A place not located on any map, or in any book at all. This maze exists between the streams of time, and was created by Ansendul as a home base for his return to the world. It is thick with passageways and corridors of pure magic, where just about anything is possible. In most of the common areas, where folks live here, time passes normally. The bulk of the maze, as well as a few common rooms, experiences time in a hyper-exaggerated state: entrants may spend days inside these areas, only to come back out a few minutes later. For lifespan purposes none who enter age. The maze is meant to be a game, after all.

First Millenium



Felina lets out a slow breath when she enters the maze. Closes her eyes a few moments, before approaching Ansendul's chamber, expression fairly grim and introspected.

Even without Felina's cavernous and perceptive ears, the sound of a fight should be most evident. Inside Ansendul's chamber, dozens of half-sized smoke monsters teem all over the floor, attacking the fairy and searching for Ichenrei as well. The prism-eyed regent of the millenium maze is in rare form, dispatching the hungry little frenzied beasts two and three at a time. Beams of refracted light stream down from his wingtips, eyes, and fingers, searing the little nothings into even less. Still, for every one he destroys, two more seem to spring up.

This is...well...really the last thing she wants to hear. Even with everything that's been going on...to hear it, she's startled. Sprints in that direction...skids to a stop, just in time for the ceiling in front of her to crash down and then become wrapped together in an airtight mortar of ice. "Ichei, what the hell?!"

"Sorry, didn't know it was you!" is the hasty squeak. Then from an entirely different direction, another of the three passages into Ansendul's chamber crashes down. She's trying to cut off the sources for this creature to keep replenishing itself to attack the object of her obsessive dedication.

It's mostly working. The flow of beasts slows, and they stop replacing each other, bit by bit. Their numbers thin, and finally the attack ends. Ansendul whirls about, glowing brightly with stored energies, still prepared to fight.

"Ichei? Report?"

A few seconds, a quiet breath of wind, and the elemental materializes in her favored fae-ish shape on his shoulder. "I think they're gone, I haven't found any signs of damage or plants in the maze. I still don't know how the fuck they got in, though." She doesn't swear often, but it's Yue's fault she does at all. "Everything, and I mean everything, checks out and is exactly as tight as it should be. Oh, and also the kitty guardian thingy is here, she kept them pretty much off my back after I gave away where I was." She pats down his hair as she speaks, checking him for damage. "I kinda have her sealed in an airless chamber."

"Let her out. It is a good coincidence that she is here." He looks at the ice thing, smiles a bit. "I am untouched. Thank you."

The wicked little elemental smiles at that, and then dissipates, flowing off his shoulder in either direction. The wall to Felina's passage crackles and then bursts inward in a contained sort of way, clearing it just enough.

Felina, for her part, has been busying herself tending a couple of small slashes from the smoke creatures she'd proactively attacked. Still, they'd been an odd sort of distracted, very focussed on getting through her and to Ichei rather than retaliating. She looks up when the wall collapses. Knits a cut through a torn sleeve, and steps into the rubble. "Hadn't thought it was a good idea to blow it myself and risk startling you," she notes with a wry smile.

Ansendul heads that way as well. "Oh, you made a good decision. I imagine your appearance here is not the coincidence I hope?"

Meanwhile, the other exits begin to open as well, and the sound of quiet wind begins to waft through the maze as Ichei agitatedly tries to figure out how those monsters got into her maze, and whether they hurt it.

"Yes and no." Felina nods. "I didn't come because I knew that you were being attacked; that was an extremely unhappy surprise. A string of related attacks and all hell generally breaking loose, literally, along with news that they may be tied to Abyss, did."

Ansendul's amused smirk fades away at the name. "Really. Do tell...?" He looks around for Ichei, pondering as well. He thinks those monsters can transcend pretty much anything - hence their insubstantial nature - without carrying much along. Still, why here?

Ichei's around, enough to be by his side if he asks--although that's usually the case, since, as an insubstantial creature herself, she can leave a bit of herself nearby--but she's still searching the maze for signs of trouble.

Felina nods a little. "Another Ragnarok, Armaggedon, whatever is building, which I'm sure you know. It's getting complicated, though, in a fifth faction being created that's trying to recruit from everywhere...and destroying those who refuse. My apprentice has betrayed us for them, which I'm still waiting for the full story on. Two goddesses and likely more have been attacked, attempted murders, as was my nether double. One of the Divine's better fighters is missing. Yoru was in the offshoot of hell they's based on on recon...I got a panicked note from her that they had, and I quote, 'the goddamned Abyss,' and then lost contact with her. Whatever this battle-thing is...it's starting."

There it is. A tiny break in the fabric of the maze, sitting smack in the closet of Yue's room.

Ansendul considers the things Felina tells him - never one to make a decision quickly even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Bows his head a bit in the thought. 

"If they really do have Abyss," he quietly begins, "I have no choice but to get involved. What do you propose to do?"

Ichei growls, and sets to trying to knit this.

"I'm not sure..." Felina admits. "Pretender is backwheeling a bit. She did give me a list of recruits-to-be, all targets...the Malufel is one. If you were attacked, that needs to be my next stop, and fast. It would be the logical next hit."

The rift is a simple fix. Ichei ought to be able to easily handle it.

"Are you certain that you could master the beast?" Ansendul is dead serious about this. "It has had eternity to grow since you last met it, you know."

This she does...but she's in some hell of a huff as she zips back towards Ansendul's chambers.

"No." And she's just as serious in her answer. "But I can't risk that they can. Regardless of effectiveness, if they felt confident enough to attack you, they will feel confident going after the Malufel. Especially if Abyss is involved...two of you 'time' fellows on the same side would definitively end everything."

"Abyss's influence is tremendous, yes, but it is most powerful within inverse time. Here, it is not my equal, just as I am not its equal there." The fairy sits, ponders deeply the meaning of this. "I will set aside holding cells for your recruits, then. Your family will be safe here as well. I will move the throne inside of the maze itself, where Ichei and I are invincible."

Felina bows her head to this. "Thank you. I'm told that many of them are enemies, so it may be messy. I'll move my family here...momentarily." Smiles a little. "At least Ichenrei will get some amusement in putting them back in line."

Speak of the ice queen...

The cold wind whips a little around Ansendul's feet before settling on his head. "It was in Yue's room! They got in from Yue's closet! What the hell, eh, he knows better!"

Felina's expression darkens quite a bit at this. No...no, please no, if she finds out Pretender is right and someone else dear to her is working against her....

Ansendul, of course, looks unconvinced. Not that he isn't worried, of course he is. "Did you seal the rift?"

"Of course, yus. It was just a normal little one but ugh." The little fairy--this time with a naga lower body, actually," finishes materializing, elbows on her coils. "I'm going to kick his pretty ass!"

"Do not be hasty, Ichenrei. Yue is many things, but schemer is not really one of them. Still, Felina, I would send warning to your family that Yue is to be watched carefully. Don't you think?"

Felina frowns lightly, and nods. "Pretender told me that Yue was aligned too closely with Stasiel regardless of what she claims and should be excluded from these processes." Eyes travel aside. "It isn't a notion I'm thrilled to entertain. Yue is one of my oldest dearest friends." Digression, right. Looks back up. "Yue mentioned that wanted to get Radivishe Moorn out of hell again to help. Stasiel's declared in the past that she'd sooner become a nun. Were that to change this time...damn it all, but they'd both be potential threats." Fuck.

"If Yue comes here, he won't be a threat. If he truly is an enemy, he will not agree to return to the maze. Here, Ichei and I are far too much for him to oppose." The fairy casts an affectionate look at the little ice-psycho. "Ask him. You will have your answer then. But move your family here first."

Felina nods slowly. "Right. Family, then Yue, then Malufel. Thank you again for your help, and is there anything else before I go?"

"Sure. You might send someone you trust to get some of the others while you're at this. The faster this is done, the better off you might be."

Felina smiles a bit, and nods. "That's where the aforementioned family comes in handy. I'll see you soon, then." And she heads back off towards Helantri Deru.

---

Not long after, at least by Deru's time, a certain fretting ice elemental is busily shuffling everyone around and getting people situated in appropriate rooms. She definitely notices when the last three arrive and seal the entrance behind them, though, and swirls into existance in front of them in short order. "Yue, what the hell?! You know better than..." wrinkles her nose. Covers it. "Eeew. You smell like overdone demon."

Yue just smiles at her. Tilts his head over a bit. It hasn't been long since he'd reemerged as a full fledged incubus and officer. 

"I love you, too."

And, that does it. He throws the poor little elemental for a complete loop. Finally..."hey, don't you try to sweet-talk me, buster! You still smell crispy-done." Fiddles with the demoness's singed hair. "Missed ya too but methinks Ansendul wants to talk to you, yus! Eew. Has anyone mentioned that you need conditioner?"

"Yes. Him." She points to Orrin. "The scrumptious boy. I will have a shower just as soon as I speak with Ansendul, don't worry. So, Felina, Orrin... want to come?" His smile tells the whole story on that. Sinking morale is bad, and goofing off is good for morale.

Felina has to grin a touch at that. "At least you still have your priorities in order."

"Doesn't mean I'm not serious." Beams at Orrin, in particular.

Orrin shakes his head. "My wife knows too many ways to kick my ass for me to venture a response." Felina snickers.

Yue winks at them, then. "I'll be there, then." He glances to one side, smiling even more brightly at the sight of his favorite prism fairy. "Hello, Ansendul."

"Yue. Seeing you here is a relief." He glances at Felina. "I took the liberty of setting up passages for you. They may be able to track barrier openings, but mine are temporal. We will abuse this plenty."

Felina smiles, and nods. "I'll start pointing people in teh right direction." Smile fades a bit. "I do have one question, though. One of the people on my list is the Celestial Plane's Tel-tiono. I'm sure you understand my special interest in his case," she's visited her father's parallel fairly regularly since meeting him and after reconciling this with her feelings about her real father's place in this, "but I'm concerned about how we can move in the Celestial Plane, let alone remove one of its permanent residents, without Abyss knowing it."

"Honestly, I find it hard to believe that Abyss is working for anyone. I believe someone might have thrown false information your way. However, we cannot risk that, so... I highly suggest you hurry. You might want to get to him first." Ansendul watches Yue walk past him, smiling a smile that says 'you ought to see me medium rare'.

Felina nods. "I certainly haven't discounted the possibility." Bows her head, and heads off in the direction of the others.

Ai stands closer to the throne than most of the others, waiting for Felina. She looks pensive, for sure, as though she isn't sure what she's going to do but is damned well going to do something. She looks up when Felina approaches.

"Hey... what are we going to do...?"

"I have a list of other people who will be targetted like you were, Ai. We need to gather them as quickly as possible and bring them here." Glances to the others. "Some of them are dangeorus. Others are enemies of each other. It's not going to be a cakewalk, but we need to be quick about it. Mara should absolutely rest for awhile...Ai? How are you feeling?"

"I want to help," the goddess assures the more-powerful mortal, carefully avoiding the question. "Just tell me where to go and who I need to find. I am not afraid."

Felina nods a bit. "We're going to need to split up for speed. That said...for the love of everything you've ever cared about, be wary, and be quick. Ai, if you feel able, I'd like you to track down a fellow by the name of Chian in a region called Lian-shi. Something is poking me about how mentioning that you're working with Tel-tiono's daughter will be a helpful trump card. Dewei, I want you to find 'Thenai.' She's not far from Ai's target, so you two will be able to help each other if necessary. Ting, you need to find the fury elemental Quaiesh in Ceracka. Orrin...if you're willing, I'd like you to track down a fellow the name of Meir'cillus in Ionnya."

The dumen smiles, and nods. "Of course.

Ai nods as well. She was hoping to be a part of the family soon, too. Not that things are looking good at the moment.

"What about me, Felina?" Yue calls from a hallway, towel in hand. "I certainly do not want left out of this."

Felina smiles at him. "Thanks, Yue. Will get to you shortly." Looks back to the others. "Ansendul has prepared passages for you to move through. I've made psychic notes of how to use them and where you need to go along with your charges' names. Bring them back here. Remember, don't take too long...if you can't get compliance within an hour or two--and that's pushing it--come back. Be sure to cloak your signatures unless absolutely necessary. Did I miss anything?"

"If something goes wrong..." Ai looks down, as if ashamed to consider failure at all, "... what then?"

"You and Dewei will be there to protect one another." Felina smiles a bit, and nods. "We'll all be trying to keep an eye on one another, I'm sure. As for the targets...any of them not brought here will likely be murdered or our enemies."

"Okay. I am ready, then." Ai smiles a brave smile, but really she is looking for Dewei's hand in hers, or on her shoulder, or some touch to reassure her. This is just not her cup of tea, even if she does have her father's genes.

And she gets it...a soft, comforting hand on the shoulder. As Ting is heading silently down the hall to the portals, though, Dewei catches her arm, and smiles reassuringly. "Hey...careful, huh Spot?"

She perks just a bit, and smiles--not a Ting-bright smile, but a smile anyway--and heads off towards Ceracka, leaving Dewei a little befuddled and feeling a touch guilty, though he can't finger why. "Alright...ready to go, Ai?"

"Very much so," the goddess nods, but her mind is on Ting also. She's been seeing this - jealousy, perhaps? Or even a feeling of loss? - in Ting the last little bit, and it bothers her. She lets the thought slip to Dewei, just slightly, as she heads towards the gate with him.

Dewei blinks. Right. Ai had nailed it, of course. Something to think about, anyway.... He heads off with Ai towards Lian-shi.

A kiss goodbye and shared, slightly lingering embrace, and then Orrin is off towards Ionnya. Glances back towards Felina a moment, and then is gone.

Once they're alone...Felina looks up to Yue again. "Yue..." bites her lip, looks aside before looking back up. "I have a question. The attack on Ansendul and Ichei...the weakness that let the attackers in was hidden deep in your bedroom." She looks up at the demoness. Just...wants to know why.

"In mine?" Yue looks positively perplexed. "I do not know, dear. What are you asking me?" He hopes she isn't accusing him of anything, though he cannot really blame her if she's worried about being betrayed. Not in these times.

"My apprentice has already sided against me. Then a security leak in the maze comes from an obscure corner of your close. Pretender's warned me directly against trusting you too much. Said that you're aligned more closely with Stasiel than you'll say. I wanted to tell her that was bullshit. You're dearer to me than almost anyone, and I'd trust you with my life. Tell me that she's wrong." The much shorter woman's eyes are imploring.

Yue wonders why he feels so guilty, when he knows he hasn't done anything wrong. Still...

"She's wrong," he softly answers. "I love you. I could never betray you, Felina."

Her eyes soften. She feels so much better...and guilty herself for asking, just to hear him say that. Still... "I know, Yue. It's not that I'm worried about. I'm much more concerned that someone's second agenda is there...not because you're against us, but because you think it's better for us." And that compromises...everything she's planning. She also suspects it's Makyon's problem.

The incubus float-steps towards her, dainty hand reaching to settle her arm. "In all the years I've known you, I have never met an occasion where someone else's plan was better than yours. If I thought for a moment that I could come up with a better one, I would be pretty and stupid. Although, I must say that I am a little perturbed to hear that this problem came from my holdings."

Felina's eyes travel down and aside at the touch, even as it's simultaneously calming. "I'm sorry, Yue..." closes them. "I never should have asked any of this. I know better, and you don't deserve it."

"Fluff. Of course I deserve it, in times like this. Especially since I've been just so stable lately." He doesn't let go. "What I mean is, I would like to know why something came from my room, if I had no part in it."

"Yeah..." Felina considers this. "Well...a couple things need to be done. We can shoo you off to fetch one of the officers--Tel-tiono's one, you're probably best to venture in the Celestial Plane--but figuring out the details of the break-in to the maze is pretty pertinent, too. So...what would you like to do?"

Yue's expression shifts a bit, from concern and affection to consideration and back again. "I don't want to leave you by yourself. But the officer thing sounds pressing, as well. I had better go find him first."

Felina smiles just a little, and nods. "Thanks, Yue." Stands on tiptoe to kiss his cheek lightly for that--of course he knows how important the wizard's safety is to her--before looking back down the hall. "You need to grab Mi'ehna, too...and please be very careful. If Abyss really is against us, well...I don't need to explain. I hate to send anyone but myself, but...the fact of the matter is that you're by far the best equipped to move quietly in that realm."

"I know. You want to take the bullet for everyone." Yue touches his cheek where her little lips met it, a bit red. "I will take care of it. I promise."

"I know. I have faith in you." She duplicates Pretender's letter, and holds out a copy to Yue. "I'll be in Dothaven, so tough to contact...other people will likely get done first, so feel free to send them back out for the rest of the people on this list. If Mara's less loopy, she can tell you from looking at the names who needs to take which target."

He takes it gingerly. "Be safe, then. I will see you very soon. By the by. I suggest we set aside one of the temporal distortion rooms where time doesn't flow as quickly, for a war room. Having time to plan would be lovely."

"War room...heh. Yeah. So wasn't ready for a war. But yes, you or Ichei can take care of that...see you soon." Smiles, and heads off towards Dothaven.

Yue tries not to be afraid for her, as he heads for the Celestial Plane.

---

Sometime later, a gaping little ice elemental is watching person after person waltz into her maze. Until, finally..."Orrin, what the fuck?!"

The dumen shrugs a little. "Sorry, Ichei. Won't make a habit of it. Do you have a place for them, or should we quarter them at Helantri Deru?"

Ansendul is not pleased. "We can make a place," he assures them, "in stasis. Ichei. Prepare one of the slow-time chambers and start shoving them inside. They'll be no worse for the three seconds it feels like they are inside."

"Yay shoving!" And Ichei flits off.

Orrin isn't thrilled, glancing back at Meir'cillus before back up to the time sorceror. Okay, so he's in hot water with one of the most powerful creatures in the universe. Every day of his life he's in so far over his head that it's not really new or different. "Hey, isn't there another way? I do understand that they won't know the difference, but Meir'cillus and that priestess have no reason to trust us so far. Can't we just bundle them off to Deru? They look like they could use the rest anyway."

Ansendul folds his arms, employing a semi-threatening visage he rarely ever dons. "Humans eat. Can you feed a hundred men for as long as it might take to finish this? Tend to their needs? Boredom, especially?"

Meir'cillus listens quietly to all this. It's a very strange place, and the butterfly man has his hackles up, but other than that, it is strangely calming. There is no threat here, he's sure of it.

"Boredom would be the tricker one, but Fel and I could work it out without too much problem. Food we can handle."

"You need no more burdens, Orrin." The fairy softens a bit,almost apologetic in tone. "Felina needs no more burdens. Do what you want later, but let us quarter these men now."

Orrin lets out a relieved breath. Doesn't show it, but...Ansendul he doesn't care to face down. Nods a little...looks back to the commander. "Meir'cillus? This is Ansendul, he and his servant are in full control of the way time flows in this maze. He really could have your men walk into a room, pass three seconds, and walk back out after this is all over. What do you think?" He isn't thrilled to be putting the drow in this position.

Meir considers, still looking about as if unperturbed. "How's this. If it works, that is fantastic. If harm comes to my men, I don't care how powerful any of you might be, I'll shred you into boot leather. Does that sound fair?"

The fairy smirks a little bit. "Fine. Orrin, are you positive this little thing required attention at all?"

"Hey, I've been married to Felina Deyono for more than a century. She rubs off on you after awhile," the dumen grins as Ichei returns.

And the ice elemental comes trotting back up, "I'm all ready," she purrs. She's now in the shape of a completely nude woman with curves in all the right places, mostly opaque though still clearly ice. Just because it amuses her to do this to soldiers.

Orrin blinks. "Evidentally Yue rubs off after awhile, too."

Ansendul just can't help himself.

"He would, if he saw this." 

The soldiers, of course, are stupefied. Meir'cillus is unconvinced, but then... the rumor has spread that, for all intents and purposes, women mean nothing to him apart from Rey'deyono. In essence, many of his soldiers believe him to be queer.

Orrin cracks up a little at Ansendul's rebuttle before catching himself.

Ichei walks straight up to the front soldier and taps him on the chest, then makes a beckoning gesture. "Well, are you guys coming or what?" she inquires in that musical voice of hers. "Let's get a move on, children!" Titters, and heads off into the maze.

A few start to move, but the lead several stop them, glancing at Meir'cillus, who nods. And thus the stampede begins.

Orrin's shaking his head, amused. Ichei is not a person he'd ever want to cross, she's too bloody clever. And vindictive, but that's another story. Glances over Pretender's Letter, and looks back up to the fairy. "Ansendul, who would you recommend I go looking for next?" He knows damn well many of the names on the list could and would raze him on sight.

"You are mortal. You've done a fantastic job negotiating, I assume," Ansendul avoids Meir'cillus's smirk, " but I fear that the risk you would assume in contacting any of the others is too great. In fact, there are a few I would caution any of you against seeking." He glances at the letter, too. "I want to know how in hell someone is staying at Moren Aiga."

"I was wondering that, myself...as far as I knew, everything there has long since been consumed by trawlers, not to mention dimensional instability." Looks back over to Meir'cillus and Rey. "Oh well. I guess it's only to wait, then. We should get you settled into a room." Blinks. A room? Two?"

"One." Meir smiles at his beloved. "I am her bodyguard, after all."

Ansendul turns away. Blech.

Orrin smiles a bit, and just nods. Yeah, of course he is. "Alright. I think Ichenrei's--the ice elemental, by the way--set aside some rooms this way." And heads off in that direction.

Meir'cillus just follows, observant, watching for traps of any sort.

There aren't any, of course. The bedroom turns out to be...okay, really, probably a less velvety copy of something that Yue had made at some point. There's only one bed, but it's reasonably sized. Orrin looks around, then back to the Ionnyans. "Nice, looks like a perfectly liveable suite. Not high luxury, but...feel free to let me know if you need anything. While the maze does have some hazards and it would be adviseable to not wander too much outside of these couple of wings--'maze' isn't just a name--I can assure you this area will be perfectly safe. The whole reason we're stationed here instead of my home is that this is one of the most impenetrable spots in the universe.

---

Only minutes afterward, Ai and a certain very unhappy sorcerer return to the maze. The drow blinks. "Where in all the Pits...?"

"Hush." Ai covers her face with one hand, pumping healing energy into it, but the burning remains. "We're in a place called the millenium maze. This our base, and where a number of very good or very bad things could happen to you."

"Your threats are getting very tiresome, goddess. You could safely assume that I have heard them and care about them as little or as much as I'm going to." He finally manages to wrest the petrification spell loose on pure magical know-how, and slaps away the hand holding him once his feet are on the ground.

...just in time for Dewei to see it, which results in knuckles to the temple from behind and a profound scowl. "We'd like to be your allies even though friend's out of the question, but that particular brand of bullshit will not be tolerated," he notes with quiet malice.

Vayen scowls after catching his balance. "You two make a lovely couple. I should stuff both of you and stick you in my study."

Ichei flits up at this point. "Less with the catfighting, more with the person-finding! Even if you're a kitty!"

Ai actually smiles a little bit at Vayen. "You'd be cute, if you'd just cooperate. Lookit those ears." She's still covering part of her face, wondering why it's still burning. "Ichenrei, right? Could you please stash him somewhere?"

"Okay! So now..." Ichei bundles an immensely unhappy sorceror off towards his room.

Dewei sets the giddy Therian down, and looks to Ai, eyes softening and concerned. "Ai...what's wrong with your face? Are you all right?" He reaches out to touch it gently, hand alight with light-based healing magic.

Ai lets her hand move away, and the air against her face stings like hell. A blotch of her skin has gone gray, pulling back from her skull a millimeter at a time. Her tear duct runs dry, and her blood coagulates at the edges - dead.

Dewei's eyes widen. "Hell..." The first thing he does is try to isolate the undead infection, shield it clear of the rest of her face, body, and even bloodstream via a filter-like shield. Manages a reassuring smile despite deep worry. "Hey...you'll be okay, though, no problem. We'll see if Ansendul can fix this, and if not, my mother's healed exactly the same thing before, on you no less."

Ai nods, but turns her face away from him. "Please don't look," she pleads, noting the look on his face. "Please, Dewei."

He remembers this, too, now. "Ai..." touches that side of her face gently, though trying hard not to hurt, touch light as a breeze-lifted feather. "You're always beautiful to me." He nods firmly to this. "Always. I'm just worried." Smiles a bit at her. "So. Off to find Ansendul?"

She nods a little bit. "Thank you... you know. My father would've been proud of me, back there." She reaches for his hand, so that he can lead her to the throne not too far away.

Dewei grins at her as he takes her hand and starts out that way. "Hell yes. On a similar note, did you know that you're amazingly hot when you're wicked?"

She chuckles quietly. He hadn't seen the first part, she's sure of it. "Did you know that you enthrall me when you are my hero?" Squeezes his hand.

He smiles warmly at her. "I think we have a good thing going, then." Glances back, though not breaking step. "By the way...what did you do to that...human?" He can't tell if it's a guy or a girl. "Or is it always that loopy?"

"That Vayen said he'd done this to her, indirectly. Said she used to be beautiful." Ai would sniffle, if she could. "She's his slave, and she attacked me, so I pumped her so full of healing spells that she ought to be feeling good till sometime next week."

Dewei blinks. "Now I'm torn. Parts of that story are really sad, another is kind of funny, and the rest wants me to hug you. You're such a wonderful person, Ai." Anyone less would have killed the attacker.

"You flatter me, Dewei." Smiles a half lopsided smile. "thank you. You may hug me as soon as I am pretty again."

And, of course, he wraps an arm around her shoulders and hugs her gently as they walk.

And people think she loves him just for the sex. Ai barely knows what to do with herself, and just concentrates on walking, head gently leaning against his shoulder.

"... that might be the end of you. I will not suffer my holdings to be threatened. If you know how to contact me, you know to whom you speak and I will not be cowed.."

A little fox stands before Ansendul's throne, listening intently to the fairy's vehement words. 

"Very well. I will convey this message to my masters." And the little creature, with a wave of Ansendul's hand, vanishes for the relay point between the maze and Il'sha, wherever it is. 

Ai looks up from Dewei's shoulder. "Who's he talking to?"

"Bad guy. Can't be more specific. First time I've seen him this pissed off, though."

At about this time, in the hall not far behind them, Felina steps into the maze...followed by a monster of a truly epic signature. She turns to walk backwards, and look back at the Malufel. "Are you all right?" Wants to make sure the maze's energies aren't harmful to it, although they shouldn't be.

The beast walks comfortably in these halls, looking around with its feelers as though it has never more pleased.

Wonder! Joy! Completion! That pretty much sums up its thoughts about now.

Ai had been about to answer Dewei. She puts a hand to her head, groaning a little bad. "What in the f- oh! Dewei!" She puts herself partially in front of him, instinctually, when she sees the beast following an apparently retreating Felina.

Felina smiles, more brightly than she has on this infinitely trying trying day. Yeah, she'd hoped it would work that way. This place is like...an ideal habitat for the creature, in terms of power and the way energy is interacting with it. "It's okay, Ai," she notes, looking over to the goddess. Looks back up to Dothaven's guardian. "These are Dewei and Ai. Dewei, the white-haired one, is my son. Friends. Ai, Dewei...this is the Malufel. It will be helping us." She is just...so damned warm and fuzzy inside right now, just because Il'sha had not secured this creature's loyalty...and better! It's the biggest relief since this whole thing blew open with Makyon defecting.

Ansendul floats over, followed shortly by Ai, presumably dragging Dewei. 

"What is it?" the goddess asks, looking up to the monster with awe and a sort of 'it's so cute and horrible gotsta pet!'

The beast sniffs her. Dead? it asks, referring to her face. It can't actually see it.

"The Malufel, along with Ansendul and the Abyss, is one of the three creatures you never want to tangle with, because you will lose on a technicality. Time manipulators in some form or fashion." Looks over to the Ansendul at the fairy's approach, and then up to the Malufe. "And this is Ansendul."

Meanwhile, assuming that will hold the Malufel's attention quite well, she heads over to see about Ai's face.

The fairy examines the Malufel, a cursory glance at first. "I am impressed," he admits, "I could never make something like this. I wonder what created it?"

Malufel rumbles softly. Of course it doesn't know.

Ai lets Felina tend to her face rather sheepishly. "Felina... we have some bad news." Half-smiles at Dewei. "We got Vayen, but Dewei had to rescue me from Shigoriath." She decides to let Felina draw her own conclusions on that matter.

Since the rot doesn't go into her brain, or anywhere else vital this time, Felina is able to reverse it with slow care. "That explains the strength of this rot," she notes at length, fairly surgically. "Ai, I wouldn't recommend that you seek out any more of our recruits. You're especially susceptible to putrifying magics of all sorts because you've been undead before, and especially vulnerable to Shigoriath since it was at his hand. Not to mention his strength. We were lucky this time," this said as she finished repairing and reversing the damage. Pauses. "No. Not lucky. Your father's runes kept it from spreading dangerously far. But they were damaged in this attack and will not provide so much protection again."

Ai lowers her gaze to the floor. "So I will not be any more help. Some goddess." Smiles a bit. "I will find something else useful to do. Heaven knows we might need a medic. I guess I am not my father's daughter after all."

Ansendul glances back at her. "I should hope not," he quietly says, "considering that your father is in Cocytus."

"I think you'll have your hands full here, anyway," Dewei observes. "With everyone already here, some presumably enemies, Ichenrei may need help."

Felina is startled for another reason. "Cocytus?" Blinks. "Holy hell...or not so much, as the case may be. So that's why Stasiel was refusing to release him; she didn't want Yue to find out that she doesn't really have him under her jurisdiction." Pauses, thinking, but just for a moment. Shakes her head. "He can be freed from there. Not from here that I know of, but...from the true ether plane." Looks to her son. "But if our enemies are moving, and especially if they don't also know Moorn's whereabouts, stars willing, we have to retrieve the rest of our list first."

Ai doesn't object. She wants to, but she knows better. Her father can handle himself.

"Right." Ansendul pat's the Malufel's enormous paw, to a deep thrum of approval, and faces the rest. "I will make a place for this fellow. In the meantime, who remains to be found?"

Felina takes out her list. "The monk Thenai." Glances to Dewei, who nods. "Vega. Chian. Leilia. Quava. Morovain. Felara. Tel-tiono, Leilia, and Mi'ehna are being covered by Yue as we speak, although I'll start to worry if she's gone too much longer. Ting's after Quaiesh."

"So are any of you suicidal?" Ansendul folds his arms again. "Someone has to either talk to Morovain or brave the trawlers to get to Quava at Moren Aiga."

"Moren Aiga's mine. I studied those things for almost seventy years," up close and personal in many cases, "and I'll have no trouble getting around them. "Dewei..." pause. "Go talk to Morovain. He's a bitch and thick-headed, you'll need to find some way to appeal to his emotions because logic won't do it. Hurry."

Dewei nods. Smiles at Ai and squeezes her hand. "See you soon." And starts down that way at a fair clip.

"Quava is the safest because not many can confidently face down trawlers...and I have a hideous feeling kicking me right now that I need to go check into Thenai-Chian." Thus phrased for regional proximity.

Ai follows Dewei, dashing to throw her arms around him just for a moment longer.

"Probably. If the familiar I just sent away was honest, then their ranks are swelling fast." The fairy nods.

Felina nods. "I'll inquire further later. Bye." And she heads off towards the portals at a reasonable run.

Dewei smiles at Ai, and holds her a few moments more. "You okay...?"

She nods. "Just come back to me." Clings to him. "Come back."

"I will." He nods, and kisses her forehead. "Promise."

She nods, too. Doesn't know why she feels like he isn't coming back, but lets him go, unable to look at him. "YOu'd better," she warns him, "or I'll come looking for you."

"I will," he assures. Grins at her, trying to be reassuring. "And I don't doubt you." Kisses her hair again, and heads off for Ceracka.

---

Felina is fuming when she returns to the maze. Just...livid. Lifts the substantially larger Chian from the floor, and just starts down the hall towards the rooms. A certain tattooed dumen falls into step with her before long. "You look happy."

"Going to kill my former apprentice."

"Ahhh...why don't you seem firmer in that?"

Felina sighs. "Something's bothering me about the situation. And I can't figure out what." Orrin points her in the right direction as far as rooms go, and they deposite what will no doubt be a startled human therein. "Makyon dropped some kind of sleeping gas that did this," Felina notes, "though I'm not sure what his actual aim in that was. In any case, I only said 'hello' before this poor bastard was out cold, so he has no idea what's going on. This is Chian Tiono, by the by."

Orrin nods. "Duly noted. I think a girl who came with Meir'cillus know him, she reacted pretty strongly to his name on the list, among a couple of others. I'll ask her. They look strikingly similar, too."

Felina nods. "Sounds good. Speaking of girls, what was that in the hall?" Referring to a certain assassin who's currently engrossed in how awesome a ridge in the hallway floor is.

"Came with Ai and Dewei...belongs to Vayen, I think, and I got the impression that Ai didn't take too kindly to that notion."

A small gate opens in the exit area, and a confused Yue steps through.

"Felina," he calls, seeing her over there, "we seem to be missing one."

Felina's relieved to see him...but of course that's not good news. "Which?" She heads over to the incubus.

"Mi'ehna. I swept the entire celestial plane, and her signature is nowhere." His feathers fluff a little bit in agitation. "I'm going right back for Tel-tiono, but I thought this might be important."

Felina bites her lip. "Hell yes. Mi'ehna's power is almost limitless...she's an enormous wildcard. Also...be very careful. We are in a much truer race than before, Asiba's people have redoubled their efforts to track down these people now that we've secured the Malufel."

The angel nods to her. "Mkay. I'll be back with Tel-tiono in a minute." And he heads off that way, to the celestial plane.

Meanwhile, Felina picks the currently very messed up Therian off the floor...to pretty formidable defensive response, really, muscle memory stuff, quick enough to see the serinian with a bruised side of the head. Blinks once the assassin's pinned. "Damned quick for a human. In any case...I'm going to get this headcase down to Iscovis, and see if he can't get her straightened out. Even under Ai's healing spells...her mind's a mess. I think the mind and body are out of synch, actually, and it feels...overcrowded. Immortality spell executed badly, or somesuch."

Orrin nods. "I'll see to getting the human Onos straightened out. See you soon, Fel." Kisses her cheek, and heads off to do that.

The catgirl quickly shaping up to be a reluctant Armageddon commander, meanwhile, heads down to where the psychic is staying, pausing to knock on the door. Manners though redundant.

Bring her in, the psychic answers, noting what's going on at the door. I've been waiting!"

Felina smirks a little as she heads inside. He's always kind of amusing. "Yeah...I figured it would be an interesting project for you," she notes as she heads in...sets the healing-magic happy assassin down, who stays on her feet and a hand.

Iscovis wheels himself over, pondering the guest and the situation. You need to relax, Felina. Have a mint. Ragnarok isn't such a big deal, anyway. So who is the stiff?

"Not sure." And Felina takes a mint. "She came along with Ai and Dewei. I believe something about being his slave and Ai not being happy with that situation. At first I figured it was just whatever Ai did that has her all mixed up, but when I tried to pull even something as simple as her name from her mind, I couldn't find it. Every instinct I have is telling me that she's human, but her mind is deeply disorganized if 'human' is the point of reference. I almost want to say that it's a textbook fringe effect of an improperly executed immortality spell...but I've never personally encountered a case, just seen it in the literature, so I'm not exactly an authority on the matter."

Iscovis considers Therian while Felina speaks. Thinking, thinking... losing track, and then thinking some more.

Well, if the effect on her is due to a spell's influence there's no a great deal I can do. I can certainly reorganize her mind, but it'll keep trying to regress into this state until the sorcerous aspect is set right. And I wonder if she's not better off without most of the memories she's got repressed here.

"The sorcery I can deal with, if it's a problem." Felina nods. "But not yet. It's dangerous to pull something like that with her mind in its current state. It's like performing heart surgery on someone who's having a seizure. Anyway...the sorcery--if I'm right about the cause--isn't the direct cause, anyway, just the instigator. A human mind just isn't meant to accomodate all the memory and experience of an immortal, so if their body is made ageless without their mind being tweaked, the studies I've read cited minds destroying themselves, just via its normal processes. Overloads and begins to consume itself." All told, she's almost a little jealous. Therian is a bloody interesting case study of a fairly rare disorder, and she would love a chance to view the intricacies of it for herself. There just isn't time with things are as they are. "It just doesn't normally happen because most properly-executed age-slowing spells have the mental adjustment built in."

Iscovis' lip twitches toward a grin.

I promise I'll make a full set of notes for you. Meanwhile, I think the first order of business is to banish some of her memories. Her mind needs some room to breathe, and so, I'm thinking of inducing a form of Alzheimer's disease on her. Amnesia's too temporary and the memories would still be there anyway. What do you think?

Felina nods. "I'll leave the process up to you. Don't be too altruistic...unpleasant memories, if they helped shape her, are important too and...hell, you can figure that out." Nods. "She's physically dangerous. I'd definitely suggest forcing some kind of stasis on her mind until you can get a grasp of whether she will or won't injure you. Meanwhile, I have some other things I should probably get to."

I'll bear it in mind. People can't physically hurt me unless I let them, you know. Go ahead and take care of your fight, and I'll be here with Loopy.

About halfway through his answer, Yue and Tel-tiono's signatures manifest next to the throne.

Felina glances that way, though of course ineffectively, before looking back to the other psychic. Smiles a bit. "Thanks, Iscovis. Appreciate it." And she turns to head towards the throne room.

Of course. The psychic sets his talents to work, then, but not before administering a subtle static element into Therian's mind. Just in case.

"... and this is where I was the last hundred years or so. So I really haven't been a bad girl, not coming to see you." Yue smiles a little more brightly at Tel-tiono, feeling ever so much better now that the effigy of Yoru is out of sight.

The wizard smiles at the incubus. "Beauty rest, Yue?" Looks up when Felina walks over with a deeper sort of affection, and takes her hands gently when she offers them.

"Thanks for coming, father."

"It is my pleasure, of course."

Yue beams at both. He really has no place here, and hates to interrupt the moment at all, but...

"Felina. I'm worried about Yoru."

"I am, too. I'm not convinced that Makyon is intentionally setting a trap...but I am convinced that it's the trap. The problem is...it's either step into it or allow Yoru a gruesome death."

"We could go with the gung-ho rescue effort. We have enough force for that, especially now that we have more allies."

"Yes..." Felina frowns a bit. "We'd also definitively start a war that's only 'highly probable' as of yet."

Yue nods a little bit. He disagrees, firmly believing that the 'war' started as soon as Yoru was abducted and Mara-kuru and Ai were attacked. But he's in no mood to challenge her on it, for some reason. Seeing the effigy just makes him want to curl up and hide somewhere, and it's sapped his strength for confrontation.

"Pardon," Ansendul calls to them from the throne, "I have a bit of news for you. The woman Leilia was taken just a moment ago."

Felina frowns a bit, and nods. "That leaves..." quick mental checklist. "Vega and Morovain." Pause. "Make that Vega."

"And Quava. Whatever happened to Thenai?"

"Shal'ahn got to her first, she's with them now. Quava...I need to go get. Also, I had a disturbing realization a fe minutes ago...trying to figure out why Chian Tiono was on the list, and poked back through his life history. He's a pretty exceptional swordsman and fire caster by mortal standards, but nothing exceptional on this level. The one thing truly outstanding about him is the fact that he once summoned his sister and Meir'cillus Yerosyn back from Cocytus." Loooks back over to Yue. "Pretender, at least, knew that Moorn was there."

Yue blinks. Twice. "So you think they wanted to bring him into their service?"

"Not necessarily. They could also have just wanted to make sure that no one else did. In any case, we don't have the relative leisure to get him here that I thought we did." Shakes her head. "Also, I'm still trying to figure out how to convince Mi'ehna to not kill everyone if we bring him here. And just figure out why she was working for Asiba in the first place.

"That one must be immobilized." Ansendul speaks with a rare finality to his voice, glancing between cute-assed incubus and no-assed-cute-anyway Serinian. "Or destroyed. She is far too dangerous to be left alone."

The tone definitely gets Felina's attention. She glances over to the fairy. Pause. "Is there a slip in the maze that could help with that, and keep energy transfer from getting to her?"

"Stasis should do it. I can't imagine her brain processing anything in stasis." He nods a little, but all told, he looks a bit nervous. "I would rather destroy her."

Felina nods slightly. "Mi'ehna is one of the biggest threats and wildcards in this entire conflict, and I won't pretend otherwise...regardless, she's also a longtime ally, and we have very little reason to believe yet that she wasn't acting under coersion...I just couldn't do that to either her or Drianis." She could very well get testy, even violent in Mi'ehna's defense, too, if the need be. It's just what she was designed to do. To allow Mi'ehna to be destroyed would go dead against her nature as both a person and a construct.

Ansendul nods a bit more, though grimly, his eyes a little narrow. "I would not dream of asking you to do something to hurt a longtime ally. My apologies. I will see about a stasis chamber for her." And he heads off to do that.

Yue watches him go. "That was out of character."

"Yeah...worries me a bit. Speaking of which, though...I should go see to Mi'ehna before she wakes up. Meanwhile, Iscovis is tending to that odd little creature that Ai brought back...something in my gut is telling me that we should send her after Vega, so would you mind checking to see if she's ready and willing to go?"

"Of course." The incubus smiles a sweet smile for her, reassuring her. "This is almost over, Felina. We have the most powerful entities on the board." And he swishes off to see about Therian, waving daintily to her.

Felina smiles a bit. She hopes so...the complicated part is coming, a brand new strike force getting its act together enough to dismantle an established one...but it is true that they have a tremendously good foundation now. Talks to her father quietly, before heading off to see Mi'ehna.

Ai is quietly tending some of Mi'ehna's injuries, explaining this and that as she talks. She's mostly talking to herself, but if Ting and/or Dewei are around to hear, that's a bonus.

"... was beaten up and slashed badly. The wounds are pretty old, you can tell because she's bruised all over. Her clothes hid the damage. I doubt she went with them lightly, if willingly at all." The goddess pats the pink haired woman's head, gently combing her fingers through the colorful strands.

"Mi'ehna is, Ai?" Felina inquires, softly enough to not startle, as she steps into the room.

The goddess glances back out of habit, though she knows Felina's voice well enough by now to know who it is.

"Yes. If she was not so easy to manipulate they probably would have killed her." Her hand gently pets Mi'ehna's forehead all the while. She wonders if her father's long-ago relationship with this girl is what has Ai feeling so maternal. Maybe it is because this woman is her namesake? She doesn't know.

"She's sedated. We can snap her awake anytime you like." Ai points to a small rune drawn on the girl's hand.

Felina nods, sitting down nearby. "How do you think she'll react to you?"

"We met briefly, just before your parallel other was sent back home. She should be fine. My energy levels are in check, and I doubt that Ting or Dewei's are high enough to blow her mind. Yours will need some blunting, though." Ai glances at Felina, clerical with every word.

Felina nods. "Already done. I'd prefer to keep her away from the twins just yet, anyway. Don't need her with that much power until we know exactly what's brought her her. So, would you wake her up, please?"

"Of course." Ai takes her hand away from Mi'ehna's forehead long enough to touch the rune, undoing a single line that sends the rest of the structure tumbling down. 

"... mmm..? Hey... this is not home." Her eyes remain closed for the moment, senses reaching out for anything they can find. Sound, scent, or more importantly a source of energy.

Felina's is there, if slightly muted. After her problems with Mi'ehna in the past, along with a few more or less similar creatures, she's done a lot of research about keeping it from being absorbed. She just waits quietly from where she's sitting by the bedside while Mi'ehna orients herself, until, finally. "Well. Good morning."

It does take a second. Mi'ehna aches from toe to tips.

"Felina?" She pauses for a moment, puzzled at the muted signatures around her. Looks back and forth. "Oh. Future Felina. When did I get here and why do I hurt all over?" She sits up with some effort, rubbing her side where a particularly nasty bruise spirals along.

'Future' Felina? Huh...that explains a lot. "Just a few minutes ago. Fifteen or so. We're not sure why you're so beat up...were actually hoping you could explain that a bit more. You encountered my daughter and then ended up here."

"I... don't really. Much. Wait... no." Mi'ehna shakes her head slowly. "I don't remember your daughter too well. It was three of them. A huge golden monster, and a woman, and a big beefy attractive guy with your house around his neck. He's the one that stopped them from hurting me any more." She looks at Ai, ponders her quietly. "I tried to fight. I could not feel their minds, any of them."

"Asiba and Makyon...the golden one may be Shal'ahn's gargoyle, but I'm not sure." Felina nods a little, easing an influence into the air that makes it easier to recall things from a disrupted memory. "Do you remember what led to that, Mi'ehna?"

She shakes her head again. "Not really. I remember they were there, just the woman at first. Maybe the man. They said something to me that I can't remember. An offer, maybe? I do not know. I refused it, I think. And then they attacked me. Father was out doing something."

Felina nods a bit, again. "And you don't remember anything that happened after that?"

"Not clearly. Flashes, though, and nothing concrete." Mi nods a little. "Did I do something wrong...?"

"You could say that. Nothing that can't be fixed, though, and I'm far from convinced that you're to blame for it after what you've told me." Felina smiles a little. "What's going on is a really long story. I'm sorry that you were dragged into it...there are a number of people fated to be involved, and you happened to be one. Thus, you were targetted." Nods thoughtfully. "In any case...the master of this maze recommends stasis for you, for now, as a protection both to us and to you, until this conflict is over. How do you feel about that?"

"Stasis?" Mi draws her knees protectively to her chest. "I do not think I want to do that. No, there must be another way."

Ai's smile twitches just a little.

"We'll talk to him, and see what we can do," Felina nods, expression softening a bit. "You're still a threat...I hope you understand if we detain you here since they've already proven themselves able and willing to manipulate you, in unpleasant ways no less."

"Detain me?" Mi'ehna honestly looks like she's lost her puppy, right about now. "I am a prisoner?"

Felina cringes inwardly. She hates to be doing this, she really does. "If you leave here, Mi'ehna, you'll be set upon by Asiba's forces again, in one way or another. You already baited my daughter into a potentially deadly trap under their influence. I cannot allow that to happen again, neither to my children nor to any of my recruits, especially those less able to defend themselves."

Mi'ehna shakes her head so subtly it is barely noticeable. "I will not stay here this way." Her voice is just as subtle as the shake. "I will not be a prisoner."

"What else would you suggest, Mi'ehna, all circumstances considered?"

"Anything. Let me be bait. Just do not imprison me!" 

Ai cringes just slightly. "Felina, this is about to get out of hand." She taps her forehead, indicating the unearthly tingle she's feeling. Mi'ehna's mind draws energy into it, reaching out far enough to pull bits from just about everyone in the main area of the maze. It's not enough to seem hostile, but certainly sufficient to fade the bruises on her skin.

Felina nods a little, though she doesn't move. Tries to seal off the area a bit...to reduce the energy flow to Mi'ehna, certainly, but also for the safety of everyone else in the maze. Her expression doesn't particularly change. "It's not like we're talking about sticking you in a little room with bread and water," she notes. "We could even get your father. Also...Ting mentioned that when she first grabbed 'the scary bitchy lady,' she had pink hair with black streaks. Do you know what that indicated?"

"That something was bothering my psyche." Mi relents a little, but her mind still pulls quite a bit of strength from Ai and Felina's presence. It isn't a debilitating drain, just absorption of unused, naturally produced energies. "My hair is a dead giveaway of what is going on in my mind."

Felina nods a bit. "And black? Does that relate to something specific?"

"Black means I am not really there. If you have ever seen me knocked clean out, my hair was probably black at the time." She lets her knees down. "Stripes is new, though."

Felina nods thoughtfully. "Okay...in my situtation, Mi'ehna, what would you do?" Tilts her head.

"I really do not know your situation well enough to say so," Mi is quick to answer, "but I would probably detain me too. What would you do in mine?" Her eyes gleam a little.

Ai smirks some. The girl's smarter than she looks. She's pretty sure Felina would attempt something heroic, in Mi'ehna's place.

Felina has to smirk a little. "I suppose that would depend on my situation, which I don't really know yet. So I should ask. What would you be losing by staying here awhile? The Celestial Plane is more or less a prison camp too, if this can be considered one. Just a nice one you probably wouldn't really desire to leave. This maze is pretty nice, too."

"I cannot be kept here. I cannot be caged. Not again." Mi shakes her head, draws up her knees again. "It is already giving me flashbacks of Dothaven. I could swear I feel the Malufel somewhere, somewhere close. Please...!"

"The Malufel is here, actually. It's one of the listed targets just like you were, and I talked it into coming here. That's not in your head, you're not having flashbacks. You're still in the here and now. This is real." Pauses. "The horrible thing about Dothaven was that you were isolated from everyone, wasn't it? Tel-tiono is here. We could get Drianis here if you like. Please, Mi'ehna...I swear to you that I am not trying to be wicked or spiteful or hurt you in any way. But I have to do all I can to ensure the safety of people who have already allowed a tremendous amount of trust in me by coming here." Her voice is just a touch imploring.

Her face brightens a little bit. "Uncle is here?" Tel-tiono. "But the monster... the Malufel will kill us! It will kill us all, you cannot keep me here!"

Ai presses her fingertip to Mi'ehna's skin, and instantly the little woman calms, slouching a little on the cot. "Uncle is here," she repeats, slowly. Ai beams at her.

"Did you know," she asks Felina, again petting Mi's hair, "that morphine can be simulated in runes?"

Felina shakes her head. "Your father did it to me once. Long story, more amusing than painful, but some other time." Smirks. "Let's take Mi'ehna to Tel-tiono's room. he can keep her calm and controlled, I think, and he's likely already figured out more about what's going on than I know. Pending what Ansendul does, I'll see about getting Drianis here after I track down Quava."

Ai nods. "C'mon, kid." Holds out her hand to Mi'ehna, who gazes at her with glassy eyes.

"I," she declares, "am older than you. I will tell you when to boss me around." Pauses. "Go ahead." The goddess snickers, but waits for Felina to move first.

Felina smiles, and heads off in her father's direction. Or...kinda-father's.

Tel-tiono, being Tel-tiono, has chosen a room with two beds, and is waiting, seated as often due to his leg, and preparing some tea. Invites the company in before they have to entreat entrance, and smiles, somewhat amused. "Mi'ehna. You look relaxed."

"I feel that way," Mi'ehna assures him, leaning pretty heavily on Ai's arm as she walks. "Why are you here, though...? You are not a prisoner, too?"

"Oh, no. I was asked to come here to help, and was happy to do so." He smiles at Mi'ehna and stands up to take over helping her along. "It is nice to leave Inverse Time every so often, after all, and the company is lovely."

"I agree." Though, to which part, Mi'ehna isn't sure. She sits on the second bed, a bit too loopy to note the significance of it. "With you helping, things will go right, and the awful feeling I have will go away."

Ai glances to Felina, and whispers. "She's not a seer, is she?"

Felina shakes her head a little.

"Awful feeling, Mi'ehna?" The wizard inquires. Pours her some tea, and carries it over to her.

"There is so much strain here. People hating people. I can sense hate, Uncle. It feeds me better than any other emotion, even better than love because love is subtle." Mi'ehna takes the tea, murmuring a quiet word of thanks. "The strawberry hair woman has a lot of hate."

Felina glances very briefly to Ai, before back to Mi'ehna and her father. Quickly tallies the enemy relationships in their group. ...Nice. "It's an important enough situation that even enemies are working together, Mi'ehna," she observes.

"I hope so. Otherwise, when everyone starts fighting each other, it will not be for a good reason." She placidly sips her tea, not really looking at anything in particular.

Tel-tiono smiles at his "daughter" and Ai. "I believe that Mi'ehna and I have things under control here, Ladies, if you have business elsewhere."

"There always is," Ai nods. "A little down time would not be unwelcome, though. Felina, do you want to see about the other names on the list?"

Felina nods. "I'll check on Quava. Meanwhile, would you mind seeing that everyone else is situated okay, and let them know that we'll have an introductory planning session when I get back?"

"Sure. Be careful, though. Trawlers are no fun at all." Ai smirks a playful little smirk, and heads off to see about the various folks.

Felina smiles, and heads off to the temporal gates, soon bound for Moren Aiga.

She reappears with Quava not long later, re-securing her sword beside the gates, and brushing her clothes free of dust. "Well, that was fun. I'm glad that you elected to come in any case, Miss Quava. Thank you." She smiles.

Quava shakes her head, hand to her temple. "That... was interesting." She looks around, trying to figure this place out. "Is this home? It feels so... empty, and full."

Felina smiles, a little sadly. "Nah...I'm just as solidly removed from my home by all this as anyone, unfortunately. I'm ready for things to be conclusively settled so that I can go back to my home and gardens and husband. This is a place called the Millenium Maze. It's extremely safe compared to...well, pretty much anywhere else, considering the forces we're dealing with," she notes as they walk.

"The smoke monster?" Quava's head is finally beginning to clear a little bit. "Or what controlled it?"

"Right." Felina nods. "The smoke monster Cali is an officer under the command of the jinneyeh Asiba. I'll explain more soon...everyone on that list of yours, with only a couple of exceptions, is here now. I'll get all of you together shortly to bombard me with questions. Meanwhile...do you know what Ale wanted to speak to you about?"

"Not clearly. He would not talk about it except in person. Though... I guess it might have involved the same thing that you and the smoke monster wanted."

"Probably...there are various factions in this. Ale's part of the Divine's, of course. This is the...hm." Ponders this. "The 'what the fuck is wrong with all of you people?' faction."

"I see." Quava looks at the floor. Smirks a little bit. "I only hope that there is some sort of cheer involved where the lot of us shout the name of the faction."

Felina grins at her. "I'll leave it up to you to come up with a catchy rhyme. Hi, Ting."

"Hi! What's this about Ale? Is he here?"

"I'm afraid not, Spot...we were just talking about him. This is Miss Quava, by the way. Quava, my daughter Ting."

"Hiya!" the halfbred chirps, smiling a friendly smile and rocking on her feet.

Quava halts in her tracks at Ting's appearance. Stares at her. "A Dumen? I haven't seen a Dumen in ages!"

Ting grins at her, perking just a little bit from being generally not all that happy. "Well, now you can only half say that!" She tilts her head, and looks at her mom. "Hey, Ai got everyone together and they're a lil impatient and I think the two drow are trying to kill each other with evil looks."

Felina smirks. "Noted. Heading that way now."

Ting purrs as they start off in that direction, just because she likes the sound of it. "My dad's full-blooded dumen. He'll be there too!" She informs Quava. "You feel kinda like a zombie. Are you a zombie?" She hopes so. She misses Makyon.

Quava listens to all this quietly, absorbing all the information. Ting is goofy, but there's intelligence underneath it for sure. "I am a wraith," she nods. "I might be the universe's most vivacious zombie." Smiles a little.

"Aww...too bad! My best friend's a zombie. I miss him but he's working for Asiba so yeah. Wraith is good too, though! I have an uncle who's a wraith. His name's Kaishen. He's kinda funny though. He's kinda into the scary scary stuff, you act more like a normal person." She laughs.

"I wasn't always a wraith. Old habits did not die with me." She smiles a little more. Ting is good. "I can be scary, if you want."

"Nah. You're cute this way! Even if your clothes are kinda torn. Want me to make you up some new ones after we get done with mom's 'hey, serious, listen to me!' meeting thing?"

Quava considers that for a second. "I have no way to pay you."

"Be my friend! I seriously don't need money or anything. I mean, that's easy." Holds out her hand. A few gold coins manifest. "Glorified dust bunnies!" And they dissolve into dust...shaped like bunny rabbits. "Hee. Bunnies are cute."

This said as they approach a larger room where all of the assembled targets have been gathered. Felina pauses to let out a slow breath. Okay. Time to remember how to be a military commander for a bunch of people who don't want to be here and/or hate one another. Adjusts her expression, just generally looking more like people would expect from rumor of Felina Deyono, and heads into the room...a bouncy daughter following after.

Quava follows as well. Her eyes widen to see Mi'ehna just sitting there, but she doesn't speak up yet. She notes the others in the room... two bona fide monsters, an incubus, some demi-humans, a wizard, Mi'ehna, a Dumen, a goddess, an ice-fairy and another fairiy she cannot discern, two Drow who look like they're itching to rip each other's faces off... and a Ting twin. Neat.

Felina takes a few moments to look over the gathered company...observes their interactions with one another. Finally..."Well. You're all confused and want to know why the hell you're here. Fine, join the club. No one in this room, technicalities excluded, has known about this situation for more than three days. Information is falling together fast. So has this group. I'm pleased to report that, largely due to the speed with thich we've acted and you've agreed, only two of thirteen 'recruits' were secured by opposing forces. Another abstained from allying with either side. I am confident that your choice has saved your lives, though. Congratulations." She doesn't smile, stance and face both solidly those of someone comfortable in command. "So. Since you've managed to keep yourselves alive, I'll expound.

"My name is Felina Deyono. I'm sure that many to most of you are familiar with the concept of Doomsday battles. Armaggedon and Ragnarok were two past incidences. There is a new one approaching rapidly. There are naturally four factions: undead, mortal, divine, and infernal. However, a fifth faction, led by the jinneyeh Asiba and possibly the lich lord Shigoriath, has arisen and put quite a few kinks in what's to come, through a combination of recruitment and, mostly, assassination. Everyone in this room, with the exception of myself and the masters of this maze, was to be either recruited or assassinated by this fifth faction. Welcome to the sixth faction. Our campaign slogan involves 'because we won't kill you in your sleep,' and thanks to speed and surprise, are now one of the strongest contending forces in this ridiculous standoff, and the body that has already knocked one of the legs from under Asiba's coalition."

Quava, meanwhile, has trotted over to sit next to Mi'ehna, who barely contains her overjoy at the sight of her ancient friend.

"Why us?" Meir'cillus asks of Felina, finally taking his eyes off of Vayen. "I know that the strength gap between some of us is enormous. What use would the weaker ones be?" He's indirectly talking about himself, but really does not want to give Vayen the satisfaction of hearing him call himself weak.

Felina looks over to him. "The reason varies by recruit, and raw power isn't everything. At least one is here due to a very specific single ability. Others are here for general merit, which doesn't always include power. You, for example, are a highly adept battlefield commander. With the help of a metaphysics-knowledgeable advisor, you would be a tremendous boon in a wartime situation. Anyone who elects to flaunt orders for power-based reasons, undermining the unity of a such a diverse strike force as this, will immediately answer to me. I guarantee that the meeting would be unpleasant."

"Will we actually go to war with someone?" a somewhat rattled Mi'ehna asks, holding onto Quava's hand. "I do not want to hurt anyone."

"I hope not." Felina's expression softens a bit when she looks over to Mi'ehna. "We are not here to start a largescale battle. We are here to end it if someone else does. An ideal for both the fifth and the sixth factions would be to disable the other and absorb its members...which could very well disarm this entire Ragnarok situation. This is our goal. For now, this group will be treated like a special operations unit. We do have battlefield specialists amongst us...but it is my dearest hope that they will be incredibly bored."

"Felina." Yue steps closer to Felina, not too close of course - at time like this, Felina needs to look commanding. Having an unusually tall winged woman standing next to her would not help that effect, despite the matriarch's vastly greater abilities. "We've been receiving requests for a surrender via familiar for hours. Their biggest playing card right now seems to be the captive Yoru. What shall we do about that?"

"We need to strip their trump card...in the process of sparing a friend and ally's life, of course." Looks back to the others. "Yoru was running reconnaissance by her own suggestion when she was somehow discovered and captured. She is facing crucifixion. No one will be left to die. Getting her back out of Il'sha is our first mission. It is going to be a quiet counterintelligence job, but is going to require several of you to be working together."

Mi'ehna's eyes travel to the Malufel, who is thrumming happily across the room and generally off in its own little world.

"Which of us?" she asks, shivering a little. She looks at Vayen, too, and fidgets a little. Quaiesh, as well. This is a recipe for disaster.

"It's very obviously a trap. A body double will be sent. However, risk remains. First, we'll only have one shot with the double. It's all or nothing the first time; chances to save Yoru will be drastically reduced on a second attempt. Secondly, they've proven themselves able to manifest deadly psionic attacks, so physical rebuttle being eliminated by no means removes the risk. A full psychic needs to be guarding the controller's mind, while a seer needs to keep an eye on the surroundings to look ahead and direct the operation. Vayen will scan for sorcerous interference--" glances to him, "for his own reward as well as because it's the safe thing to do in the present company," looks back to Mi'ehna. "While Meir'cillus will be on standby to analyze troop placement if the need arises. If you're willing, Mi'ehna, I would very much like you to be the guard, with backup of course...if you're not comfortable, we have plenty of talent here to work with."


Mi nods just a little bit. Quava squeezes her hand to reassure her, neither willing to relinquish the hold just yet. 

"I can do it," the pink-haired woman assures Felina, "I can handle it." Meir'cillus looks at her.

"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself," he points out. Her face falls a bit, but she doesn't answer.

Felina considers this quietly a few moments, before nodding. Smiles a little. "Thanks Mi'ehna. I need to talk to you privately beforehand, though...well, Quava can certainly be present if she likes." Thought it was a smart addition for all involved. "Also, my father will back you up and protect your mind if the need be. As for the rest of you..." looks back to the company in general. "I need to get a few things prepared for this particular venture. Are there any particular questions for me?" She'd be stunned if there weren't, really.

"Why do we not just overwhelm them with force?" Ai points at the Malufel, who bristles amusedly. "We have that. And Ansendul, and you, Felina, and my father once we free him. With all of the power in this room we could crush them completely, and assimilate what remains."

"Absolutely not," Meir'cillus swiftly responds, "overwhelming force loses wars. Ask Vayen, who has failed to kill me through overwhelming force more times than I'm sure he would admit to you. A smaller force of intelligent types will exploit every weakness a full-on assault presents. Don't be such a rube."

Ai glares at him. A lowly mortal, a drow, shooting her down so arrogantly is almost more than she is prepared to endure today.

"It's a valid suggestion, Ai," Felina cuts in before this can go too much further. "My main problem with it is our extreme lack of intelligence about what's actually going on in Il'sha. What we have is mostly deductive reasoning from their actions, Pretender's admittedly so far reliable word, threats, incomplete knowledge about who's a member, and information from my turncoat of an apprentice that I quite frankly don't know whether to trust or not. They could have nothing and be putting on a pretty poker face, raising just to give us pause. Or they could actually have an ace that we don't know about. We don't know how Abyss is going to act in all of this, or why. It would be one thing to choose to risk ourselves on such a gamble, but quite another with everyone else here...our initial scramble was to keep them from harm, not line them up like potential sacrifices. Further, it would be a serious mistake to attempt an attack on Il'sha itself without an extreme degree of planning that we don't yet have, and won't for awhile. It is true that your father will provide an enormous edge--on top of being back as your father and a certain nether double's boyfriend, of course--however...if we summon him back in the next few minutes, I'm afraid that there's going to be some sort of truly catastrophic, thermonuclear meltdown amidst our own ranks, possibly to injury or worse." Mi'ehna and Quava. She knows Mi'ehna's history with him, and her yes-no sense is poking about how yes, yes, Quava does have a nasty history with him, too.

Ai turns her head. Swallows her divine pride, again, and wonders where Dewei has gotten to. She needs him, about now.

"Who is her father?" Meir'cillus, never one to turn down a shot at information, inquires gamely of Felina. "And will the enemy not be searching for him, if he is so important?"

"We have mixed information about whether they know where he is. The common, accepted knowledge about his location is false." Pauses. Braces inwardly. "Ai's father is a sorceror by the name of Radivish Moorn."

Quava's face goes sheet white. Mi'ehna squeezes her hand, though she's quite pale herself.

"No. No no no! Send me back to Moren Aiga before asking me to deal with that man!" The horned wraith almost shouts at the end, trembling with memory. "Absolutely not!"

Ai closes her eyes. Dewei, where are you...?

About as she thinks this, a certain clawed hand sets upon her shoulder. Her emotion is pretty loud by now. He just squeezes gently.

Felina closes her eyes a few moments, then opens them again. Her face and gaze do remain calm. "It's been a very long time, and two thousand years in hell changed his priorities a bit...but I do understand that that simply doesn't heal past harms." Pauses. "Radivishe Moorn will inevitably play a large role in this matter, regardless of what we do or don't do. However...if you two are still willing to be a part of this, I will do everything in my power to assure that you have no contact with one another."

"I," Mi'ehna responds in a heartbeat, "will stay." She beams at Tel-tiono. "Someone has to look out for Uncle, anyway."

Quava gazes at her, wondering privately why the millenia have done so little to change Mi'ehna's personality. She nods, at last.

"I cannot predict how I will react if I see him. But... if I am useful here, I cannot very well leave. Forgive me."

Tel-tiono smiles amusedly at Mi'ehna. "Someone needs to be sure that I behave, yes."

Felina smiles faintly. She doesn't always have enough faith in people. Bows politely to them. "Thank you both." Makes her life some whole hell of a lot simpler. "I will warn both of you and get further information on what you want to do before we arrange his return." Looks back to the company in general. "Is there anything else?"

Again, Meir'cillus pipes up. "You realize that if this friend of yours is their only ace, they're not going to kill her." Glances at Vayen again. "They would know better than to blow that."

The sorceror doesn't return the look, but does have to smirk slightly. Yeah, priestesses are handy that way.

"That's true," Felina grudgingly admits. "It remains a big risk to take with a life at stake, though, particularly when we do know so little about what goes on within Il'sha."

"Well," Meir shrugs, "I'm satisfied, then." He's all for getting to business.

"There is a great deal we need to find out," Yue notes from his spot a few steps from Felina. "Yoru's predicament, Makyon's involvement, Abyss's stance, what happened to Sxavior, how deep their forces run, and especially if they have any other tricks for us."

Felina nods. "We have several very skilled psychics among us. Although it is a dangerous venture, several working together should be able to get in some very valuable scrying just as soon as we've secured Yoru. If that doesn't work...we'll just see what we can do in terms of more traditional reconnaissance."

Yue nods. "So. Meeting adjourned? Shall we start setting people to task?"

"I'd say so, yes, if there's no other business. I need to retrieve the doppleganger from Helantri Deru, then we can gather everyone involved together for a full briefing."

The incubus smiles a little. " 'kay. I will keep them from killing each other until you get back. But be quick." She looks at Meircillus. "We may not have much time."

Felina smirks a little, nods, glances over the assembled company once more, and then simply leaves.

Rey'deyono, for her part, is a bit amused at the comment as well...and a little validated, really. She, of course, is the main reason that her fiance dislikes Vayen. Ah, drow love.

"Alright then," Yue smiles at everyone, a little unnerved by the assembly. "Um... I suppose we wait."

---

Felina is fiercely pondering the subject of Yoru and the declared non-interferance as they return to the maze. She seals the entrance behind them carefully. Granted, the neutrality's wording had been extremely careful, but...still...she can't help but be concerned. Needs to talk to Ansendul in teh worst sort of way.

Yoru is met with open arms, of course, even by some who don't know her. For some reason the Malufel seems awfully interested in her, and follows her around as she makes her way among the other members of Felina's faction.

"Well, this is something of a surprise," Yue notes at the sight of the dark-haired kitty chick. "I take it you had to kill them all to get her back?"

Felina shakes her head. "No. The lady in charge of Il'sha--not Asiba, by the way--was willing to release Yoru in exchange for an agreement that we remain neutral in the approaching conflicts unless first attacked or otherwise pushed not to be."

"Odd. Felina... that sounds like an amazingly detrimental deal, don't you think?" Yue's wings tense a bit, and unfold--his new nervous habit. "We've gathered all of these creatures and warriors together, but if we are bound by word to do nothing..." he lets the statement roll away.

"I missed the part where we were ever planning on starting the war," Felina observes. Shakes her head. "The dangers occurred to me. The trick is that by the wording, anyone attacking us opens it up." Smiles a little. "If we need to attack, just ask Stasiel to attack us, or I can ask Pretender to."

Yue's lip trembles a little. "That..." he pauses. "... seems awfully deceptive, Felina. I..." trails off again. Sighs a little, and straightens up. "Our 'recruits' are going to start getting impatient. I will go see that they're not bored." He turns to do that, too, not waiting for an answer.

Meanwhile, Ansendul is walking towards her, wings fluttering a little, curiosity plain in his dark features.

Felina sighs quietly and closes her eyes a few moments, gathering herself a bit. Every move she makes...it's like walking on eggshells, except that breaking through them lands you in a pit of poison spikes. Opens her eyes, and looks over to Ansendul as he approaches, looking pretty collected again.