Deep into the Infinite Stair

[Ebiris]

Alicia shrinks back to normal size next to Jessica, a bit battered but whole. Reaching over to her sister she provides her with some healing with a flow of silver fire.

+150 hp for Jessica.

"Is physical hardiness an important prerequisite for the divine seed that you guard?" she asks.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 447/704
Active spells:  Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34)
Defences: AC 69, CMD 90, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +25 competence perception
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/13/9/8/6/8/7/5/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/21/11/7/9

[Anastasia]

"No," Is the answer as Jessica flashes you a smile. "If you broke that easily, there is no point to any further trials."

"What if you had killed us?" Jessica retorts right away.

"Then you would die," Complete disinterest, not a hint of anything at all.

[Ebiris]

"Is your time so valuable that you need to weed out applicants?" Alicia asks, starting to descend the stairs again while magic slowly layers around her and Jessica.

I'll start adding buffs now from my SLAs now but depending on how soon the next battle starts I may not get all of them so I'll run down the list and benefits when that next happens.

[Anastasia]

"That is not important," Is the dry answer you get back, "Only that you lived or that you died."

[Ebiris]

"Did the Incarnation instruct you on what to do after someone takes what you guard?" Alicia asks, deciding to probe a bit while they have the chance.

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Is the answer, to the point.

[Ebiris]

"Are you anticipating it? Dreading it?" Alicia presses in the face of that mono-syllable reply.

[Anastasia]

"...I merely await it." Is the answer at last, but there is a few moments pause before that.

[Ebiris]

But what is it? It could just as easily be 'kill yourself' as 'go enjoy the splendour of Creation' given how the Incarnations are.

Whatever it is it doesn't sound like the guardian is interested in sharing but she'll ask anyway. "What is it specifically that you're awaiting?"

[Anastasia]

"I am to leave this Creation," It says at last.

[Ebiris]

That seems rather harsh. "And go where? Did the Incarnation of Balance equip you to survive in the Beyond?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Is the answer, simple and to the point.

[Ebiris]

"That's something at least..." she allows. "The Incarnation of Balance has been missing for some time. Will you try and find it again?"

[Anastasia]

"Perhaps," Is the answer at last, "It did not forbid that to me."

[Ebiris]

"I'll wish you luck. Although I suppose we're getting ahead of ourselves..."