The laughter of oblivion

[Ebiris]

"Marie, can you point us towards Memorial?" Alicia asks, seeing nothing to go on even from this vantage.

"Got it," Marie says, concentrating.

Miracle SLA used for Find the Path aimed at Memorial.

[Anastasia]

You have to go southwest from here, you can feel.

[Ebiris]

"That way," Marie points in the direction southwest, Alicia compressing distance so they can cover ground more swiftly.

[Anastasia]

Just as well - lightning strikes where you were moments later, as you advance ahead long and fast.

Movement speed here?

[Ebiris]

Marie and Alicia are both speed 200, and the space compression adds another 3500 feet covered every round.

[Anastasia]

As you fly along?

Aunt Alicia, we did it! Alyssa did it!

[Ebiris]

Congratulations. What are you two going to represent? Ascension is but a single step, now you must bring your efforts into even sharper focus and declare to all of Creation that you are here, and worthy of note.

[Anastasia]

We're going to work that out soon. After everything we need a little time to rest and mourn.

[Ebiris]

I understand. I was sorry to hear of what happened to Ianvasah. Remember it's okay to retreat if you're outmatched, you can always come back and win another day.

"Alyssa has become One," she says aloud to Marie and Latha.

"Good for her. Wonder what kind of goddess she'd make?" Marie wonders.

[Anastasia]

"My avatar is there," Latha agrees, "One of knowledge and magic I suspect, but time will tell."

[Ebiris]

"Lot of competition for that portfolio, she better have something compelling to offer," Marie observes.

"It is a concern, if these new deities wish to Compete," Alicia speaks up. "Seira and I had already made legends and reshaped the planes before we ascended, our stories were told far and wide. Even then it still took us decades to come this far. For a complete unknown like Alyssa... you're right, she needs something compelling to deserve worship. When Moore tried to claim the prize in Elysium he was rebuffed by the arch angels who bade him to defeat the Hecatoncheires first. I believe that serves a dual purpose, not only of educating him on the dangers when gods blunder, but also giving him a chance to declare himself to all of Creation as something more than talk."

"That's good advice," Marie says. "Still, I wonder... doesn't it feel like things are moving faster? You know how some outsiders can be static for centuries or millenia, and then suddenly advance at a great speed due to some confluence of events? What if something similar can happen with divinity?"

[Anastasia]

"The thought has crossed my mind. It may be part of Zaphkiel's plan," Latha agrees. "What greater confluence of events could happen than these? Perhaps on some level Creation itself understands that?"

[Ebiris]

"Why not? So many of the planes have wills of their own - we're literally seeing that all around us right now," Alicia gestures over the stormy and dark Bytopia as they race through it. "Could Creation as a whole have its own super-consciousness? Something so deep and titanic none have ever comprehended it?"

"Little bit scary though," Marie says. "Creation includes Hell and the Abyss and all sorts of nasty places."

"It does, but... well, until it finds an Answer, if it ever does, Creation's totality has the potential for great good and great evil, the same as any person," Alicia says, mulling the concept over in her head.

[Anastasia]

Just as you mull that, lightning strikes all of you midstep, a barrage perfectly timed.

Are any of you subject to electricity damage?

[Ebiris]

Marie's immune, Alicia and Latha aren't.

Although if Marie has her perinarch still up she can make it just... not have lightning where they are.