Chatting And Planning

[*LiquidDreamer]

Caterina pinches the bridge of her nose a sign of frustration seeping through the calm composed mask she wears for the outside world.

"This is why it is easier if you are honest with me from the beginning. Your nephew did he craft the blade of his own three will or was he coerced?"

"That I do not know. Once i learned of it, I thought to sell it as fast as I could. So I had Horim silenced with a magical gaues as well as his whole family. Only me and butler, the one that is arranging the raids on my world know of it. He doesn't fully know the whole story, only a few."

[*LiquidDreamer]

"Hm. you are right, Cat."

He ponders, then continues, adressing loke again.

"If there is something like this, this could help. Hm. Where did he get this knowledge from? An imp whispering in his ear?"

"Hirom is one of our finest enchanters, especially blades. He usually fulfills the harder orders." He trails off thinking.

"Are you saying it might be possible someone had him make this blade of trigger the contract?"

[*Midnight]

"If I was a fiend it is what I would do."

Caterina doesn't so much as blink as she states this, indeed she seems to expect people to think this of her anyway.

"If he is aware of the consequences or not is not important the fiends will claim that legally you must make the people of the world aware of the pact. However if it can be proved they forced the triggering of clause through some subterfuge or double dealing then that may be grounds to dissolve the pact. We should speak to him."

[*Selebius]

"I agree. This may be the loophole we need.... and I doubt he stumbled upon this knowledge per chance. It is just too much of a coincidence. "

He pauses, thinks, then takes some notes. "Hirom you said? Where can we find him?"

[*LiquidDreamer]

"If I was a fiend it is what I would do."

Caterina doesn't so much as blink as she states this, indeed she seems to expect people to think this of her anyway.

"If he is aware of the consequences or not is not important the fiends will claim that legally you must make the people of the world aware of the pact.  However if it can be proved they forced the triggering of clause  through some subterfuge or double dealing then that may be grounds to dissolve the pact.  We should speak to him."

"I'm afraid that isn't possible. I don't know his families status back home. He could be safely in some defensible area or captured by those monsters. For all intents and purposes he could be dead or worse. What do you need from me?"

[*Midnight]

Even through Caterina's usual stoicism it is clear she does not take the news well.

"Then we need to find him if we are to have any real chance of saving the prime. In the mean time I would suggest opening a dialogue with Baator. The letter of the contract entitles the fiends to the prime not the people living on it. We will need time to move them in case we do not find the man we are after or he cannot provide us with the help we need."

She turns to Locke her expression rather grim as her mind races for ways to minimize the damage.

"You can provide us with knowledge or any magical assistance in our search. The quicker the better, I doubt the Baatezu will wait."

[*LiquidDreamer]

Even through Caterina's usual stoicism it is clear she does not take the news well.

"Then we need to find him if we are to have any real chance of saving the prime. In the mean time I would suggest opening a dialogue with Baator. The letter of the contract entitles the fiends to the prime not the people living on it. We will need time to move them in case we do not find the man we are after or he cannot provide us with the help we need."

She turns to Locke her expression rather grim as her mind races for ways to minimize the damage.

"You can provide us with knowledge or any magical assistance in our search. The quicker the better, I doubt the Baatezu will wait."

"I will have someone locate him immediately. How can I open a dialogue with devils and what do you want me to do? My skills are at your disposal if it means saving my home."

[*Selebius]

"I suggest you leave this to us. Your cooperation will be very welcome of course... but dealing with Devils is a bit.. tricky."

[*LiquidDreamer]

*he sighs but nods* "Whatever you think is best."

[*Midnight]

"I should think the fiends would prefer a peaceful surrender of the world to a prolonged and costly armed struggle and that is what we will offer them in return for the safety of the prime's people. This will of course take time to organize and is not something we can do with the demon's roaming free. The benefit to us here is two fold. Firstly it will fall to the Baatezu as custodians of the world to remove the Tana'ri and secondly it buys us tike to find your nephew and prepare some kind of defense.

The alternative is armed struggle, but in doing that you expose an already war weary people to an bitter and brutal foe that will offer know mercy. Any victory you win against Baator will only provide you with a temporary respite. The fiends will not forget something they believe there's by law, so I counsel that we try to destroy their claim.