Sylican morning

[Anastasia]

Sounds good. Check with Marie's schedule and tell me what your next move is?

[Ebiris]

Actual-Alicia will go visit Celestia with Latha and Antenora.

[Anastasia]

You find Latha and Antenora atop the Opal Mountain. Both watch the flow of souls to the celestials there - a steady trickle, ever slowly expanding as you expand your influence. Both are in full gear, as one glowing soul lands in the hands of an angel -

Milyard, the scent of the road, always traveling, protecting, fighting, the laugh of the ogre chieftain, sending the women and children off, holding the line against them, pain. So much pain, a moment's prayer echoing in you rmind, bloody and dying, 'Please...please let them get away... -

Antenora bows her head a moment, Latha joining her. Once done Antenora extends her hand out, the soul flying to her hand. She holds it to her and smiles, raising it up. It flies into the sky, slowly taking the form of a star of light, rising up to rain down and be reborn.

[Ebiris]

Alicia's followers aren't ones to die asleep in their beds after long and quiet lives. At least in Sylica they're given some respite and reward, before joining the battle once more. She expands out her own consciousness, to see if Milyard's sacrifice was enough. Were the ogres stopped, or at least delayed long enough for others to get to safety?

[Anastasia]

They are still hurrying on the road, past night, towards safety in a nearby town. Yet the ogres are following fast, the chieftain leading them. He carries Milyard's blade in hand, still stained with blood.

[Ebiris]

Is there any safety to be found in that nearby town, or would its inhabitants just be more victims?

[Anastasia]

A simple divination that tells you yes, it would be safe. A strong guard and militia will take care of any ogres that try their luck.

[Ebiris]

Well, for a dying man's prayer Alicia will exert herself just a bit, if only in her usual understated style. As the ogre chieftan passes beneath the boughs of a tree arching over the road while waving that purloined blade about, a spider will happen to fall onto his nose and bite down in reflexive action.

It's not a deadly toxin or anything, but perhaps it'll cause enough of a distraction and slow the rushing ogres down a bit. As for the town and the presumed safety it offers? A sudden gust of wind out of nowhere will ring its watch bell so the guard are ready.

That's as much as she can do here. She'd like to use her power to help more directly, like she would have were she a passing knight on the road. But she doesn't want her power to stifle the growth of others, even if it's painful.

[Anastasia]

The spider is swatted away, a bite rising on the ogre's nose. At the same the bell of the city begins to ring loudly. The gates open, guards beginning to spill out, assessing the situation.

With a glance you can see the ogres slowing and scout detachments deployed into the night, towards the fleeing victims.

[Ebiris]

That will have to be enough. Alicia continues to watch what happens, but at her physical body... "Antenora, Latha, are you both ready to visit Celestia?"

[Anastasia]

"We are," Antenora turns to Alicia, a smile on her face. "He'll be happy here and promote fast, I think. I don't think he needs a long, second childhood. He needs to be a protector."

Latha looks to the sky as Milyard's soul flies up and away, "I agree. Let him become. Let him remember, perhaps, he may be one who benefits from it."

[Ebiris]

"Well... lets give that a try then," Alicia elects to go with Latha's instincts here. Allowing Milyard recollection of his life, she incarnates him as a protectar, the simplest form of angel beyond a cherub, allowing him to appear near where forces that recently fought in the Lifasan crusade are passing on lessons to more green celestials. He can get swept up in that easily enough and settle in, and hopefully advance quickly like Antenora predicts.

[Anastasia]

Thus it is done, incarnating him instantly to your will. "I'll keep an eye on him," Antenora says, "Now then, Celestia?"

[Ebiris]

"Yes, we'll go visit Romiel first," Alicia confirms. They might know the Hebdomad more directly now but Romiel's always been a good friend and supporter of their efforts so checking in with him on recent Celestial events feels right.

With that in mind she opens a Gate to outside his fortress on Lunia.

[Anastasia]

As you go, "Oh, that reminds me," Latha says, "His son was with Aurora, wasn't he? Cresiel was his name?"

"He was," Antenora says, "I don't know if he's still with them now that they're changing focuses. I met him briefly, he's very focused, determined."