Getting the band together

[Anastasia]

Make sure it harmonizes with everything else you represent. That is important, as you are many parts that make a whole. Woe to your mind if you tried such a thing, to make yourself whole with something you are not. The madness of a mortal is terrible enough. The madness of the divine? A nightmare, Seira dear.

All I am gathers into what I am. All you are gathers into what you are.

[Corwin]

Can you show me an example, perhaps? On second thought I'm not as sold on secrets, so I'm interested in seeing how one's mandate expands. Without the insanity, of course.

[Anastasia]

"Kascha dear, we'll be right back," Waukeen says, offering you her hand.

Kascha blinks and looks up, "I'm sorry?"

"We'll be right back," Waukeen repeats. "I need to go show Seira something."

[Corwin]

Seira waves at Kascha, taking Waukeen's hand. In case the older goddess tries to transport them, she'll allow it to bypass the Cauldron's defenses to streamline the process.

[Anastasia]

In that instant you are elsewhere. It's a quiet place - a grassland, sunny and bright, with a single hill rising up. You are atop that hill, where covered seats stand. A single human is here, clad in finery and bowing.

"We'll have something pleasant and summery," Waukeen declares, "But nothing too dry." The man bows without a word and vanishes as Waukeen goes to sit. Once done, sitting to face you as you sit as well, "You recall Helm's recent move regarding Kelemvor, of course. While not the perfect example," A pause as the waiter returns with wineglasses and wine, pouring each of you a glass. Waukeen has a sip as he steps back, face impassive. "Mm. A good vintage," she says approvingly. "Helm's exact task is not quite on the scale of what you seek, but elements of it are instructive for your position."

[Corwin]

Seira swirls the wine in her glass, studying its appearance before taking a sip.

"I'll need to make sure I know how to watch out for such things to protect myself, and having the ability to step in when someone's being careless with their duties is important. I don't doubt the Cauldron will be seen as a target given that we have several young deities."

[Anastasia]

With the light going through it, it's the shade of rubies. It's a full taste, like sweetness and the memories of long summer days in childhood. It brings those memories to mind as you savor the taste.

"Now," Waukeen says, "That being said and before we go on, cooperation's always preferable unless it's a fiend or someone incompatible with you. I suppose you could quarrel with Alicia or Sulia over good for example, but conflict for its own sake doesn't help us here." She has a long long, slow sip of her wine, eyes closing. "Merely representing things and expanding your domains and portfolio doesn't always mean conflict. "

[Corwin]

Seira nods her understanding. "Besides," she voices, "it's different when you just want a foot in the door as opposed to competing over dominating the concept yourself?"

[Anastasia]

"In a word? Yes." Waukeen says, "Should you choose to represent wealth more acutely, I'd care little so long as you didn't try to take my position. Mystra has no quarrel with Alicia representing magic in part as well, nor does she have a quarrel with Hanali having some influence as well."

[Corwin]

"How does it go, practically? For either case?"

[Anastasia]

"Practically?" Another sip, a rumination, "With a lot of talking if the powers involved are on speaking terms. If not, the opinions of the other hardly matters. Now, if it's something grander, like what Helm did, it's more complicated. Do you have any more questions before we get to that?"

[Corwin]

"Let's get to it!"

[Anastasia]

"First of all and most importantly..." Waukeen smiles a bit, "Helm centered his move around what he was and his duty. He is the vigilant guard, even over the dead. He made this a natural extension of himself, beyond reproach from his existing position and duties."

[Corwin]

"So, if there were a theoretical deity of Good that I felt was shirking his or her duties, I could use my own nature to expand into their responsibilities by claiming them as my own? Is that what you're saying happened with Helm?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Waukeen says, "It's only current politics and positioning that prevented a true divine war," At this the Golden Lady sips and smiles, "I didn't think Helm had that sort of political acumen, but he pleasantly surprised me. Even then, their clergies have been fighting at times, and there's going to be bad blood there for a long while."