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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3171779" data-attributes="member: 3448">“Dame Agatha was the diabolist who aided you before?” Alistair asked Dame Brionna.“Yes, your grace, but…”Alistair spoke rapidly to the page.  “Tell Lady Constance that we will be returning to the coven chamber and that I will need her to summon Lilith herself.  I have an offer to make to her.”“What?” cried Kit.  “No!”At almost the same time Dame Brionna said, “Your grace, you can’t…” and began moving to block his path back to the coven chamber.“I am the Archduke, and I command you to step aside.  I will return to that chamber to ransom Dame Agatha’s soul.  I am tired of losing good people in our service.  I am not going to negotiate, but I have an offer that I think she will take.”Kit sent to Dame Brionna in panicked tones, <<We can’t let him do this!>><><<But the worst of it is that it’s Lilith!  You’ve heard stories about her-- what if she seduces him?>><<That’s what I’m afraid of.>>Alistair walked purposefully into the coven chamber.“I am ready to summon Lilith, the Queen of Hell, if that is your will.”“It is,” replied Alistair steadily, resolutely ignoring the entreaties from Kit and Dame Brionna.Lady Constance began an incantation.  “Lilith, Queen of Hell, I entreat you and command you, appear before us.  A petitioner comes to offer a deal, and by the terms of our deal, I command you to appear and listen.”Smoke and fire rose from the stone floor of the coven chamber, and a tall, slender figure appeared in the smoke.  Except for a long forked tail and tiny horns on her head, she appeared as a gorgeous woman, the smoke drifting tantalizingly around her body.  She smiled at Alistair and opened her mouth to speak.“Hold.  I will not negotiate with you.  I will make an offer that you will either accept or reject, with no modifications or conditions.  I wish you to allow us to raise from the dead diabolists who die in the service of the Archduchy of Canberry, as judged in the sole and unquestioned judgment of the Archduke.  If you refuse, I will banish all of the diabolists from Canberry, revoke all licenses for diabolism, and forbid any further place for those who deal with you in my realm.  If you agree, I will continue to issue licenses and will permit the Archducal Coven to continue to operate.  Furthermore, I will permit diabolism to be taught to students with licenses at the new school of magic I will found.  That is my offer.  Do you accept?”Lilith smiled, and leaned forward a little.  “I would have rather had a piece of your soul.  But your terms are acceptable.”“That is why I refused to listen to any counteroffer or negotiation.  I will not deal with you for any part of my soul.”“And I have accepted your offer.”“Then know that Dame Agatha died in the service of the Archduchy, and we demand her soul be released.”“As you wish.  You will need to find your own priest to raise her-- that is not among the powers I grant my followers.”  Lilith looked over at Lady Constance and smiled smugly.  “And remember, you cannot raise those who die of old age.  They will be mine soon enough, first Lady Constance, and later Dame Agatha and the rest.”“Dismiss her.”“Yes, your grace.  Lilith, I command you to begone from this place!”  As the devil vanished, she looked at Alistair.  “I would not have expected you to come to Dame Agatha’s aid.”“She died in my service, after having risked her life to aid us before.  It is only right that I ensure that she get a long life and the full benefit of her bargain.  And I suspect that she had not made preparations for her death, to make her place in Hell less oppressive, which can be the only reason to think that a deal such as hers is worth it.”Lady Constance nodded, looking at Alistair with new respect.  “You truly are Amelia’s grandson.  We thank you, your grace.”“Send a message to the Archbishop asking him in my name to have Dame Agatha raised.”  With that, Alistair left to return to his chambers accompanied by his rather shocked and horrified council.  As they returned to the sitting room, Alistair gave the drink he had poured and left behind to Kit.  For his drink, Alistair just picked up the bottle.End of session</blockquote>

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