Sylica: A New Beginning

[Ebiris]

Presumably Alicia has facilities there for looking after her interests and hosting her whenever she visits the boss, so she'll Gate over that way and check in if there's anything come up that requires her attention. Then she'll go visit Mystra or an avatar to find out what she knows re Lixer's takeover, while Marie and Naeys look up gossip on Avernus's current situation and any recent events post coup.

[Anastasia]

Sure.

Alicia's facilities there are an embassy - a rolling estate tucked into the heart of Dweomerheart, a grand palace with servants both hers and Mystra's who see to her every command here. The teleportation room you appear in is decorated with images of the Felis Knights and celestials, all wrought in shining gold. Before you kneels a servant, a new one you don't know. A man, perhaps 20 but with a decidedly ageless look. He wears a well made velvet doublet and pants, all the color of purple Mystra favors.

"Goddess," he greets, "Welcome back to Dweomerheart. I am Stevan, I am at your command. Mystra will see you when you are ready, she awaits in her private library."

[Ebiris]

Alicia always feels a bit strange seeing a new servant in places like this since she wonders if they might be devilish infiltrators or the like. But any good infiltrator would surely impersonate an already trusted member of staff, and she has to have some faith in Mystra's vetting. "Thank you, Stevan," she nods her head. She's armed and armoured now, gleaming breastplate over her chest and double-bladed sword resting diagonally over her back. It's not a threat or anything, she just never leaves Sylica without - can't tell when trouble will intercept her after all, or if she's called away to deal with a crisis elsewhere that doesn't allow time for a trip back to arm herself.

"What brought you to serve here?" she asks Stevan before going anywhere, just wanting to learn a little about him so she'll have some details in her head next time they meet.

[Anastasia]

"In my mortal life, I was a hedge wizard with little talent for magic, but a great deal of talent for running the temple properly," Stevan explains as he falls in step behind you, letting you lead the way as you see fit. "Mystra rewarded me after death, saying that my dedication was just as important as the scarce magic she gifted me with. In life, I often envied those with greater magical talent. Now I am content in my duties, for I understand they were truly important."

[Ebiris]

"Administration's important," Marie pipes up supportively from where she flutters along next to Alicia. "And I'm not just saying that because Antenora gets all funny about it," she giggles airily. "Though that's cute too."

"What my familiar means," Alicia says dryly, "Is that she can relate, since I often have her help with scheduling and administration back in Sylica. I'm glad I can entrust the running of this place to someone so serious-minded though," she turns and nods towards Stevan. "We'll let you know if we have any further needs," she says, dismissing him before they go to see Mystra herself.

[Anastasia]

"Ah, Lady Marielle," Stevan gives her a respectful nod, dipping down and almost going into a bow. "Yes, my lady." He departs and...

Going right to Mystra then?

[Ebiris]

Yeah, we'll actually stick together. Talk to the boss lady then we can go incognito for getting gossip afterwards.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d100 see if you run into anything interesting en route
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 27 > [d100=27]

Mystra awaits you the three of you. Her private library is a cozy, intimate place - a small room with bookshelves over every inch of wall, chairs around a low table and a fire place. Blankets are folded up, ready to be used, and each chair is deeply stuffed, the sort you feel like you can drown in. It's faintly lit, enough to cast plenty of shadows and make the light of the fire all the more dominating.

Here Mystra sits in the form of a mere human woman, reading a slender tome held in one hand, bound in brown leather. "My champion," Mystra rises and comes forth, offering you her hand. She is clad in robes spun of silver fire and magic itself, radiant and impossible, and yet from brushing against them previously, you know them to be as soft as the finest silks.

[Ebiris]

Marie hangs back a little with Naeys while Alicia clasps Mystra's hand in her gauntleted one. She feels a little overdressed, but she didn't make it this far by being cavalier about her safety and ability to respond to sudden battles in her vicinity. "You do me credit, Mother of All Magic," she greets, leaning a bit more on formality after being addressed so. "Thank you for giving me your time, I've come to prevail on your knowledge again, Mystra."

[Anastasia]

Mystra's hand is warm, her grip firm. As you hold it a moment you see it all, all of magic roaring into Mystra. A sight you have seen and been before, yet no less an awe inspiring one. "I always have time for you," she says, a faint smile softening her face.

"Naeys, you have served Alicia well. Thank you." Mystra then addresses him.

Naeys bows low and then kneels, "I only do my duty, and it is a light duty indeed, for I derive great joy in it."

"Rise, rise," Mystra commands. "Marielle, you are well." With still that faint smile, "Are you and Antenora considering children yet?"

[Ebiris]

She takes some pride in being less overwhelming than the first time she was shown that, but even so it still shows the vast gulf that has to be crossed to reach Mystra's level. A level she'll need to surpass if she's to defeat Shar.

"Oh!" Marie grins a bit deliriously at her love life being worth her goddess's personal interest. "We've talked about it but we've decided to wait for now. Probably, sometimes it's tempting not to wait after all!" she says, smoothing down her dress as she bobs in the air behind Alicia.

[Anastasia]

Mystra merely leads you all in at that, offering chairs to the four of you. "Good, Marielle. Be happy with her." After that and a moment to settle in, the faintest bit of Mystra's will conjuring rich breads and cheeses worthy of an emperor's lunch before you, joined with water clear and cold, the Mother of All Magic speaks again.

"You seek information on Lixer and his new reign over Avernus." Mystra says, not a question at all.

[Ebiris]

She's still in her armour but Alicia at least puts her sword away in her portable hole so it doesn't get in the way when she sits down. "Yes," she confirms, holding a glass of cool water in her hands over her lap while Marie assembles a sandwich for herself. "Seira and I have wanted to free Zariel and get to the truth of what happened between her and Torm for some time. Now presents a unique opportunity."

[Anastasia]

"It is indeed a unique chance," Mystra says, forgoing food and drink. "But I know that Lixer has wrought mighty magic, as have others hidden from my sight. I know he is prepared for an assault there, and that a few that have tried have failed utterly - mortals, ambitious and foolish mortals, but still mortals. Moreover, I believe it possible that Bel has escaped, but it is not certain. I know a great magic to open a planar rift was cast at the end of their battle, but I do not know if anyone passed through it before it was closed. This blindness is the work of the Lord of the Ninth, who ever-jealously guards what is his."

Naeys has water as well, "A unique danger as well - let is not be said that the Lord of the Ninth does not watch his children. I had hoped you would know more of that in particular, Lady of Magic. Should Asmodeus be a looming threat, our task becomes far more difficult."

"Not even I know all Asmodeus does, or even much of it," Mystra admits, "He cannot touch the Weave, but he is capable of hiding himself and his from my gaze." Her expression is calm, tiny rivulets of spellfire running along her body and clothing at points before sinking into her body. "From experience and habit, he certainly watches and cannot be discounted, but nor is he an absolute barrier."

[Ebiris]

"Well, the idea is to threaten Lixer more than slay him outright. Press him enough to open a path to Zariel but not so much that Asmodeus is compelled to intervene - he doesn't bother himself over every battle on Avernus after all," Alicia says, giving the basics of their plan.

"Still though, Bel might have escaped? It wouldn't surprise me if Hell still had use for him even deposed. That's something to be wary of in the future."