Sylica: A New Beginning

[Anastasia]

"It is a plan that may indeed work," Mystra confirms, "Go with my blessing, but be cautious."

Mystra's expression darkens on your later words, "There is evidence that he may have, as well as magic that suggests certain hellish agents are making sure that rumor spreads." The Mother of All Magic's expression grows cooler, "Two such agents tried in my very divine realm, revealing their corruption to devilish paymasters. Divinations on Bel fail - be it because he is imprisoned or because another protects him from being found in his newfound freedom, I know not."

"Troubling," Naeys murmurs, "Merely the possibility of it is cause for alarm, especially when the truth is illusive."

[Ebiris]

As Alicia has a drink of water Marie looks up from her tiny-sized but still thickly packed sandwich and speaks up, "I bet it's one of those long cons. Bel's masquerading as Lixer's top lieutenant or something and it's cover for some other purge or scheme. Something needlessly convoluted like that."

"Would certainly ruin things for my plan if that was the case," Alicia says, a bit perturbed. "Those other attacks that have already happened, do we know how far they got and what stopped them?" she asks Mystra.

[Anastasia]

"It may be so," Naeys says, and then with a warmer smile, "I see we should have brought Antenora. Though you've learned from her if you pointed that out so clearly, Marie."

Mystra merely considers, a pause, "It may be so," she echos Naeys, "I cannot imagine a devil giving up Lordship lightly and yet, if anyone could set it up, it would be Asmodeus. If Bel is not a prisoner and this is all a plot, then reasoning where he is would be the key to it all. He would need something to make up for the loss of true divinity from his Lordship, not to mention the sacrifice of prestige. Eons of work are gone, his name's prestige shattered."

[Ebiris]

"Maybe one of the other Lords could be on the outs," Marie suggests, basking in having her opinions taken seriously. "Like, say, Baalzebul? Give Lixer some help setting up on Avernus and have an experienced hand ready to step in if someone else wavers?"

"Hmm," Alicia hums at that prospect. "He did help us when we attacked Avernus to root out Agares, and his interest in Sylica is obvious. Though I still haven't seen much of Triel there. Returning him to righteousness would be a coup..." she shakes her head, "Focus on Zariel for now. If nothing else, Lixer got his nose bloodied over the Lifasa affair too, and the entire scheme was the brainchild of Taelfagn. Responsibility lies with more than Bel, even if he's being used as the scapegoat."

[Anastasia]

"Hell's politics are ever murky, as Asmodeus takes pains to prevent us from seeing too deeply," Mystra remarks with a hint of annoyance, "I find it tiresome, as he weaponizes it so deftly. Doubt is as much a weapon in his hand as his Ruby Rod. I approve of the Aurora for shining light on some of it."

"Then Zariel," Naeys concurs, "If we cannot outreason the mysteries of Hell, then we must go forward instead."

"Yes. Firstly, a great unholiness has been bestowed over the entire fortress. The living dead will be vastly more powerful there as well as all but immune to life energy, so turning will avail you little." Mystra says. "They will heal fast and will rise again, unless slain with holy weapons or sacred magic." Mystra concurs, "A trifling aspect for us, but beware of it."

[Ebiris]

Alicia nods that. She's particularly adept at killing the undead after all, though it does prompt her to wonder, "Not that it would help us at all, but I'm curious how things will play out the next time Orcus gets one of his armies in deep enough to attack the Bronze Citadel," she wonders.

"Is it even still the Bronze Citadel or did he rename it?" Marie asks. "I read Ebony's reports, the devils renamed tons of stuff on Lifasa, it really upset Aurora's generals apparently. Probably called... the Bone Citadel now, right?"

[Anastasia]

"I have not heard, but it is likely," Mystra agrees, eyes closing one moment. "Ah. Savras says it is now named Noir Jardin."

Naeys keeps silent a few moments as he digests that, "I would presume they've worked out a contingency for that, or Hell is more foolish than I expect."

"Lixer's minions have ways and means, necromantic spells to harm the undead greatly," Mystra concurs, "They are prepared, but it will be a different tenor of battle there than under Bel."

[Ebiris]

Alicia and Marie both share a knowing glance at that predictable name change. "Things are different when like fights like," the former says afterwards. "But demons and devils have been fighting for long enough to know all the ways and means of ending one another."

[Anastasia]

"That they have," Mystra concurs, and then smiles. "You have been fighting them far less and are not far behind. Alicia - do you understand how exceptional your mortal life was, now that you see so many that are not so remarkable? There are so many mortals I adore, that I wish to prosper, and yet reach a limit. They may fall into death, discouragement or simply not proceed further. Yet you never fell into any of those. You mastered yourself and the world around you."

A pause as Mystra takes a glass of water and raises it to you, as if in salute. "Do you understand why I planned so for you, as you lived up to each and every hope I had? Now I only hope that you triumph over Lixer ahead. I await news of another victory."

[Ebiris]

Alicia looks a bit conflicted over that. If not for her husband and son dying - to what she knows were the machinations of Shar, her life would have been pretty unexceptional as well. "I think of myself as a warning," she says, expression firming into resolve, "Of not creating your own enemies and sowing the seeds of your own ruin. I hope Shar understands that lesson in detail one day."

[Anastasia]

A mere nod at that, a drink of water following.

"She will. One day," Mystra vows. "In addition to the unhallowing, there are the normal wards. Anti scrying and severed astral links, so teleportation is impossible within save by Lixer and probably Asmodeus."

[Ebiris]

"That's expected," Alicia says of the anti-scrying/teleportation setup. "How far did the other attackers get and what ultimately stopped them, do you know?"

Marie is quiet for now, eating her sandwich!

[Anastasia]

"Not far in. The first pressed the first layer before being overwhelmed. The second and third scarcely made it farther. Skilled mortals, but still not skilled enough to hide from Lixer's many eyes." Mystra replies. "Mundane forces - devils, necrolytes and the undead. Vampires and liches  supplement the front line as well."

[Ebiris]

"I see," Alicia says, drinking more water before putting the glass down. "In the end a lot of it will come down to improvisation and taking advantage of opportunities. We'll make ourselves inconspicuous and then try seeing what other gossip has filtered to Dweomerheart, since it's much more a hub than Sylica. Is there anything else you can tell us?"

[Anastasia]

"Not on that, but there is another matter," Mystra says. "In time, I have no doubt you will rise in the divine hierarchy, and eventually become a lesser power. When that time grows closer, there is an open invitation for you to move Sylica to Elysium. In behalf of myself, all of Dweomerheart as well as the House of Nature and the arch angels of Elysium, know that you are welcome here."