Sneaking into Avernus

[Anastasia]

Alicia's eyes travel to Chronias, the light soothing her. Calmness fills her, worries seeming far more manageable now.

"It is beyond magic," Ilmater concurs, "Your idea has merit Seira, but with the state her soul is in, she could not handle being a proxy of anything but an evil power. Unless she repented sincerely before it and began to atone." Looking down at Zariel as she rests, still as a statue, "Additionally, the proxy spark used will be consumed to restore Zariel. No, you would need the proxy spark of an evil deity. Additionally, you would need to be able to restore her soul at the same time."

"Then how do we do those things?" Empress Sulia asks.

Ilmater's body blisters, an eye bulging before it repairs, thousands of slices appearing across his body.

"You must find and slay the proxy of another power - and know that the other deity will be watching and will likely interfere as they can," Ilmater begins, "Then wrest the proxy spark from the other power in a battle of divine wills. Should you win that battle, the spark will stay with you. Fail and it returns to the deity and you must begin anew."

Empress Sulia inclines her head forward, gently squeezing Ilmater's shoulder. For one moment he seems to relax slightly and Sulia shudders, but it passes.

"For the other, have you yet been taught how souls are incarnated?" Ilmater inquires.

[Ebiris]

Alicia mutely shakes her head. Transmigrating souls she knows all about, having learned much in Celestia and of course seeing to her own faithful in Sylica over the years. But not how a soul is made to begin with.

[Anastasia]

"Then I will explain it." Ilmater begins, "It is a three part system: The man, the woman, and life itself. On conception, part of the man and woman's spirit is drawn in as a tiny amount of positive energy is generated by the act. A tiny sliver of soul, a harmless loss, combined with this to form a soul. This soul sleeps and grows within the child who sleeps within his mother. To repair the soul you need the same three part act, but different. You need a portal to the Positive Energy Plane, modified carefully to provide exactly the right amount of energy to the ritual workings. Too little and it will fail, too much and it will consume the heavily damaged soul."

Ilmater's form shudders grandly, as if a great spasm of pain was wracking him. Nonetheless he does not stop nor does his voice shake.

"You must combine that with two donors, who will give a tiny fragment of their soul. It must be done willingly and it must be done by creatures who have a deep similarity to the damaged soul. It need not be any one thing, but it must be a strong resonation. An artist to repair an artist, a celestial to repair a celestial, a young man to repair a young man. It need not be a man and woman, unlike typical mortal conception. With the proper donation, the portal and the ritual, the proxy spark must be pushed into Zariel at the same time. The ritual to repair the soul must be modified to account for this, so that such a thing does not destroy it - impossible but to one of us, no mortal would have the understanding of the divine to do so."

[Ebiris]

For someone similar to Zariel... a fallen celestial? She'd rather one that rose again afterwards of course but even that difference could ruin her. "Oraga, perhaps?" she murmurs to Seira. "Or... did any of Torm's servants stay here rather than follow to the Abyss?"

[Anastasia]

Ilmater nods at this, as you come to a great pine tree. It grows high and higher yet, far above the canopy. Here he kneels and places Zariel down, branches coming forth to cover her nudity - as it is, anyway.

"Zariel used to enjoy seeing to and creating forests, once on a time," Ilmater says, "Rest here in a reverie of the past, Zariel, for ones of the light are willing to speak for you." Slowly Ilmater rises after that and continues. "Alansar, who still styles himself as a Knight of Torm. He is the most prominent."

[Corwin]

"Could I be used for this?" Seira asks after a brief hesitation. "Waukeen's never deserted me, but I've always felt I could sympathize with her. Especially after what I went through to rescue my dad. I don't know if I'm projecting my own reasons for my actions at the time, but I feel I could understand her. Certainly enough to try and get through to her to return her to the right path. Does it matter at all?"

[Anastasia]

"It may be possible," Ilmater says, "The strength of a connection can change as well. In preparing the ritual, you will be able to ascertain if a connection can be used or not."

[Ebiris]

"I suppose our next move should be to identify a target proxy from one of our enemies. Is it alright for Zariel to stay here for now? I presume she won't awaken without this healing, but..." she glances back to where they spoke with Tyr, "I wouldn't want to cause upset either."

[Corwin]

"Can she perceive anything as she is?" Seira asks, having planned on staying near.

[Anastasia]

"She'll be fine and safe here, as much as she can." Ilmater replies.

"Then I trust you for that," Empress Sulia finally lets go of his shoulder and turns back to the two of you. "I'll be glad to help you with this. Perhaps we can have our servants and faithful compile information and present us likely targets?"

[Corwin]

"The target is Shar," Seira immediately says. "Targets of opportunity are fine, of course, but we should focus our efforts on her."

[Ebiris]

"A good idea, thank you for your support," Alicia smiles at Sulia. "And you, Ilmater. I know Zariel may be unworthy, she may have willingly ruled a layer of Hell... but if she only fell because of Daa-vid's power, then there must be a way back for her."

[Anastasia]

"Be well - and triumph, for suffering lies ahead on all roads. Make it mean something," Ilmater says, "That your suffering may be holy and meaningful, rather than meaningless pain."

Okay, we're nearing the end of this adventure. What's your immediate moves here, y'all? Going to head home or stay together for now?

[Ebiris]

Lets split up back home to handle immediate repercussions then we can meet up with Sulia again later someplace to figure out targets for proxy-raiding.

[Corwin]

Works