Io's Labyrinth

[Nephrite]

"It really was too many coincidences..." Moore murmurs to himself as he continues with the others.

He takes in a breath. "What of the other two who aren't here? Is the plan to have all of us ascend?"

[Anastasia]

"It is possible," Io says, "That is questions all of you will have to answer yourselves. But hurry, I am right above you."

[Nephrite]

Moore goes silent as he considers all of this. It's quite a lot of weight on his shoulders!

[Ebiris]

"Antenora remains my faithful ally, and has earned her apotheosis through our discoveries and her enlightenment," Alicia says, not really seeing why they should get hung up on having a set number of Ones. Any with the capability to achieve it and the sense to make for a good ally is welcome by her reckoning.

Still she continues to ascend the stairs.

[Anastasia]

On and up, higher and higher. Higher and higher, higher and higher. Higher yet.

Then at last you stand atop the stairs, atop the tower. Here an endless field of stars glistens above, like jewels set into the black silk of the night sky. And yet a larger thing looms below it, something titanic. Something so big a single scale makes Baleruk seem tiny. Here a great wyrm rests, the wyrm of wyrms, in every shape and way a dragon. A dragon of steadily changing shade, shine, tint and even exact form. It is all and none at once, and then you realize it. The night sky is not above it. The night sky is a cloak it wears, as if carrying the entire sky on its back.

"At last," Io's voice is more in his presence, overwhelming and yet quiet, meditative. Thoughtful. Despite the size, the voice is not loud, overwhelming as it is. It simply is, in a way that is more than other voices. "I greet you, chosen ones."

[Nephrite]

Moore isn't entirely sure what the correct protocol is for this, so he just manages to somehow bow his head quietly in greeting.

Even so, several questions whirl about in his mind. Surely, this is the time to have them answered, isn't it?

[Corwin]

Seira curtsies, lowering her head in respect before raising back with a happy smile. "Thank you, Lord Io," she responds. "It is a pleasure to finally reach this point."

[Ebiris]

Queen Morwel gave her a dress that looks like that cloak!

"Well met at last, Io," Alicia nods in respectful greeting to the father of dragonkind. "I'm sure you have much to tell us, face to face."

[Anastasia]

Antenora bows deeply to him, "Thank you for your aid thus far."

Amaryl inclines her head deeply to him, silent otherwise.

Jetina bows, "It's good to finally met you. It's...it's like your the night sky. All of it."

Oberuth meets bows his head as well, "At last," he echos.

"There is much to discuss," Io agrees, "Do you understand what being One is now?"

The Father of All Dragons observes you all coolly, eyes swirling with stars, great cosmoses glimpsed within his gaze.

[Corwin]

"Self-ascension outside Creation's borders, and outside the purview of its Incarnation masters?" Seira ventures. Best to try and oversimplify the explanation and see if it's right. "I presume it works by defining yourself so firmly in the Beyond that it allows you to project your will upon Creation afterwards, though even if I'm correct I'm curious whether there's a functional difference between the One ascension and achieving godhood within the rules."

[Anastasia]

"Close," Io says, "Deific ascension is related to becoming One, but One is defined by self sufficiency. Should the powers of Creation attempt to escape into the Far Realm, they will find themselves ultimately unable to survive and be consumed. They are not sufficient by themselves. They will endure a time, but in the end they are tied to Creation. They are a part of it and without Creation, they will not last. One is capable of standing beyond Creation and enduring. A large part of my journey to Beyond was grappling with that truth and growing to deal with that limitation."

"The Incarnations took this ascension and the power from it, but tied it to Creation for their purposes. To become One is not to become an Incarnation or gain their power, but it is to gain the power to endure beyond Creation's bounds. The ability to become something others are drawn to, sustained by like the cool waters of an oasis. Thus why the divine is ideas and represents domains and portfolios, for One represents what and who they are through their powers."

[Corwin]

"I'm sorry, but part of that just doesn't follow," Seira objects. "If Amaryl and I were to venture beyond Creation, we would be sufficient to protect each other and cover each other's weaknesses. Besides, if enough of us decided upon that, what would stop us from establishing a smaller but still stable Creation of our own?"

[Anastasia]

"Then," Io asks simply, "Can you defend Creation from a single Far Realm creature? Perhaps. Can you defend it from 10? A hundred? A thousand? All that operate on rules that hurt your mind or are incomprehensible, who may be able to slay you in a way you cannot even understand? A single Beyond creature, left unchecked, could unravel Creation, and Creation is maintained so that the Far Realm does not easily intrude. You would not have that benefit."

After a beat, "I know. I tried. I failed." Io's expression meets Seira's.

[Corwin]

"You made another Creation, but were unable to keep it safe from incursion over an extended time, and it was destroyed?" Seira confirms. "Whereas Antenora, if she were to make it, could form an enduring Creation that would last?"

[Anastasia]

"One is the power to endure Beyond and without Creation," Io says, "But to create and endure the hazards of Beyond, to make something lasting, requires far more. The Incarnations are beyond the power of the denizens of the Far Realm that I have met, they are beyond the powers of Creation, they are beyond even One. I left Creation to pursue perfection - and in my heart I sought to rise to the station the Incarnations had reached, so that I may become closer to perfect."