The laughter of oblivion

[Ebiris]

"Just an avatar?" Alicia frowns. That's odd, why would you only send a mere avatar for such a grand prize? Unless he's trying to get several at once... "I'm concerned others have been found if that's the case."

[Anastasia]

"The same worry crosses my mind," Syala admits, "We may have gotten lucky and he underestimated the situation or was occupied."

Amaryl rests back in her chair, "It could be either of those or Alicia's idea. We just don't know right now. Perhaps fortune is with us and he doesn't realize it's not one of a kind."

[Ebiris]

"We need to figure out how Torm became aware of it and what others are being pursued now," Alicia says. "There'd be nothing worse than going to all the trouble of finding some place hidden for the ages and never finding the guardian or seed to confirm you're in the right place because someone else got there first. But I can't believe anyone would only send an avatar after such a prize unless they were attempting to reach several of them simultaneously. It makes no sense to set yourself up for failure like that."

[Anastasia]

"I agree," Latha says, "Yet we cannot ask Torm directly."

"More's the pity," Amaryl says, "Let us check where other Guardians have been? Which places can we reach swiftly?"

[Ebiris]

"If we could reach them swiftly this would be considerably easier," Alicia points out. Checking is as good as getting the seed if they can do that after all.

[Anastasia]

"I meant the seeds we've already found," Amaryl counters, "We know where they are and we can see if Torm or others have come by."

[Ebiris]

"Ah. I can check on two of them easily enough at least," Alicia says, focusing her divine will on a pair of messages.

Queen, it is Alicia. Thank you again for your recent gifts, they were received most warmly in Sylica. Can I ask if you have had any other visitors from outside to your kingdom since we last met?

Oh World Serpent, I trust the imposter has not troubled you since my visit? I must ask however if any others have tried to explore that area since yesterday.

[Anastasia]

'Well heard and well sung, Alicia. I am pleased my gifts were well received. As of now I have not had any uninvited visitors.'

None. They do not dare. My places are secure once more.

[Ebiris]

"There's been no activity at the bottom of the Infinite Stair or the isolated part of Jormungandr's lair," Alicia tells Amaryl. "And we just left Bytopia less than an hour ago."

[Anastasia]

Amaryl's quiet after that, chin resting on her hand. "Then perhaps...it was a stray rotten tree, and perhaps Torm does not fully understand what he stumbled on, until it was too far committed?" she speculates.

"If that's it, we're lucky," Syala agrees, "Far luckier than we have any right to be."

[Ebiris]

"It makes no sense," Alicia says. "With that seed he could potentially make himself powerful enough to face Dispater. Or if he has the wits for it, trade it directly for Yemimah. Why would he try and face a guardian left by an Incarnation with a mere shadow of his power? Was he that afraid of local Arcadian powers stopping him he didn't want to risk himself?"

[Anastasia]

"It could also be a matter of stealth," Latha says at last, "We're missing some big piece of this, some motivation or reasoning we can't square away with the rest of what we knows."

Amaryl's head is bowed, "I'm afraid I can't come to a satisfactory conclusion, only many guesses."

[Ebiris]

"We're definitely missing something," Alicia agrees, drumming her fingers on her chair's armrest. "But it still comes back to the question of how Torm knew about that seed and why he went for it now with such perfect timing as to run into Moore there."

[Anastasia]

As you all talk, Seira enters and...

Go ahead, Seira.

[Corwin]

"One of the missing links is that Moore's search took him through one of Torm's forgotten temples," Seira says as she enters the room with a grin at all present. "Beats me why he only sent an avatar. I'll try to find out, though, so leave that up to me?"