The duty to live

[Anastasia]

You can see how you'd develop it and various ways you could manifest it. Afterwards Mystra rests back, "I need to rest now," she declares, "Master this magic and spread it to all our allies - or even those who Shar opposes that are not intolerable. I do not think...it can be used against others easily, but prudence is wise. Marielle, would you watch over me while I rest, so that none can take advantage of my moments of weakness?""

[Ebiris]

"I'll watch over you," Marie promises, several other copies of her appearing around the room while the real Marie vanishes.

"I'll spread it around, we'll worry about counterstrikes later then," Alicia agrees. "Stay safe, both of you. Come on Syala."

She opens another gate to leave, after which Marie dimensionally interdicts the area before asking, "Do you want me to sing for you?"

[Anastasia]

Mystra smiles faintly, "Please, Mariel-Marie." She corrects herself, "Let me hear you sing."

[Ebiris]

The real Marie and all of her illusions smile as well before she launches into song, a whimsical tune about a hard-working but unlucky mundane every-girl who keeps trying her best, certain that her luck will turn around.

It's silly and not really meaningful like the kind of songs she breaks out when she's trying to fight back against Shar's song, but everyone can appreciate a bit of silliness now and then, even Mystra.

Inspire greatness tacked on because why not, it'll make her feel better.

[Anastasia]

Like this Mystra rests under your song, revitalized.

Meanwhile Syala returns with you to Sylica. "Damn it," she hisses once through, "Of course it was a distraction. Thank Sharess you didn't bring Antenora to that meeting, or you'd never have gotten there in time."

[Ebiris]

"Don't tell her that, but you're probably right," Alicia agrees. "If Azuth was right it may well have even been Penae's proxy spark that was used for the attack."

[Anastasia]

"That...fits too well," Syala agrees at last. "She wanted us in particular out of the way of this. Why?"

[Ebiris]

"We couldn't have stopped it - it was a surprise attack after all. She probably wanted us unavailable for the aftermath. It took five deities of magic to barely sustain the weave for those few seconds Mystra took her attention from it. If any one of us had been absent, it's possible the entire endeavour would have failed with catastrophic consequences."

[Anastasia]

"We did as best we can, I know." Syala agrees with you, "But the best isn't always enough. What is that bitch going to do with Mystra's blood?"

[Ebiris]

"There's a lot - use it as a reagent for some sort of further attack on her is the most obvious one, but there are more worrying prospects. You know how the simulacrum spell works?" Alicia goes over the possibilities. "Some stronger shadow-stuff version of that of Shar's devising is hardly out of bounds."

[Anastasia]

"A second Mystra?" A quick, almost strangled noise, "A second Weave?" Syala eyes you, "What could a simulacrum or clone of Mystra do?"

[Ebiris]

"It wouldn't have divinity - no spell can copy that, but it would have Mystra's knowledge, and Shar might well be able to grant it divinity whether with a proxy spark or if she has access to any godseeds of her own," Alicia speculates. "What it could truly do or what Shar would use it for... well, ultimately we know it would be nothing good, don't we?"

[Anastasia]

"Nothing good," Syala echos.

Got any immediate reactions to this?

[Ebiris]

Do I understand the magic Mystra showed me enough that I can share it with people or do I have to study up on it before I'm confident in that?

Also is it anything I can use myself? I can retrain a spell for it if it's within my level though I guess that takes time.

Did I get an idea from studying the spell Shar used that tells me how it was targeted - ie a scrying effect, and the range it would have to be in around the target? In other words to know the safe sort of radius dimensional blocking would need in order to stop it from getting through to start with.

[Anastasia]

You do, sure. You could make something with it or I could if you want.

You'd need roughly 30ft of blocking in theory, but you'd guess higher would only be prudent.