An adventuring party recruited from Osirion teleports into Azir on the 8th of Desnus. Rahadoum's recruiting contact in Osirion wrote ahead to note they were expected. Couple of guys he's known a long time - a wizard, a ranger - and a new guy, sorcerer, probably to replace the cleric they usually travel with. They spend two days in Azir getting oriented and head out to the front. The ranger wears an unusually high quality amulet of Nondetection; the sorcerer wears a headband for intelligence, which is a bit unusual as sorcerers usually don't need it to cast, but some variants do; they are otherwise unremarkable. Chaotic Good, Lawful Neutral, no reading, which could mean neutral or 'hiding it'. They work quickly and effectively, manage resources reasonably well, get recommended to higher-ups for a closer look on that account.
"I believe so. I will be in touch."
Sigh. Now he needs to go bother Khemet his pharaohiness "Ruby Prince Khemet III" again before he can move on to the conversation with Vanyel. He feels bad about contributing to the pharaoh's headaches, knowing what it's like now, but at least the pharaoh won't be sleep-deprived over it.
The pharaoh can see him again, and tell him to sit comfortably. "You spoke with Malduoni?"
"I did. He is content to have me Gate him here; he said tonight or tomorrow morning would suit him equally well, so whichever is most convenient for you. He does not feel it is necessary to use the standard diplomatic process here though he appreciated your bringing it up. He also has a request."
"I understand this is an inconvenient ask, but - he wishes you to speak to Abadar again and do your best to find out who betrayed him. Not what you already told me - he means earlier. Who caused his plan to fail in the first place."
"That makes sense. And, thank you. Perhaps he does not understand the cost of this request to you, but - I do," as of very recently, "and I appreciate your willingness."
"I bet he tried to talk to the gods sometimes, way back when. I guess maybe he doesn't remember that." Shrug. "I'll do that. And I'll have someone show you a good room for it, tomorrow morning."
"Thank you. I suppose that means I am free to spend the rest of today finding out if Vanyel can make diamonds."
Leareth nods, and this time does not forget to wait until the pharaoh actually dismisses him.
Probably it'll stop being so much mental overhead to follow the protocols when he's practiced it more and also isn't sleep deprived. (He's even more impaired from it than he would expect; maybe lying awake most of the night with a headache is worse than sitting up hugging Vanyel.)
He finds Vanyel and mentions that he has the new spell. They should do it in one of the Work Rooms again and have a cleric standing by just in case this one just makes a bigger explosion.
Vanyel gamely tries it again, this time wearing one of Leareth's extra shield-talismans as well.
...This spell is a lot more power-drain. He can sustain it, grabbing node-energy, but he's for sure going to have mild backlash if this keeps up.
It doesn't explode, though, just keeps crushing and pressurizing his black carbon until surely something has to have happened in there...
Leareth watches. "Keep going - a little more..."
"...All right, that is probably enough. If it has not worked by now it is not going to."
Vanyel releases it with a sigh of relief and rubs his forehead. "Gods. That's tiring."
Leareth uses a carefully controlled reverse-weather-barrier to cool their result so he can go examine it.
"Good work, Vanyel. It is a funny shaped diamond but I think it is one. I suppose we ought have someone who specializes in - rocks, and such, examine it for us and make sure it is in fact diamond and of the desired quality."
"Um." Vanyel glances hopefully at the cleric. "- Also can you cast Lesser Restoration, if you don't mind."
"It seems silly to use it for a major spell just as a test, but also we ought test the process before having you make many more, since it is so exhausting. Vanyel, maybe you could try making one of the much smaller ones? If it works at a larger scale it ought still work smaller."
Leareth gauges the size of their first diamond compared to the amount of coal and black carbon he carted in, and measures out a smaller amount.
Freshly full of energy again, Vanyel casts the spell again and smooshes the smaller pile. This at least takes less total energy although a similar length of time, about five minutes.