Burrowing ahead

[Corwin]

"So how come no one else ever made it, as far as I'm aware?" Seira asks Hanali curiously. "I can see Baator not mustering the trust necessary and their efforts falling apart if forced, and slaad and demons don't really have the staying power for this sort of effort. But there's plenty of decent and neutral parties who surely had the chance throughout the eons...."

[Anastasia]

"Change," Hanali answers at last, "Tell me, Seira, what happens if I change? What I represent will change to match that, and what of those loyal faithful who no longer fit in? What of the souls under Torm and Talos who found themselves no longer at their eternal rest through no fault of their own?" Now the wine is taken, another glass poured for both of you. "The changes will not be as severe as what happened to the two of them," she goes right on, "But as the seasons turn, change will change you and you will not be the one to suffer. Those who cling to you will be."

A long drink, "The elven heart is mercurial and loves freedom. Yet those who become unelven find no rest here." Hanali concludes. "Even we, champions of chaos, understand that not all change is good."

[Corwin]

"I've seen many of Torm's faithful turn to Helm, but it was hardly an easy choice to make. Nor, I imagine, was the choice of those who stayed with him, or broke off altogether. As an example of the perils change at our level can cause our followers, it's a great example. But I'm afraid I don't understand the link to my question, Hanali."

[Anastasia]

Another drink before, "I'm afraid you lost me there, dear," she smiles, "You asked why more don't do it, did you not?"

[Corwin]

"Eh, you know what? It's fine," Seira responds, returning her smile.

[Anastasia]

You get a hug at that, all warm softness and appeal. "That's why everyone likes you!"

[Corwin]

Seira laughs, returning the hug.

[Anastasia]

Okay, anything else to do here?

[Corwin]

Don't think so! It went into a different place than I expected, but fun was had. I'll be sure to keep an eye on Ranbar offscreen, but now let's finally resolve Elle's node goal so I can see where she wants to take things next?

[Anastasia]

Sure.

It's not hard to drop in to check on Elle. Two Elles stand facing each other, perfect copies meeting each other's gaze. Not a word is said, the two locked in a staring contest. It's in one of Elle's laboratories, one of them within a small magic circle and the other just out of it. All about various diagrams are drawn, which shift and change by the moment. Animated quills record what happens on parchment, working away all the while.

[Corwin]

"Staring contests with yourself are pointless, you always lose," Seira points out, hopping to sit on an unoccupied table.

[Anastasia]

Elle turns with a soft smile, "Hardly! The secrets of avatars are at my fingertips," she goes on, "Can you imagine a mastery of it. A thousand flying shops, each one manned by an Elle." She brushes back her hair with a confident smile, "Unfortunately the limits on avatars seem to be intractable. I would press farther, but if no other deity has surpassed them in this time, it is a limitation of divinity or set by the Incarnations and a fruitless quest."

[Corwin]

"There are easy fixes to this," Seira points out. "I've been working on a superior simulacrum spell on and off, and there's the divine abilities to possess mortals and assign anyone as a familiar. You could use what's available, or even try to make a divine breakthrough all of your own! And hey, if you manage that, most people will stay away from it out of respect, so you'll be the only one with a thousand weaker but still lovely and competent Elles all over!"

[Anastasia]

A widening smile at that, "You think just like I do," she says, "I like it!"

[Corwin]

"We think a lot alike," Seira cheerfully agrees. "Let me know if you want some help with that, will you? I've gotten some practice with manipulating divine powers over time~"