(It's because the Asmodeans are realizing how far they're running behind your cleric and they're putting him on hold, without him knowing that, so that they have a day to breathe and catch up.  They'll probably do it again at least once or twice while waiting for their Rings of Sustenance to kick in.

The actual methodology is petrification and depetrification by Abrogail Thrune.)

That sure does sound like a game the Asmodeans are eventually going to lose, Rings of Sustenance or no.

What is the aim of Cayden's interventions, is it a shared interest?

No.  Abadar should not assume that anything Cayden Cailean is trying to do is to Abadar's benefit or that it should be allowed to proceed unhindered in the name of implicit allyship or good fellowship.

Irori has a question, but He fears that the question itself will give more information to Asmodeus than Irori is expecting to receive in return from Him, let alone pay Him.  If only there were some other entity around who took a less adversarial stance towards its trade partners!

Depends on the question, but if Cayden Cailean turns it down there won't be a charge and He won't use new implicit info thereby gained against Irori's interests nor resell it.

Irori isn't expecting much, but it's worth a shot.

There was a mortal, Carissa Sevar, who thought she was going to lose her eternity -

Petrification and depetrification by Abrogail Thrune.

If Cayden Cailean had a silver for every time that's been the answer to a god's question about Project Lawful, he'd have two silvers.  Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

Okay, but why is Carissa Sevar now stronger in her heart and will, bearing no such scars as would be expected from her ordeal?

Abrogail Thrune petted her hair afterwards and told her she did well.

...Irori is probably not going to get this from the angle He looks at mortals.

Huh.  This is one of those weird sex dominance submission things, isn't it.

Yes actually!  Cayden Cailean was not expecting Irori to figure that out, given the sort of god He is now.

Irori does not take well to being told there are things He'll never understand just because He's a god.

Should Irori maybe steer some of His other promising candidates Abrogail Thrune's way?

Cayden Cailean isn't touching this one.

PL-timestamp:  Day 8 (7) / Noon
PL-placestamp:  Egorian / Imperial Palace / storage room #14

They are meeting, this time, in a hastily cleaned and not at all decorated storage room, dressed in the least interesting clothing that either of them actually owns.  It's not clear that this helps in any way, but one must concede no possible advantage to the 'tropes'.

Abrogail Thrune reads the written proposal from Aspexia Rugatonn without her expression changing in the slightest, then tosses it on the table brought between them.

"In fact, the same thought had occurred to me," says the Queen of Cheliax.  "Though in a more intelligent version than this crude plan.  I am pleased that you suggested it yourself, though; I will accordingly count this deed as one of the two such requests you may make of me, under my compact."

"Bluff."

"No, the thought truly occurred to me, after you told me to despair that we could evade these 'tropes'.  I did come into conflict with Keltham; and according to his thoughts, now that such has occurred, my two possible final fates are either to be deposed or to marry him.  But I may hope for some flexibility on interpretations."

"I admit, if that was not your logic behind this idea, I have no idea what was.  Even you would not suggest this merely in hope of a government more sympathetic to talk of 'corrigibility', not at a juncture this vital where we must somehow bend tropes to our will."

"My thought was that for you to do this thing, without Keltham's knowledge, would make this story irrevocably a dath ilani tragedy.  Even if he triumphed in all other ways, his triumph would be poisoned, if we did as I suggest.  Then, with the final trend of the story fixed in fate, we can proceed to ensure it is a very great tragedy indeed."

"I hope you are not suggesting I am that bad in bed -"

"Abrogail.  Be serious, if you have that capacity at all."

"Fine, yes, it takes some twisting away from sanity, but I can imagine Keltham or his Civilization feeling that his story cannot be a good one so long as this one matter goes awry.  You are underestimating how many different ways the 'tropes' could turn that ploy into something his Civilization would consider ultimately a triumph, even if the basic plan goes off as you suggest."

"But that flaw can be repaired, I do think, and sufficiently great tragedy ensured.  It is more a defect of your own lack of cleverness than an inherent failure of the premise -"

"Hold!"

"It seems that Project Lawful has sent me a message marked as true top priority.  I would guess another Otolmens event.  Shall we -"

"Yes, have it brought here."  The Queen sighs.

Aspexia reads the top message first, from Pilar Pineda, without her expression changing in the slightest.

Underneath that is a further sheaf of papers, marked with a hasty and nonstandard warning that the Outsider believes this lecture of Asmodia's could cause brain damage to people with artifact-level headbands.  Although, if the reporting Security is tracking this all properly, that is probably Keltham being misled, based on what was actually just one manic episode in Asmodia.

"The subsequent material is marked with a possibly-misguided warning from Keltham that reading it might cause brain damage to those with artifact-grade headbands," Aspexia says, handing both reports to the Queen.  "I shall let you read it, then, instead of myself.  Tell me of only the consequences for unraveling the Otolmens event."

"Unless it has somehow changed since I last read it, I do believe my compact with Asmodeus prohibits you from deliberately leading me into harm -"