Shadow rondo

[Anastasia]

The scissors stab into the angel's ankle - and with a keening cry it collapses. Colke lies there, robes bloodied and herself once more, back to human size.

Free act, that was well chosen.

[Ebiris]

How circular. They went to 666 to find a weapon against Shar, abandoned it and made their own, and now that same weapon sees use against 666.

Alicia tucks the scissors away and lifts Colke up by the arm. "We should move to somewhere more quiet," she tells Jessica and Antenora, not wanting to linger here after such a dramatic display.

[Anastasia]

As flames spread, "Somewhere holier," Antenora agrees, "Somewhere proof against 666."

Jessica agrees with a quick nod before, "Swiftly, the natives are stirred."

[Ebiris]

Alicia casts a gate to the shores of Mount Celestia then and simply drags 'Colke' through, carrying her above the holy waters so she isn't needlessly burned.

It feels a bit of a shame not to simply bring her home to Sylica, but the light of Chronias which shines down on them represents truth to such a powerful degree she deems it their best bet.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 854+20/854
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 39), extended mind blank (CL 40), extended nondetection (CL 40), greater heroism (CL 37), extended ray deflection (CL 40), epic mage armour (CL 37), sensual blessing (CL 37), greater foresight (CL 39), keen edge (CL 37 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 37), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 39), freedom of movement (CL 37), greater visage of the deity (CL 37), recitation (CL 37), good hope (CL 37)
Defences: AC 108, CMD 118, spell resistance 52, 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 55), 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, +2 morale ability checks
Perceptions: Arcane sight, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/9/5/8/5/6/7/7/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/21/11/7/16/3
Moments of prescience left: 4

[Anastasia]

The light is bright, intense. You all step through, the greasiness of that foul rain gone from your bodies. Colke continues to howl even now, hiding her face from the light above.

[Ebiris]

"Now we'll have the truth out of you," Alicia says over that howling, standing so she's frame in that light above 'Colke', her shadow offering the barest refuge. "Who are you, really?"

[Anastasia]

In this light the woman resists - and begins to cry. Her anger falls into sorrows, "I don't want to die," the woman howls, "I want to live! I don't want to make the lie into a truth!"

[Ebiris]

"What lie?" Alicia presses. "You need to tell us or we can't help you."

[Anastasia]

Antenora is there next to her, silent but watching.

"This lie...as long as I live, it becomes more true." Is her answer. "About Colke."

[Ebiris]

"What is Colke, then?" Alicia asks.

[Anastasia]

"I don't know! I had to flee after it happened," Is her answer, "I had to go and do this. I had to."

[Ebiris]

"Then what happened? What are you being made to do?" Alicia asks, still no clearer on any of this.

[Anastasia]

"We found what we feared," Colke says, voice growing less and less expressive by the moment.

[Ebiris]

"Who's 'we'?"

This is like pulling teeth!

[Anastasia]

"All of us. All of that are supposed to be Colke but aren't," Is her answer. "There's so many of us. We found...we found...there's no truth. There's nothing there."