Moving spheres

[Anastasia]

Antenora leans in. It's a gentle thing, a scent of the summer breeze coming from her. Sweetness and flowers, the ever flowing air. "I have, but they're distant. I have to focus on it many times to hear things, though sometimes something breaks through on its own accord."

[Ebiris]

"The ones that break through like that are usually the most fervent," Alicia says. "Nurture them. They'll become your most ardent messengers."

[Anastasia]

A smile comes to her lips, "I will. But it's also a fact we don't need them." Here Antenora shakes her head, "And if you tried, I don't think you'd need them, either. No, I think there's a design here, all coming back to the same thing. It's merely a different path to the same end."

[Ebiris]

Alicia briefly casts her gaze to the ceiling. "I think I had this exact conversation with Jessica the other day," she muses before looking at Antenora again. "One can only do so much alone, Antenora. It's through our influence on others that we truly affect Creation, and a devoted faith provides a very large lever to work with."

[Anastasia]

Antenora frowns, "Alicia. Of course I know that. I mean to exist, to be what we are. I don't think standing alone or being able to is merely a facet of being One. That's where my thoughts go."

[Ebiris]

"Your phrasing just brought it to mind, I was thinking everyone's mind seems to be on the same wavelength lately," Alicia shrugs. "So where are you thinking this design leads, then?"

[Anastasia]

Antenora starts to reply but freezes cold. She stops, composure momentarily breaking, eyes going wide.

[Ebiris]

An important prayer, or a sending? Alicia just looks expectantly at Antenora, certain she'll explain it momentarily.

[Anastasia]

"Asmodeus," Antenora says after a few beats. "Offering myself safe passage to and from Nessus, as well as a personal guarantee of safety. He would like to talk to me."

[Ebiris]

She really wishes the gods had some sort of neutral meeting ground for things like this. "I wouldn't trust that guarantee very far," Alicia says darkly. While it's true she trusted in Antenora's lawful nature when they first met, certain devil actions in disregarding parlay during the Lifasan Crusade have ruined their credibility when it comes to such offers.

[Anastasia]

"All disavowed and blamed up to Bel if need be," Antenora adds, just as darkly. She takes a long breath, before...

'Greetings,' Asmodeus speaks with calm serenity, voice powerful and commanding, yet decidedly quiet. You know it is him in a way that defies words, his presence unique and impossible to mistake as any other's. A feeling of power, a feeling of reality, yet held back to the barest whisper.

[Ebiris]

Asmodeus. After so long trying to bring Antenora back in chains you expect her to simply walk into Hell?

[Anastasia]

I will not. Never again will I suffer in Hell.

'We have one common enemy,' The Lord of the Ninth says, 'One that We all wish to be defeated. We will not entertain such measures as the Grand Sultan proposed to Seira and Barachiel, but We are interested in discussing Shar with you. As One Antenora is important now, and the secrets of One may yet strengthen you.'

Antenora takes a long breath, fists tightening. Secrets that you have, secrets you wish to share for us? All at the price of our souls and freedom?

'All at the price of Our Creation continuing. If that means you grasp the secrets of One and rise to rival Lathander, Helm, Torm or another, then We see that as more than an acceptable price.'

[Ebiris]

Alicia is outwardly calm as they carry out this high stakes conversation, not needing to even move her lips to contribute.

Secrets that needn't require a trip to Nessus to be divulged.

[Anastasia]

'Secrets that We will only speak of face to face,' Is the reply you get. 'A place with meaning - where Agares fell.'