Burrowing ahead

[Anastasia]

Donald gently rubs the blood against the soul, which slowly seeps into it.

"I can't expect the soul to be like me - I'm unique and no way they can keep up," Donald begins, "Seira's better at that. She can be copied." He speaks aloud as he keeps his hands around the soul, gaze focused on it. ""Besides, what's more more superior than a dragon, and that means I'm superior if I made one."

[Corwin]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness, Seira muses as she watches the proceedings. So she's flattered, except for the part where the saying treats Donald as merely mediocre.

She does deicde to bless the soul at its conception, wishing it to live up to its full potential!

[Anastasia]

Under Donald's hands it begins to form, life springing forth as...

Go ahead and drop whatever blessing you're going to and I'll factor it in.

[Corwin]

I'm thinking of a thematic deific gift of +2 to any skill check, 3/day. Support Donald's efforts, but not overshadow them.

[Anastasia]

Sure, go ahead and do something IC to signify it and I'll roll with it.

[Corwin]

"Three is an auspicious number, don't you think?" Seira voices, fingers trailing in the air as she blesses the newborn soul to be all that more successful during his or her endeavors. And hopefully, Kascha will take the hint and follow suit, so that they both provide their support to Donald's efforts while he takes the lead on this project.

[Anastasia]

"Three is the best number," Kascha seconds, a faint glow all around her as the soul grows. It is brighter now, a hint of golden-red to it. An image forms around it as Donald drops his hands - an armored warrior, of golden-red scales and a heavy sword at hand. In his other hand is a spellbook, crackling with eldritch lightning.

"A dragon who can command steel and magic," Donald announces, "With a mind sharp enough to unravel any problem and a body strong enough to do it. With a dragon's gifts and blessings, he's superior."

The Guardian merely glances at the soul and nods, before with a gesture it is gone. "That will do," he decides, "Three trials, three successes."

[Corwin]

"Did you give that soul a chance to develop properly on some Prime?" Seira inquires politely.

[Anastasia]

"Yes, yes," A wave of his hand, "I suppose it's time for the finale."

[Corwin]

"I suppose so," Seira agrees. "If it doesn't go against your wishes or your instructions, could you help us beyond providing the seed you've been entrusted with? A clearer understanding of 21, knowledge of other such artifacts made by the Incarnations and where we might find them? Anything else that might help us in our struggle against Shar?"

[Anastasia]

The Guardian sits back, and as he does, for once Kascha cuts him off.

"Please," she says earnestly, "Anything can help."

The Guardian pauses before he looses a sigh, "She's alive and she shouldn't be alive," he says at last. "I can no longer see the light of 21, yet she lives. I know not what you did, and I will not find out. I know enough to be gravely concerned." Is the Guardian's words. "The 666th layer of the Abyss. Whatever you do, be wary of what lies there. Never speak its name. Truth and lies reverse themselves before it. Kascha, recall what your friend Muirfinn heard of that place. Shar may use it against Creation."

[Corwin]

"Thank you," Seira tells the Guardian. Learning of a usable weapon was a long shot, but knowledge of a critical threat is important! And they never expected to learn of one, so it's a boon to them.

[Anastasia]

"Thank you. ...If I can, one day, I'll see you again," Kascha looks up with a smile, then gasps. The Guardian is gone. In her hands is a divine seed. Quieter than before she says, "...let's return home. I'll tell you what I know of that layer. Muirfinn had to recall parts of the conversation through magic, some sort of weak or variant anathemic knowledge."

[Corwin]

"Right," Seira agrees, but she takes the three of them with the seed to Io's realm while her avatar pops from the Cauldron into the replica of the library to look through it.

[Anastasia]

As you walk up the steps of Io's realm?

"So what are we going to do with it?" Donald asks.