Sylican morning

[Ebiris]

'Interfering is what Shar does though. Nothing's too small or petty for her to act personally - I'm still smarting over what happened to Andrea in Balmuria. Don't let yourself end up the same way,' Alicia says firmly.

She half listens to Auril as well but it's rather less important now. She certainly is sugar-coating it thickly though.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d100 higher the better here
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 87 > [d100=87]

'Oh yes - oh look, they're beating up the Sharrans fairly decisively, one's already down.' Syala sends back cheerfully. He just had to stop a heavy mace with his face. Bad decision, that sounds like your tactics for wrestling me.'

[Ebiris]

'I got the mace off you and returned with interest, didn't I?' Alicia retorts. 'Anyway, just watch out for them getting resurrected for another try. Shar's a strange one for being so benevolent towards her servants now and then... funny isn't it? Her showing such mercy to that depraved nymph led directly to Sylvie from Balmuria obtaining the power of 21 and using it against Hell on Lifasa.'

[Anastasia]

You feel the faintest disquiet at the mention of 21. A gnawing discomfort, steady. A familiar sensation when it comes up, admittedly.

A shimmer before Auril, and a cold, haughty woman appears. Alicia can identify her as a yuki-onna, clad in armor of blue ice, wrapped with a snowstorm around her. Her ice-white hair is long and blows gently, as if in a breeze. "This is Eltea, she is my servant and will instruct you on how to submit to the will of winter."

'I wonder if someone used Shar there or if it was mere fortune?' Syala murmurs as...

> roll 1d100 higher the better here
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 higher the better here --> [ 1d100=16 ]{16}

'Shar's bolstering the other two, I'm bolstering them back,' Syala reports, voice terse. 'Rogar's wounded.'

[Ebiris]

Of course she is. Alicia remembers Kesse of course - those depraved royals, bolstered and supported in the extreme by Shar... yet as powerful as they were, as many resources as they had... they were weak. Brittle. Unable to stand for themselves. Easy prey once Alicia turned her sights on them.

She likes to think that there's a downside to being as hands on and supportive as Shar is, that her minions are unable to handle true adversity and are just used to coasting along on borrowed power.

But it doesn't stop the ruin and pain they leave in their wake before someone better comes along to put them down.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d100 higher the better here
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 higher the better here --> [ 1d100=49 ]{49}

As Eltea sees to the education of new converts, Auril vanishes from their sight. She floats up to the two of you, coming your way.

'Could you handle Auril? It's a tense fight right now, could go either way.' Syala sends.

'Reinforcements,' She adds, 'More Sharrans...and a Crimson Guard brigade showed up. That your work, Alicia? It's newer recruits, a tracker, a healer and a warrior.'

[Ebiris]

'I think I know the ones you mean,' Alicia says, nodding to Auril's avatar once she's close enough to converse civilly.

"Auril," she greets aloud, her voice not for the ears of mortals. "Since we ended up in the same town we thought it polite to say hello." A glance down at the people listening to the yuki onna, "You did well backing the winning side in this war."

It's not as if Alicia particularly likes or hates Auril. She's a malevolent deity yes, but one that's so straightforward about it that it's almost respectable. None of the games or corruption favoured by Alicia's primary antagonists. In a way Neve was something like a lesser version of Auril, and she even had a soft spot for that Frostwind Virago.

[Anastasia]

"Alicia," Auril returns, "A small investment that reaps a large reward is ever wise." Her expression is chill, cool. "So they will learn of winter, learn to freeze and learn to serve me. No matter who triumphs, Hell or Lifasa, winter will grow stronger."

> roll 1d100 higher the better here
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 higher the better here --> [ 1d100=61 ]{61}

'They're doing slowly better, winning,' Syala sends.

[Ebiris]

"How cold-blooded of you," Alicia says. She'd ordinarily phrase it more politely because Auril is showing good strategy there, but that phrasing is exactly what she'd take for a compliment anyway. "In any case, our own faiths are burgeoning here as well, and we'll be lending them their own inspiration while we're here." She looks down at the upcoming Auril worshippers below, "What was it Aurora's leaders said when making their concessions to winter? That the Lifasa of old was too used to peace and that softness gave Hell its opening? Once the euphoria of liberation wanes, new battlelines will be drawn and swords will be sharpened."

[Anastasia]

"Yes, and I will be a power on this world," Auril concurs, "We shall compete amid the gales of winter and the blinding blizzards - but not today. You will see that winter swallows even the most brave and righteous, Alicia."

[Ebiris]

"It's enough to endure the Winter and come out stronger from the other end. I don't want weak champions after all," Alicia returns, looking briefly up at the sun in the sky. "But I agree, our competition can wait for another day. Farewell, Frostmaiden," she takes Syala's arm and teleports them over closer to the grove being tended to by Syala's upcoming worshippers.

Still close enough for Auril and her to sense one another but they've said hello and don't need to hang around each other any longer.

[Anastasia]

Once teleported, Syala shakes her head.

> roll 1d100 higher the better here
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 higher the better here --> [ 1d100=43 ]{43}

"A retreat. They lost 2 to no losses for us," Syala speaks. "A marginal victory. Still, they did good and that particular cult hideout will be obliterated now."

[Ebiris]

"Not bad," Alicia says, shedding her disguise to appear in her natural appearance in her prime, armed and armoured with her distinctive panoply (if rather stripped down from full potential in her avatar's case). "So since Auril's said her pitch, I think starting with yours here is a good move, give a more balanced perspective of nature to everyone."

[Anastasia]

Syala does the same, "Let's," Syala concurs, "Preaching to the faithful, but let's bring more in."

[Ebiris]

"They'll be galvanised from seeing you and spread word all the more," Alicia smiles. "You take the lead and I'll support you, then we'll visit my church and swap."