Mystran rest

[Anastasia]

Mystra considers a long time, "But..." she muses, a sudden stop that seems to completely interrupt her internal train of thought. "Is there any way Shar could do anything else with it?" she muses aloud. "I do not think it possible, but with whispers of the Beyond in recent times, I have to question it."

[Ebiris]

"My initial thought was making something like a simulacrum," Alicia says. "A false Mystra made of shadow with a sizeable fraction of your might and knowledge, if not your divinity. But... well, what you say opens up greater possibilities, doesn't it?"

"She's definitely got something bigger in mind than a simple curse, if she said this is her victory then it has to be something that'll shake Creation," Marie puts in.

[Anastasia]

"Something vast," Mystra agrees, "Have you heard anything that could indicate what she plans, Alicia?"

[Ebiris]

"Little, her gloating was vague of course," Alicia says. "The only other recent news is only rumour, it came from Queen Morwel and she cautioned I not spread it too far. She believes three new deities have risen to serve Shar. A gloom, a daemon, and a leshay. Three would certainly fit if she'd acquired a god seed of her own, although I don't see what benefit she could gain from your blood in regards to them."

"Well, Mystra - what could you do with your blood?" Marie asks, since she and Alicia don't have the same sort of knowledge as Shar has, but Mystra knows a lot more.

[Anastasia]

"Almost anything," Mystra says, "It's a tiny fragment of the Weave." She answers, "Imbued with all the spells that pass through it and the patterns of magic." Here she rests, "So many things. A droplet could restore an entire Prime to the Weave if it was severed. Two could grant a mortal, should they survive it somehow, the magic of a grand archmage. More could do almost anything."

[Ebiris]

"She could use it to imbue her minions with great magical power, but that seems... too mundane," Alicia says. "Not enough for her to crow about her ultimate victory."

"Could she use it to make her own Weave?" Marie suggests. "As a template for something she can expand with her own power?"

"What would she do with it, though?" Alicia asks. "It wouldn't serve as a way to circumvent any of the restrictions on magic laid down by the Incarnations, and chronomancy would still draw the attention of the temporal compact."

"Maybe she wouldn't do anything different, maybe it's purely a way to horn in on Mystra's business. Like Helm did with Kelemvor," Marie offers, giving Mystra an apologetic look for talking about her having her job stolen.

[Anastasia]

"Another Weave," Mystra muses, "An Anti-Weave. A Dark Weave. A Shadow Weave?" Her expression turns grim, "If nothing else, perhaps she could find a way to circumvent some defenses with it, or at least anti magic, if not worse."

[Ebiris]

"Perhaps, but it's a relatively minor trick isn't it? And it would be equally defenceless in return," Alicia says. "Perhaps look out for spellcasters who suddenly stop appearing to cast spells on the Weave but haven't died? That might be a way to indirectly find evidence of such a thing?"

[Anastasia]

"I do not think it will be minor if Shar speaks highly of it," Mystra says, "She has many flaws, but empty boasts are not one of them. Your point is taken, and it will be trivial to check for such things."

[Ebiris]

"We don't know that's her plan, but if it is I think it's the long term prize of usurping your role that counts as her victory, not the mechanical differences in spells cast over this theoretical second weave," Alicia says.

"Of the possibilities we've discussed it's the one that feels grandest," Marie puts in. "That makes it feel like we're on the right track."

[Anastasia]

"That it does," Mystra agrees, "Should the worst have happened from this attack, and were she fast enough, she could well capitalize in the chaos if that is her plan."

[Ebiris]

"It could have been a lot worse if all of us weren't here to help," Marie seconds that. "So what now?"

[Anastasia]

"We stay vigilant and await our chances," Mystra says, "If we find evidence that this is Shar's goal?" Her expression becomes tight, "We will remind her that her duties cover loss, and instruct her in how to lose."

[Ebiris]

"We'll be ready," Alicia promises. "And in the meantime we'll give our support to Selune's impending attack." Unfortunately they're just not strong enough to attack Shar themselves without the support of a greater power like that.

Maybe one day, but she'd trade that for a decisive victory now with Selune's help.

[Anastasia]

Okay, so that's winding down. Any immediate move in response to that?