A Return

[Anastasia]

"Both," Waukeen says, "It's as much impact as what you do. It's an art deciding which, though at times far past, the Incarnations would directly judge certain matters."

[Corwin]

"Ao, the Arbiter and a third that, apparently, split himself across the Lawful realms?" Seira affirms. Her powers are enough to assure the three of them are not overheard by any means without contesting her directly and making her aware, so they can move onto more sensitive topics.

[Anastasia]

"The Incarnation of Law, the Incarnation of Balance and the Incarnation of Chaos. The Incarnation of Chaos is Ao," Waukeen begins to lecture as you eat, voice slipping into regal, instructive tones, capturing your attention. "The Incarnation of Law's fate is unknown as he vanished long ago, and the Arbiter may or may not be the Incarnation of Balance. They have not told us, though it is entirely possible that it is the Incarnation of Balance."

[Corwin]

"Do we have special privileges and special duties, where it comes to them?" Seira inquires, pacing herself as she eats. It would be unseemly to inhale the meal after what she and Amaryl had told Vayley. "I was prevented from dealing with the God-King after my ascension, but it was the one limitation I've hit thus far that was directed at gods." She frowns, adding, "No, the first. The second was the conceptual weapon wielded by Aurora's Sylvie. I'm asking as much to learn of this as to know whether I could approach Ao or the Arbiter, and what the response would be in such a case."

[Anastasia]

"You don't really approach them, not anymore," Waukeen says, "They approach you when they choose." More eating, a lull in the conversation.

"They sound distant," Amaryl remarks, "Like a far away stag fleeing from a hunter."

"They are, these days," Waukeen agrees. "Simply do anything the Incarnations tell you to do. That will suffice, though there are a few special duties as well. Tell me, Seira, what is the purpose of Creation?"

[Corwin]

"But what if I do?" Seira asks stubbornly. "Can I even go where they are, or where an avatar of theirs is observing? If I tried a Sending, would I get slapped down by a giant hand reaching from the sky?"

[Anastasia]

"They are beyond where we can reach, usually," Waukeen says, "An attempt to teleport to them would uniformly fail. A sending would be ignored." Taking a sigh at that, fingers gently rubbing her forehead as her fork rests on her plate, "Imagine them as faraway teachers, observing but rarely choosing to make themselves known. It's rather vexing, as at the beginning, it was far easier to find one or interact with them. They're grown rather withdrawn as the ages pass."

[Corwin]

"So it's not forbidden by decry or anything of the sort?" Seira muses, thinking that the Arbiter, at least, should respond to her given his expectations of she and Alicia.

"In any case, to answer your question as well, the purpose as I understand it is to decide between Law and Chaos in some metaphysical way. Also, possibly with Good and Evil as well? That wasn't clear, since the ethics came from people and the question existed before people. Is that generally correct?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Waukeen nods, taking another bite before going on. "Back then, dear, the Incarnations decided they wanted an Answer to the question of law and chaos. So Creation was made, and we brought them the question of good and evil, which became part of the Answer they seek. For you understand the point of Creation is to find an answer to these questions. It may seem like a simple question to you, or most anyone who has strong beliefs. Yet, how many oppose you? How many choose another way, from a minor divergence to a complete opposition to the way you live?

[Corwin]

"And yet, people are generally good. Not give my last shirt to the beggar good, but given a choice between harming someone and cooperating, they choose the latter reliably," Seira states. "That is the very basis for most societies on Primes, and any society going against this model is kept by outside forces. Often, literally by force. As people band together naturally and work together in small things, that shows the way things truly are. But the Outer Realms are different. They're exactly opposed, of equal strength despite the way most souls must avoid the grasp of evil. It's artificial." Seira nods to herself. "This always bothered me, and it can let most those in the know get discouraged as they try to plug an endless leak. But if it's all by design, then things make sense!"

[Anastasia]

"Really? Optimistic." Waukeen notes, "How many people cheat on their spouses, steal 'just a little here and there' or merely eat too much so another goes hungry? Not all evils that lead to the Lower Planes are great, titanic things heroes have to overturn. Not all people are give your shirts to a beggar good, but nor are all people kill and slaughter an entire village evil, too." A sip of wine, an excellent vintage chosen by Vayley. "But you're also not wrong about that last part. Creation is designed."

[Corwin]

"It was an oversimplification," Seira concedes. "We could go into the specifics another time, but I'm confident this is correct. And not just because game theory points that way, or due to my observations from my explorer days. Once I know more about the rules we're constrained by, about this design, perhaps I could tailor my proof better?"

[Anastasia]

"Go on, what do you want to know?" Waukeen invites.

[Corwin]

"How did Creation come to be? Why did the Incarnation of Law split himself? Did the concepts of Law and Chaos and Balance exist before Creation? Do they hold more power, more realness to them than the ethical aspects?"

[Anastasia]

"As far as we know, the Incarnation of Law hasn't split himself," Waukeen says, answering the questions readily enough. "The concepts of Law and Chaos had to have existed, as the Incarnations pre date Creation...though that is an interesting thought exercise."