A neverending field

[Anastasia]

You believe that the 5 and then 3 at the start are important, particularly the 3.

You reckon that the 1 means the ultimate conclusion has something to do with the self.

The others are more complex and probably interrelated. The problem with numerology is that there's so many interpretations of numbers. For example, the 49 could mean 7*7 and be a reference to the Heavens. Or it could be meant to be read as 4+9=13, and 13 as the addition of 6 and 7, to signify some sort of conflict between the Abyss and the Heavens. Or 13 as a symbolic notation of the self and the echo of the Three Incarnations. Or that instead that the 49 is incomplete and other numbers there hold the solution, if properly applied.

Or it could all be complete and utter bullshit. The more you look at it the more you don't believe it is, however. There's a structure to it. 5 and 4 dominate as the first number to non single digits. Numbers never increase in digit size more than once in a row, but they often go down in digit size more than once in a row. 49 repeats twice, including just before the end.

49. 493. You notice there are two matching instances of 493 as well. 5 always immediately follows 493. 5, the number that combines truth of the self and soul to overcome the truth of death. You feel that there is something here, you can see more and more of a pattern. If you just had a key, or could divine some further insight, something to break it open. Hm. The number 5 starts the biggest numbers, while 4 starts only smaller ones.  4, the number of death, overcome by 5 and the truth of the planes and realities beyond the Prime.

For reference: 493. 5. 3. 390944. 5920. 49. 580284208424. 54935. 5938. 0928300. 384. 589382984298. 49. 1.

[Corwin]

As the scroll she created with divine will evaporates into sparkles, Seira massages her temples with a sigh. "...yes, there is actual meaning here. Probably to do with truth and the existence of outer planes trumping death. I'll run it by a friend of mine who is the best numerologist on the Inner Planes--" She glances over to Alicia and Kascha, asking, "If that's okay?"

[Ebiris]

"I've got very little stake in this," Alicia admits freely. "Do as you please with this knowledge. But to get to the point, we can assume there is in fact something dangerous on the 666th layer left behind by the guardian of 21, or the incarnation of balance itself?"

[Corwin]

"I can't say for certain it was left by the Incarnations or their direct servants, but it should be something incredibly dangerous and powerful. The only question is, do we go there or try to investigate first?"

[Ebiris]

"I'd be leery of going there now since after Malcanthet's display it feels like a baited trap," Alicia admits.

[Corwin]

"I'm honestly not sure what the right move here is," Seira commiserates. "Perhaps by going we could draw Shar's attention to it. But staying away means loser demons like Malcanthet could be all over it."

[Anastasia]

"Hm." Kascha's quiet as she listens to you two before, "Do you thinks he was trying to bait you into that, Alicia? Get you curious, investigate and destroyed by whatever is there?"

[Ebiris]

"It's one angle, she was after all very open about where she got it from," Alicia says. "And one thing to know about Malcanthet is she always has a lot of angles."

[Corwin]

"And she's always very open?"

[Ebiris]

Alicia sighs softly. "Yes, you can go there too if you want."

[Corwin]

"In a bind like that, what can we do but try to laugh?"

[Anastasia]

Kascha blushes and loudly clears her throat. "The problem is that Malcanthet lets anyone go there if they want." She manages to keep a straight face for a few moments before she smiles momentarily. "I'm sorry, but I think Seira has a point. A moment of levity can help us focus ourselves." After another moment, "It's the problem with the planners of the planes and the plotters. So often it seems they play to win, but in ways where they eliminate the ways to lose. I'm trying to learn from them and improve my new followers and our plans, but it's difficult. I've studied some of Hell's moves versus Asmodeus's motivations from my time in Aurora, and somehow he always seems to advance something. Even when we unquestionably win, he can sit back and know that he's moved something, damn it."

A breath out, "So if we're right, how d we make Malcanthet take a loss and be unable to avoid it?"

[Corwin]

"I imagine that any negotiations with Malcanthet broke down?" Seira muses. "And she probably posed a bit about how you'll be sorry and she'll turn up the pressure? I haven't really worked against her, but what if we go after her now? Whittle down her followers, remove her schemes where we find them, perhaps even deal with her properly?"

[Anastasia]

"I'd imagine that if she saw that as a possibility, she'd have support from another power," Kascha points out, "If talks fail, violence follows. She has to know that. Didn't she call on favors when you faced her in Rosewater, Alicia?"

[Corwin]

"Favors usually need to be repaid, and unlike us in the heavens, no one would keep on helping her time after time out of the goodness of their heart," Seira points out. "It sounds like she's at her most vulnerable now."