Black eyes looked at Fran with attentive curiosity: "What of him? Makes a good bait for demons. Guess even celestials can be put to good use. Do not last that long, surprisingly. Oh, well, there is always another one."

That one looks like it's about finished anyway, says Ordrag. How about you let us take it now?

Suddenly you felt the ground shaking a bit under your feet and then came thunder sound - dao was laughing. When booming laughter stopped, Ralzala smiled widely: "And yet, he is still alive and will be for some time too. Magnificent specimen!" (you've got a feeling the sales pitch is not something alien to that dao) "Many-many zapped demons, such a pleasant picture for Zariel!" Dao tilted huge head and added: "Not for sale." But after a second or too of enjoyment from group faces expression smile disappeared, and Ralzala looked knowingly: "Still, if one truly wants something, that "something" tends to happen. We might be able to help each other - you do something for me, I will do "something" for you. Do we have a deal?" 

What can you do for us? replies Ordrag. And what can us to for you?

"Just what you asked for - help you free the Unicorn. Even with a bonus - connections is everything here, and I can recommend you to a very powerful being. And in exchange... You see, I can not do anything as long as I have to stay here. But to leave, I need something... special - the blood of Tiamat." Ralzala let the information sink and then explained. "I am not asking you to slain the goddess - that would be silly even as a joke. But there is someone, who has vials of her blood, for his own purpose. You get one from him and give it to me - I'll give you the unicorn".

Dao smiled again and repeated: "Do we have a deal?"

"Cult of the Dragon?" Choir asks curiously, remembering the crazies in the dragon masks they had fought so long ago in Baldur's Gate. Well, it seemed so long ago, anyway. She did not remember any blood-filled vials in their treasure, sadly.

"A moment to discuss," Adray says and then has everyone huddle up.  Though he keeps his eyes on the Dao.  "This is too big of a thing for one person to decide.   Let's break it down.  We can get the unicorn free by doing a task.  Which to get the vial we may have to do another task and the process could be endless or it could end with us in danger.  That said, a unicorn could be a steadfast ally assuming it would help help us rather than risk it on its own.  What say all of you, risk the help or move one?"

Ordrag is in favour of accepting the task, not only to gain the unicorn (he hopes) but also the potential of this other powerful ally the dao hinted at. He suggests they may need all the help they can get to achieve their ultimate goal - and evil help is better than no help.

     “The deal needs be worded carefully,” Polly chimes in.  “Intentions don’t matter, just exact wording.  You’ll have to add something like ‘neither party to agreement can harm the other directly or indirectly, by proxy, by action, word, deed or thought, or lack of any of them, for 48 hours after time of deals completion.’ You know, lawyer that thing up nice in tight so he can’t kill it then give it to us,  just give us the unicorn then take it right back, or other tricks...”  Polly was all but out of breath from talking so fast.

     “I don’t trust any deal they make even if it is rock solid, but may as well be cautious and hope...”

Choir nods her head, agreeing with the party's decision to rescue the unicorn, and the need for caution. If the dao can leave once he has the blood, maybe he WILL leave. If not, they might have to fight it. And if they fight it and win...the dao was covered in sparklies.

It was a win-win scenario. Unless they lost.

With her hands on her hips, Fran would narrow her eyes at Dao when he would ask about a deal the first time. She’d chuff.

The artificer would nod firmly to Adray for huddling them all together for discussion. Everyone was at least on the same page for ensuring the deal is well worded. They had all the important parts covered. “Aye. We should specify Mooncolour the Unicorn and his safety/state of health.” She’d add. “Wheelin’ and dealin’ is the way of things ‘ere.”

"Votes casts, sounds like we help," Adray says.  He closes his eyes after a moment of thinking he gently breaks the huddle and says to the Dao, "we can make a deal. "I propose this, you provide us all the information you can regarding 'this someone' that has the vials of Tiamat blood you need.  We will then attempt to procure it for you.  Upon delivery of aforementioned vial of blood, you will release Mooncolour the unicorn to us, alive, free of any malignant spells or curses attached and as previously mentioned allowed to leave in good graces with aforementioned recommendation."

"I see you are climatising in Avernus quite nicely. Well, let's add to our little agreement a few words - and we can shake on it. Not going to ask something impossible, just one thing - you would have to be sure (to your best knowledge, of course), that you indeed brought Tiamat's blood to me and not try to deceive me with the wrong substance. I will use it in your presence and once I am free - I swear to give you that Unicorn in the sphere, alive and no more harmed than he is now (plus the time it takes for you to get the blood). I also swear not to pursue you myself nor to send after you any creature at my disposal. Sounds fair?"

 Dao opened his hand showing the soul coin - black and silent "Put your hand here, on top of the coin." He reciter the agreement and then hid the coin again. "If one of us breaks the deal - he ends up inside."

If the deal was accepted, Ralzala raised patch of the ground near by and shaped a chair of it. Thought a little and offered the same courtesy to Adray (and anyone willing to leave Tormentor and joined the conversation. "Now listen."

Adray does sign the agreement, right?

     "What about if we bring you the blood but, through no fault of our own, you do not get free?  You can't blame us if you fail!" Polly yelled out, surprising herself. After she shouted, she ducks back down behind something on the Tormentor and strains to listen and remain hidden.

The coin flashed red for just a moment and Adray for that very moment had a feeling of cold iron walls closing on him. But the moment had passed and Dao begun his lecture. "If this will be the true blood of the Great Tiamat, I will be free. And here is why - for a long time she was the archdevil ruler of Avernus. She was replaced by Bel, who was later - feels so recently! - replaced by Zariel. Bindings of one archdevil can be averted by another. Now, listen carefully, newcomers, if you want to survive here at least for some time. Tiamat would not fight to return her position, she is busy with other things, but Bel will, given the chance, as for now he is forced to be Zariel's adviser, that makes the devil even angrier. And that is the "someone" I can recommend you to - Zariel's greatest enemy, and the power second only to Zariel. Before you asked, no, I can not get blood from him. No one with a shred of mind will ever ask an archdemon for a drop of blood. However, the blood is given sometimes to those of absolute loyalty - for the rituals that devils might need. There is a trusted servant of the Mother of Dragons, her Champion - Arkhan or Arkhan the Cruel. He has her blood and I am sure you have the means to get it from him. All you need to know about him is that he sincerely worships his goddess, fully and absolutely belongs to her not out of fear but of utter loyalty. For that, he was granted considerable forces to command - I would think a dragon or two, or more with some abishai can be guarding his Tower."

"Now, his Tower you can see from here," Dao pointed at the black spire on the horizon, "some few hours - and you can get yourself a Unicorn."

Adray felt cold dread creep on him but he welled it back with his mental fortitude.  Then he calmly waited for the instructions.  "So, we are to get the blood from Arkhan, Tiamat's champion, and may have to face down one or two dragons..."  

He claps his hands and spins on his heals towards the others.  "Right, so let rest up, get to full strength and devise a strategy."

The hint about Bel is what Ordrag was hoping for, and he asks: Where is Bel? And what might he want in exchange for help against Zariel? Ordrag tries to be discreet about this question, not being certain how Lulu feels about the idea of 'bringing down' Zariel.

Dao raised a brow "I would no fight Arkhan, if I were you. He is quite formidable even without dragons (and the rest of his forces), but he is with them nevertheless. As of Bel... my recommendation will let you to get into his Fortress and get an audience. What he may ask of you - I would not even presume. But Zariel does count on sucking of Elturel. I say he might be interested in breaking her plans by someone elses hands."

Fran would rub her chin. Was this going to be a chain of favours? She’d shrug to herself. Could be worse? “What she busy doin’?” She’d muse to herself, wondering what Dao left out about what Tiamat was doing. Then the artificer would tilt her head a little bit. “What’s yer retirement plan Dao?” She wondered what he’d do once he was ‘free’. What does a retired devil do?

”Aye. Yeh say ‘some few hours’. Like, how few?” She’d look to Adray. “We got fer teh five hours of fuel.” She’d remind.

Well, us have a course charted now, says Ordrag to the others, us can set sail again. They might not have the unicorn (yet), but they have some useful information.