Shadow rondo

[Ebiris]

Well, he was probably in the set up phase since there weren't yet any clues of that. "I see. The one on the prime, do you know where specifically? Which prime?"

[Anastasia]

"A world with a city called Balmuria." Is the answer, "A man there in particular, a military commander. A symbol of power for newly risen deiti..." she pauses, looking up at you with surprise.

[Ebiris]

"Yes, that's hitting a bit close to home," Alicia agrees dryly. "Very well, we'll take care of these extras and find the original as well. Which just leaves you..."

[Anastasia]

The woman looks up - no argument with that, merely awaiting your words.

"Don't be afraid," Antenora says, "You're a victim. We won't punish you for being a victim."

[Ebiris]

"Indeed, I was inviting your own thoughts," Alicia admits. "But..." she steps back and looks up at the light of Chronias. "That light was your deliverance as much as we. So I give you a simple charge, to climb the mountain and seek it. Find the truth."

[Anastasia]

Be not afraid.

Not even 666 will reach you here.

Your words make the woman nod deeply to you and manage to stand, then bow. The soft words of Zaphkiel make her turn and begin to stride forward. Off towards Celestia she goes, the first steps taken onto the beaches of Lunia.

"Lord Zaphkiel?" Jessica murmurs quietly as she goes.

You all did well to bring her here.

All of evil is ultimately negation and destruction, to rebel against what is right. Without good, evil cannot exist, but good does not need evil to exist. Where lies ultimate truth, the opposite must be the ultimate lies.

[Ebiris]

"It's all a trick," Alicia whispers ruefully.

I should have just asked you to begin with, but I don't like to be over-reliant. The 666th layer is no tool of the Incarnations, is it?

[Anastasia]

Your desire to stand on your own and learn is a credit to you. Should I feel the need to speak up for your sake, I will.

It is not, but it is closer than other things in Creation, just as Chronias is closer.

There are no glories there, no promises of a perfect eternity. All that lies there is hatred, loathing and the defeated acceptance of that sole keeper of the realm. He knows he's lost, hasn't he? He knows he made the wrong choice. All he can do is lie and try to desperately make what is wrong correct.

Even my counterpart knows that in his heart. The darkest evil is that which accepts darkness in place of the light and seeks to spread. Baator is the ultimate expression of his conclusion and his false Answer. You understood this anew when you spoke of the glories if even one in a thousand could be saved that would otherwise be damned.

Shall we slay him? It is bad enough we have to cooperate with evil that can at last recognize that we must stop Ao.

You may try, but know his power is extreme. He will fight you with every lie that has can make true. You very natures may change as you battle him, as his power alters reality. The Abyss itself will not take his death lightly, and will oppose your efforts. Demon princes will be birthed as you battle, new horrors created to destroy you, and the designs of the Abyss will strive to bring great evils to challenge you as you fight on.

[Ebiris]

Oh, by the way did the gemstone of truth drop when Colke melted away or is it gone now? Presuming it's not on the woman since she was described as naked but if she had it I'd have taken it back before sending her off!

If nothing else, we need to resolve these false Colkes and rescue the original. Whether it becomes a fight to the death or not, we'll see... but we have to go back there.

[Anastasia]

It dropped and is there to be taken, safe and sound.

Hone yourselves on this challenge.

Antenora bows her head in thought as she levitates the pendant into her hand. She studies it silently until she speaks.

He is not wholly malicious, but...

Jessica turns her head to Antenora and speaks aloud. "Hm?"

"The Man of the Winds," Antenora answers. "Our success was due to his gift. A fiend that has seen the heart of evil and rejects it. A contradiction. He wants us to kill what lies in 666." With a scowl, "If we go that far, let's ensure we're ready to swiftly dispatch him if he has airs that he'll take over 666."

[Ebiris]

"We'll see. If not him another will, the Abyss abhors a vacuum," Alicia says. "But there's a reason I'm only using this gem for matters pertaining to 666. Lets return to Sylica for now," she opens a gate to do so.

Now then, has she heard of any Colkes in Balmuria from recent prayers or the like?

[Anastasia]

You have not.

[Ebiris]

Once they're safely back in Sylica? "I think for 666 itself, we shouldn't tempt fate by going in force. Myself with that gem for protection and Antenora with her innate dominion over truth are probably best. Although we shouldn't let those other Colkes run free so in the meantime everyone else can work on detaining them."

[Anastasia]

"It'll still be dangerous," Antenora agrees, "But I agree. It's best that way."

"I'll see to it with the others, sister," Jessica seconds, "Call us if you need us."

[Ebiris]

"And the same, although I hope you won't have much trouble - especially not if we're distracting the focus in the Abyss," Alicia says to Jessica before turning to Antenora. "Ready? We'll do our typical approach - though I worry it may be predictable enough by now we'll encounter trouble before we even make it to 666."

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: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/9/4/8/5/6/7/7/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/21/11/7/16/3
Moments of prescience left: 4