Phoenix

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+1
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+1 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{7}

How curious. The sphere does not respond - but you can infer why. Perhaps on a better day you two would have been able to overwhelm it directly, but that is not today. You can discern how it can be broken, however. It simply needs to be touched by a creature of fire that loves a creature of water.

[Corwin]

Seira reaches out to tap it with her index finger.

[Anastasia]

Do you love a creature of water? I have to ask.

[Corwin]

No one specified romantic love, I totally love Sanzha

[Anastasia]

Your finger sinks into the sphere and slowly, ever so slowly, the boiling ceases. Wispy souls come out of it, slow but steady, flying free from that dreadful prison.

[Corwin]

Seira doesn't even need to say anything, merely supporting Sanzha as she helps those souls travel on their journey. Whether it is towards a final rest, now freed of suffering, or to help them rise anew is up to them and to her friend. For her part, she just wants to show them kindness from a being of Fire.

[Anastasia]

Together the two of you watch, not a word as the power of this artifact flees, even as you feel Sanzha even more intensely than ever.

Sanzha gains divine rank 2. This was in the works since the Imix victory, but now's the perfect time to put an exclamation mark on it. Congratulations.

[Corwin]

Glorious! And since we're doing this, I think she accomplished her Node goal, too~

It was definitely the right call! And how adorable it is that the power of love was the key?

[Anastasia]

In that at the same time, you feel your connection to Sanzha intensify, sharp and powerful.

Node goal, go read.

[Corwin]

Laf

Ranbar got a congratulatory hug earlier, so now it's time for Sanzha to get one however she might resist!

I think that leaves out Donald's goal, so let's chat with him next!

[Anastasia]

Donald's found at practice. By himself and in light armor, a practice blade and shield of solid, heavy metal swung about. His focus is on it entirely, a simple training room set aside and quiet save for him and a single golem that holds a tray with water and a towel.

[Corwin]

Seira steps over, giving a showy twirl to the short swords in her hands. "Looking for your insights," she tells Donald, grinning. "Willing to fight you for it, at that. How do you think our invasion of Imix's realm went?"

[Anastasia]

"We're alive and free," Donald says, "It went amazingly well for that. No way we ever pull off the same trick on Imix or anyone on Fire, or perhaps anyone if people paid attention. I have an offer for our friend for refuge here if he needs it, if Imix figures out what happened and goes after him." He readies himself but doesn't attack yet. "I wanted to finish it but we can't help politics if Kossuth cares enough to get involved, and that was huge."

[Corwin]

Seira shrugs. "I think Kossuth is right and Imix is not going to mess with my interests on various Primes from now on. Plus, Zaaman Rul got to raise his own standard, and given a weakened Imix to present to Fire I think our appeal looks better. I hoped I'd get him for good, yes, but then our recruitement efforts and proselytizing would've run against the Crimson Firebrand directly, to our detriment."

[Anastasia]

As the two of you size each other up, ready to strike, "Speaking of, I'm waiting any day for Kossuth to contact us about that. We're gonna have problems there before it's all done."