A Return

[Corwin]

It hasn't been that long for Seira, although an avatar just isn't the same. "We'll talk in the dining room," she agrees, leading the way inside.

The main dining hall is rather cosy, given that Seira can enlarge it though an extension of her will if she ever needs to entertain more guests. The centerpiece is the large wooden table, oval and solid, while the room itself is adorned with expertly-carved wooden frescos of Seira's adventures along with her friends on her Prime of origin.

[Anastasia]

Waukeen makes a show of studying all of the decorations, lingering on a fresco of your battle against the Dark Six. "I remember watching as all of you fought them," she remarks, a finger going to trace the details of the piece. "It's always hard watching favored followers fight something like that. You know that if things go wrong, you may never see them again, their souls a grotesque trophy in some hell hole."

[Corwin]

"It's terrifying," Seira agrees. "You tend to remember such battles long after they had been resolved, more often than you do your greatest triumphs."

She gives Waukeen a crooked grin. "Then again, from a certain viewpoint, they are such triumphs, given the stakes."

[Anastasia]

"Terror is a wonderful way to remember anything," Waukeen agrees, "But true, true, and besides, enough worrying about the past." Turning to you  now, "Congratulations on your all-elemental."

[Corwin]

"Thanks! Sometimes, things align just right. That it was a culmination of all our efforts makes it sweeter, and Omni's intelligence and curiosity are most welcome!"

[Anastasia]

"Everyone relies on luck, sometimes," Amaryl opines, going to have a seat.

Waukeen joins her, "Well done regardless. You've grown strong and are beginning to make a real impact on Creation, Seira. It's time we had a talk about that and how you can advance."

[Corwin]

"I was planning on making a play at the Inner Planes, and was going to talk to you about your support, so this is great timing," Seira notes, taking her own seat at the head of the table.

[Anastasia]

"Good. Deities increase in power, from tiny increments to rises in the divine hierarchy. Unfortunately, you can't buy your way to this," Waukeen says with a hint of annoyance in her tone. "There are two components. Your personal strength must continue to rise. You will advance this and grow on your own as always. This will grow as you do, and must be sufficient for the rank you progress to. It may be higher but it may never be lower than what you need. The second is as you accomplish things and more powerfully represent what you are, through ideals and deeds. The Competition is the main means to do so, though many things can happen beyond it to help you, such as claiming your first all elemental."

Here Waukeen pauses as dinner is brought in. Vayley floats in trays of food - a roasted goose, vegetables, stuffing and wine. A classical, rich meal to be sure. She puts it down and then bows to all and departs, not a word. Waukeen glances at her, "You finally got one, hm?"

[Corwin]

"I'm so proud I could cry!"

[Anastasia]

Amaryl laughs, "She really is, she's wanted this for so long."

Waukeen merely smiles, "Then I'm glad. ...and you did remind it to only cook things we can eat easily? Biting into a pastry with a core of molten platinum is an experience, but not one I recommend."

[Corwin]

"We covered the part where something that can object to being food cannot be food, and made strong suggestions that food should be consumed as mortals do, but otherwise it's an exciting surprise!"

[Anastasia]

It's good - well seasoned and prepared. After a short pause for everyone to have some, "Now then, back to the subject at hand," Waukeen says, "Seira dear, every deity wants to advance - well, most, there's a few exception. But the higher you get, the harder it is to advance. Each advancement harder than the previous. Sulia's already advanced somewhat, but finds the next steps even more difficult."

[Corwin]

"I will keep on facing stronger opponents and gaining in personal might and making accomplishments," Seira muses. "But standing for Hope even more would be harder the closer I get in people's minds and hearts to my ideal. Also, I'm not going to be underestimated after my next play on the planar scale, which makes winning harder. Is that what you mean? Or are you referring to a build-in glass ceiling?"

[Anastasia]

"You have to accomplish more and more powerfully, because you grow to represent more," Waukeen explains, "Imagine you get strong enough to lift 20 pounds by lifting 5 pound weights day in and day out. Then you try it again and the 5 pound weights aren't enough, so you need 10 pound weights to lift 30 pounds."

[Corwin]

"I did get that part, but what I'm asking is whether the deeds must be judged as more important by some impartial, objective system, or whether it's the subjective perception of others that decides whether I've accomplished something outstanding," Seira elaborates.