A Return

[Anastasia]

"Mmm-hmm," Lathander says, "We all have enough on our plates. Now take a world and - ah, as I was saying," A pause for Lathander to rub his chin, "Most worlds are open, but a few aren't. These worlds are focused between a few deities, essentially a large scale Competition."

[Corwin]

"Do invite me over when a new world is about to be born?" Seira asks, not bothering to conceal her excitement. "I think I'd like that very much." Growing more businesslike, she continues with, "I understand it's about reaching a point where the others have been weeded out, but not the mechanics of how such a thing comes to be. Except for that one world that Auril apparently won by killing everyone with a Prime-wide snowstorm? But I can hardly cast a Prime-wide surge of hope, and that's not how I work anyway...."

[Anastasia]

"Here's a secret," Lathander says, "Auril won that way because she'd already basically won. That snowstorm was confirming facts on the ground, the same way an eternal noon happens in a world when I win." Reaching over and patting Seira's shoulder, "The rituals aren't even that hard, because part of it comes down to 'You've won' as a component. It's the final masterstroke, not the abomination Taelfagn managed for Lifasa."

[Corwin]

"Aha. That's why I drew the wrong conclusion, too. Alright, so now that I'm no longer worried a terrible deity will hurt people worldwide by casting a spell, how do I establish myself on a Prime as a contender? And how do I push my enemies away once I do? Also, what happens if we work together? Do we get a world of eternal noon and hope? Or we'll be forced to fight it out once the others are out of the way?"

[Anastasia]

"Get there, get your followers and mortals going and win victories. Worlds aren't won by us fighting over them in person, Seira," Lathander says, "Remember the wastelands in your world? We rarely fight head on for a variety of reasons." Reaching out to tap your forehead with a single, shining finger, "It's always worth remembering that the mortal worlds are for mortals. The occasional avatar and flagrant display happens, but how many avatars did you face on your world in combat, Seira?"

[Corwin]

"So there are rules governing our conduct on Primes, and the way our enemies escalate in return to our actions," Seira muses, rather than recall the horrible things that might as well have been avatars and she was forced in facing back during her mortal years. "And there's another set of rules regarding how we Compete for the hearts and minds of a world's people, with considerable overlap between the two. I might be able to cure a Prime of hunger, but if I do it in person it doesn't help with the latter. Whereas if I inspire my clergy to work together on such a spell or arrange for a world-spanning network to deliver the necessary supplies, it does? And either case, Shar might show up to mess it up, because she's Shar?"

[Anastasia]

"She could," Lathander says, "Generally, it works best when the mortals have earned it - a reward. Your Balmuria earned that celestial grain by your valor and the Crimson Guard's valor in advancing what was right. Pah." Looking out again, as images of the sea form in the fog, churning waves and pristine beaches, "We're shepherds, or so that's what the Incarnations called us at times. We guide and reward them when they earn it. If we want to fight personally, we have the rest of Creation for it."

[Corwin]

"I like to think I've got some leeway in that, given my roots," Seira muses, turning to look at Lathander curiously. "How about you? Were you there from the very start? I've wondered for a while, how many of us were elevated in some way. Alicia and myself, our wives, Sulia... but who else came before us?"

[Anastasia]

"The Red Knight is the most famous," Lathander says, "But she wears it as a point of pride." A chuckle follows, "It's a good idea if you ask me, but she knows how to get up and do something. Very vigorous, that one. Especially when she gets grabby."

[Corwin]

"I don't really care about that," Seira assures Lathander. "So us six? That's it? There wasn't even anyone elevated to replace the god that died fighting Daa-vid?"

[Anastasia]

"Nonsense, I wasn't finished," Lathander smiles, "Merely remembering. I really should visit her again soon..." A trail off at that, "Ah. No. The most common are in the Abyss, almost anything can rise to be a Demon Lord. Too often, something has. Morwel began as a mere eladrin and not divine, she earned her position on her own, though she does not like to advertise it. Ah, I remember when she was an eladrin with an appealing dream and nothing more. It was a good idea to visit her, it was a fun time for everyone."

[Corwin]

Did all these women sleep their way into power? Seira wonders if they're having two different conversations here, but bravely presses on all the same. "The Abyssal lords are pretty limited, at that. Did you know I could've become one? It's not even that hard. I imagine the Celestial traitors that ended up bending knee before Asmodad would also count. Is there anyone else?"

[Anastasia]

"Empress Sulia, you know her," Lathander says, "Azuth, but that's not well known. Velsharoon as well, but he's an interesting story. Most of Morwel's lovers as they pass through, speaking of her. Thard Harr is an obscure one, he's dwarf god watching over jungle dwarves. Rare, he's one on an unusual Prime made good. He's fairly weak after all this time, since what he focuses on is so narrow. He's a good example of overspecialization in the divine, but he's happy where he is. He slipped in, for whatever reason Ao approved him. Maybe it's because he's not going to upset any sunny days for anyone unless they mess with jungle dwarves."

[Corwin]

It does raise the question of what appeals to Ao, but that's hardly a new one.

"Who's the oldest, then? The first god that wasn't there at the start?"

[Anastasia]

"Amitrix," Lathander says, "Promoted a century or so in, died two years later. Something of an experiment," Lathander says, "Back then, the Incarnations were trying all manner of things to find the Answer."