Silken touch

[Ebiris]

"It gives the impression of being bound by rules more than desires," Alicia agrees, which is why she thought it like the guardians of the godseeds left by the Incarnations.

Of course the non-magical power of lies into truth and vice versa of this plane also reminds her of the guardians, and that's really what they're here to investigate.

"But then it did look like we were about to be attacked before we left the last time, didn't it?"

[Anastasia]

"You could potentially think that," Antenora concurs. "You might even conclude it's afraid of us."

The look of loathing, of hate on the not celestial's face becomes tighter, clenched.

[Ebiris]

"The little fragment Malcanthet has from here, was that really all she desired?" Alicia asks, changing the subject to get back to the mystery of this layer.

[Anastasia]

Malcanthet is a shortsighted fool.

[Ebiris]

Is that a lie? Telling her what she wants to hear, perhaps?

[13:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+137 sense motive, divine insight
[13:02] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 157 > [d20=20]

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 831+20/831
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), greater true seeing (CL 36), vision of the omniscient eye (CL 36)
Defences: AC 87, CMD 113, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 insight perception
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +97
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/7/5/8/6/7/7/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16

[Anastasia]

You don't think it's lying, or it at least believes the opinion it just put forth.

[Ebiris]

Well, fair enough.

It's not an out there opinion.

"Still, it appeared to hold a power to affect change beyond magic. I believe I've only seen it's like in certain circumstances," she says, carefully couching her language. "From what does it derive?"

[Anastasia]

You are wise.

[Ebiris]

Alicia wonders if that's a truth meant to become a lie (or the reverse) in order to make her foolish.

She shares a glance with Antenora, nothing said immediately, just seeing if anything's making her react.

[Anastasia]

Antenora glances back at you and after a moment?

Perhaps then that you could speak more of this?

It does not matter. The fated hour is not yet here, but soon.

[Ebiris]

Alicia redirects her attention to the giant corpse-thing.

"Who is to say what hour is fated?"

[Anastasia]

The thing writhes back, as if in the grip of some great pain. Lesser versions of itself come from weeping rends in its flesh, buzzing about it like flies.

Many will say it, and you are perhaps not so foolish to not know who said it.

[Ebiris]

"Hmmm."

She makes lots of noncommittal hums and grunts and sighs here, doesn't she?

"And should the fated hour come, is it your place to change or confirm the outcome?"

[Anastasia]

It is to do what must be done.

[Ebiris]

Another look at Antenora, gauging her reaction and giving her a chance to voice anything of her own in response to that.