Attack on Sylica

[Anastasia]

A longer pause.

"I...would have been greatly empowered against you. Because of that." Another pause, shorter, speaking faster. "That was the point. To draw you in a situation where you do that, you fight against someone just like your own pain. I was to taunt you with it, once you couldn't withdraw from fighting me. You'd fight on and I'd be stronger. A trap is what it was."

[Ebiris]

"Mmm... we're both lucky then," Alicia admits. "I would have gone in hard, but when you opened your mouth to give that spiel about Creation being a mistake I couldn't keep from rising to the bait. I can't argue with Shar but you were there and... well, I suppose that same connection between us that Shar wanted to exploit also worked the other way."

[Anastasia]

"So...now what?" Emmaline asks, finally looking up at you. She's drawn, tired looking.

[Ebiris]

"Now what, indeed," Alicia says. "I can't just let you go off on your own after all of this. Shar would just take you back by hook or by crook, but nor do I simply want to hold you as a prisoner. You know one of my closest confidantes is Antenora, a former devil. There are others like her who've turned away from Hell and built new lives in Sylica. But no Sharran's ever yet turned away from her that I've seen... and I'd like to see that. So I'd like to offer you a place here, Emmaline. A place to take stock of your life and see where it can still take you, to heal. To rediscover the meaning in Creation."

She looks back at her painting a moment. "I managed to find love again with Syala. We haven't had children yet... there are a lot of obstacles in the way. But one day..." she smiles wanly. "That's for the future we're still trying to build. But here we can keep you safe from Shar, offer you a chance. Will you take it?"

[Anastasia]

No need for a Diplomacy check here, though one was possibly needed, depending.

"I would," Emmaline says, "I think I'd like that," Taking a breath after, "Is there really hope on going on living? I don't know, but maybe I should see if there is. I owe Nicolas that much."

[Ebiris]

"You don't know what tomorrow brings. Just as a peaceful life can suddenly erupt in tragedy, so too can a pleasant encounter pull you from the depths," Alicia says. "The suite you were in earlier? It's yours until you decide you want to move elsewhere. Marie can help you with any personal needs while you get situated."

"Of course," Marie adds in demurely from the door, having been quite carefully quiet through all this.

"I don't eat as much and I imagine you have little need as a spirit either, but would you like to join me and my confidantes for dinner later?" she invites, figuring that'd be a good start on socialising Emmaline. Plus Jessica can provide stories about her own children that are tragedy-free!

[Anastasia]

"Alright," Emmaline says, not arguing with it.

At the same time? 'Alicia,' Syala sends to you, 'Ebony's back and reporting. Good news, they've rooted out the Imix cult and slain Jintorax. Bad news, well....Ebony madder than I've ever seen her.'

[Ebiris]

Well that's convenient timing. "Marie, take it from here?" she asks, standing up. "I know things are hard, Emmaline... that's the worst of what Shar does. Making you nurse that pain like kindling the embers of a guttering fire, keeping you from ever healing. But we can do it. I did it, and I hope you can too. Please, take some time to think and rest and we can talk again later."

Then after Marie takes Emmaline off, Alicia'll go join Syala and Ebony.

[Anastasia]

Liberton is hectic as you'd expect. Yet with a little bit of reality warping, a comfortable den is free of noise and bustle even now. Ebony's hood is down as she drinks a glass of dark liquid, eyes closed and resting back. Her posture is stiff, tense.

Syala sits opposite her, carrying the conversation, "...and still, that can hold on since Alicia's here."

[Ebiris]

"I am," she says, going to claim a seat. "I did catch some frustrated prayers but I didn't anticipate any serious difficulties on your end. What happened?"

[Anastasia]

The drink is downed completely before Ebony replies. "On one hand, we were successful. We crushed Jintorax, routed the Imix cult and eliminated a powerful, apocalyptic elemental-priest of Imix. Further, there's no signs of an immediate Sharran action, and my thinking is that we were fast enough to prevent the conditions for him to strike."

A breath, "The frustration was with Benyen and Dana. Benyen is a slightly dim but heroic, good hearted and right thinking Fist of Raziel. Dana is...you've read the reports on Dana, have you not? In less than 12 hours, Dana's seduced him and gotten him to go along with her, in spite of all logic and common sense. There is no way Dana is good for him nor his path ahead, but they're already making love and Benyen has said he'll propose to her if he got her pregnant. It is such a waste. I worry so much Dana will lead Benyen astray, yet they seem inexorably drawn to each other."

[Ebiris]

"You mean the aggressive and headstrong knight likes the violent and boorish but fundamentally good-hearted princess who turned away from a life of idle luxury to help liberate a world  from Hell?" Alicia asks to clarify.

Also since Hell Striker contacted her to start this, she returns the favour. 'Hell Striker, how are Benyen and Dana getting along?'

[Anastasia]

Ebony's eyebrow visibly twitches.

'They seem to like each other. Benyen is sheathing his sword.' Hell Striker responds.

[Ebiris]

'Thank you that was... more and less than I wanted. How do they relate to each other emotionally?'

"Anyway Ebony, Benyen's a grown man. Even if things don't work out it's not the end of the world. The important thing is you settled matters on Langersun so hopefully Hell Striker's worries of him stumbling into a deadly Sharran web of intrigue can be laid to rest. Why don't you take a few days to relax here before going back to Aurora? I think you deserve a break."

[Anastasia]

'They seem to get along well.' That's the reply you get.

"I will, but I'll return to Langersun for a time, in case we're wrong and Shar tries something even with the initiative lost." Ebony replies. "By your leave, of course."