As Seira returns to her home, basking in the sensations and adoration?
'Mom,' Emily prays, 'If all's good we're coming tonight. Is that okay?'
'It is in fact the exact opposite of 'reflect on what you did wrong and wait for us to contact you', but the Cauldron is your home and we're your parents. That hasn't changed, and you may come with your friends.'
It's good that Amaryl had prepared her for the possibility, although playing one parent against the other is always a shitty trick and Seira intends to make Emily sweat in regret over it at the very least.
'Would it be possible for you to attend a quiet dinner with family tonight?' she sends to Agathiel afterwards, deciding to give this a try since Valar had said he could spare her with the changing of the guard. Even if she won't be truly available for a few weeks yet, an evening should be doable.
Then, it is merely a matter for informing Vayley of the guests and preparing a dinner based off a local specialty while complimented by the planar trade which is one of the Cauldron's strengths.
'I can manage,' Agathiel sends right back to you.
We have time to set up, so go ahead and set up how you want this and I'll play back to it.
Seira is waiting on a patio that doesn't exist when one looks from the outside at her gingerbread palace, enjoying the lovely view of the lava flowing below and her golden flame illuminating the caldera above from within her temple. Emily will be surprised, she muses, given the lush forests now surrounding her temple with one of Amaryl's, extending past where the eye could see into the folded space she and Amaryl had placed in-between the Cauldron's inner terraces and outer slopes. She is once more wearing her gift from Morwel, finding it amusing to be skyclad even after all these years. And it is, after all, an occasion to note, depending on how things turn out between her daughter and this Alyssa.
"Vayley, our guests have arrived," she says to the head maid, once she detects the arrival. "Please greet them and take them on the scenic route."
Emily had missed the festival in honor of Amaryl's ascension, perhaps, but many of the decorations have yet to be taken down, even if the stalls are no longer set out throughout their divine realm.
With that taken care of and a thought sent to Amaryl, Seira awaits Agathiel's arrival to round off the guests in one of the lush armchairs arranged around the oval dining table.
Thus soon enough Agathiel and Amaryl join you, Vayley off doing what a slaad maid chooses to do. Hopefully not laying eggs everywhere, anyway.
Fortunately it's not that and she returns with Emily and Alyssa, who...
Go ahead and intro yourself, Alyssa.
Alyssa enters, running her eyes across the room as she enters in a quick assessment before focusing on the person in the room, assuming she's likely to be one of Emily's mothers.
With a formal bow, she introduces herself, "I am Alyssa Songsteel. Head of the Arcane Order that Emily's been staying at."
"Hi," Emily follows, looking around with a shuffle of her feet. Her eyes dart from Seira to Amaryl, focusing on Agathiel. "
"Seira Aryn, with too many titles to comfortably recite at the dinner table," Seira introduces herself in turn. "I'm partial to the Dragon Princess, since it's rather descriptive." She gestures at her sides, adding, "My wife, Amaryl Aryn-Gaial, and a family friend, Agathaiel. Please, take a seat. Did you enjoy the tour?"
"It was fantastic, Dragon Princess. You have a very lovely realm. I've not met many deities, but those I have seen the realms of often model them after their own personalities. If that holds true here, it puts me at ease with being in your presence."
Amaryl smiles at this, "Why thank you, we're rather fond of the Cauldron."
"My!" Seira exclaims, cupping her cheek with a smile. "It's the first time someone told me that~"
"I'm glad this is starting off this amicably. I'll be honest and admit that I was nervous about the situation."
Emily laughs there, strained and looks away.
"Oh? Why is that?" Seira asks curiously. "Have you done something wrong? Or, perhaps, you've come hat in hand?"
"Not personally, but the... irritation of a deity can be dangerous. Over a child, even worse."
Amaryl laughs, a light and pleasant sound, a sense of warmth seeping into all of your senses. "Don't worry, we don't smite unless you're evil and deserve it."
"Even more at ease, then. This is turning out far more pleasant than I expected. Your representative inferred you both were quite irate."
"I'm irritated, of course," Seira tells Alyssa matter-of-factly. "If anything, that's an understatement. But again, that's nothing to do with you, I believe? Unless my information is incomplete, of course, and sadly even deities of knowledge aren't truly omniscient."
Not really giving Alyssa a chance to respond, Seira reaches across the table and taps a spot in front of her guest. As her hand retreats, a figurine of a red dragon in flight amidst golden flames is left, roughly pixie-sized. "A small gift, before I forget."
Worth 4,500gp, and done quite expertly!
20:07 <Lucille> roll 1d20+83 craft:metalworks
20:07 <•Penuche> Lucille invokes Penuche's magic: < 96 > [d20=13]
Emily hurries to the table, keeping her gaze down at Seira mentioning her being irate.
Alyssa studies it for a moment, "A very generous gift, thank you. I was unsure of your tastes so I didn't bring anything for you. Other than your daughter, of course. The presence of a deity is usually considered a gift in and of itself. Might I ask why you're being this generous?"
"Yes, other than asking my daughter, you had no way of inquiring about my or Amaryl's tastes," Seira agrees dryly. "As for the gift? It's a gift. There is no deeper meaning."
"We're also kind of broke, even after taking a dragon hoard," Emily murmurs,. a little too loudly and it carries. She freezes after that, blushing and frantically glancing back and forth.
"It's hardly a secret you took a dragon's hoard," Seira notes. "You did, after all, ask me for a Miracle."
"That too," Amaryl agrees, "Rather daring of you, don't you think?" Her voice is rather clinical, detached, as if merely noting the weather.
"Er..." Emily freezes at both of those, stopping cold.
"But it wouldn't be fair to punish someone who has been nothing but courteous to us and has kindly offered to help you." Amaryl concludes. "All over a family disagreement."
Alyssa snorts. "Yes, we're quite strapped for cash. Aside from Emily, before this whole situation with my empowerment and Shar, my Order was quite small outside of our prime. Even inside of it, we're no great political power. Trying to bring our defenses up to match the new attention we've gained has proved quite draining. As for the hoard, I'm quite proud of the team's work. Next to no danger to us, and solved with only a few spells."
"Now now, Dear," Seira says, turning towards Amaryl. "You know that I don't mind the flashier displays of power, even when they involve frivolities. As far as I'm concerned, it's one of the perks of following me and doing a good job while on the clock, be it facing against Shar's minions and other nasties, or spreading the gift of knowledge to the mortals on the various Primes."
Alyssa gets a gleam in her eye at the mention of knowledge.
"What sorts of things do you do across the primes? I know you're, ah, fairly newly raised to deities, so I haven't had much lore to build from."
"It is my belief that more people fall to the temptations of the lower planes because of a lack of knowledge and understanding, and I try to fill that gap through my followers," Seira tells Alyssa. "Once these basic needs have been fulfilled, I focus on mapmaking and road-building while establishing a library filled with knowledge both arcane and mundane. Afterwards, I encourage gaining new skills, teach magic in a more structured fashion and sponsor exploration and trade. Past that are artifacts and miracles."
Alyssa slowly turns to Emily and narrows her eyes a bit.
"You picked me based on your mom, didn't you?"
"Um..." Emily just looks down even more.
"Emily," Amaryl's voice is gentle now, "Don't look down, look at us."
"To fill your unfortunate gap in knowledge," Seira muses, "my portfolio extends to elemental balance, harmony and the cause of Good, trade and investment, knowledge and battle and, last but not least, hope and the future. I sponsor knights and mages alike, although I'm also partial to those skilled in unarmed combat and, quite naturally, to elementals who follow my ethics."
She'll let Amaryl introduce her divine self on her own.
"Searching for the familiar isn't something to be ashamed of, it's a natural instinct. It's just a facet I hadn't considered before."
Turning to Seira, "I'm not sure how much you've looked into me, but I follow Shandakul. I search the horizons for the new and lost, and I'm also a map-maker myself. While I enjoy adventuring, I'll admit I'm more of a researcher and explorer than a jump in and sling spells sort."
"After the fact, I had my friends take a look," Seira responds. "I didn't see a reason to pry too deeply, but other than being overqualified for your post there was nothing out of the ordinary in the background check. The thing with Io aside, of course."
Amaryl nods a little bit at that, "What a curious thing that was, too."
Alyssa nods. "I've yet to figure out why he chose to do so myself. I've found nothing beyond that first meeting. I wasn't even sure of what happened until recently."
"Celestia asked me to look into it, so if you'd like to, I can offer my help getting to the bottom of it. It sounds like a mental block of some sort, perhaps placed by him?"
Agathiel hums at that, "Important business, to be sure. Is there any way I can help?"
Meanwhile Vayley has left, off to see to dinner proper.
"It is a big deal, but it's a lot of magic for mortals. I get that impression," Emily says.
"Ah yes. I was hoping you could, Agatha. Since your duties with rehabilitating that Shar-stricken lands are coming to a close, I wanted to ask you if you would be interested in taking up position on a new Prime."
Alyssa consders. "I'm grateful for the offer, but hesitant. Assistance from a deity is never without a cost, from my studies. The Red Knight had hers, though it was in no way truly onerous. Lore and information of this sort tends to be firmly in the hands of gods. What do you ask for it?"
Seira blinks. "Just what kind of deities have you been seeing? Did you meet with Lathander or Sharess?" Rolling her eyes, she tells Alyssa, "I just said that Celestia asked for my help, so that and being in a position to help you along the way is the real reason. There are no hidden motives."
"Well, most of what I've learned about deities is from lore. There are far more cautionary tales than not. My personal contact with your fellows is limited. Of the less pleasant ones, I've had to deal with Shar putting an assassin in my guild and Malcanthet knocking at my door. I may be more cautious than most, but I also have to consider the burden that might be placed on my Order and it's members. I thank you for your offer, and will accept gratefully."
"You're also teaching Emily," Amaryl remarks with a hint of a smile. "It puts you in a unique position."
"As you wish, Seira," Agathiel says, "Where you say, I will go."
"Her grasp of magic is impressive. I doubt she learns much from me except effective employment of it."
"We'll figure out the details later," Seira agrees, even as she blinks again, slower this time. "I remember Elle and Oraga informing me of a situation with Shar, and then there was the Miracle, of course, to deal with one of her curses. On the one hand, it sounds like a pattern. On the other, you have time for leisurely trips off-plane. Just what is the present situation, exactly?"
"There were a few assassinations. Our head diviner tried to find out about the situation only to be cursed by Shar and the attacks continued. We've been scrambling to set up defenses, as before this we were far beneath the notice of beings like Shar, but that requires resources we lacked. My recent trips have all been to gain those resources and improve our security. The assassin is still in the guild, and we're attempting to bring in someone who can hunt him and working on ways to track him down. Whatever protections he has have been strong enough to block our attempts from a Wish cast in a spell circle."
"I think Shar's trying to hurt us but it's just one elite agent," Emily speak sup, "Maybe a few support allies, but nothing more."
"Cooperative casting is a trap," Seira notes absent-mindedly. "I think you would've had better results battering their defenses with consecutive wishes."
Even as she speaks, her eyes narrow and she focuses on her daughter. "What I'm about to say isn't as your mother, but as your divine patron, Emily. Am I to understand there has been a genuine Sharran assassin sharing living space with you and going on a murder spree? For the last two weeks, give or take?"
"We're primarily a research cooperative, so we're quite unfamiliar with how to deal with this. Which is why we're trying to bring in an agent. He's also targeting the council almost exclusively, though there have been a few others attacks, but not many."
"It's really hard to pin him down, he's protected well," Emily adds, "He's taking precautions, both mundane and magical. I really think he's an elite agent."
"The first thing I told you was that there's no shame in asking for help," Seira tells her. "It's the thing I emphasize the most. I was just telling that to Alicia a while ago. Now let me ask you again. Are you seriously accepting a status quo where an assassin -- an elite assassin! -- working for Shar is allowed to murder people while you share living space?"
Alyssa stays out of it for now, since this seems to be a direct subordinate issue.
"Well, no," Emily blushes now, "It's just...can't I find him myself? We can do it, I'm sure of it!"
Amaryl clear sher throat, "I'm sure you can, dear. But how many die? Not to cut you off or let you stagnate instead of grow, but this is a serious matter worthy of a serious response."
"As my daughter, you will never disappoint myself or Amaryl," Seira tells Emily. "That's just the way it is with children. We love you, no matter what, and we're always proud. I'm saying the obvious so that you don't misunderstand when I tell you that depending on your answer to me as your divine patron, my sponsorship might be affected."
Peering at Emily over her crossed arms, Seira leans forward and asks, "If it is a matter of power? Of insufficient subterfuge? A barrier placed by pride? If you have Miracles to use, why aren't you spending them like water to claw for every piece of information, for every advantage? If you can ask Amaryl for advice on whether to come over, why can't that be used for advice on how to deal with a seemingly-insurmountable problem?"
She pauses, before voicing, "Once more, let me ask you. Are you accepting the current situation as valid?"
"Well...no," Emily repeats, "It's just you're mad at me, or I thought you were and well..." she looks down, trailing off.
"I was mad, as you say, because I returned home after fighting Shar on Air to news that Shar was attacking Alicia's realm and you were out of reach. Then, I find that you ran off to a Prime on your own without telling anyone here -- that's against rule two, I might add -- to a place that got Shar's direct interest. And then you used Miracle on her spell, leaving yourself powerless in case of a retribution. Should I go on, Emily? Because I haven't even gotten to the part where you used my good name as collateral for a priceless artifact that you then proceeded to break."
Seira shakes her head incredulously. "Since you seem to be forgetting the most basic lessons I've taught you, Agathaiel will be going with you to ensure that you utilize some basic common sense." She glances over at the angel, telling her, "I'm sorry in advance as it sounds like a pain, but I honestly don't trust her to let me know if she gets in over her head and needs a rescue."
Looking over at Alyssa, Seira says, "Let's discuss your measures against the Sharran. What do you know about them or their goals, and which steps have you taken to secure the safety and well-being of your people?"
"I think you made your point," Emily doesn't look up, voice soft.
"Do you think you understand, Emily? Have you been Shar's prisoner? Because I've had that pleasure," Seira tells her quietly. "'Mad'. Once you have children of your own, perhaps you could grow to understand."
A pause - Vayley brings in the first course - a soup, placing down bowls for everyone. A pause as she does so and goes out, not missing a beat.
"I'm doing the best I can!" Emily blurts out, looking up, eyes wet. "I'm sorry if I'm not as good as you, smart as you or wise as any of you!" she says, stumbling up and rushing out of the room.
"Not to be rude and interject in a family conflict, but on the point of the artifact, while taking it was entirely Emily's concern, the destruction of it was not. There seems to be some... Odd interaction between those around me. I've experienced it with Jarem, a servant of the Red Knight, and Emily. It seemed to be activated on its own and is completely unknown to me. It bestowed some new form of ability when it activated. It's got significant power behind it to bestow abilities and break artifacts. So while it being present is Emily's concern, the actual destruction of it wasn't directly under her control.
As for Shar, I know the core of it. I did my research after I realized where the attention was coming from. We had a severe lack of actual manpower and physical combat ability, so I made an alliance with the Red Knight who had contacted one of the Order's members to make inquiries about me. We've set up anti-scrying arrays and we've altered a rod that blocked dimensional movement into functioning as a wide area teleport barrier, which we acquired from the dragon's hoard. We're bringing in an agent to try and hunt down the assassin, and Jarem's set his soldiers as additional patrols and clerics to healing survivors. I'm sure that seems extremely bare-bones, and I agree, but remember, we were nowhere near in a position to deal with any of this and had no resources for it."
She responds as she watches Emily leave.
The door from the patio Emily leaves through sends her to one of the vaults, and as she takes a few steps over the shiny golden coins piled up on the floor, the portal seals itself. An instant later, Seira's avatar materializes behind her.
"Emily Shamal Aryn!" she calls out sharply. "What is going on with you?!"
Seira's true self nods slowly at Alyssa, asking her, "Have you paired up your people and made sure no one goes anywhere on their own? While the safety given from such a measure might be minimum, the assassin would not be able to move freely, if they are blending in with the others. And how about forcing Wish and Miracle spells, while suitably protected, to try and break past Shar's defenses with divinations? Setting aside a day for that might do wonders. Perhaps application of holy power, if your order is on the righteous side? I recall an amusing story from the Aurora where one of its heroes smote an aboleth lookalike to see if they were evil. Of course, if all else fails, I recommend taking a trip to the Deep Ethereal to look for the echoes of recent events."
Amaryl reddens. "Ahem." she clears her throat, the entire meal a little more awkward now.
Meanwhile Emily just looks away from the avatar, stumbling over the coins before hopping over them and landing smoothly. "Go away!"
"Stop acting like such a brat!" Seira snaps. "Oh woe is me! I don't have the power of a literal deity at eighteen, I must be a failure at life! Did you stop to think how it makes your mother feel?! She's only ascended a week ago, and might I point out you missed on the weeklong celebration! But forget about that. Are you calling Amaryl a failure for taking over a century to get to the startling line?"
"Well... In order of concern... You should probably let Emily stew for a bit. While I've never been a mother, I've dealt with enough runaways coming to the Order to know most of them just want to stew and huff for a while. To your concerns, we've spread word of basic safety measures, but we're far less of a rules imposing structure than that, so while we've made it clear, our members are responsible for their choices. Most have taken the advice outside of personal quarters, though. As for Wishes, I've personally tried twice now and it's failed both times. The spell Hindsight has offered some small information, a few details like gender, height, build, and a specific ring. We're mostly mages, so access to holy power is limited, though I personally have some, though not nearly potent enough for what you're talking about.
On the note of the Deep Ethereal, I've been semi-avoiding it. I had a small conflict with the Gith over a crashed ship and I discovered that their ships are powered by a matrix that's directly tied to the Deep Ethereal, and haven't wanted to press my luck there. If they monitor it and detect me, they could respond in a rather extreme fashion under the assumption that I'm there to retaliate for the conflict we had. Combined with the information I've gotten about devil-kin prowling around and a run in with some sort of frog-horror we can't identify, I've decided its best to avoid until our footing is more stable."
"Maybe you just have a weak point for failures!" Emily snaps back, a moment of fury crossing her face. It melts like snow in the sun after that, a slump to her shoulders.
"If it were anyone else, I would smite them where they stand for talking that way about my beloved daughter," Seira says in a tightly-controlled voice. She snorts, then, letting much of her tension flee and closes the distance to rest her hand on Emily's shoulder. "Figures you'd get our bloodline power for finding loopholes in everything."
To Alyssa, Seira says in an apologetic tone of voice, "I'm afraid that I favor the direct approach, so I'm already handling things on that front." She tries the soup to think over Alyssa's response. "Well then. I do suggest you force people to move in groups of two, and not to let their partner leave their sight. I'd also suggest distributing some device that would be immediately recognized as a call for help. I recommend whistles, for a low-magic option. If holy power is insufficient, and the Red Knight is incapable of filling in the gap, you could do it yourself with Emily as Wish would be able to emulate the necessary ability adequately. If you truly want to borrow more suitable manpower, we could negotiate the compensation for that. As for the Deep Ethereal, while dangerous the gith are not the hazard you'd be risking if you were to go. I recommend taking a look at the echoes of reality."
Emily slumps as you put a hand on her shoulder, "...sorry," she murmurs, "I just wanted you to be happy when we came here."
Meanwhile Amaryl adds, "All of those are options," she agrees, "Though you may need to force some of the wizards along. I've found they tend to be rather independent."
"You really only have yourself to blame there," Seira's avatar tells her daughter. "I felt like you lied to me when I contacted you and you told me you were going to the Inner Planes. Since you hid what you were doing from me, you probably agreed it wasn't on the up and narrow?" She sighs. "Why didn't you ask me to make you a proxy for the duration of the visit or something? Did you really think I'd forbid you from going? Or that telling your parents where you'll be somehow makes you weak or foolish or ugly?"
"Projecting power in that situation might play fairly well. Wizards are people too, and rather squishy ones. Their worries might be reassured that way," Seira muses.
"Hm... Speaking to the Red Knight about it isn't a bad idea. I intended to consult with her about Malcanthet anyway, so it's another thing to bring up. I've been considering a wide-range array of Peacebond with a secondary Alarm function for the guild, but your suggestion makes a good interim solution... The offer of assistance is appreciated, but I'll have to discuss it with the council before I say either way on it. As for the Deep Ethereal... I'll figure something out on it. I may not move on it immediately, but I've been meaning to look in on the devils there anyway, so it was on my list. Since you seem to be so familiar with Shar, would you happen to have an agent that could be employed to hunt down our assassin? I was going to have Jarem and Emily search for one, but this may be a faster route, though perhaps more predictable."
"I'm not offering assistance," Seira interjects. "Due to the bullshit rules we must operate under, if I were to do that Shar might have leave to escalate. Therefore, I explicitly coached this as negotiations for services rendered. If it's not my support but rather services you happened to purchase, there should be no way for her to exploit this."
Thinking about the situation some more, she adds, "In any case, this was all merely covering the basics. You could do all sorts of plays. If repeated divinations fail to work, how about setting up a trap? Prepare an irresistible target, but have someone powerful enough disguise themselves as it and lay in wait for this assassin."
"I understood the offer, but just making the offer of allowing me to hire your people is more assistance than many would give, so I meant the thanks in that way, if I was unclear. I have considered a trap of that sort, but... it comes down to deciding what would be effective. Mundane traps might work to distract, but with the skill level displayed, I doubt I could prepare anything that would be more than a moment of inconvenience, and most likely a tip-off. On the more magical side, the fact that two of my wishes have been outright defeated makes me concerned at either the person's skill in magic being rather impressive, or the protections granted by Shar being even more so. Effectively, I'm not sure if they'd be functional in any way and only set our bait, most likely myself, up for failure."
Alyssa sighs. "Also, I'm not sure the assassin would even go for it. He's had plenty of chances to do far more damage than he has. I think it might be more of a harassment play than any real effort to wipe us out. If he wanted me dead, I would have been his first target. If Shar wanted the Order destroyed, there'd be more than just him..."
She trails off for a moment. "If it's just him. I wonder if it could be a rotating team in place. One assassin per target, triggered and then passed on... Still, it seems to be more to keep us busy than to really stop us, I think."
"Like I said earlier, using several Wishes and Miracles to try and pierce through the protection is a perfectly valid brute-force method. But there is another way. Rather than using the cooperative magic for purely combat-boosting spells, you can directly use one Wish to fuel an aspect of another, or to lower the defenses of the target. Use three of them that way, one debilitating your opponent's mental defenses by briefly lowering them, another boosting your own skill at penetrating their protections, and the third being the weapon you need to achieve a very specific goal. Divination, in other words, for those are harder to guard against, especially if you have a piece of clothing or have glimpsed this person through Hindsight. A Miracle might work differently there, so I would try again if my first attempt failed. And naturally, I'd ensure that enough qualified and trustworthy people protected myself and my companions while our magic was being impacted."
"That's an interesting idea. We'd have normally avoided it since we're very limited on that sort of power at our size, but it might be the option to go with. I'll discuss it with the council and Jarem. I'd rather have Jarem and Emily help provide the security since I'll be unreliable after."
Emily slumps down with Seira's further words, "I wanted to do it myself," she finally adds.
Amary listens to it all and nods in the right places, while Vayley comes in, "Ma'am," she says, "I have have crunchily come on an idea to help with this dilemma."
"Oh, Honey." Seira's avatar sighs. "Are you proud of me?" She gives Emily a chance to respond, before asking her, "Of the deeds I value the most, how many were accomplished on my lonesome? And for how many have I relied on friends and allies and family?"
The stories she and Amaryl used to tell their children should help her, Seira muses.
At the dining table, she quirks an eyebrow at the maid. "Please share your thoughts, Vayley."
Emily just looks down at that, "Of course I am, Mom."
"Make me your proxy and let me go hunt him," Vayley says, "I bet that guild is just filthy too, I can clean it up as I go."
Alyssa looks a little alarmed at that last part, "I think that'd cause a war."
"I've done great things on my own, and I'm not just resting on my laurels," Seira tells Emily, deciding to be even more direct since she hadn't responded to her second question. "But I wasn't the sole savior of the children of Androlynne. I wasn't the one to triumph over Malmuth or the abominations from Beyond or the Neverborn. I haven't single-handedly saved my Prime of birth from the Dark Six. I rescued Zariel, which is something you might've missed while on Alyssa's Prime, but I hadn't done it myself either." She pulls Emily closer, running her free hand through her daughter's hair. "They are all still my triumphs, but I hadn't done them on my own. And I'll let you in on a little secret. I have never wished for that to have been the case, either. I was happy to fight alongside my comrades. The sense of accomplishment that comes from the sum being greater than its parts... it gives you a different sort of pride. One that I think it more real, one that you'll treasure forever. It's why the first rule is to always be ready to ask for help, not just while in mortal peril. It's bonds. That's the most important lesson, because it's the most powerful weapon in your arsenal."
Seira's true self peers over at Vayley in the meantime, before glancing over at Alyssa. "You know the risks of inviting me to step in more directly, while the benefits should be obvious. To name one, the Sharran will be cleansed. I'll leave the choice up to you, though you can defer answering until we're finished with dinner."
"I'd have to defer further than that. While I'm the head of my Order, I don't rule it. The council will have to weigh in."
"So it's about bonds?" Emily finally says to you, "LIke the ones I'm making with Jarem and Alyssa?"
Meanwhile Vayley smile winsomely at Alyssa, all sharp teeth ready to eat anything.
"Some bonds are enforced artificially, like that," Seira's avatar agrees. "The outside source must be Incarnation-level. But some bonds are like the bonds between you and Amaryl and I, or between you and Donald and Elle and Sanzha and Kascha and Xera and everyone else who loves you here. Some bonds can be formed out of a chance meeting, and some can be forged in battle. But their very existence means that seeking out solitary glory leads us down the wrong path."
"That's another thing," Seira muses to Alyssa. "The more information you tell them, the more likely it is that the Sharran will learn of it and make his or her own preparations. Even if you are certain of their character, they might have lovers or close friends, or let something slip in their sleep to a servant, or even be caught at a weak point and questioned with magic. If you don't rule over your Order while serving as its head, ask for provisional powers for the duration of the crisis to do just that. Ruling via committee during a true crisis rarely works well."
Alyssa nods. "We have provisions for it, which is why I've been able to put the things into place that I have. But provisions like that can only be pushed so far before they snap back on you. We're discussing arranging a trip for the council to Celestia while the assassin is dealt with. It might be that they will agree to having someone come in to clean house, so to speak, while they're there, but I have to be cautious with it. If I don't get clear agreement, they could try to use it to unseat me, at which point it becomes easier for outsiders to interfere with the chaos however they'd like."
"I never had to deal with that issue since I established my own academy, but exactly under which grounds can they remove you? From my information, even leaving aside being chosen by the dragon of perfection, from a purely secular viewpoint your grasp of magic outshines theirs by decades. In fact, your very presence on your world, as is my Emily's, I must admit, is nothing short of bullying compared to the abilities of Prime-bound mortals. Are those on your council extremely foolish or filled with a rare avarice, to dare chase you away?"
"Practically, you're entirely right. If they wanted to unseat me and I chose to resist, there'd be little they could do outside of a complete assault. Even though I'm exceedingly powerful now, I'm not a deity, so the right spells in the right way would still eventually win out against me, though I have no idea what that would take on either side. There aren't any hard rules for it in the Order, as the situation has never happened before. However, the Order is the place I grew into my own and that, effectively, produced me and nurtured my talent. When I was newly empowered, they helped me develop and understand it, and even when you have power until that power is trained and understood, you're still vulnerable. They kept with me as one of their own. I'm loathed to shatter it simply to make it suit me better. It might be a matter of tradition, but most positions of power are that as well."
Alyssa pauses to take a drink, "Plus, if I were to simply disenfranchise them, I suspect quite a few of the council and order would go to the Mageorcracy out of spite, and with their resources, they might become a true threat."
"Looked at from another angle, aren't you afraid of taking the next step?" Seira asks Alyssa. "It would involve taking responsibility for your entire Order, and might cut down on travel chances. Not a lot of those for the pure pleasure of traveling or to draw maps once the running of the entire thing rests squarely upon your shoulders."
Alyssa smirks, "There might be a bit of keeping unfettered, too. Is it a surprise? I follow Shaundakul, after all. And regardless of my power, I'm no deity to have the Order follow me. We're mortals, and function as such. Though I've been worried about how the rest of the prime will react. I've asked Emily about demi-planes, just in case I have to break away clean."
"You don't really need to be a deity to lead a small country. In fact, quite a lot of kings are upset at you right now for suggesting it!"
"But that's another thing. We're not a country. We've no political influence anywhere. In fact, the only reason we're left alone is because of that. The rest of the prime has enough dealing with the Mageocracy."
"Do you not have a defined land? A population that considers itself part of the whole? Leadership, laws, justice? Are you not bound together by a shared goal, a shared destiny? I would say you more than meet the criteria for a country."
"All of that is true, but if the other lands leave us alone by not acknowledging it, well, then our research is done uninterrupted."
"Astonishing." Seira finds herself briefly speechless, before changing topics. "I don't know much about this Mageocracy. What sort of power can they bring to bear? Do they follow mortal traditions and fight with armies of conscripted peasants augmented by casters who double as officers?"
"Yes, they're very much like that. Very loathsome. They believe magical talent grants them the right to rule and those without are lesser existences. Many of our workers, and some of our mages, are refugees from the Mageocracy. Most often, it's an apprentice who fell in with a non-mage and started a family that comes to us. The council takes great pains to impress upon our members that those in the Order who do the more mundane work of keeping us running are every bit as important as the mages. It's worked well, but it's not a popular opinion outside of us. It's kept our numbers small, but the end point is everyone is happy."
"I don't know how to say this diplomatically, but are you aware of the gulf in power between yourself or my Emily and those armies?" Seira asks Alyssa directly. "If she had the intention of doing so, she could crush them all underfoot. Is it possible that you do not realize that mortal common sense with regard to battle no longer applies to you? While pretending to be weak and not worth assaulting is a valid option, I suppose, it severely stunts your nation's growth and limits your options. After all, you're either too weak, or you're forming demi-planes or establishing offshoots on levitating mountains. You can't do both."
Seira snaps her fingers. "Oh, and the obvious. You did ask the corpses who killed them?"
"I'm aware of it, but also remember that this is entirely new to myself and the Order. If I have the power I do, I decide what's to be done with it. I won't be tied down ruling a nation while there's things to be done and places to explore. However, I can't just go traipsing off and ignore the responsibilities I have to the Order and those close to me. It's on me to get them to the point where retaliation against them for their association to me is, at the very least, unwise. If I left now, the Mageocracy would descend on them assuming there's some secret to the power that they know. Langersun might declare war and try to eradicate them in fear of them being able to produce that sort of power again. The same with Shar, though she might enslave, torture, and experiment on them to discover how it was done. If they decide to worship me as some sort of deity? How many other cults or deities might take offense at that? Before I move to establish my own seat, whether that's from growing the Order or making something new, I owe it to them to leave them safe..."
Alyssa sighs after all that. "To the corpses, not especially. The first victim had their soul captured. I didn't personally check the rest, as I'm not functional with Necromancy, but nothing outside of that being the norm was reported in the following investigations."
"I think that's a lot of worry for nothing, and you and the Order have had years to come to terms with this new reality." Seira shrugs. "Then again, it's your life. Live it as you wish."
Focusing on the actionable advice, she says, "Follow through on your own, then, and use stronger magic to force it, like the Wish boosters I mentioned. If it eventually leads you to a drop of blood or some other identifying mark, that would work, and it's not an option I can see Shar restricting for thematic reasons."
Also, OOC for a sec, the guards who had their throats slit were regenerated so maybe they smelled or heard something in the least, if not seen.
Alyssa nods. "Thank you for the advice and your hospitality. It's been enlightening and enjoyable. Did you have any concerns about Emily being at the Order you wanted to discuss?"
"Aside from the elite Sharran assassin running around killing people while she calls on Miracle and destabilizes her magic?" Seira asks, more for Agathaiel's benefit to give her a sense of what she will need to help Emily with. "I have two... let's call them instructions, rather than concerns. One is that Emily has missed a lot of important events here at the Cauldron, despite repeated invitations. I understand the need to adventure, but a trip off-world rarely takes an entire week at our level. I'd like you to keep an eye out that she doesn't miss too much."
She still regrets that Emily didn't really get something for Amaryl, perhaps as an apology gift for missing on the ascension party.
"The other matter is that Emily is not to use my name as collateral again. She's a teenager so a lapse in judgement there is understandable. A similar lapse from your Order, however, would not be understandable. If she wants to create her own legend with her own two hands, I don't particularly mind so long as she takes precautions and travels in good company. But she can't have it both ways."
Seira glances over at Amaryl, asking, "Did you have anything to add here, Dear?"
Alyssa nods.
"Very understandable. I've been pressuring her to visit for some time. A plane shift is simple enough for her, but as you've discovered, she does have a stubborn streak. I also made it clear to her that her being with the order might have implications extending to you that she needs to consider. I've also hesitated in offering her membership in the Order for that same reason. It could easily be construed as you directly granting favor to us. That on the heels of the Red Knight would be... Complicated, I imagine."
"It's only as complicated as you choose to make it. As for joining, I don't really mind. I have a low opinion of the usefulness of cooperative magic for someone of Emily's skills or your own, so I'd very much prefer she didn't retrain actually useful skills for that. It's not a hard requirement, I trust?"
Amaryl clears her throat and sits back, "Be that as it may, I'm content now. As long as you take good care of Emily - and let her find her own path." She sighs, "I fear she's reached the age when an elf would find a lute, a long sword and leathers, all before wandering for a decade."
Meanwhile, Emily sniffles and adds, "Okay. Am I at least doing good, Mom? Am I at least making this a good idea with Alyssa, Jarem and everybody?"
"Typically it is, but considering her lineage and power, I'm willing to bet the council will waffle on it and eventually give up on it. It'll be up to Emily if she even wants to. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure how the politics of deities work, so I've been overly cautious in favor of not stepping on more toes."
"Understandable," Amaryl agrees, "We had our own missteps as we learned the basics and how not to offend."
"Who knows if Alyssa's the right one for you? I've only just met her, and for all I know she might be a weak leader or a terrible planner." Seira pulls away to keep her daughter at arm's length, grinning at her. "The way you've finally chosen to start walking down your path? That's unquestioningly good, and Amaryl thinks the same way." She reaches over to tap Emily's nose. "Just remember to put more work along with the play. Help people, and it would be more rewarding than any glorious quest for riches. You'll understand what I mean as you go along, I don't doubt that."
"Thanks, Mom," Emily hugs you suddenly, strongly, "I'll make it up to you too, I promise!"
To Alyssa, Seira says, "Frankly, I don't think you've picked a good approach. Subservience isn't really one I'd recommend either, but blatant ignorance doesn't really hold much charm. That you hail from a group of researchers who pride knowledge is, well, honestly embarrassing. After all, you have the means to gain the necessary knowledge in a timely manner, from book learning, planar travel or asking my daughter. That you haven't reflects negatively on you, and on your efforts at diplomacy."
Seira scratches her chin in thought, before asking, "Were I the supreme queen of one of your empires, how would you treat with me?"
"I look forward to that, and so do all of us here back home," Seira tells Emily, stressing the last two words to her. She returns the hug, holding it before asking, "Would you like to return with me now, or do you need more time?"
"Let's go ba-" It's all Emily says, as meanwhile Alyssa feels it. A connection to Emily, strong and vital.
"Mom, I'm feeling it again!" Emily gasps, "The same connection to Alyssa as before."
Congratulations, Emily hide a node goal. Go read and review your node for the update, Alyssa.
Hiding a sigh, Seira transports Emily back into her chair at the table, so seamless as if she had never left.
Emily reappears and calls, "Alyssa, do you feel that? My armor got stronger too!"
Seira, of course, ensures that Emily is entirely presentable!
To Amaryl, she thinks, 'Please don't comment on this.'
Alyssa considers, "As someone who has vastly more resources than we do? I'd try to make any sort of assault on us too costly to be worth it. We've managed that by being spread out on our islands. As for your comments about being a researcher..."
Alyssa shrugs, "With all respect due to a deity, I don't really care about your opinion on the matter. It's what I do and it's my calling. I will never stop following the horizon and or my research. It took me a long time to even understand what happened to me on the smallest part. Our order is small, and while we have our library, it's nothing compared to what I've heard of since. Our most powerful mages, before me, we're the council and they're at about ninth circle. I was totally unprepared for what happened and if my lack of foresight on studying deific politics is such a let down, well, I flat out had no reason or desire to study it. I don't even like dealing with politics in the Order. I've had far more important things to focus on."
Alyssa suddenly blinks at the feeling and Emily's reappearance.
"Yes... The same as when the artifact got absorbed. We've got to figure that out."
'As you like,' Amaryl sends back. Instead she says aloud, "That is a fair point. Powerful or not, you're still a mortal who has been focusing on mortal things."
Emily smiles at Alyssa, "We really do, I know Jarem's working on it. I'll be sure to tell him when we get back." Then a look at you, "Mom, do you know anything about this?"
"So deities and monarchs are incidental things you care nought about and feel that even a token effort to spend on diplomacy would be wasted, but the opinions of fellow if weaker mages from your Order are paramount?" Seira rather succinctly summarizes up Alyssa's stated opinions on such matters. "My dear, you don't need to be a student of this phantom thing you keep on referring to as 'deific politics' to see that a conscious choice to avoid the effort in question, even in delegating to those better suited for such tasks, is nothing but a calculated insult. Not with me, if only because I have no need for anything you or your Order may provide and my own offer of aid with either your memories or the Sharran has no strings attached. With any monarch or power into whose domain you will invite yourself? That would be another matter entirely."
Alyssa raises an eyebrow, "In my opinion it is you that's been rather insulting. You prioritize my interests and values based on only your views and then have imposed those expectations on me with no notice, only to declare me wanting after the fact. You ignore the fact that my priorities are mortal and fleeting, that I am mortal, only because it does nothing to strengthen your points. I am a researcher from anOrder you yourself have acknowledged as small and inconsequential, who has had power thrust upon me with no understanding or guidance, and you speak only a hair's breadth away from outright insult when that small and inconsequential Order has lacked the resources to help me gain what you expect of me. It took months of hunting for the smallest bit of mention of the dragon that did this to me. Far longer for anything more.
Much of my time has been spent making sure the next spell I cast doesn't cause this unknown source of power in me to explode and kill me, or those around me. Much of my time has been spent turning a promotion to a figure head into an actual one of power. Much of my time has been spent making sure the countries around us don't decide to invade and kill everyone. And then, once I become confident enough to explore beyond my prime, Shar sends an assassin into my Order.
While you are correct in that I could have done more to prepare for meeting you, you weren't killing people in my Order, nor were you helping to fix the defenses of my Order. Though you have my respect for being a deity, who actively cares about your followers from what I know, I will not apologize to you for my circumstances not lining up with your expectations. I might not be your equal, Goddess, but nor am I one of your followers to berate so. My Order is not my church to command, nor will I force them to become such, as the Mageocracy might. That does not relieve me of the obligation I feel to ensure their survival and prosperity."
"Um," Emily speaks up here, raising her hand. "Can I say something, you two?"
"Your words do not align, I'm afraid," Seira points out calmly. "You spoke of not understanding the proper etiquette and of wishing to act cautiously to avoid drawing offense, yet when I decided to inform you of the matter, your response had been a rather rude statement that you do not care for my opinion." She spreads her arms as if to shrug, before thinking better of it. "You keep on dragging my divine nature into this, despite repeated attempts on my part to point out the logical fallacy inherent in that. To my questions of whether you would conduct yourself in the same way while in the courts of your neighbors, you have remained silent. Perhaps that sort of discussion technique is one you find acceptable. I, however, see it for what it is and the following attempts at deflection and obfuscation pointless."
Seira pauses, before wondering out loud, "What relation is there between one's fervor for travel and exploration, or one's commitment to research or one's comrades, and to taking half an hour to brush up on diplomacy or on finding the right person for the job to delegate it to? The equivalence drawn is false, I'm afraid."
Looking over at Emily, Seira smiles, telling her, "It's alright, Honey. We don't really need to like each other, and it's better to see someone's character sooner rather than later."
"But I want you two to like each other!" Emily blurts out, reddening.
At this Agathiel smiles faintly, "A noble desire - who wants those they care about to argue?"
Further conversation is stopped in the room as Vayley returns, this time bearing a rich roast and sides. "The main course is here, ma'ams," she announces, "Please enjoy."
"I'm sorry, but when I contemplate the two of you approaching Kossuth or Talos the same way you have the Cauldron, I worry about your continued health," Seira apologizes to Emily. "I figured taking a risk and stating things directly when the oblique method failed would be worthwhile, if at some future point my words got through."
Emily looks down, going for the wine offered and pouring herself a large glass of it.
Amaryl quietly pats Emily's back, space compressing to make that easily possible.
'Hang in there, Seira,' Amaryl sends to you.
'Hey, I've never so much as mentioned guest etiquette or made things personal, have I?' Seira sends back. 'It's all for a good cause, and if I don't get through, at least I tried. I prefer that to the alternative.'
Gulp! Down that wine goes, Emily draining her glass in one long drink and going for more.
Amaryl merely holds her position now, waiting.
Really waiting on an Iddypost here.
Seira tries the roast, switching Emily second glass with grape juice and giving her daughter the gimlet eye once she realizes the swap.
The roast is excellent, as are the potatoes and vegetables with it.
Emily has a sip and gives you a resigned, annoyed look.
Seira smiles, rather pleased with herself. "Agathaiel, would you like to share a few stories from Kesse?" she suggests, in the hopes that Emily would be happy with the subject.
"Not to be combative, but I feel they do align. Politeness and propriety as a guest do impose weight of decorum for a guest, but also for the host. Since we began this line of conversation you've told me that I'm embarrassing and all but called me foolish for acting within the bounds of the Order I've sworn myself to simply because my level of power would allow me to take control. To me, this is quite insulting, even if you did not mean it to be so.
You've also insinuated that I've been very slow in becoming accustomed to my power, yet nothing like this has ever happened before. Jumping into pools of power sourced from a being like Io is usually quite fatal in my experience. You've blatantly insulted one of the core magical practices of my Order based on the magical ability of myself and Emily, yet every single other person in my order has no choice but to rely on it to reach past a certain level of power. It's what allowed us to establish our Spellpool, a thing your representatives commented on as being impressive and requiring massive resources otherwise.
You've told me nothing I've done that you describe as insulting is worth acknowledging as such for no other reason than we have no value to you, which is a rather blatant slap in the face insult. You've also nearly flat out told me that my desire to explore is foolish, yet that is a core tenet of my faith for Shaundakul, which hits very close to my heart.
You've told me I've ignored diplomacy, but I've found almost all of your comments on nearly every facet of my life, which has led me to this point, rather rude. While my response was rude in kind, you refused to even acknowledge your own comments as rude, which is rather out-of-hand dismissive. Those are all things I place value on, and you have imposed your own assumptions as hard fact as to my motivations. You have been far more personally insulting, even if only through thoughtlessness to the value of those things, to me at nearly every turn than anything I might have implied could ever be."
"I do," Agathiel murmurs, "But ah, it may not be prudent to begin."
Emily groans, a hand going to her face. "Can you two apologize if you're bickering and get along? Please? I really don't want you to argue."
"I'm quite willing to chalk this up to a difference of philosophy and an intellectual exercise and move on to this lovely meal."
"You're using my rudeness as an excuse to dismiss my advice and warnings," Seira tells Alyssa, giving her a polite elfin smile. "Misrepresenting my stated opinions as insults was unfortunate, but I will apologize for the unintended slight. Unintended, by the way, because I believe I am quite direct when I wish to say something and see no need to resort to backhanded compliments or insinuations. Why, you could ask anyone at this table! If I want to let someone know of my negative opinion of them, I will do so, from a prepubescent child to a Lord of Hell, and not in a coy fashion either."
Turning the smile at her daughter, Seira tells her, "Emily, I'm willing to drop things, but I would be saddened if you misunderstood. Arguing is healthy and important, as the worst place you could find yourself in is an echo chamber. Only when things turn mean-spirited does the value in it disappear."
Emily sips at her grape juice tiredly, "I understand, Mom," she says, "How about we just focus on the meal now?"
"If you wish."
I'm mostly intending to skip us along now. Any objection, you two? In the meantime since Iddy's at work, enjoy a story in the next post, unless you two rapidfire post back.
My one concern was to ensure the argument wasn't personal. Assuming it hasn't turned that way for Iddy I have no objections to a skip.
Nah, not for me. I do have a couple points to bring up OOC once I'm not on a phone, but I didn't take anything personal. I sorta expected it once we got on the topic since it was NG vs CN. I think a bit of it might have been us talking past each other, but that's part of the OOC stuff I mentioned.
Thus the dinner passes nicely enough. It's a good meal and stories help change the subject.
Once dessert is served, a rich cake drizzled with chocolate and berries, "So," Emily says, "I'm going back soon. I just want to say I'm sorry about the whole ring business, I really am."
"Do make sure to recompense Waukeen for the loss," Seira tells her. "That is one thing I will not aid you with. That said, Amaryl and I will be there if you need us, even if it's not a matter of life or death."
To Alyssa, Seira says, "I intend to have Agatha available for Emily, as I said earlier, to keep her safe for the duration of the crisis. Would it be possible to impose on the Order for living space, or do I need to make other arrangements? I believe her considerable knowledge of dealing with a land infested with Shar's cults alone will be suitable recompense for the imposition."
"No trouble at all. We have quarters for families, so one of those should provide private rooms and an extra for a work space. If you need more space than that, we don't restrict the use of spells like Mage's Mansion."
Seira nods, saying, "My thanks, in that case."
Her attention returns to Agathaiel, and she says, "I trust my wishes for this assignment are clear? Please keep Emily safe, remind her just why our most important rules were drawn with blood and provide information about Sharran tactics on request. If an issue arises, Emily understands that you'll have to tell me about it if she doesn't."
Transparency is important, and this is a chance for Alyssa, Emily or Agathaiel to object if they disagree with any part of it.
"As you command," Agathiel rises and bows to you, "I shall protect Emily and aid them against Shar."
The End?
Unless Alyssa has anything to add here or doesn't want Agathiel for some reason.
It's a short-term loan, and I already asked IC. But sure, we can wait.
"I'm fine with it as long as Agathiel understands there are rules at the Order, and if there's an emergency we may need her to help. Barring direct actions that would cause you problems, of course."
Fantastic. Both of you, what's your next move? I'll move both of you to new topics once I get that info.
Try this consecutive wish thing, then Celestia.
Okay, you're going to a thread over in your node.
I'll hit up Lathander for another chat!
Okay, new thread.