The Cauldron Rises

[Ebiris]

Alicia doesn't mind that since they don't get the chance to socialise as much as they used to. "I had an offer from Mystra when I visited Dweomerheart earlier, to move Sylica over to Elysium when Syala and I grow stronger. I like Ysgard, but it feels like it makes sense to position ourselves there in the future," she gives her first piece of new gossip. "Syala says she was offered a spot in Brightwater as well, but she agrees Elysium is a more natural fit. Both of them offering like that..." she smiles amusedly and sips at her tea, "It reminds me of when Marie used to get all defensive about Celestia trying to poach me."

[Anastasia]

"Oh!" Amaryl gasps into her hand, "That's a lovely offer, Alicia."

"I remember that," Jessica smiles at the memories, "Marie would get all huffy and worked up over it. Then Antenora would say something and those two would be quarreling."

[Corwin]

Seira nods eagerly. "We've got a standing offer from Waukeen to move to Brightwater, but I'm partial to Astral, myself." She shrugs, before asking Amaryl, "How about the Seldarine, Darling? Did they bring this up at some point?" And, in fact, she's curious whether Amaryl got an answer from them while trying to contact the elven pantheon.

"I think Elysium would be a great fit for you if you did choose to leave Ysgard behind," she muses. "Speaking of Marie, did she get an offer herself?"

[Ebiris]

"Marie? No, she's still stuck as my familiar. When I do release her she's sure to have banked up a few promotions but neither of us are quite ready for that just yet. Still though, I think her and Antenora are holding off on starting their family on account of it, so... well, as good a familiar as she is, I can't hold onto her forever," Alicia says, shaking her head.

[Anastasia]

"I've talked to them, but they're entirely focused on something they're doing. I wasn't able to get details," Amaryl says, "They say it's something private. They were kind about it, but it's members of the Seladrine only. Right now, we aren't members of the Seladrine."

"You can't?" Kascha murmurs, "But can't divinities have any type of familiar they want? Why not let her promote and keep her as a familiar?" Taking out a thick tome and checking it, writing a few notes inside as she does, "I think that would work from the lore I've read."

[Ebiris]

"That's partially true Kascha - I can actually make anyone I like a familiar in addition to Marie, but it's limited by distance. I use it as a temporary measure for empowering servants sometimes, it doesn't really count in the same way even if the mechanisms and benefits are similar." She smiles invitingly, "Do you want to try being my familiar for a little while? I can see how a ghaele compares to a courre, and you can get some research data."

[Anastasia]

"Um...um..." Kascha turns even redder and eeps out, "But isn't that Antenora's job?!"

[Ebiris]

Alicia chuckles and takes a long sip of her tea to give Kascha a moment after that. "I have tried it with Antenora, she seemed to enjoy herself," she says on that note. Though for Alicia having an empathic link towards both Marie and Antenora at the same time when they're around each other gets a bit distracting.

[Anastasia]

"I..a....that..." Kascha sputters as Jessica begins to laugh, "That so perverted!" she blurts out, pointing at Alicia. Her entire face is beet red, flushed and eyes wide.

Amaryl tilts her head to the side, "...Seira, are we having the same conversation as Kascha?"

[Corwin]

"Alicia seems to be teasing her," Seira responds, as if Kascha weren't in the room with them, "though I can certainly see why. She's very adorable, isn't she?"

[Ebiris]

"I don't know what Kascha thinks I do with my familiar, but I should probably worry for my reputation," Alicia says innocently, holding her teacup over her mouth.

[Corwin]

"You can't pull that act on me," Seira tells her with a snort. "Nor on anyone who actually met your familiar, for that matter."

[Anastasia]

Kascha sputters and goes silent, flaming red.

"She has a point, sister," Jessica says, still chortling to herself. "Marie is...Marie."

[Ebiris]

"Yes but don't lump me in with her," Alicia says with a little bit of pique, lowering her teacup. "Anyway, that's just an expression of my divinity, being able to temporarily grant others the same benefits as I give Marie for being my familiar. I think because she's such an intrinsic part of my story, at least when I started getting really famous, it just makes sense. It's a useful talent though, and not nearly so tawdry as Kascha implies." She could just leave it there, but... "I do try it with Syala sometimes, though. The empathic bond makes things interesting."

[Corwin]

"Speaking of interesting experiences, I've been trying to decide on a proxy for years," Seira muses. "Literally, as it happens. I just handle things in person if I need to, so it didn't happen at first and then it just felt awkward to approach Donald or you, Kascha, and ask, 'Hey, want to be a divine proxy and get fabulous proxy powers?' How do you do it, Alicia?"