A Return

[Anastasia]

"We can still go," Amaryl says, "Perhaps we can get them to tell us, talk to us."

"I wouldn't at all. We all have our secrets, Seira," Waukeen says, "We cooperate, but we are not obligated to share everything, nor is that wise. Besides, knowledge can be valuable so long as it's rare." With a bit of a smile, "I've made plenty of coin with the right secret at the right time."

[Corwin]

"Maybe we will," Seira muses. "Before we drift too far into travel plans, however, I really want to wrap my head around anathemic knowledge. Its origins, its purpose, its weaknesses."

[Anastasia]

"You understand there's things that are best not known by others?" Waukeen says, "Secrets best kept away for various reasons? That's it's purpose in simplicity. Take the Hidden Layers of Arborea. They were hidden as part of the Temporal Compact - and also a move to hide Yggdrasil, which happened at the same time as the fey and eladrin split, which a story of its own. They are hidden so time cannot be easily found and manipulated by others. To leave that open leaves open others falling afoul of the Temporal Compact, which saves lives lost to curiosity."

[Corwin]

"So a powerful conceptual secret was needed, and someone, probably Mask, came up with this? In that case, am I immune to that defense? Is Amaryl?"

[Anastasia]

"Mask is one of the best with it, but any of us can craft it, as can superior magic beyond mortal magic," Waukeen agrees, "The concept itself was created by the Arch-Angels of Elysium or the yugoloths, depending on who you ask. I put my money on them both developing it at the same time, both of them use it extensively. It's possible to make anathemic knowledge with different requirements to remembering it. It varies - but we're generally able to overcome most mortal anathemic knowledge, and much of divine anathemic knowledge does not apply to the divine. It's harder to apply to us, since we know so much and have such an information flow. Should a worshiper overcome anathemic knowledge we have not and continue to reference it to us in prayers and deed, we will overcome it as well."

[Corwin]

"So if I wanted to place a concept within a riddle, I could make it anathemic knowledge?" Seira nods slowly. "Does it rely on the language of creation, or its lower counterpart?"

[Anastasia]

"No, it's work with alter reality. Precise work and time consuming," Waukeen notes, "A few notes. Someone who knows something already won't forget it once it's made anathemic knowledge. It took all of us to largely wipe knowledge of the Hidden Layers away for instance, though even then, some powerful creatures shrugged it off. Once a secret it out it's far harder to return to being a secret, so it's best used for things still secret. Things known widely known simply can't be made anathemic. You can't make the sun or the concept of trees anathemic knowledge."

Amaryl frowns, "I was waiting for that, I thought of making the concept of fiends anathemic knowledge."

"Far too broad," Waukeen concurs, "Dearie, it works best focused."

[Corwin]

"I'm merely thinking of proprietary spells kept secret, outside of select worshippers. Would it work, Waukeen?"

[Anastasia]

"It's been used before," Waukeen notes, "Not commonly, but it's been done." Considering it, "The sole problem with it is that anyone you grant it to can't be affected by it, and if they choose to spread and try and break it, you can have a problem - or if they use in the presence of someone who can overcome anathemic knowledge. That aside, it should work."

[Corwin]

"It's meant to be a nice perk for my most trusted servants," Seira elaborates. "I'm not Torm, I won't break if one of them disappoints me. I just want these spells to stay as secret as possible for the longest time. I'm experimenting with divine rewards, see? I've finally nominated a proxy, and I'm going to reward Kascha once she returns. Actually, it makes me wonder if I'm ready to make a second avatar. Do you, like, know when it happens? Or just keep on trying until it works?"

[Anastasia]

"You'll know as you grow," Waukeen says, "Don't worry, I think you and Alicia are both close - oh, don't tell her I said that, Mystra told me that in confidence." A smile after that, warm and conspiratorial.

[Corwin]

"Sorry, I probably will," Seira apologizes. Waukeen knows her quite well to guess at that, in any case. "Ah, just one more question about divinity, if you don't mind. We're pretty sure Amaryl is close, but what we've tried so far has failed. Do you have any advice?"

[Anastasia]

"Keep trying. It's something that Amaryl herself has to do in the end," Waukeen says, "Dear, you're close, and it'll happen when it's time. It's not helpful I'm afraid, but it's something you can't force unless you're one of the Incarnations."

[Corwin]

"Since I learned that divine sparks were transferable, I've been wondering if maybe... but alright, you certainly know best," Seira reluctantly agrees. "I have a lot of questions, as always, but we should probably talk about the reason I've been intending to see you?"

[Anastasia]

"Mmm-hmm, Emily showed up and begged me for something to let her go to a Prime safely," Waukeen says, "Not that I blame you, children will do as children do." Waving a hand, "I wasn't going to bill you for it, I let her believe that without saying a word after she promised. Still, how did she break that ring? It's irreplaceable, it's magic that was forbidden by the Incarnations not long after Creation was born. When they started forcing us to be more away from the Primes, they soon found magic could largely circumvent the limitations they set on this. So they modified the Weave directly so it cannot do so on that level, but allowed a few trinkets to survive. That was one of them."

Amaryl gasps, a hand to her mouth, "It was that old and valuable?"