Mystran rest

[Anastasia]

She is not resisting.

Her mind is a mess and somewhat segmented, but it's also clear she's been set up to be responsive. She sought and found a portal in Xzanlayth.

"Oh, I personally answered a prayer of a couple who asked my aid in being happy together," Sharess says, "But had trouble in the bedroom. I helped them, guided them and what do I get? Once they're happy they go and dedicate themselves to Lathander! They weren't even Lathaderites before this!" A low, feline growl follows. "I wasn't even subtle! How did they even reach that conclusion?! Sharess is the one who answered our prayer, so we're going to go off and serve Lathander after!"

Syala massages away, "There, there," she whispers, "For all the wonderful mortals, there's still idiots with no taste and no gratitude."

[Ebiris]

Alicia takes a moment to recall what she herself knows about Xzanlayth.

Take 10 for 105 on planes with all the buffs.

"Mmm, I know the feeling," she says, still paying attention to Sharess amidst her focus. "I had one follower a few years ago that was quite devout and serious all while training to be a warrior, then went mad with the joy of battle the first time he got into a real fight. He's with Tempus now."

Really with Tempus; he fell into a spike trap and then had burning oil poured over him by angry kobolds. Alicia likes to think he'd have done better for himself if he'd stayed faithful to her.

[Anastasia]

"It is completely unfair," Sharess seconds, as more treats appear before her. Chocolate and orange this time, and a tray of your own appears before you. "So ungrateful, so..."

As Kascha takes a treat, "Mortal?" she asks, quieter.

"Yes! Exactly!" Sharess says, "You're new, but you have any stories yet?"

"Nothing like that," Kascha admits, "Just...I've seen one Seira helps go on other paths. There are good strong seeds and there are seeds that wither no matter what I try."

Syala levitates a snack up for herself as Sharess holds a hand up, Syala stopping. A blink and Sharess is behind you, rubbing your shoulders. You have to admit she's inhumanly good at it, you want to melt into a proverbial puddle under her hands. "You do what you do so well, but mortals get the strangest ideas in their heads! It's like pouring out a glass of water and instead of falling, it decides to rise up back to the clouds and turn into lightning!"

Syala simply settles into where Sharess was and starts enjoying her abandoned treats.

Meanwhile, you recall Xzanlayth is very obscure - an old elven fortress that fell into the Abyss. It's said a battle between Orcus and Demogorgon had something to do with it, and that it fell into a layer neither controlled by accident. 433 if you remember what you heard, an obscure layer said to be ruled by some sort of mud demon.

[Ebiris]

"Oh, paying me back for all the times I've pet you as a cat?" Alicia asks, groaning at the literally divine massage she's being treated to, reaching up to take one of the chocolates for a nibble.

Armed with her own knowledge and refreshing the magic that boosts her recollection, she probes Kina-ja's mind a little further. What did she find through the portal?

Presumably the first answer gave enough context as to the portal's specific location and any means of activation? If not that would get clarified first before moving on to this question.

[Anastasia]

The portal is in the center of it, just past the throne room.

You see that she found nothing - a place that is nothing at all, until he saw her. A figure of ivory and gold, of wing and beauty. A celestial, an angel. A thing that stood out from this place, beautiful and utterly impassive.

Meanwhile, as you groan under Sharess's gentle ministrations, "You're one of the good ones, Alicia. I should appreciate you," Sharess agrees.

[Ebiris]

"Martin's doing well, by the way," she agrees, asking Kina-ja what she and the ivory-gold figure spoke of.

[Anastasia]

"I know," Sharess smiles at that, "He's growing into a lovely tom."

Nothing. Kina-ja spoke her desire and it said not a word - but she left, knowing she had what she needed when she needed it.

And yet, in spite of seeing it, she did not notice the look of hateful loathing the angel sent her as she departed.

[Ebiris]

"I've got what I needed from Kina-ja, thank you," Alicia says a moment later. "A route to that layer and an idea of what awaits there. She didn't explore it thoroughly or anything."

[Anastasia]

Sharess leans in and hugs you from behind, a soft purr as she does. "I'm glad you got satisfaction," she agrees. "It's too bad you aren't one of mine, we would have gotten along so very well."

"Mystra has silver fire and isn't afraid to use it," Syala doesn't hesitate to add that. "And before you say it - Waukeen has enough gold to bury you if you look at Seira."

"Mrrrrr," A vaguely cat like noise as Sharess lets you go, "You're no fun today, Syala."

"Not today, not with Shar," Syala shakes her head, "Sorry, Sharess, I have greater worries."

[Ebiris]

"We get along well enough as it is," Alicia smiles and pats Sharess's hand  over her shoulder. "Kascha, would you like to come with us on this trip? We'll wait for Antenora and Jessica to come back first, since Antenora's divine power over truth will probably be essential for this."

[Anastasia]

"I'd love to," Kascha says, "A phoenix may be important as well, because a proper rebirth may matter."

[Ebiris]

Alicia has one last chocolate before they go. "Thank you Sharess. I wouldn't want to look for salvation in the Abyss, but I hope this is something we can use against Shar without damning ourselves."

[Anastasia]

With this you go off and...

Okay, prep for this trip and who all is going?

[Ebiris]

See what Jessica and Anty have to report from their trip first?

Party is Alicia, Syala, Antenora, and Kascha. I'll do combat buffs after Jess and Anty's presentation.

[Anastasia]

"He's gone to ground," Jessica answers, "We checked his normal haunts, but he's hiding. We can find him with time, I'm sure."