Knowledge shall lead the...

[Anastasia]

"The end comes," The gorgon says. "The dreams of the end have begun. The dream of the prophecy is complete. Nothing can change this final, inevitable fate." It speaks very softly throughout. "Will you spend your last times in conversation with me?"

[Corwin]

While a clash of all the higher powers draws near, this twilight of the gods will not necessarily be the End. Not for the Creation we all love and protect, Seira responds.

The prophecy, if you refer to the Prophecy of Primus, has a fatal flaw. I'm confident in it, after studying it for considerable time. We can, in fact, change this supposed fate and we will do so, she promises, before frowning in consideration. My offer was of a proper conversation, as you must have so much to teach us, while sharing our unique perspective with you might well bring something new to a being who has nigh-everything, but if you desire my company until the battle for Creation's fate, I can provide an avatar to go with you into the Beyond. I wouldn't run out of things to talk about, that's for sure.

[Anastasia]

"You do not understand," The Guardian says, softly. "It has begun. Shar moves. There is no time to wait. Today begins and it is the Last Day. This test means nothing now."

[Corwin]

I don't believe that, Seira says honestly. However, on the off chance it is the truth, please give us what aid you are able. If direct interference is forbidden, there was one who opposed Shar with Zaphkiel's blessing. You are not bound by the Temporal Compact, and could glimpse at Ianvasah's soul, mind and memories at the moment just before she was destroyed by Shar. You can also copy her soul, memories and sense of self and place them into a fresh body. If you pick a duel between us as your trial for us, then you are allowed to spend your power that way.

[Anastasia]

"Liar," Oberuth declares, "What, you wish to test us in a nightmare, Guardian?"

Elle's breath catches but she takes a long breath, "I agree, I do not believe you."

Sanzha merely titters, "The best part? I'm sure you could put on an incredible show otherwise to convince us."

"I have no reason to serve your wishes or request," the Guardian says, plainly.

[Corwin]

I cannot force you into anything, Seira agrees. I can, however, plead my case and hope that you agree. From the moment you were created, you've lived in a hidden corner of Creation, able to see everything but never to interfere. Even this one time you can leave your mark on Creation by choosing which side gets the divine seed, you are forced to leave immediately afterwards and never to return. So it comes back to the question of do you love the land of your birth? Do you want Creation to prosper? Do you want to give us the best chance at driving off Shar and striving to make an ever-better life for everyone?

[Anastasia]

A silence.

"This is not the first seed you have collected?" A plain question, to the point.

[Corwin]

You are the second guardian I am challenging, Seira responds, nodding. I have been granted a single use of two other seeds that were used to elevate my friends, however. If you refuse us, others will come. Given the coordination on the part of those wishing to save Creation, there is a very high chance that any other approaching you in that case would wish it ill.

Gesturing at her side at Oberuth, Seira says, Look into the Commander's past. See what he had done for his people. View the sacrifices he had made. Look at his judgement of the God-King, Daa-vid, and of how he brought back the others who fought desperately for Creation alongside him. It is from there that I got the idea that there might be powers that could bring back the dead that are barred even to a deity of my stature, if only I could plead my case before them properly.

Elle is next. My oldest friend, loyal and curious. She had lead a good life, and had it all. There was no reason for her to throw herself fully into danger, to wade into the front lines of the many conflicts we have engaged in to try and make life better across Creation. Yet she did it without even being prompted into it.

Looking at her other side, Seira smiles. Sanzha, a good friend and a close ally despite the way we occasionally clash over our perceptions. I hope to show her the inherent goodness in all one day, but that never held us back from bringing everything we had into our partnership. She, too, could've aimed to take back all that she had lost, but instead she chose to join my cause with all that it will entail. There were no promises of renewed ascension at the time, no explanations of the reasons behind our actions. Yet she went all in, and was indispensible in rediscovering secrets known only to Io and sharing them with others.

Smiling at the guardian, Seira says, Unlike myself, it is their first time seeing a being like you. I cannot imagine how terrifying it must be, yet you saw the way they immediately stood against you at your suggestion to give up. Test us further if you wish, for we are willing to prove our mettle. We will not stray. However, if you hold some measure of sympathy for the Creation that has been your home all this time, please find it within you to make those trials in such a way that would help us further should we succeed in them.

[Anastasia]

You said something sufficient for a diplomacy check, go ahead and gimme one.

[Corwin]

21:19 <Seira> roll 1d20+95 divine insight
21:19 <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 96 > [d20=1]

[Anastasia]

"Then we will begin," The Guardian says at last, her throne fading back along with her. "Prepare."

[Corwin]

Since she's giving them the opportunity, Seira casts the spells she needs to share with everyone here before nodding at the Guardian in resolution.

Glorious Rally, Celestial Valor, Recitation. Everyone gets Superior Vigor. Seira will also cast Arcane Spellsurge on herself and activate the Armbands of the Spark and Fire Devotion.

Benefits to Oberuth, Elle and Sanzha from this and the long-duration precast spells:
AC: +17 normal/+12 touch/+12+ghost touch armor/shield incorporeal (+2 insight Foresight, +5 sacred Shield of Warding for those with shields, +3 luck Recitation, +2 dodge Visions of the Future, +5 natural armor Dragonskin, +ghost touch armor/shield)
Attack: +13 (+4 sacred Celestial Valor, +6 morale Glorious Rally, +3 luck Recitation)
Damage: +10 (+4 sacred Celestial Valor, +6 morale Glorious Rally)
Fort and Will Saves: +13 (+4 sacred Celestial Valor, +6 morale Glorious Rally, +3 luck Recitation)
Ref Save +16 (+5 sacred Shield of Warding, +6 morale Glorious Rally, +3 luck Recitation, +2 insight Foresight)
Ability Checks: +2 (+2 morale from Good Hope)
Init: +2/+6 (+2 morale from Good Hope, +4 one-time bonus from Sign)
72 temp hp

Also fast healing 8 (Superior Vigor), immunity to all death spells, magical death effects, energy drain, and any negative energy effects (Mass Death Ward), immunity to poison and fear (Heroes's Feast), energy resistance 30 to fire/cold/acid/elec/sonic (Energy Resistance x5), being a difficult target to divination (Nondetection), becoming impossible to track without magic, and limiting the usefulness of scent (Pass Without Trace), moving and attacking normally everywhere, as well as receiving +15 to CMD vs grapples (Freedom of Movement), being healed with 150hp once if dropped below 0 (Fortunate Fate), reflecting 1d4+6 spell levels of spells that have you as a target and aren't touch spells (Spell Turning), +10 enhancement bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks and a really nice and deep commanding voice (Voice of the Dragon), true seeing, +10 to perception and immunity to being dazzled or blinded (Vision of the Omniscient Eye), immediate ability to analyze magic (Greater Arcane Sight) and our favorite combo of detecting when someone's scrying on you and blocking their teleport for 3 rounds any time they try to teleport within a 165ft radius of you.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Seira

AC: +14 normal/+9 touch/+17 incorporeal (+2 insight Foresight, +5 sacred Shield of Warding, +2 dodge Visions of the Future, +5 natural armor Dragonskin, +8 ghost touch shield)
Attack: +10 (+4 sacred Celestial Valor, +6 morale Glorious Rally)
Damage: +10 (+4 sacred Celestial Valor, +6 morale Glorious Rally)
Fort and Will Saves: +10 (+4 sacred Celestial Valor, +6 morale Glorious Rally)
Ref Save +13 (+5 sacred Shield of Warding, +6 morale Glorious Rally, +2 insight Foresight)
Ability Checks: +2 (+2 morale from Good Hope)
Init: +2/+6 (+2 morale from Good Hope, +4 one-time bonus from Sign)
72 temp hp

Arcane Spellsurge
Armbands 10/10
Fire Damage +7 7/7

[Corwin]

Amusingly, this also reminds me I had +10 more to Diplo.

[Anastasia]

"Get ready," Elle warns as abruptly space moves around you and - !!!

Go ahead and roll init now, we'll be using a stable init with things added to it rather than lots of new init sets.

[spoiler]

Glorious Rally, Celestial Valor, Recitation. Everyone gets Superior Vigor. Seira will also cast Arcane Spellsurge on herself and activate the Armbands of the Spark and Fire Devotion.

Benefits to Oberuth, Elle and Sanzha from this and the long-duration precast spells:
AC: +17 normal/+12 touch/+12+ghost touch armor/shield incorporeal (+2 insight Foresight, +5 sacred Shield of Warding for those with shields, +3 luck Recitation, +2 dodge Visions of the Future, +5 natural armor Dragonskin, +ghost touch armor/shield)
Attack: +13 (+4 sacred Celestial Valor, +6 morale Glorious Rally, +3 luck Recitation)
Damage: +10 (+4 sacred Celestial Valor, +6 morale Glorious Rally)
Fort and Will Saves: +13 (+4 sacred Celestial Valor, +6 morale Glorious Rally, +3 luck Recitation)
Ref Save +16 (+5 sacred Shield of Warding, +6 morale Glorious Rally, +3 luck Recitation, +2 insight Foresight)
Ability Checks: +2 (+2 morale from Good Hope)
Init: +2/+6 (+2 morale from Good Hope, +4 one-time bonus from Sign)
72 temp hp

Also fast healing 8 (Superior Vigor), immunity to all death spells, magical death effects, energy drain, and any negative energy effects (Mass Death Ward), immunity to poison and fear (Heroes's Feast), energy resistance 30 to fire/cold/acid/elec/sonic (Energy Resistance x5), being a difficult target to divination (Nondetection), becoming impossible to track without magic, and limiting the usefulness of scent (Pass Without Trace), moving and attacking normally everywhere, as well as receiving +15 to CMD vs grapples (Freedom of Movement), being healed with 150hp once if dropped below 0 (Fortunate Fate), reflecting 1d4+6 spell levels of spells that have you as a target and aren't touch spells (Spell Turning), +10 enhancement bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks and a really nice and deep commanding voice (Voice of the Dragon), true seeing, +10 to perception and immunity to being dazzled or blinded (Vision of the Omniscient Eye), immediate ability to analyze magic (Greater Arcane Sight) and our favorite combo of detecting when someone's scrying on you and blocking their teleport for 3 rounds any time they try to teleport within a 165ft radius of you.

Lady Sanzha
HP: 735/735 (fast healing 3)
Negative Conditions:
Aura:
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Channel Elements 16/16 Bardic Music 35/35 Water Devotion 1/1 Trident Elemental Damage 3/3
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active:
Notes:

Elle
HP: 851/851 (fast healing 5)
Negative Conditions:
Aura:
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Dragon Breath (DD) 1/1 Touch of Vitality 126/126 Mythical Cast Maximize 3/3
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL35)
Notes:

Commander Oberuth
HP: 1205/1205 (regeneration 35)
Negative Conditions:
Aura:
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Defensive Stance 13/13 +5 One Attack On FA 1/1 (rnd) Take 10 On One Attack 1/1 (rnd)
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active:
Notes: Immunity to sickened and reduces nausea. Immune to critical hits and precision. Allied defense applies combat expertise to all adjacent allies.

[Corwin]

Supreme Initiative, DvR5