Destiny now lies in the hands of...

[Anastasia]

"You did well," Antenora says, as a cheer goes up from the warriors who watched. "Alicia! Alicia! Alicia!" is chanted.

Syala agrees with, "But you couldn't overwhelm her like a typical challenger here. You're used to fighting with an advantage."

Heavenly Rock bows his head to the three of you, "It may be so," he admits, "Few mortals can hope to challenge my skill in melee. Most battles are over in a swing or two."

[Ebiris]

Alicia pauses for a moment to raise a fist in response to the cheers from all the watching warriors before she returns her attention to Heavenly Rock. "I think I'd quite like to see you fight someone like Jaela of Aurora, that would make for a spectacle," she says. "Win or lose, I hope you enjoyed our battle together."

[Anastasia]

The solar rises and steps aside, "I did," he says, "Glorious battle to you below."

[Ebiris]

"I hope you don't have to wait millions of years for your next good one," Alicia returns, leading Syala and Antenora on and downwards.

[Anastasia]

Downwards. Deeper in as the lava drips, sizzling when it hits the ground. It's a carved stairway that goes straight ahead and downwards. As you travel it, "He was good, but he had no supporting magic," Antenora remarks. "I suppose that's enough for the warriors who challenge him here."

[Ebiris]

"He was good enough that I had to heavily dip into my own magic," Alicia says. "That's plenty respectable."

Speaking of, she'll cast sensual blessing now so she can see better through the caves they now explore.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 724+240/724
Active spells:  Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 35)
Defences: AC 88, CMD 91, spell resistance 50, 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 skills/attack/saves, +9 shield AC, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception
Perceptions: Arcane sight, 3 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/16/9/9/14/9/8/5/6/3/4/3/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/21/10/7/12

[Anastasia]

"She's plenty good, though I wish Marie had come," Syala says, "She shoudl stretch her -"

A stop as a deep rumbling quake passes through, a few moments of shivering earth. "Jormugandr moves, or so the legends say," Antenora hurries along. "We must be closer to the portal."

[Ebiris]

"Marie's worth having back home to keel Sylica safe in case something happens while we're here. She's formidable now," Alicia says after the rumbling, continuing on with divine quickness.

That's not as quick as Antenora or Syala.

[Anastasia]

That makes Antenora smile all the more as you head down. The heat gnaws at you, burns hot, but you proceed on.

At the bottom of these stairs is a large, clear portal, which blocks further progress. Slithering and curling around it is a child of Jormugandr, endlessly chasing its tail, never quite close enough as it moves around the portal metal's rim. Said rim is carved and inlaid with pale white bones, polished bright. It blocks further progress, tightly coiled around the portal forward.

[Ebiris]

Approaching the portal, Alicia addresses the giant serpent. "We wish to proceed into the lair of your parent. Will you allow us past?" she asks.

[Anastasia]

Here the serpent coils and turns so that its head faces you, "You overcame Heavenly Rock?" You are peered at, "The feel of the divine? But I do not know your names, exalted ones."

[Ebiris]

"My name is Alicia Reynes - I befriended one of Jormungandr's grandchildren before I ascended around twenty years ago. These are Syala and Antenora, and we rule Sylica," Alicia explains for the giant snake that has been literally living under a rock.

[Anastasia]

"Goddess of Redemption," Antenora steps forward.

"The Angel of Love," Syala joins her.

The serpent's tongue flicks out, a few puffs of poison that dissolve into the air before they reach you. "I know not of it, all I know is the portals and passages. As the divine your dominion over this realm is without question." The serpent slithers away from the portal, over and above you, clinging to wall and ceiling. It is well over a hundred feet long, surrounding you on all sides. "Know that the World Serpent moves. He may not stop even for the divine, and any in his way are overrun."

[Ebiris]

"We understand. Thank you for your warning," Alicia says. Considering they're going to a place the world serpent tolerates no others, that sort of thing is inevitable. Actually... "What areas are safest within?" A cunning question that doesn't betray their true intentions!

[Anastasia]

A laugh. A loud, riotous laugh. "Safety? There? Where life comes for free every dawn and death has no meaning?"