Emancipation

[Corwin]

Seira continues heading forward, wondering how it looks from the side. Is she surrounded golden sparks and gradually fading from existence? Has she already crossed over? Or is that all an illusion her mind tells her, and nothing seems off until she'll suddenly disappear from those endless green plains?

[Anastasia]

Light. The light is growing brighter.

Incandescence.

So much radiance.

No further.

You come to a stop at words that are not words. A figure on the horizon, a figure of many wings, of many that gaze on at you. A woman seen in the glimpse of the light, "No closer," A whisper, yet it carries to you. "Not even you can return if you go farther. Those that watch the seal see and hear you. They approach."

[Corwin]

"Thank you," Seira responds. "If you're keeping an ear to the ground, you must know why I'm here?"

Who do I think that is? My knowledge checks are ~120.

[Anastasia]

You believe the figure is Cantasa Alexandria, seen from afar.

"I know," The figure answers, "You search, but you are not the only one."

[Corwin]

"Duke Moore's looking into it as well, and we've shared our notes with Alicia. Are there others actively pursuing this?"

Seira doubts any of those that collaborated on this subject have actually done so, but it'd be interesting to know what Cantasa Alexandria thinks.

[Anastasia]

"Those that you know," Is the answer you get, the figure of light radiant and yet hidden, just far away enough to be out of clear sight.

[Corwin]

"Are there those I haven't mentioned that are pursuing this? Miscommunication kills, so please tell me in words that can only be interpreted one way."

[Anastasia]

"No, it is those that you know," Is the answer you get again, as you see figured begin to emerge from the light, radiant, seven more.

[Corwin]

"Thank you," Seira responds, staying in place as requested until the angel coming to visit her arrives.

[Anastasia]

They are sevenfold - each one taller than you, looming figures with six wings and inhuman eyes. Eyes of sheer light - and yet after a moment blindfolds appear over each. As one they speak, "We hear you and obey, divine one. What is your bidding?"

[Corwin]

"I've taken this unusual step in the hopes of advancing an important project of mine," Seira addresses them. "I have been researching a ritual designed to open a portal somewhere between Creation and the Beyond with my trusted companions, one we believed was created with 21's power. I seek your insights in the hopes of finally comprehending the ritual in its entirety, rather than the disjointed snippets that we currently hold, numerous though they may be."

Seira produces her research notes, ready to provide them for reference.

[Anastasia]

You see each hovers above the ground, feet tied together with lengths of silken rope. Seals and sigils are scrawled onto their feet, holy names engraved there, not a one touching the ground.

"We shall advise you and what we know and how we can help," Is the answer they give. "As you will it to be."

[Corwin]

Seira smiles at them, the information painstakingly collected passed over to the angels.

"Thank you. Since I am already here, I also wanted to use the chance to ask if you have any information you could share with me on the Lost Chalice and Dis."

[Anastasia]

"You see the Lost Chalice." The voice of Cantasa Alexandria asks, as the seven others take your information, studying it. "Our vision is on things of holiness, not those of wickedness." A beat, "Yet some of this is known to us. We know she is held where none other save Dispater can reach, and we know that great lies and illusions and entire realms are there to fool seekers otherwise, all that ultimately lead to nothing. To reach her would require defeating Dispater in his citadel of his greatest strength."

[Corwin]

"To be fair, defeating Dispater anywhere would be a tall order," Seira voices. "But do I have to defeat him? What if I could stalemate him long enough to escape with the Lost Chalice? I've heard that she is kept in his tower, which is a massive demi-plane filled with enemies. Thus, I need either a way to find her location, or the means to enter an enemy's divine realm without being spotted immediately. Or, perhaps, using my portal research as a launch pad to teleport across a demi-plane?"