Shake the dust off your feet

[Anastasia]

You feel the spell press through Yarus's defenses, enough to settle on him.

[Ebiris]

That's not how this works and you know it, Shar. What's he worth to you? What would you give up to avoid this loss?

And because she's an industrious multi-tasker, she asks Yarus's mind.

How did you become a god?

[Anastasia]

Ao granted my appeal for divinity after Shar instructed me how to do it.

Your dear sister's life. I grow weary of her impertinence.

[Ebiris]

No godseed? Or perhaps there was...

How did you rise beyond quasi-deity status?

She's standing right in front of me, Shar. And we're protected against that trick you used against Mystra if you think that will work. Take this seriously or you'll never see Yarus again.

[Anastasia]

Raw Charisma check here.

[Ebiris]

[02:14] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+24
[02:14] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+24 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{37}

[Anastasia]

There is but a moment before you get your answer.

What do you want?

[Ebiris]

What about an answer from Yarus? Multi-tasking here!

"Shar is willing to bargain for Yarus's fate," she says aloud for Mystra and the others.

It would have to be something grand indeed to be worth a God, wouldn't it? How many souls have you stolen to keep from their deserved fate, like you would have my family?

[Anastasia]

Lord Ao granted it to him on his ascension as he saw fit.

In a tone of sudden bitterness, of anger glimpsed: A higher number of them than you can count.

[Ebiris]

Yes. And believe me, I can count very high indeed. But a God, especially one so favoured by Ao carries a high price to match.

"What's she offering?" Marie asks, tense now and looking between Yarus and Alicia.

"It's what I'm demanding," Alicia shakes her head. "All the souls she's stolen. All of them."

But she can ask questions of Yarus while she has him too!

Who murdered Snowwind?

[Anastasia]

Chlyas.

"A noble goal," Mystra declares as magic flows around her, strange and eldritch patterns as she prepares.

There is a moment, no immediate reply to that.

[Ebiris]

Confirmation. Kossuth and the Queen of Air and Darkness will be pleased.

Which other deities serve Shar?

"I don't like giving him up, but if we do that's a good price," Marie says.

Meanwhile Alicia presses Shar herself now.

That number may be higher than I can count, but I can count the number of deities in Creation. A child can count that high. The scales balance.

[Anastasia]

Oh you foolish little whelp. You think I left anything of them to be saved?

Meanwhile the answer comes.

Chlyas. Demogorgon fancies that he does not, but her grip on him grows tighter. Mask. Soon, the Infinite Shadow.

[Ebiris]

Hmm. Not that Gloom that Morwel mentioned? Curious.

Have you ever seen a Godseed?

Alicia's expression tightens as she and Shar barter back and forth.

I don't care, Shar. I don't care if they're a part of your infinite shadow. I don't care if you ground their souls into mortar for your palace's brickwork. I don't care if they're the best singers in your choir of the damned. I only care that you should never have touched them, and finally I have a chance to do something about it.

[Anastasia]

No.

Meanwhile? Laughter. Cruel, mocking. Like the slices of Shar's short swords, no less a weapon. Every word after is spat out, full of hateful contempt.

You think to dictate terms to me, Alicia? Has your arrogance finally made you stupid?