Attack on Sylica

[Anastasia]

"I believe that makes you show offs," Empress Sulia declares, haughtily, "Well done.  To more practical matters, what will Antenora represent as she rises higher?"

[Ebiris]

"Redemption, loyalty, compassion," Alicia answers, recalling that conversation from after meeting Xerona. "Those are what she's claimed for, anyway. But speaking of practical, we didn't come by just to brag. I'd been meaning to ask if there was any practical assistance we could give with your aboleth problems on Daun."

[Anastasia]

"Mmm, yes," Sulia concurs, as sunshine streams on down. It's warm, a spring day here with blooming flowers. "But first, have you looked in on Daun yourselves?"

[Ebiris]

"I don't have any presence there and haven't sent anyone over to investigate since you mentioned it," Alicia replies before glancing at her co-deity. "Syala?" Their faiths aren't joined at the hip after all!

[Anastasia]

"A duo, but they got sidetracked," Syala says, shrugging, "Ended up chasing and beating up some troublemakers closer to home."

[Ebiris]

"So tell us what you think we ought to know," Alicia goes on from there.

[Anastasia]

Okay, next post for you will be tonight, having a note problem on my end. I may need to recreate some stuff on Daun, no big deal, but a bit time consuming for the last hour of the session.

[Anastasia]

"First of all, the basic overview," Empress Sulia begins, "Demogorgon worshiping aboleths control much of the world, being the dominant threat to freedom and anything but life as one of Demogorgon's thralls or sacrifices. My knights protect one kingdom, while Mephisto's stoics pursue their own vendetta against the aboleths. Other forces do as well, such as a Lathanderite church, a warrior-monk band of Tyr's faithful, a a group of knowledge-savers who worship the House of Knowledge and others yet. It has gotten so bad that traditional enemies have various informal truces on this world, so that the aboleths do not finish the conquest."

In the meantime, you hear a prayer of note. It is from Shinys, a powerful paladin in your service. 'Saint Alicia, hear my voice. Today I have found proof that a lich controls His Majesty and seeks to plunge the kingdom into civil war. Grant me your wisdom and strength, and grant me the opal light of recent to prepare me, for I shall soon challenge the living dead.'

[Ebiris]

"Well anything we lend would be outsiders, but we have forces to spare now that Lifasa's been freed," Alicia offers in the way of support.

As for Shinys, that sounds like a pivotal event that requires close attention. Thus she maintains a remote sense around him to watch how this all plays out. As a sign of her attention an opal light manifests in the air above him which shimmers down to be absorbed into his weapon. She doesn't augment it's lethality in any fashion, but that weapon will again glow opal in the presence of undead for the next day. If necessary she may intervene further, but hopefully he'll have it in hand!

[Anastasia]

"An investment would help," Empress Sulia considers, "I can attach them to my knights while they learn the world and find a place in it."

Meanwhile you focus back. Shinys merely continues to pray. 'Thank you, Saint Alicia. I will honor this day and free Alzar from the grip of the lifeless. This I vow.'

[Ebiris]

She's counting on him and will be watching his progress with interest!

But back to Brightwater? "We've been working on consolidating lessons learned from the veterans of Benfal and Lifasa and teaching them out to newer recruits. I'll put together a few thousand specialised for aquatic combat. Warrior mages, druids, hunters, enough to fill a lot of potential niches wherever your knights can best use them."

[Anastasia]

"I'll let Alicia take the lead there," Syala says, "Hers are usually better warriors, as much as I try otherwise." Sitting back with a long sigh, "I get a few too many who really desire a reason to breed up a family but don't like cats much."

Empress Sulia laughs into her hand and then says, "Ah, poor Syala. Troubling indeed. Make sure they understand the situation on the ground so there's not a repeat of Lixer's mistake."

[Ebiris]

"There's enough from your side to be meaningful, and druids make superlative underwater combatants," Alicia says in Syala's defence. "I'll make sure they're apprised to keep the focus on the aboleths and follow the lead of your forces. Should take about two days to have everyone prepared for deployment."

[Anastasia]

"Now, onto a personal touch," Empress Sulia concurs, Syala perking right up. "Directly sending avatars is chancy, because Demogorgon's avatars are tremendously powerful, as are his proxies and other servants. Demogorgon is old, established and his deep, deep resources. I've avoided doing much with avatars for now for that reasons, we can hardly afford to lose one and the loss of one is far less of a blow for Demogorgon."

"That's all true, but I'd still rather be active there if there's a good reason for it," Syala says, "Has it happened much?"

"No," Empress Sulia continues, "A few skirmishes between avatars at times, but rarely so."

[Ebiris]

"Maybe once I have more than one avatar, right now I do prefer to avoid risking mine," Alicia concurs with Sulia's assessment.