Crossed swords

[Nephrite]

[12:09] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+18+18+15+2
[12:09] <Penuche2> Nephrite invokes Penuche's magic: < 68 > [d20=15]

+1 for 69.

[Anastasia]

There's an even longer silence after those words.

Redswan.

Donald cracks a smile at that. "Yeah, she is more of a red swan. Black's not Seira's color."

[Corwin]

"Red, gold or when they merge into orange," Seira agrees. "One of the things that form the core of my thinking is that if people communicate properly, they can resolve just about any difference." A shame she can't really make a proper aspect of it, though she supposes Hope covers the basics here. "I don't want to hurt you. I want to find a way where your life is better. I do have things that I want for myself, of course, but I can and will put your wellbeing ahead of them. So once again, let me ask you. Does my very presence here harm you, in a way that will only be fixed if I were to go away?"

[Nephrite]

Moore nods to her words. "Anything is possible when you have people around you to believe in, or who can offer you a helping hand."

[Anastasia]

It is another wave of emotion that hits all of you.

Fear. Fear, fear, fear, fear. Faces, images. The great powers of the planes at a chess board impossibly vast. Countless pieces in play, all hurled against one another endlessly. Around the chess table are other creatures, from minor to legendary. They are taken onto the board, added into it with endless avarice and rapidity, more and more added to the endless game before them.

Fear. Drowning fear. A million years and a million more, again and again, each moment with one fearful thought: They'll use you. For their aims, for what they consider worth it, for their own greater goods.

[Corwin]

"Not all of us will," Seira responds gently. "And fewer still would do that to you if they understood. Those of us here? We've had our chances at greater power that wasn't worth the cost, and we turned it down. We'll keep on coming into our own soon enough, without the need to sacrifice our principles or people like you."

She shows him the time she crushed a demon lord, and was offered the chance to replace him. An entire layer of the Abyss, at the command of a young mortal mage. But the mage chose her friends over this temptation.

"We all have stories like this. Something that helped us understand just what it is we stand for."

In a vision meant just for him, Seira shows the Shining Watcher the crystallization of her nature as she became One. It won't be relayed perfectly, nothing can manage that, but if he can grasp even an incomplete image he should understand her better.

[Nephrite]

"I can only tell you about my own experiences..." Moore trails off, but offers an image of him forming friendships with those around him when he joined Aurora - and further friendships when he started working so closely with Celestia. Further still, bonds between himself and Jetina, two people who escaped a place so few ever do.

"There are people like that in Creation - but Seira is right, we understand the meaning of Hope - something that binds all of us as friends, comrades, colleagues, and allows us all to be stronger because of each other's support." He says quietly.

[Anastasia]

Are you using alter reality for this, Seira? It's hardly undoable, but the exact power and scope matters here.

[Corwin]

Either that or Miracle. I don't really see how it matters here, so whichever of the two I think would accomplish my goal better.

[Anastasia]

This image brings yet more silence.

This lasts until...

IjustwanttoliveasIamnowbutotherswillusemeevenifyoudon'totherswill.

IfthehungerreturnsIamlostandsomanydiesomanydiesomanydie.

"I know," It's Jetina who speaks up here, "Death is the enemy, and you won't be an agent of the enemy. Good. That just means we'll have to make sure you don't. If you like, we can research how you can stay here and avoid being moved from the Positive Energy Plane."

[Nephrite]

Moore looks to consider something before he speaks only to his allies.

It's the most extreme solution, but I do have to wonder what a charge of one of the seeds might accomplish.

[Anastasia]

Perhaps reckless, but perhaps that would work? If it did not, a divine tarrasque would have almost nothing that could stop its hunger.

I think it's a good idea. The seeds seem to have a restorative aspect to them.

That is...Seira, what do you think? It seems either measures too bold or measures too clever.

[Corwin]

You cannot live as you are and be truly safe, my friend, Seira tells the Shining Watcher. But you could find safety by becoming more, similarly to how I showed you for myself. If you trust me, I can help you control your hunger by showing you how to base yourself around the concept of wishing to keep others safe. Through that, you too will become safer than ever, and my friends and I will always be at your side to help you so nothing is left to chance.

[Anastasia]

Just to be clear, giving Moore a chance to add in here since this is not a trivial discussion or possibility.

[Nephrite]

Moore rubs his chin for a moment. I admit, that would also likely work, but I don't think you can convince our friend to leave here willingly. We may have to do it in a reverse order... but it would still accomplish the goal. Moore says to his allies.