Getting the band together

[Corwin]

"I remember. After all, Demedais is one of my closest friends," Seira agrees. "It's made things awkward around Kelemvor's followers. Still, can you show me how it's done? I just can't grasp how to move from words to action here."

[Anastasia]

"You gather it to yourself, you prepare and you do it. You contest the other - and know it isn't a fast process, it requires skill and setup," Waukeen explains, "If all is in order, you will contest the other and it will come down to the two of you. You may yet fail here, or be stopped by hostilities. The most common response to such a thing would be war, as well as escalating it to any allies the other deity has."

A sip here, "I would not recommend taking from another good deity. I have reliable information that this is discouraged. However, Kelemvor was not a deity of good, nor was Helm, not truly, until that time."

[Corwin]

"What of Fire? With how many of us represent it, what would happen were I to go after Imix? Could Eblis intercede on his behalf? Could Zaaman Rul on mine? Would the final word be Kossuth's?"

[Anastasia]

"Kossuth holds supreme authority over Fire," Waukeen says, "I am not deeply versed on it, but I know that what happens in Fire is ultimately what Kossuth wants. I would step with supreme caution there. It's unlikely to be a wise investment unless Kossuth is one of your fellow investors in such a scheme. For even if you took something from Imix, you would still be under Kossuth's authority after, and if he disapproved? I hardly think you will find it any gain at all."

[Corwin]

"It always made me wonder why there were elemental princes and princesses on opposite ethical side that didn't contest each other in that way, so this makes sense to me now," Seira admits. "How about you? There's Mammon, and probably a couple others that you could contest. Why have you been content to keep to the status quo instead?"

[Anastasia]

"I would find absorbing fiendish trade distasteful," Waukeen says, "Nor do I want the massive entanglements of expanding deeply into those realms." Here she shakes her head, "I have nominal authority there by my position, but it is not a position I wish to enforce or have an allied deity maintain. It would ultimately be bad for business." Another drink of her wine, "I have no use for Graz'zt, Mammon, Dispater or even when the General of Gehenna oversees trading in his Crawling City. I do not wish to become something that would oversee those things as eagerly as I do the rest."

[Corwin]

"In that case, can it be that the reason you're not stepping fully into Good is that you're worried someone might step into the space in between, where you'd actually be interested in enforcing your authority, but Graz'zt and these others might support a challenger to you?"

[Anastasia]

A swirl of her remaining wine, a long sip. "There are many reasons, that is one. Commerce is not cut and dry. It can score wounds as surely as the battlefield, or see to death as easily as a sword. Trade can sustain a nation and cutting it off can choke the same nation to death. A ban on trading to another kingdom can result in famine and so much death." With that Waukeen finishes her glass and holds it up, her servant coming forth and refilling it. With one more sip and looking at you over her wineglass, "Money is also one of the great ways to influence Creation. I have no passion for battle, but I have fought and killed many times, often without lifting a weapon or uttering a word of magic."

[Corwin]

Seira had done the same through intrigue, though it is always more satisfying to just go out and do things. She takes another leisurely sip of wine as she listens to Waukeen, asking afterwards, "Where do you see my divine power expanding? I'm interested in what you consider its natural course to be."

[Anastasia]

For my reference here, post your portfolio and domains?

[Corwin]

Domains: Hope, Knowledge, War, Good
Portfolio: Good, elemental balance, investment, the future
Worshipers: Mages, knights, unarmed fighters, good elementals, idealists

I also have strong ties to fire and (meta)magic through my SDAs.

[Anastasia]

"Fire and the elements," Waukeen says, "Dragons and commerce for certain." She considers it, "Perhaps other things, but those feel the most important as you grow. All connected by your core ideas."

[Corwin]

"I've always wondered if I could expand into healing. I really like the idea of helping people that way! As for the elements, is there anything for elemental harmony? I'm pretty great with fire, but I wouldn't want to neglect the rest."

[Anastasia]

"It's against the grain," Waukeen considers, "You'd be on your own there, but that also means more opportunity if you can exploit it."

[Corwin]

"It's not like I'll have the chance in the immediate future," Seira muses. "I also like building things, though you'd know that from all the temples. Public works, too. Is there anything that cover this?"