Attack on Sylica

[Anastasia]

"What do I do, then?" Antenora muses, meeting your eyes, "There are too many possibilities to ignore this, yet too many ways it can go wrong. I cannot turn away from this, even if I know it is a poisoned pill, because the alternatives are losses I cannot contemplate. Moreover in particular, because knowing the Lord of the Ninth's plans would be of paramount importance."

[Ebiris]

"That's unlike you Antenora," she says, crossing her arms. "You know that playing along will profit Hell more than it will you. If Marie were here you'd already be tying yourself in verbal knots explaining all the ways in which every possible action you could take will serve to Asmodeus's advantage. So were it me? I would do absolutely nothing and carry on with my own plans and goals rather than chase Hell's breadcrumbs."

[Anastasia]

"I know, it's just..." Antenora shakes her head, "One simply isn't contacted by the Lord of the Ninth. Such a thing is unthinkable in Hell. To even have it happen would be an honor to lesser devils. I suppose that even now, that brings back memories of days long gone."

[Ebiris]

"You're an unprecedented goddess, Antenora," Alicia says gently. "Not just a risen fiend, but one who was able to solidify her meaning and existence into divinity without backsliding. You're exactly the sort of thing Asmodeus should be wary of, because what you represent is doom to his ideals."

[Anastasia]

This gets Antenora to look to you, "Doom to his ideals - the freedom to be One, beyond any chains of Hell? Tell me your thoughts, Alicia."

> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=48 ]{48}

Meanwhile you sense Shinys is battling through - wounded but intact, fending off several ghouls, shadows and a vampire.

[Ebiris]

She has faith in Shinys, he can do it!

But as for Antenora? "I already spoke plainly. You're a perfect refutation of Hell, a devil who grew up in Hell and lived as a part of the infernal machine all her life until she saw something better. Even as a humble erinyes you were important enough to send Spark Hunters after. But you rose to every challenge, your will never faltered, and you kept on growing step by step. What sort of symbol do you think a goddess such as you represents to every other devil? Has Creation ever seen a goddess such as you? You are no mere traitor to Hell Antenora, no simple aberration to be brought back to heel. You're a symbol, laden with divine meaning."

[Anastasia]

"And a symbol that will see all the chains broken," Antenora agrees, taking your hand. "I swear it."

[Ebiris]

"So don't forget, this missive from Asmodeus? It's a chain-link, Antenora," Alicia concludes firmly, squeezing Antenora's hand back.

[Anastasia]

"Then I shatter it," Antenora confirms, gaze meeting your eyes. "Will you stand with me for this, Alicia?"

[Ebiris]

She smiles and cocks her head. "You had to ask? Of course I will."

[Anastasia]

"Then-" It's all Antenora gets out as you feel it again. A connection between the two of you, strong and established. Once more you feel it, power flowing into Antenora as...

Note update. Go check it out and confirm you read it.

[Ebiris]

Confirmed.

Alicia's smile widens. "You feel that? That's a sign if ever I felt one."

And it behooves her to share. As Shinys battles through the undead she exerts her divinity towards bolstering him.

Not to get too nitty-gritty about it but I'll basically give Shinys some appropriate buffs for fighting undead that he hasn't got covered already. Death ward, freedom of movement, ghost touch armour/weapon, whatever he needs to give him an extra edge.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d100-20
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100-20 --> [ 1d100=68 ]{48}

"I feel it," Antenora says, "Thank you, whomever you are." The Opal Mountain glows bright in time with this, a radiant star over all of Sylica.

Meanwhile, Shinys fights on, warded by your magic. He's breaking through, through the enchanted keep beneath the king's castle. Before him it rises - a nalfeshnee, flanked by a pair of hezrou. Without any doubt, this will be a hard battle.

[Ebiris]

Alicia isn't really being subtle right now, nor sparing with her blessings. The air around Shinys is magically purified to neuter the stench of the hezrou for him and his allies. They'll still have to deal with demonic claws and teeth and spells, but it's the sort of thing to take the load off an adventuring party.

'Go Shinys, be my sword and carve out the pestilence of evil ahead of you, faith will be your shield,' her voice urges him.

"Watch, Antenora," she says, sharing what she can perceive with Antenora. "Even as portentous events swirl around us, those we inspire fight their own pivotal battles."

[Anastasia]

Antenora closes her eyes and focuses on what you give, as you watch.

Shinys raises his sword, a radiance spilling from it. "This world is not yours, demons. Leave or perish!"

Thus the battle is joined and...

> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=59 ]{59}

Thus the battle is joined. Shinys charges in, engaging one of the hezrou, striking it a wound across its chest. At the same time, one of his allies - a small, slender man with chakrams held in hand and used in melee rather than thrown - darts to the side, bringing those chakrams together. Jets of orange flames erupt from them, scorching the other hezrou.

As she watches, "They seem sufficient to overcome this, but they have many more trials ahead," Antenora says. "But this one has promise for you."