You demolish another wall in panic as you try and wrench your forearm out of his grasp, and you hiss in further pain as you feel his claw's toxic coating burning against your flesh.

>>14158066
ty
2d10 drop lowest averages to 7.15

You fail to escape, and he extends his claws further, shredding and ripping your chest to pieces. Another bellow of agony escapes you, and then the pain is gone- far away and distant. You ignore the distant pain, willing power through your flesh and into him. Slowly at first, but mounting, suddenly a torrential flow that causes him to scream and burn, not true fire or lightning, but a crackling flow of energy that causes him to singe and spasm. He manages to break out, to retreat from you, but you persist, and a violently snapping and crackling streamer of black fire hangs in the air between you, reaching out and licking him occasionally. He screams when it does.

Seffestranias pays the flame no heed, and brings her full weight down upon the assailed pit fiend. You cut the flow of energy just as she slams down on him, literally blowing him through the floor, as you intended. Enough to stun him, and stun him long enough for her to literally rip him apart. It scatters viscera and blood all over the floor, rapidly turning into foul brown and black goo as the devil dis-corporates. You cast about for other infernals, but none exist. Aside from the portal, you have annihilated them.

“Not so superior to Igalil.” you catch her speaking to the devils disappearing body. Shaking her head absently, spraying blood from half a dozen small injuries around the room, Seffestranias turns to you. “Excellent spell. Quite effective... your lightning too.” She shakes her scarred head, “Feh.... I failed badly. Meant to toss him through the portal before killing him.”

“Seems adequately done, in any event. As good a fight as you hoped?” you ask dryly, vaguely afraid of looking at the (you can feel) gaping wound the fiend left you. “Damnation- People are coming and Zevaana isn't here yet-”

“Zevaana is /here/, mortal, and most displeased at what she finds.” an imperious voice calls from the portal. You spin to face her out of reflex, as does Seffestranias. “Who is it that uses my name as if they know me?”

“I am the one your precious servant warned you about. She neglected to mention... certain key features...” you say, tapping the ground with your claws, tail thrashing behind you. You flutter your wings for a moment, to punctuate your words, “and hoped that her plan would lead me to you, removing you for her.” All true, and probably fairly believable, considering the wreckage around you. “I captured her servant, have trapped her soul, and now would like to deal with you if you are so inclined to be... reasonable.”

“Otherwise, I suspect you will pose significantly less challenge than the pit lord.” Seffestranias cuts in, maze of scars and smeared blood on her face giving her a truly ghastly grin. If Zevaana is intimidated, though, she doesn't show it.

“Your words ring true, but you have done much damage. Tell me what you think you deserve- I shall tell you whether you are right.”

Answers, first and forth most, see if she was already aware of the plot against her, see if we can milk any more details about the whole thing than we already know. Then get on to that bit about Scinari.

>>14158127
That's not 2d10 drop lowest.

That's not 2d10 drop lowest at all!

It's not even, hell, I don't know what that represents. Random numbers plugged into excel, I guess?

>>14158149
"It was a nasty trick that was played upon me. I would demand a servant for recompense, for the rest of my natural life. I would greatly prefer the one I have grown to find familiar, Scinnari.

If you feel this is unfair, I can simply continue to ruin whatever venture you attempt undertake until you change your mind. My resources are not inconsiderable.

Or, in exchange for the uncontested possession of Scinnari, I shall leave you be."

>>14158183

looks like he took the average of every single possible die roll of 2d10 drop the lowest and averaged the results.

top row and left most column representing possible rolls and the intersection as the highest between the two.

looks sound to me

>>14158149
"A simple trade, the soul of one erinyes for the soul of another. But as you say, I have caused you a bit of damage so I will settle for having the full rights to her for my lifetime. Which means no more orders and no further meddling in my affairs."

>>14158149
"First: what I take by strength is mine, and what I destroyed was in recompense for their actions. The damage is done, and there will be no recompense."

"What I have to trade is your traitorous leautenant's body and soul. What I want in trade is everything of Scinnari that is not her body and soul, those I already have."

>>14158216
I like this one better, because we can still spring the threat of cutting off her soul supply if she doesn't agree. Also, we need to be careful of any agreement we enter into; obvious, I know, but it bears repeating.

"I deserve only what I can earn, or take by force, if need be. Jezirba sought to take from me my daughter, and my bride. This will never happen again. I can be a profitable partner, or a terrible foe, but I will not be anyone's plaything, and I will rain destruction upon those who would dare keep me from what is rightfully mine.

Scinnari is a child of the hells, and she will always be bound to them. I accept this, but I am not bound by this. Know this: I would gladly negotiate to secure her sole loyalty for a time, and failing that, I'm willing to bargain for your noninterference in my affairs. If we can't come to an agreement on either possibility, I'm willing to leave a trail of murder in my wake until I get what I want.

What will it be?"

>>14158149
Let's continue this in telepathic communication. Deliver our demands. Scinnari is free of the hellish hierarchy until the end of our life. In return we give her the trapped subordinate to do with as she pleases, do not burn the town to ashes. If she presses we give her a modest sum of souls (say 50?) that we will harvest over the next few years.

>>14158220
>everything of Scinnari that is not her body and soul, those I already have
Implying that we also want her contracts as well?
Dangerous, though; worded incorrectly, we could become bound by the contracts in Scinnari's place.

>>14158235
>Let's continue this in telepathic communication.
Oh, good point. No sense in letting Seffy know the particulars of our deal.
Who knows, perhaps during the conversation, Zevaana can brush against the /tg/ Hivemind lurking beneath Azaladon's consciousness.

Ask - Did you know that your underling was plotting? WEll, more than usual. Specifically, to have you killed by us by kidnapping our daughter?

You know Scinarri? We want her. Ours. Forever. If not, she dies, also forever, along with you, as we'll come straight through that portal like the wrath of god. What do you want for her?

Lastly:
What would you give us for the soul of a gold dragon?

>>14158209
>>14158183
looks kosher to me.

It's a simple grid: column A and row 1 are the rolls of the 2 dice, one through ten. the cells B2:K11 are every possible combination of the 2, keepimg only the higher result.

That's why only one result has a one on it: 1 on both die. Two has three possible sources: (1,2) (2,1) (2,2), so there are three twos.

>>14158235
This.

Also, make it to the end of our lifeSPAN. That way, if we wind up undead or whatever owing to magic (to increase lifespan, obviously), then it should last for longer. If it's to the end of our life, then as soon as we die, the deal ends. If it's our lifespan, then it's until we're permanently gone.

I think.

>Scinari is ours until we die

In before unending attempts at our life, with regards from the hells.

>>14158269
If so, we'll need to be careful of hidden clauses concerning the status of unlife, and alterations to the self to extend life.

Do you intend to run another quest?

If so, any hints as to its nature?

Just outright buy her, this leasing shit is too all around risky, and involves the hells too much for me to feel comfortable with it. Demand a price simple as that.

Also, do ask what she may already know about this whole plot against both her and us.

>>14158296
whoops wrong thread, goddamn tiredness

>>14158269
Right, be on the lookout for those. Make it so that she's ours until we no longer exist as a sentient entity.

See to our medical care ASAP!

I do not want to start getting Seffy-scars. We need to stay perfect and with no chinks in our armor. Thankfully we have the resources needed to ensure that happens provided we heal ourselves quickly. Magic and potions should be able to do it without any scarring, whereas Seffy seems to just let hers heal naturally.

>>14158299
We can start off with trying to buy, haggle a bit, and if the price still remains too high, we can go down to lease.

But I agree, if we can make an outright purchase, and the price is reasonable, then by all means buy.

>>14158263
I like these, except for the 'soul of teh gold dragon' bit. Could we still keep her as a slave if she was soulless?

>>14158299
I agree with asking about outright buying her. Scinnari likely doesn't know all the clauses the higher ups do. It might be too pricey for now, but asking can't hurt.

Crunch another handful of potions and then get on with the negotiating. Last thing we want is a foggy mind from bloodloss when dealing with a devil.

"Much damage? Ah. A broken warehouse and some, a somewhat flattened harvester, and yet the actions of those under your control have cost me personally, more dearly than you may know. I will not allow it to happen again.

I want the loyalty of my servant, Scinnari. I will tolerate no designs upon my progeny."

Perhaps we should make an appointment with this devil to have this negotiation occur in a more civil environment when tempers are less heated. This is Serious Business, after all.

Nah, this needs to happen NOW, before they outplot us. It's sort of what they do. Best catch the best deal we can while they still have their pants down.

>>14158370
"...and yet the actions of those under your responsibility have cost me personally, more dearly than you may ever know. The loyalty of my wife, the safety of my daughter, and a wish.

I want the loyalty of my servant returned. I will tolerate no designs upon my progeny.

In return, I will not seek out ruin upon every venture you undertake. I will not see to it that you are demoted, again and again and AGAIN!"

>>14158347
Weeelll.. probably, yeah. But I think we'll have to fight her for it, soul-sucking magic is a *bitch*.

>Captcha: onalbe ..what the FUCK is that, captcha? Are you trying to cast a fucking spell on me?

>>14158408
"It was YOUR minions that have cost you this oversight. It was YOUR minions that planned for this to occur on YOUR watch.

Meet my demands and I won't make it known to your superiors how badly you fumbled.

In exchange, I believe there's an opening for a new pit lord, and a devil with a few new holes in her body waiting to be made an example of."

>>14158411
We could just do like we did to the brother: send her down and hope she doesn't know to claim her rights on the river styx. Not likely though, she WAS a priest.

>>14158477
A priest of knowledge at that :/

Place massive emphasis on the fact it was her lack of oversight on her minions that caused this to come about. It will be /her/ ass up for demotion unless she can show she appropriately punished the offender and sent the dragons off without burning the town down.

Negotiating from a position of strength.

>List of Achievements:
*Tricked and killed a Gold
*Kidnapped a princess
*Seduced a devil
*Killed a dracolich
*Forged a kingdom

*Out negotiated a devil

>>14158451
Actually, the pit lord discorporated and is probably re-materializing on the planes now.
Killing planar beings on the Prime Material only sends them back; you need to kill them on their home plane for perma-death.

>>14158451

The Pit Fiend's still alive, unfortunately. We'll have to set up some countermeasures for him. A greater Devil's enmity is not something to take lightly, not until we're much older. And even then...

>>14158513
Really, he's probably not going to be nearly as pissed at us as he is Seffy. She was his main foe.

“I am not /asking/.” you growl dangerously. Pausing to control your temper somewhat, you switch to the telepathic communication you know the brachina should be capable of. “I have put up with entirely too much of your infernal politics. I am in the mood to level your forsaken city, and sell your minion, trapped as she is, to a good church, or perhaps an enemy of yours. I can and very well might.”

Zevaana again offers no sign of being intimidated, merely looking at you. You feel an old feeling, the strange urge to bow in awe before her, before such ageless, timeless bea- You stamp down on the feeling before it can go anywhere. Obviously she's trying to affect your mind, assist her negotiations with compulsion. You ignore it.

“First of all, what did you know of this plot?” you demand. Zevaana, to your surprise, answers quite reasonably.

“I was told a sorcerer of considerable power had been identified on this plane. I was told that my handmaiden Scinnari was in position to influence his ambition and empire, and Jezirba recommended that he could be brought to negotiations if Scinnari were to abduct his child. I allowed her free reign in the operation. Evidently she was both withholding information and her lack of competence from me.”

“She knew my nature, and guessed accurately that I would rather rip you to shreds than deal with you after you had kidnapped my daughter. I'm tempted even after you only /tried/ to abduct her. That said, I am reasonable.”

“I'll bet...” Zevaana says under her breath, your hearing picking it up with your sharp hearing over the sizzling of the flames and screams of other bystanders. You're listening for the approach of other devils or humanoids, and may have to vacate the area if significant local forces arrive.

>>14158536

Having a greater devil notice you enough to hate you at all may as well mean the amount of hate doesn't matter.

He's also linked us in to assuming we're a mated pair. Hoping he directs all his hate to Seffestranias isn't a wise course of action.

“I /demand/ Scinnari's service, without interference from the hells, for at least the duration of my life.” you declare. “The hells are to neither issue orders nor interefere at all in my life. Nor that of my daughter.”

“In exchange I am willing to grant you the trapped soul of your traitorous lieutenant- To do with as you please, so long as it is painful for her.” Zevaana actually smiles at that point.

“I can assure you it will be, whatever terms we come to. What else can you offer me to make your... demands... worth indulging? I doubt you realize quite how much you ask.”

“You will have Scinnari at my side, to watch out for infernal interests- Broad ones, without getting caught up in your politics. You will have a loyal and capable underling who will be otherwise occupied and unable to betray you. And I will have a reason to let you live.” you recite. “And perhaps I can see to doing business with you in the future. I may have another... exotic... soul on the way- It could end up being passed through your hands.” you offer. Not precisely what you had desired with Cygnis, but it will do. “Ah. And I require your answer and binding contract. Now.”

You lock eyes with her, then Zevaana glances upwards, idly staring at the stars while thinking. You take the opportunity to ingest some healing potions, though sadly, it seems like there's only so much they can do for your wounds; the pit-fiends claws seem to have left highly caustic residue. When you've gone through your available stock, you turn back to Zevaana. She still seems to be thinking, so you add some more reasons for her to consider.

“And if you deny me on this, I will push you right back through that portal and kill you permanently. As I will Scinnari, and your lieutenant.” You threaten. “Though that would hardly be necessary- I suspect you would be considered... most irresponsible, if this entire city was lost from under your control. How would your lady respond to that?” Zevaana nods, holding up a hand.

“Very well. As much as it pains me to make such a choice... I can accede to your terms. If you have... a contract to sign?”

You practically leap into motion. /This/ you came prepared for. Moving to Varra, you extract the scroll you had prepared, and unroll it before the the brachina. The paper only survives in the inferno that the warehouse has become due to your foresight and protective enchantments.

“I see... Much shorter than most infernal contracts... Very well.”. She produces a quill from her belt and signs the contract, in blocky and geometric infernal script. “You have your peace, and neither I nor any under my command will interfere with you, on pain of permanent demotion- That is the best I can give you. Is that satisfactory?”

“Grudgingly, it must be.” you agree, and retrieve the gem from Varra. A brief pause as you teleport them back to Mza, then you turn back to Zevaana. “Your... lieutenant.” you offer, ignoring the frantic, terrified babbling and pleading in your mind. No, not ignoring... Savoring.

“A pleasure cooperating with you, Azaladon. Good evening.” Zevaana says, accepting the prison gem from your massive claws. She shifts attention fully to the gem, and you catch her whispering something under her breath, something that even you can't catch, but sounds utterly sinister. Without further speech, she turns and departs.

We had this prepared long in advance, so that clearly means it was service to us and exclusively us until we no longer existed. Not just dead -- one can be raised -- but until we as a creature no longer exist.

you know, about the giant elephant in the room...

just what in the prime was that black firey energy we released? id bet the farm it has alot to do with our origins and ties with the binder.

that concludes our business here, then?
revert to Lord Prestor, unless that wound is to bad to take in elven form, and teleport ourself and Seffy back to Beren

>>14158612
confirmed as Magic(tm)
Enchanted breath attack

>>14158612
According to IRC, we were doing some kind of fancy sorcery shit with our breath weapon.

So, uh, is it just me or does anyone else think Sessi knowing our true form/our demon and daughter is a bit of a problem?

Let us wrap up here, shall we? Thank Seffy and tell her we must get together for a feast or some such at her leisure. We have been to Beren twice, but she has never come to Mza... we should throw one at our castle.

Then back to our lair where we can patch ourselves up fully and uh... see how Scinnari regards these affairs.

>>14158623
She knows what? Since when does she know about our minion and daughter? We did that convo in mindspeak.

>>14158623
It was telepathic communication, she never heard our name or that of our daughter.

When we get back home we should now give Scinnari a choice. We present her with the choker again, and ask her again if she will agree to be our greatest gem... truly ours this time. If she says no... well, she can do as she pleases. But she won't say no.

>>14158582

Just out of curiosity Writer-Dude, are you actually a writer outside of 4chan? I'd love to read some of your work if you are.

>>14158623

true form? you must be refering to my transmogrification alchemical of course

>>14158623
As far as Seffy knows (or should know), we took draconic form via the use of a potion and our magical ability, and are not actually a dragon.

Ah, I thought we were saying all the shit outloud.

>>14158619
>>14158626
>>14158646
Combine all these. Finish up here, thank Seffy, drop a line about how we wish that we could be this powerful physically all the time and we envy her form, and then go home to get healed up. After that release Scinnari and do what was said with the collar.

If we can preserve the illusion we're an elf, we should.

We should ask seffy why she hates devils so.

>>14158678
This sounds good. We do need to make it clear, of course, that we are NOT a dragon and have merely polymorphed into one.

If Seffy asks what we were talking about with Zevanna, just say we were threatening/bargaining with her against further interference in our plans.