The Cauldron Rises

[Corwin]

here

[Anastasia]

You find Amaryl with Kascha, the two in one of Amaryl's sitting rooms, cozy and warm. They're sharing tea, talking away quietly. "...and then Morniel just looked at them all and I swear he wanted to sigh, but he never - oh Seira!" Kascha perks up. "Hi!"

We'll at least touch on this IC since it probably needs to be discussed between you two anyway.

[Corwin]

Making her way over, Seira pulls up a chair for herself next to the pair. "Every girl likes to stop all conversation as she walks into a room, but you can keep going," she tells Kascha with a grin.

[Anastasia]

"Oh Seira!" Kascha brightens up, "I was just telling an Aurora story!"

Meanwhile, you sense it. A prayer stands out amid the many. A warrior, a simple village protector who reveres you, as his foster father did. He stands alone in the village square, pike at the ready. A mere man against a massive black draogn, lazily swooping down lower and lower.

"Oh Seira help me," The man silently prays as his knees knock together, "Please, please, please let this buy enough time for everyone to get away." You feel his intent - the villagers, hurrying away through an old tunnel that connects the mayor's house to a nearby mine.

[Corwin]

A translucent triangular shield with a golden dragon emblazoned upon it materializes behind her worshipper like an otherworldly aura, matching his opponent in size. The dragon is animated in flight, and she doesn't doubt the sight is as mysterious as it is miraculous.

Seira promptly ruins the effect as her voice speaks from her banner, saying in Draconic, "You have my attention."

"Do share," she tells Kascha with a grin, as her attention can be infinitely split through practice and magic both. "I've been waiting to hear more about your experiences with the Aurora Crusade."

[Anastasia]

---- lines are just for clarity here.

The black dragon pulls up abruptly at the image, spitting acid that sizzles on the ground. The warrior falls to his knees in relief and shock that you feel clearly, "I am Galarolousos the Black! None defy me! NONE!"

---

Meanwhile, Kascha gets up and goes to get you some tea and...

> roll 1d20+8
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{26}

She nimbly serves you, then sits back down. "Did you want to hear about any part in particular? I was just finishing up a story."

Amaryl cocks her head to the side, focusing on you intently.

[Corwin]

Seira smiles at Amaryl, telepathically reassuring her that she's handling something.

"My name is Seira Aryn, so now we have been properly introduced," Seira responds to the other dragon, using the lull to see the larger area. "What seems to be the problem? I want to see whether it could be resolved without coming in person."

Voice of the Dragon as my standard. Also, I think this is Intimidation, so taking 10 for 63.

"I want to hear everything, but most of all I'd like to hear two stories," Seira muses, sipping her served tea. "One which relates to your favorite moment during the campaign, and another about the time you learned your most important lesson while part of the Crusade."

[Anastasia]

Galarolousos the Black's eyes widen at your proclamation and he immediately utters powerful words of magic, vanishing away. Teleport - someone wanted out of there and they wanted out of there NOW. Almost as if he was scared.

---

As you say that and Kascha hums a moment, you sense Alicia at the edge of the Cauldron.

"Well, my favorite moment? Helping Muirfinn defeat Athux. It was a long, hard journey but we succeeded in slaying him, just barely. It was like a fairytale and even had a happy ending." Kascha smiles at the memory, "So often we fight minions or symptoms, rarely the true evils behind something. To fight one and to slay it felt amazing. When we killed it, we felt the entire layer of the Abyss shake in pain from it. It made me feel like we made a real difference."

[Corwin]

"That's that," Seira muses in Common, her banner replaced with a real-sized image of her, albeit still translucent. "What's the background for this occurrence?"

Remote Viewing gives me anything interesting here?

Her Avatar flashes over to meet Alicia face to face, while Seira's true self tells Kascha, "That feeling is something you never forget. Ah, but how does Muirfinn fare? It was a fate worse than death."

[Anastasia]

The man turns - Richard, you remember his name is - and bows deeply, "M-milady Seira," he greets, leaning on his pike. "The dragon came today and demanded tribute from our village, or he would take it from us. We went to discuss it and then he came back, demanding it now. I-I was buying time for everyone to get away."

It's lightly forested around here and hilly, mountains on the horizon. A fairly typical mining village on a glance.

----

Alicia and Jessica are at the edge of the Cauldron when Seira's avatar appears before them. "Hi, Seira," Jessica smiles, holding up a picnic basket. "We come bearing gifts."

---

"He's healing mentally," Kascha says, "He's working with Vivantha to advance Ilmater's will as thanks for saving him." Shaking her head, "He wasn't the same after his captivity, I think it shook him badly. I imagine he must have terrible nightmares."

[Ebiris]

"Hello Seira," Alicia greets after Jessica, treating the avatar just as she would the real thing (assuming she can even tell the difference). "Can we come in? There's lots to talk about."

[Anastasia]

You can. Deities generally have a sense of this, especially ones who know each other well.

[Corwin]

"I remember it happening similarly in Balmuria," Seira's image reminisces. "We decided to fight the killed him when he returned. Just as my friends and I had our advantages, so I'd like to be yours. What are your plans for the future?"

---

"I can sympathize," Seira says, reaching over to lay her hand over Kascha's. Her thoughts drift to Kesse briefly, but she refuses to allow herself end up trapped in the past. "Do you want to do more for your friend? If it doesn't interfere with our military operations, I can provide you with the means."

---

"You're always welcome here," Seira's avatar responds to Alicia and Jessica with a wide grin. "And I'm not just saying this because you beat me to it. I've been meaning to stop by, but I suppose I'll have to contend with being a host." She starts leading the pair through the Cauldron, and unlike with Waukeen there is no need to take the stealthier route.

[Ebiris]

Alicia smiles at that, following Seira deeper into the Cauldron. "The timing's good," she says. "Also well done on handling Bel back on Lifasa."

[Corwin]

"Yes, it was, wasn't it?" Even though Seira can barely remember the act due to the very real threat of death and humiliating failure, that's something she apparently did. And who wouldn't be proud of punching a Lord of the First in the face and kicking him off world? "Your actions on Benfal inspired me~"