TCotM: Ashna's Idylls

"It shall be as you say, my liege," Anzunda replies, "Are there any further orders?"

"Not at this point. Further orders will be issued as necessary. You may leave now." Ashna nods at Azunda.

"It is an honour to serve, my liege," Anzunda bows and heads off, presumably to complete her assigned tasks.

(What are Ashna's impressions regarding the mephit presumed to be Azunda? Is the mephit loyal? Does she suspect something going on?)

*Future Ashna thought Anzunda to be perhaps the most loyal of the mephits. Some of the others seemed a bit too sceptical for her tastes, so she decided to lead with the carrot and run a relatively safe and tested experiment in energy transfer on Anzunda, both to make sure it was safe for Ashna and to make an example of those who please her. The success indicated the procedure's efficacy in infusing power in minor beings of fire, and though it would not be enough for the Task, it may be a step in the right direction. The beneficial side effects were several. First, Anzunda experienced the power herself and is now completely convinced in Ashna's cause and Ashna's capability to succeed, nearly fanatically loyal and addicted to the idea of advancing again at Ashna's side when Ashna perfects the final experiment (which may or may not happen but probably might--after all, the final experiment is going to need a completely willing guinea pig once it is done, as only a fool would try it without making sure it was safe first). Second, the others have seen Ashna's power and seen that Ashna rewards those who are loyal. Third, Ashna was able to place Anzunda in charge of the other mephits, and the additional power allows her to hold that position without even a hint of insurrection from the others.*

*As for regular Ashna, she's not much at sensing motives, but as far as she can tell, the mephit was being honest in her obeisance.*

Rystil Arden said:

*As for regular Ashna, she's not much at sensing motives, but as far as she can tell, the mephit was being honest in her obeisance.*

Click to expand...

(Hey, now, she's better at it than the average wizard. She may be no Haley, but at least she is no Elan.)

Once Azunda has left the throne room, Ashna checks out the bedroom storage.

*The bedroom storage seems to have various sundry arcane components and ingredients needed for spells, rituals, and the creation of magical foci and trinkets. There is also a Bag of Holding for extradimensional storage, and a closet with various clothing, mostly utilitarian but a few for more formal occasions.*

Ashna checks if anything is in the bag.

*The bag contains a large number of useful and bulky supplies, as well as a few changes of clothes and other equipment useful in the event that traveling is necessary.*

(Continuing the line of thought you suggested earlier - would Ashna fit into the bag without removing anything? )

Ashna puts the bag back in its place and returns to the library, takes some empty parchment, and writes any facts she can glean from the Tyndall-Starmzerung flow conundrum on it (without the conclusions the authors draw, but listing somewhat close facts separately to keep them in mind separately). She doesn't expect to solve it, but while she waits on the reply, she might as well do some research, as she has told the mephit she would. She keeps an ear out if anyone enters the throne room.