Destiny now lies in the hands of...

[Ebiris]

Can I sense the rest of Jormungandr past the maw?

[Anastasia]

Yes.

[Ebiris]

Alicia raises up her sword in reflex but she doesn't immediately attack.

"Guardian of Balance's prize, we challenge you!" she calls out.

In aquan because that's the best language for talking underwater. She's sure the specific language won't matter to the guardian though.

[Anastasia]

The maw of the great wyrm twists into a fang filled smile. "Brave as any warrior here," it says, "So you challenge me, is that it?"

[Ebiris]

"For the seed of divinity you were charged with. Whatever your terms," Alicia confirms with a nod, trusting they'll be as fair as those set by the one on the stairway.

[Anastasia]

A long chuckle at that, "You react calmer than Jormugandr does," Is the answer you get instead. "You've been to Ysgard before, gone on trials here and fought - oh, your realm's here? What do you need this seed for, then? And is that a devil?"  A sniff-sniff, "Pretty little thing."

[Ebiris]

"Former devil," Alicia says mildly. "We also faced one of your counterparts at the bottom of the infinite staircase. But the seed doesn't just give divinity, it augments it as well. Our burgeoning pantheon could well use that extra boost."

[Anastasia]

"Thus here we are," Antenora says blandly, not inflecting in the slightest.

The Guardian looks on in open amusement at it all before, "Don't worry yourselves, I have just the thing."

[Ebiris]

"You are our host, so please go on," Alicia bids.

Seems a lot more personable than the stair guardian.

[Anastasia]

"Now I could fight you but that's boring. You die against Jormugandr and his top lieutenants and minders, but most others you crush," The Guardian goes on, "No, let's not do fighting, at least normally. Let's send you somewhere interesting first. Somewhere of my own creation."

A white and red portal appears before you, still and quiet.

"How did you find out about me, by the way? After so long I thought the Incarnation of Balance would never bother to use us." he asks.

[Ebiris]

"It was actually something left behind by the Incarnation of Law that told us of you," Alicia says without getting into the specifics. "Though we managed to find your counterpart at the bottom of the infinite staircase simply by chasing down legends and stories. So what will you have us do through that portal? Fighting? Puzzles? An obstacle course?"

[Anastasia]

"All of the above," The Guardian smiles, "Then some, too! You've had a lot of experiences in Ysgard."

[Ebiris]

"Makes sense to stay with the theme of Ysgard," Alicia nods. "Alright, we'll give your creation a go. Come on Antenora, Syala," she bids, swimming for the red and white portal.

[Anastasia]

You land with a soft thump.

You stand on a small island amid a sea of lava. Just enough room for the three of you - who have no weapons, armor or anything but yourselves.

"At least that didn't get my light," Syala remarks, but you hardly have time to talk. From the lava they erupt - four great red serpents, a little similar to the Children of Jormugandr but not quite. Thinner but longer, more graceful in the air. Each one drips burning rock as they emerge, the island surrounded.

"Tsh," Antenora makes a sour noise, "Of course that's what the Guardian does."

All gear is gone besides Syala's light (which is more of a power than gear, honestly). Init.

At least the math is way easier since a lot of your big bonuses are provided by divine rank rather than gear.

[Ebiris]

"Of course it's like that," Alicia says in irritation, now without her sword. Well, that's what magic is for.

Alicia has supreme init.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 794+240/794
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 35), repelling shield (CL 35), extended ray deflection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 35), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), recitation (CL 35), opal protection (CL 35), sensual blessing (CL 35), arcane sight (CL 35), freedom of movement (CL 35)
Defences: AC 98, CMD 122, 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 50), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills/attack/saves, +9 shield AC, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC,+8 saves vs poison, +3 luck attack/saves, +3 morale AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, 3 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +82Perceptions: Arcane sight, 3 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/10/9/9/3/8/4/5/6/3/3/1/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/13/13/6/10/7/1
Moments of prescience: 2