Sylican morning

[Ebiris]

Kinda yeah, I'll hang out with Syala and shadow her but if a bunch of my own worshippers show up I'll step up to give them a proper pep talk.

[Anastasia]

Sure enough, by the time the vows are said and the wedding feast has begun, a hundred has gone to well over a thousand. People from the entire town come, celebrating and joining in. Even Auril is there, unseen and watching, lingering outside of the grove.

Plenty of your faithful has shown, notably.

Go ahead and set yourself up here, then.

[Ebiris]

And the celebration is a fine thing, not simply as a wedding but perhaps as another marking of this new beginning for Lifasa as much as for Gregory and Melly's lives. Alicia doesn't want to detract from that, but soon once the numbers have swollen Alicia migrates off to one corner of the grove. Those who already worship her know to follow her, those who may be curious or interested can of course go with that flow.

"A fine wedding, and a lovely couple," the goddess of battle says, raising a goblet towards the festivities over in that other part of the grove as she addresses her congregation. "Lifasa needs more memories like this, to wash away the horrors of the past. The war is won, and Hell banished from this world... but make no mistake that your safety must still be fought for. Hell took Lifasa by twisting the minds of nine pawns, and even if no devil may set foot on this hard won soil," she stamps her foot into the earth, "Their agents will remain watchful for chances to pervert what you all worked so hard for. Not only Hell, the forces of the Abyss, and other dark deities will see opportunities even in the wake of a successful Crusade."

"That is why I am here before you, to encourage you to not forget your struggles of the past years, to keep your weapons and your wits sharp so you can continue to defend what's been earned at such cost. Lifasa produced heroes worthy of legend and renown during its Crusade - the likes of Afina, Jaela, Tepen, and Ithea brought such might to their battles that even Gods must sit up and pay notice. Any one of you could one day stand alongside them. Just as I was once a simple mortal housewife, before becoming what I am, so to could your struggles forge you into Champions able to save an entire world."

[Anastasia]

The faithful listen - most of them armed and ready, even now. Listening and learning, perhaps 80 of them all told. Another 50 or so are along with them, listening along.

"We have to be strong apples," One calls, drinking deep from his mug, "Because we have to see to the roads and travel, because there will be dangers again. Like Auril." This one is 20 or so, a tall and broad young man named Will, but called by everyone as Ox. One of your faithful, a mop of messy brown hair atop his head. "I heard she preached here today, and even if she helped Lifasa, people forget she's still evil."

Nod alongs and murmurs to that, everyone listening and agreeing with you.

[Ebiris]

"That's right Wil, one of her servants even remains to continue ministering in her stead. That the cold of winter can not only be endured, but welcomed... but then what? What would Auril have her faithful do to those who don't welcome winter? Lifasa saw those who bowed their heads to devil tyranny, becoming the torturer's whip in hopes of avoiding their own suffering. Beware those who tell you all that is required is obedience," Alicia warns.

[Anastasia]

Words that are heard and listened, surely Auril's avatar hearing them as well.

"That's right," Ox agrees, "Saint Alicia, I want to become one of your holy paladins one day to help with that."

Another stands - one you don't know, not one of yours. A woman, perhaps 18 or so, with blonde braids and a serious expression, "I as well. Too many did I see tormented by Hell, my survival a miracle of misery. No more. Help me be strong."

Murmurs and cheers of approval from your faithful at this, as you see Auril watching, eyes on Ox and the other. 'Will you tell them what to think when they lie dying in the snows, Alicia? How many of your champions die on the road, alone and cold?'

[Ebiris]

"Strength cannot be given, only earned. But I will show you so you may learn and understand the kind of battle I espouse, the blending of martial prowess and magical skill to form a coherent and unstoppable whole," she raises her hand as those around her are granted visions of battle taken from what Ebony saw during the Crusade, the strongest heroes fighting against hell with glaive, spear, or sword, all blended with magic.

Ithea's control of the area around her with misery bottle and her deadly glaive flashing out to rend apart a a draconic pit fiend. Afina manipulating her speed to leave a spread of fireballs around minor devils as she slices the neck of a necrolyte cornugon faster than it can react. Jaela inviting attacks simply so she can counter at every opening, blasts of holy power detonating around her while she duels a nessian pit fiend and holds back a tide of lesser devils.

"Do you see?" she asks in the wake of that. "Heroism, war, battle... you don't have to worship me to embody these things. None of Aurora's generals did, yet their skills, their bravery, that I can only salute. Just as I hope to salute yours in time."

'Too many, Auril. But nor are yours any more immune to lonely and bitter deaths, so it serves you little to gloat on it.'

[Anastasia]

The people are lost in the images, lost in the memories of a war recently finished. They seem absorbed in it, taking in every moment of their heroes.

Meanwhile, Auril merely responds with, 'Mine expect it in the end, for it is the beginning of the true and eternal winter. I wonder...what sort of death will Will have there? Shall we compete over this? Shall he have a heroes death, worthy of song and tale, or will he die cold and alone, a corpse not to be found until the spring thaw?'

[Ebiris]

'And mine know to stand on their own two feet and rely on their own strength, not mine,' Alicia returns, able to chat with Auril while those gathered around her are absorbed in visions. 'If Winter is endured and survived, they'll be that much stronger to handle what comes next, for there is always another year and another season ahead. I can accept the indiscriminate cruelty of an apathetic season - of the many evils in Creation yours is not my focus. But should winter's fury be targeted against mine out of spite then I would gladly change my stance."

[Anastasia]

Auril does not smile, but you feel a certain cold amusement from her, like ice sliding down your back. 'Not an outright war. No. A Competition,' You feel the emphasis on that word, the capitalization like a physical thing. 'This mortal serves you and I challenge him. Which of us will see triumph here, I wonder. Do you accept?'

[Ebiris]

'Does that amuse you?' Alicia asks. 'I have recused myself from the Competition over Daa-vid's fate on my own prime, I have little interest in competing for sport. Especially a contest where mine must survive and win each and every day while yours needs but win once.' She looks over at Auril's avatar outside the grove, meeting her eyes. 'Do you see this man as a threat, a potential barrier to your eternal winter? Mystra tells me that the pains of my own mortal life were rooted in Shar setting events in motion because I was seen as a threat to her goals in my homeland.'

[Anastasia]

'Hardly a threat.' Auril's voice has the same cold amusement as before, 'But a lesson, and one that will prove winter's superiority again. Unless you are certain that what you are cannot defeat me, Alicia. Then yes, refuse and return to Sylica chastised, knowing that your champions cannot hope to compete with winter.'

[Ebiris]

'Champions must be forged, and a cold crucible serves just as well. Try then, Auril,' she invites. 'I will see if overcoming winter on this newly liberated world will give rise to a hero like Lifasa has produced before.'

And while she's not the sort of goddess to throw favours around lightly, nor is she distant or uncaring. Her voice is heard for Wil alone now. 'Wil - Ox. You seek to become one of my paladins, but know the road is not easy. As Auril's strength waxes she will seek to bury your potential beneath her uncaring snows. Find allies you can depend upon, and raise your head to the challenges before you.'

[Anastasia]

'...I will,' Ox sends back to you, his thoughts firm. 'I will not disappoint you, my Queen.'

Auril meanwhile declares, 'It is agreed.' Then she is gone, as if never there, save for a few snowflakes that fall to the ground.

[Ebiris]

Hopefully she won't regret this! 'I have faith. Lifasa has produced fine champions against Hell, but new battles will need new champions. Rise up and be unbowed by whatever travails await.'

From there she'll probably want to close things out along with Syala so they can move along. Don't want people being too used to having deities around!