The cycle of improvement

[Anastasia]

She speaks!

I had thought you had been struck mute and dumb. I feared that your mind had snapped and all that was left is a body that would be little more than a glorified paperweight.

[Iron Dragoon]

Come now, there's no reason to be insulting. I figured you were watching, so I decided to test the limits this place, and you, imposed upon me before anything else.

One's response is greatly influenced by one's environments and limits, after all. Figuring out what tool best suits the job requires an evaluation of the job.

[Anastasia]

You were the only one who didn't speak right away.

The pixie's talkative if combative.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa smiles, Yes, she's got fire in her. They all do. It serves them well, and it's helped us forge strong bonds. Though, Lady Honeydip is still making her own space with us.

Speaking of space, I'd be very interested in learning how you did this. It's quite the feat. Making a God's holy symbol without it being connected to them, removing their access to their divine realm, and isolating them? This is a very, very good little time-out room.

[Anastasia]

Inquisitive as I assumed you would be.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa shrugs, Well, knowledge domain and travel, after all. So, you brought us here for a reason. And denied Gathgorian apparently with my name in mind. Whether as a chosen recipient or something else I hope to find out.

Let's see, you brought me here, to the Arcane Order either because it features so heavily in my development, or to discuss what I was compared to what I am in an effort to evaluate me and remind me of something?

[Anastasia]

Hardly. Beaches are preferable.

Gathgorian is a worthy specimen. But will you outperform his potential?

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa shrugs, Only one way to find out. I don't suppose this is something we can find out while laying in the sun on the beach with alcohol and fruit juice?

[Anastasia]

Worthiness for the seed is many things. The Incarnation of Balance gave me the duty to guard this seed.

Is that how you'll prove your worthiness to me?

[Iron Dragoon]

Isn't it your responsibility to establish a framework? Worthiness for a carpenter means nothing for a tailor or blacksmith. Every Guardian's test is different.

Balance, though... Balance is something I support. In my life, I've seen enough examples of the extremes to be able to extrapolate what would happen if one side dominated the other.

Chaos? Nothing would ever be developed. It births ideas and inspiration and adventure! But it's attention is fleeting. It's enduring and yet momentary. Law? It imposes order and domination, but also provides a framework of what's acceptable. Boundaries. It teaches focus and discipline. Things people need in order to develop. Where chaos might give birth to an idea, Law will define and develop it.

The same goes for Good and Evil. Good encourages us to help each other. To help those with less than us. It helps make interactions and society healthy. It's what nurtures. Evil encourages selfishness. It helps breed survival. Keep what's yours. Protect it. Take from others so that you might be better. It imposes violence and power on those below you. And power dynamics are formed from it, and from those, often time stability. They define each other.

But, you're not the Incarnation of Balance. So, while my philosophical musings might open dialogue with the Incarnation, you have your own ideas of what's needed. Your own concept of this evaluation. So, what test do you propose?

[Anastasia]

Everything in Creation has a purpose. What is yours?

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa shrugs with a grin, No idea! Before, it was to learn and research and explore. Then it was to lead. Then it became to save myself and my Order. Then it became to fight Shar. Then it became divinity. That's the fun part of Chaos: the growth, the development, the change, the evolution. What I am tomorrow will be different than what I am today. But perhaps that's the purpose: to see what you become.

But for now, my purpose is to pass this test. And to learn the trick of making a place like this.

[Anastasia]

The Enaction of Will is beyond you.

[Iron Dragoon]

Any K check for WTF that is?

[Anastasia]

No.