Enter Alyssa

[Anastasia]

No question. Instead, "Take the Red Knight's offer if you desire to, so long as you hold the journey in your heart."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Speaking of the Red Knight, one of her conditions is allowing her clerics to spread her faith. You are an... Old diety, but your following is small. Regardless of what may come, following you has led me to where I am. How can I help spread your following?"

[Anastasia]

Shaundakul chuckles at this, gesturing ahead to the stream side path you follow. "My faith is found in dusty roads, old trails and forgotten paths. In every new road, adventuring party and wistful traveler my name can be found. Go to these places, place where wanderers pass, and build shrines to me. Places where the winds blow and the world lies ahead of you, if you simply put one foot in front of the other and go meet it."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods. "What of Malcanthet? What defense should I have against her? Should I even entertain this parlay?"

[Anastasia]

"Do you like your soul where it is?" Shaundakul says dryly, "The problem with Malcanthet is that your soul gets a case of wanderlust once you fall for her, and the final destination is usually the Abyss."

[Iron Dragoon]

"I thought as much. I'm just not sure if ignoring her is the best option, or what to do to make her lose interest in me. Joining a God is as likely make her want to corrupt me more as it is to make her lose interest."

[Anastasia]

"That's a tough one," Shaundakul admits, "You can play her for time, hope she gives up for awhile," he finally suggests, "Tease her but don't give her anything. She may respect the approach, if nothing else."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa grimaces. "A tough game that she's a master of. I'll consider it. A mountain of worries making my feet drag on the path." She sighs heavily.

"I don't suppose you could direct some of the traders that follow you to the Order? We have need of many things."

[Anastasia]

"Oh, they'll come," Shaundakul says, then looks up, "But here, our paths take us in different directions. Travel onward, Alyssa, whatever destiny has been chosen for you. I know not what it is, nor what Io may be planning, or if it was even Io. But...whatever it is, I have no doubt it will be an amazing journey. I'll be watching."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa bows to him.

"I hope my journey and discoveries make you proud, Traveler. Thank you for your guidance."

[Anastasia]

Thus the two of you part and...

Next move?

[Iron Dragoon]

Back to the Order to discuss the Red Knight's offer.

[Anastasia]

Thus you gather up the regents. It's the same as before, as...

Go ahead and set yourself up with how you want to open this.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Alright everyone, we've got some decisions to make. I've met with both Shaundakul and the Red Knight. The attention I've garnered, and by extension, the Order has as well won't be going away any time soon. It seems my rise to power is even more unique than even I thought, and various deities ranging from the Heavens to the Abyss are all interested. They know the Order is precious to me and, obviously, are willing to exploit it."

With that, she sits down in her high-backed chair and waits for the others to work through this on their own.

[Anastasia]

Of all of them, Regent Madala is the first to digest that and speak. "What you're saying is that as a person of interest to them, you're both a blessing and a liability to the Order?"

Regent Ule ponders this a few moments, "Yes and no." He says that and nothing else, sitting back in his chair.

With a glance over at Ule, "If you mean that she is and isn't, I take that as agreement with me."

"Yet in the greatest opportunity is the greatest danger, and in the greatest danger the greatest opportunity," Delaize remarks quietly.