Walking to Rosewater

[Anastasia]

"..." Antenora's silent, "Cuddling," She finally says, as if mirroring your own thoughts. "She almost looked...domestic." A queasy frown crosses her face, "Somehow that disturbs me as much as her greater crimes."

[Ebiris]

"It cuts deeper knowing someone who can look and behave like that can still be so demonic, doesn't it?" Marie agrees.

[Anastasia]

"I know well a pretty wrapping can conceal a rotten soul," Antenora says at last, "But yet, Malcanthet doing it feels...I don't know. Like she's cheating somehow, even if I know all to well she should be more than capable."

[Ebiris]

"She's meant to be pretty in a different way," Alicia summarises Antenora's thoughts. "With an edge - that razor throne of hers is telling after all."

[Anastasia]

"It tells us how much she wanted what Violet was selling," Latha speaks up, "It is not only an insight to her more cunning nature."

[Ebiris]

That's another avenue of questions for after they learn about how today was supposed to have gone down for Violet's side.

[Anastasia]

Malcanthet and Violet are within an unknown place - quiet and dark, only the drip of water heard besides words. It's so dark that even Malcanthet a few feet away is almost unseen, despite darkvision.

"Our goal is simple - Alicia will come and do what she does. If she comes in violence, delay until the sacrifice is positioned. If she comes in stealth, let her have just enough to challenge to believe she has come in unknown." Malcanthet says.

"Then let her do as we need," Violet concludes, "Slay her or flee as we will, or force her to flee."

"It is...distasteful, but Rosewater is merely a pawn," Malcanthet says, fading entirely into the dark. Steps forward, the sound of rushing water heard now. "The Adversary will work against us to his own ends - I will deal with him, or you shall if the souls agree with you swiftly."

"Let me. I will challenge him in the waters if I must," Violet says, voice full of confidence. "Shall Umberlee still watch from afar?"

"The craven storm is...preoccupied," Malcanthet lets sweet poison drip from every word, "But with our cooperation with Pazuzu, she is not needed."

"Then we have all we need," Violet says, then in a rising, throaty voice, "Soon then, soon...we can begin."

[Ebiris]

"Ahhh, she was so confident too. But then that did rebound quickly even after we rescued her from the Adversary's clutches," Alicia says. "It begs the follow up question - begin what?" she asks Naeys.

[Anastasia]

Another memory. Violet is alone here, but she speaks.

"Alura...no, Madogar...no..." Violet murmurs.

Malcanthet's laugh, from behind and unseen. "To name a realm is an art."

You feel Violet's happiness and ambition, "To take one is power, to name one is art. I will soon have the power. Art will follow. I have so much already."

"With more, soon, soon," Malcanthet promises. "Both a realm and to take revenge on Sylica, if they yet survive after that day."

"Soon." Violet murmurs, "I will have the power to defeat gods. With that power - I can confront one such as Alicia and defeat her, even without divinity, send her screaming back to her home realm."

[Ebiris]

"Oh, she had such high hopes," Alicia says, and if she sounds a bit condescending saying it she believes it's earned after the ups and downs she's had today. "I was right though, however belatedly. Malcanthet was priming her for apotheosis."

"Madogar?" Marie repeats. "Sounds like the name of a gruff old bearded mountain man."

"Anyway," Alicia cuts in. "Lets get back to basics. Ask her who else possesses the same skill with the Styx and memory that she does," she asks Naeys. Whether she learned at the feet of another or trained an apprentice or left another simulacrum around, it's important to know how widely that destabilising ability has been disseminated.

[Anastasia]

'I know,' Antenora sends to Marie, voice understanding.

"Such high hopes that died terribly," Syala says, sounding pleased. "You really do deserve a reward for that, Alicia."

Meanwhile Naeys nods and works.

"You..." Malcanthet's voice, "This unique talent...never have I seen one with your potential, Violet. Well done. You exceeded my...every desire on this task."

A flash. A shimmer. Lore books. Records, fragments of an unknown daemon, who may well have had the same ability long ago - so long ago it was Anthraxus who slew him, for reasons unclear.

Violet writes on parchment: Unique? Rare? Aberration?

A pause as she taps her quill on the paper before going on: Unnatural. Styx focus and control to this degree combined with combination and unity - rare. Talent rare as well?

Here Violet pauses, "I have what almost no one else has," she says aloud, sheer glee filling her.

[Ebiris]

"The day's not over yet," she says to Syala before focusing on the displayed memory and nodding in satisfaction. "So we shouldn't need to do too much extra clean up. It actually is something of a shame to seal away such a rare talent, but nothing good comes of the Styx. Just to make sure, ask if she has any other simulacrum around and whether they're competent at performing skill copying?" The one she interrupted seemed to be up to the job anyway.

[Anastasia]

You see it - three bodies made of black waters, and a fourth made of true flesh, all asleep. Violet is somewhere dark, a cavern. Each lies on a black stone bier, sleeping.

"Master approves and the deal is done," A hissing voice, a slow, ambling thing. A small, midget human, twisted and limping. It rubs its hands together and adds, "Lord Orcus sends his word that his end of the bargain will be upheld."

Latha watches that with a growingly grim expression, "She had contingencies."

[Ebiris]

"Finding and eliminating them will be troublesome," Alicia says. "If it's like a clone spell we're fine so long as we keep her soul held here. Ask where those simulacra are stationed and what use they're being put to?"

[Anastasia]

The answer comes from Violet's own mouth in her memories, "Then Salar's Crypt will do," Violet says to the figure moments later.