Destiny now lies in the hands of...

[Ebiris]

"We got a good circlet recently from one of those radiant sisters that covers a lot of basic niches. Pyleth... why don't you add that to Alyssa's set?" Alicia asks Latha.

Pyleth: This circlet is invisible and warded by nondetection (CL15). When worn it replicates the effects of several magical items: a monk's belt, an orange ioun stone, a ring of improved climbing, a ring of improved swimming, a belt of magnificence+6, a circlet of intelligence+8 and a cloak of charisma+8. Additionally the wearer can invoke a salt armor spell (CL 18th) at will, but only on themselves.

[Anastasia]

"I'll offer it to her," Latha agrees, "Though my understanding is that as soon as this is over, if she achieves her goal here, she will try to become One."

"Somewhat less useful then if she succeeds, but still powerful and worthwhile," Syala considers, "Make the offer anyway."

"And if she fails?" Jessica asks, softer.

"Then it's moot," Syala says, "I pray that doesn't come to pass."

[Ebiris]

"So far it's gone well... you've finished your annotations to Io's treatise, haven't you Antenora?" Alicia asks. "I'm not sure that it matters in the short term as it offers no tangible boost for existing divinity, but when it comes to the final confrontation it might be the difference between being winked out of existence and requiring at least some effort to smite. So we should all consider it."

[Anastasia]

"I have. Together my aid, Sylvie's aid and Io's book provides a sizeable advantage, but it's far from certain," Antenora says, "A great deal of it still comes down to your personal willpower and force of personality." Here she considers, "With what I know now, I truly believe it a miracle I succeeded." Quieter, "Do you believe there could be another power involved that guides us, Alicia? Perhaps no Incarnation will move openly in this, but perhaps another watches us in the Beyond? Or that the One favors our cause distantly?"

"Or that you hope for meaning and purpose in nothingness," Syala's answer is milder, "I don't believe that anyone does - we're on our own for this. If a miracle from outside of Creation was to come, it would have come by now. We would not be at this desperate juncture otherwise."

[Ebiris]

"I think you did the right things at the right time, Antenora," Alicia says. "You have been tested as few in Creation have, and that gave you the mindset needed to succeed when it came down to it." Then she smiles, "Still I'll gladly read all the advice available before I try myself."

"I will as well, if we're all doing it," Marie adds. "But for now I need to go to Elysium. You're coming as well, Antenora?"

[Anastasia]

"I wouldn't miss it for the world - and so that others can see the unfiltered reaction of Mystra. I'll contact Mystra and ask for us to visit her personally," Antenora says, "I do believe she'll see you and realize as we arrive."

Syala smiles to that, and in a little murmuring to Alicia, "I wonder when the last time something's surprised Mystra?"

[Ebiris]

"She was surprised by Antenora's ascension," Alicia points out. And that's nicer than the nasty surprise Mystra told her about after that whole thing with Rosewater.

"Alright, I'm in your hands," Marie says, taking Antenora's hand in her own.

[Anastasia]

Antenora takes Marie's hand. It isn't too long before both of you vanish and...

...

You stand before Mystra. She sits on a throne of tomes and scrolls, elevated high. Below her countless wizards work and scribe away, scrolls by the thousands being written. There is a taste of magic in this room, thick enough to slice with a knife and eat with a fork.

"Antenora, Marielle, you have asked..." Mystra begins, but stops, a moment of unguarded surprise, eyes wide as she takes in Marie.

[Ebiris]

Oh, she's surprised all right!

Marie stands there, beautiful and graceful eladrin that she is, and yet she's clearly more than that too. Lifting the purple skirts of her elaborate fwoofy dress she dips into a curtsey to her original goddess who gave her the opportunities to have come so far. How do they do it? Ah yes, like...

"You teased me before about whether I'd do it, so... here I am."

[Anastasia]

How beautiful of you, Marielle.

I....

...I am glad I cannot faint.

[Ebiris]

Marie glances back at all the wizards working away under Mystra's sight, a station she would have been honoured to have climbed to herself in the past, and then back at the surprised deity hosting them. "Maybe we should talk somewhere quieter?" she suggests, no longer putting divine oomph behind her voice.

Of course she still sounds... what was that word Alicia used before? Enthralling. Yes, she has a wonderful voice anyone should be happy to hear!

[Anastasia]

Mystra rises with supreme grace - and in an instant you're in a private, comfortable library. A small, personal one. A fireplace burns warm and there's a selection of drinks and snacks on a table in the corner. It smells of old books, fresh food and a hint of the dust of the ages. The Mother of all Magic slips into a seat before, "I'd like to hear what happened from your own mouth, Marielle."

[Ebiris]

Marie smiles happily at being in Mystra's confidence like this and takes a seat of her own. "Alicia told you about the divine seed Asmodeus offered her?" she begins. "Well it isn't the only one out there. Jessica started it off, she chased down old stories and legends, including one of the source of divinity being at the bottom of the infinite staircase. So she and Alicia went there and they found it. Just like that," she shakes her head in disbelief a little at how simple it was. "The Incarnation of Balance left them scattered in hidden places around the planes, protected by guardians with power like the Incarnations have, like what you told Alicia about Commander Oberuth's ability to cross space without magic."

[Anastasia]

"Remarkable. What doors open to you and yours," Mystra says in soft wonder. After a breath she rises, "Marielle, approach me."

[Ebiris]

"They found another one in Ysgard, that's how I've come so far so suddenly," Marie adds, almost in a rush to get it out. She knows she can't tell Mystra about what Zaphkiel is, or about Io, but she doesn't want to hide what's been done with that knowledge. Standing up she approaches Mystra, forcing herself to meet the elder deity's eyes without flinching.