The duty to live

[Anastasia]

"That wasn't like Alicia at all," Syala agrees, "Enough to pass someone who doesn't know her and nothing else."

Your sword is studied from afar, "Someone who didn't know better," Is the answer from the avatar, voice growing colder by the moment.

[Ebiris]

"How long ago was this? Was anything done to intercede with Snowwind's soul?" Alicia asks, replacing her sword behind her back.

Seriously, can I get more info about the kill? Was it a big arcane strike? Spell channel? Sneak attack? Power attack? Presumably I have enough experience to identify this kind of thing.

[Anastasia]

Just a relatively weak creature and a surprise attack. Power attack was involved, as was sneak attack. Sorry, missed that in the reply.

"No, I stopped that," The Queen of Air and Darkness sounds colder by the moment, "It was six days ago."

[Ebiris]

She nods approvingly, glad that nothing was done with the soul. She might take prisoners but anyone she kills she'll never interfere with their soul at that point, and she hates anyone that does regardless of who the victim is. "That was before Malcanthet would have seen the new sword then, so she can remain a suspect," Alicia says. And given the skills she obtained from Violet? It would have been remarkably easy for her to pull off, even if the acting was suspect.

"Although I confess myself surprised I didn't hear you castigate me immediately after the fact, even if you took time to actually prepare revenge. Did you carefully examine the spell traces of her teleportation?" It'd be too late for her to do so now even if she went to the location.

[Anastasia]

"The Astral," Is the answer, "And then gone. Warded well enough to prevent easy detection or analysis of her magic. What I might expect from a magic deity."

[Ebiris]

"Nondetection is an easy spell for the benefit it grants," Alicia agrees, frowning as she goes over what she saw.

Was it definitely a two-bladed sword that was used and not perhaps a longsword or some other weapon under an illusion to look like one that I could perhaps tell by stance/handling? Can I tell if it was being wielded 'proficiently' in terms of having the exotic weapon proficiency feat?

[Anastasia]

It was a two bladed sword. It was wielded with proficiency, yes. The wielder knew how to use it, though not exceedingly well. Strong base skill though, what you'd expect from someone who did this. Just not specialized or focused skill with it.

[Ebiris]

Does the heroics spell that gives fighter bonus feats exist in Balmuria?

[Anastasia]

I don't really use it personally, but I don't think it's in banned spells. Moreover, spells to grant the benefits of feats do exist as it is, so it's hardly impossible for a spell to cover that.

[Ebiris]

"Lets break down precisely what we know about the killer?" Alicia says, starting to extend her fingers as she marks off points.

"She possessed the divine resonance of an avatar or quasideity. She possessed magic strong enough to obscure her spells from a power of your rank," a nod towards the Queen of Air and Darkness, "She slew Snowwind with a two-bladed sword that was wielded with the skill of one trained but not specialised in using such a weapon. Her natural skill at arms was correspondingly high to match her magical talent. She struck with a single attack trading accuracy for power, but still taking advantage of lowered guard to maximise the killing power of her blow.

"Those are the only facts we can take for certain. Anything else relies on conjecture. Skill with these weapons is rare but there is magic that can be used to temporarily impart it, though the aptitude for attacking by surprise displayed is at least a bit less easy to come by."

[Anastasia]

Syala taps the bottom of Blessing of the Twelve on the ground. She's quiet as you speak, but once you finish, "She also knew enough to imitate you, but not about recent events," Syala points out, "So it's probably not someone who deals with us often or someone who has a spy there. More, this doesn't feel like Malcanthet based on recent actions. She could do it, but it doesn't match what's she's trying."

"Someone who wishes to provoke the three of us," The Queen of Air and Darkness points out, "That is the strand that unites this."

[Ebiris]

"I keep wanting to point the finger at Malcanthet for this," Alicia admits. "But I worry that's my own bias trying to force a conclusion without enough evidence behind it. You're right it could be a multi-pronged effort, first to put us in open conflict with the Unseelie, and if that fails to intensify our efforts against the Abyss."

She drums her fingers against her thigh. "Someone comfortable with lies and deception, to the point that they can not only masquerade as another but freely give oaths they intend to break within seconds."

There was one other thing, the flames at the end. Alter reality? A spell-like ability? Which spell was used?

[Anastasia]

A hard thing for most to discern, but you are a goddess of magic. You're pretty sure it was an item, actually.  Very subtly activated, possibly by telepathic message or command. The sword, you think, remembering and focusing your will on it.

[Ebiris]

"I think... I'm not sure, but I'm confident at the end? The fire was caused by the sword. A magic item, not divine power - perhaps because she knew such a display would be too revealing of her own power?" Alicia adds one more piece to the puzzle as back in Sylica her true self divines that particular piece.

[20:01] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+114 real Alicia knowledge arcana, divine insight, guidance of the avatar, improvisation
[20:01] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+114 real Alicia knowledge arcana, divine insight, guidance of the avatar, improvisation --> [ 1d20=18 ]{132}

Basically rolling to know of any notable magic two-bladed swords able to conjure up big firestorms on command. Seems pretty niche!

[Anastasia]

There's only one you can think of offhand - Ssilresizz. It's said to be the bone of a primal fire elemental, and was last known to be held by Imix.

The name means Burning Bone in Ignan, roughly.