“WHY AREN’T YOU ASCENDING!!”

Viper’s tantrums echoing from the other side of the disc didn’t faze Julia as she walked the line of devices she had imagined into place. As she passed each one, Julia focused on the intention relating to each again and hoped she wasn’t making a mistake in her plan. The irregular orbit of the disc had become blinding swift over the recent decade in the Abyss. Every allowed break, she’d taken time to push its speed higher and adjust its orbit with subtle nudges. As Viper’s screaming tirade continued, Julia released the Mind Palace and opened her eyes again. True Sight picked out every detail of the new hideout where she’d purposely isolated herself since the Necropolis’ collapse.

Glancing over at the table where she’d placed the last grimoire she had been studying. The moment her focus fixed on it the book slipped into Inventory without even having to touch it. The room she’d crafted here in Ternòx she’d always kept stark, but now it again contained only bare stone furnishings.

{{Are you afraid? Drink down too many shards to control? You’ve become such a quiet, scared little girl! Too afraid to go near your friends. Scared to let me learn more about them!}}

“Like attracts like,” Julia whispered, turning her will towards the energy within her form. As the shard’s compression began, Viper called out ecstatically. Her cries only growing louder in mock pleasure as Julia turned the Abyssal energy into thread and spun it into a ball tighter and tighter still. Memories of a ball of wool squeezing tight around her fingers as the line rose from the floor, and each loop pressing the ball tighter around fingertips. The remembered tight comfort of the material becoming a burning agony as the heat in the Abyssal furnace grew hotter with every loop compressing more of it together.

As the last wisps of energy spun into place, the Abyss spilt and consumed her, the maelstrom of energy swirling around her. The burning flames reflecting the appearance of the tiara of horns and eyes engorged with blackness. Willpower let her push slowly past the agony of the inferno as Julia set herself within the Mind Palace. The blackness of space that had been absorbing the light of her Soul’s sun was now reflecting the Abyss’ inferno, and a bushfire raged around the oasis of her Soul.

As the disc spun in its orbit again, Julia braced herself and separated the clamps she had made. Banks of monitors showed the disc from multiple camera angles as her control centre came to life. When the last clamp opened, she fired the thrusters she had spent over a decade visualising into place.

“What the FUCK!”

Viper’s scream brought a grim smile to Julia’s lips as the surrounding monitors showed the hairline gap she’d sliced down the centre of the disc burst in separation. The hundreds of rockets she’d crafted through holes to rest against Viper’s side of the disc turned the millimetre gap into kilometres in a mere instant. Her imagination having turned the single disc into two platforms with now vastly different trajectories that continued to change. Imagination building on the elliptical orbit that Julia had given the disc as it moved towards the further point from the inner sun.

“Like attracts like!”

Julia chanted the mantra as she pushed all her will into the visualisation she kept under wraps for years of grinding. More rockets fired to stabilise her own orbit as the fires raging outside the boundary of her Soul reached out towards Viper’s platform. The secondary stage kicked into place, and the acres of racks Viper had thought hidden flickered into view. Their framework bursting apart as micro demolition charges broke the hidden rows apart. The boxes undamaged sprayed outwards, glittering untouched as the fire consumed the framework that had held them.

“What’s mine is mine. Like attracts like. What’s mine is mine.”

As the wall of raging fire swallowed Viper’s platform, the boxes spread out in a canopy of shining stars.

“Viper,” Julia sighed as monitors showed the disc swallowed by the inferno. “This tribe has spoken; you can just fuck off.”

Pain overwhelmed her mental defences as she selected her planned Prestige Class, and the consequences rippled outwards.

Within the Sisterhood’s home fortress, on the Plane Ijmti in an office of pure white, the walls reflected a light they’d never seen before, and the Lady’s gaze snapped up. Sunlight shone across the stark bones that formed the wall coming from between pages in the Order’s book of ‘Names’. Across the room with a thought, the Lady pushed the book open on its stand; True Names written in Demonic blood of their owners stood out against the pages as they fanned to the offending spot. A Name she remembered for its strangeness on her tongue glowed from the page and shone with an internal sun. But as the book of ‘Names’ erupted into purifying flame, desperate spells from her couldn’t prevent its own enchantments from burning it into ash.

“J!” Lady Balnérith roared. “Find her! Bring her to me! And bring me Naz’rilca now! Blighting of the Innocent, I will make you regret ever being spawned.”

Even before her assistants started sending a stream of messages, Fórlaÿreaî and a scattering among the Sisterhood’s original members sensed the chains on their Souls break. A moment passed between them as fragments of half-remembered notes swam through their awareness. Their compelled duties ignored; they each ripped the Sigil from their form before they teleported away.

[Error! Incompatible state detected!

Error! Incompatible state detected!

Error! Incompatible state detected!

.

.

.

Error! Incompatible state detected!

]

The stream of error messages battered Julia’s awareness for hours as she held herself together until, at last, a different message appeared.

[Administration action override, recalculating…

Prestige Class combining Monk (Level: 102)/ Wizard (Level: 102) / Outer Plane Species Class (Succubus) (Level: 100) / Assassin (Level: 104) calculating error core.

Root Error: Incompatible Abyssal Species and Abyssal Class Type, availability check overridden by presence of Soul, and all Affinities. Administrator action required to resolve.

Succubus Species and Class blocking combination by Abyssal category.

Administration action override: Strip Abyssal (Class) classification from local Succubus Class.

Error! Incompatible state detected!

Administration action override: Strip Abyssal (Species) classification from local Succubus Race.

Reclassification calculations beginning.

Administration action override: Reapply curse post calculations.

Administration message: Andre is safe. My own rules prevent me from taking action to lift your curse permanently.

Administration message: Balnérith knows. You’d best run fast. May you always Sing true, Scion of House Morning.

Species Evolution recalculated.

Class Recalculation completed.

Applying Curse.

Adjusting Species Evolution within Curse parameters.

Calculation completed.

Evolution selected.

Species Set: Fallen

Remaining Abyssal Energies purified and isolated by new Species for emergence venting, residual Chaos energies converted by Species.

Species-level reset, species experience tally initialised.

Class Set: Pure Scion of the Sun.

Prestige Class level and experience tally initialised.

Recalibration of possessed Powers and Skills beginning.

]

A rush of messages burst across Julia’s awareness, even as she exploded back into the Abyss. The river below her reflected the flames only for a moment before it evaporated into steam - raw Abyssal energy rampaging outwards from the rift as it placed her back onto the Plane of Hrz’Styrn. The shock wave ripping from the rift left Julia untouched as it obliterated the bodies in the river and the dredging crews on both sides for kilometres in all directions. When its wavefront hit the city of Ùeqräkas, the undiluted Abyssal Mana tore the wards to pieces. While their enchantments collapsed in an overload of power, rupturing spatial pathways within the city tore whole stretches of buildings from their foundations.

A rift opened in the burning sky above Culerzic, and a meteor larger than a house sedan hurtled through. As the black meteor punched the clouds apart, light illuminated kilometres of the impaled damned as Culerzic greeted a sight it had never seen before. The meteor’s course sent it impacting the cliff-face, crushing a few unfortunate Succubi gestating within the rock.

Untouched by the shower of debris that crushed the closest of the impaled, Viper stretched in sensual pleasure at her new freedom. Spiked bat-like wings and a barbed tail flexed to full extension as she shook debris from her tiara of horns. Her happiness was fleeting as she reached for a Spell, that she knew Julia had learnt and screamed in rage when its shape evaded her. As a patrolling Succubus ventured too close, Viper teleported behind her and almost clumsily tore her limb from limb.

“What happened to Monk!”

The screams turned into wordless, animalistic noises after increasingly desperate checks of her Profile showed the Tier six or seven options unavailable, spells absent, among other changes.

As she tried to reach into Julia’s memories for spells, none responded. Even as she scrambled for them, only a fading emptiness of memories that had been fresh moments earlier remained. Reaching for them even the crystal-eyed child's memory faded further out of reach, the unknown child's name escaping her.

“Select Queen of Planes. I’m only a Succubus; I didn’t Ascend. Curse you Bitch! I will find you!”

Even without spells showing in her new Profile, the Wizard and Succubus classes combined into the Tier 5 Prestige Class, which had offered improvements compared to Mistress of Planes. Ignoring the notifications she received, Viper growled and focused on Planar Shift (Self) ventured towards Usd’ghi’s home Plane. The Sigil burned into her Abyssal energies unnoticed now that she no longer possessed True Sight.

Julia’s gaze looked over the devastated landscape and watched as the wind swirled across the ashes left by the destroyed Demons lifted them skywards. Not knowing who might be on the way, Planar Shift moved her to Pandemonium. Flame fought against the oppressive darkness and forced it back. Even though she was a beacon summoning creatures to investigate. She focused on the rock beneath her feet. The howling wind ignored as she absorbed tons of rock from ten metres and more below the surface. As soon as the gravel she turned it into had sprayed from her Inventory, Blink took her into the gap she’d formed. Bright flames burned away darkness inside the area she had carved out, and Julia created a mirror to see what she’d become.

The shadow vines still in place, Julia willed them to retract even as she examined the wings of scarlet and carmine hues that had grown from her back. An individual flame that twisted against reality and tasted the air hungrily shaped each feather. Her eyes, when last she’d seen them, had been eclipses, but now were pupilless crimson flames. Golden-bronze hued skin seemed lit from within - an inferno within her form - made her skin a promise of molten pain rather than any compassion of touch. Swirls in her tattoos had flames licking under their course, making the blood droplets shine as if freshly spilled from a corpse. Here and there amid the vines, green flared to life within the black ink, only to die again as the flames shifted beneath her skin.

With a glance at the Prestige Class again, she compared it against the resulting changes in her Profile.

[Prestige Class

Pure Scion of the Sun (Evolution Version)

This Evolution version of the Tier Seven Prestige Class - Scion of the Sun - is available when all four base classes are 100 or higher.

Other Requirements

One Melee Class

One Caster Class

One Stealth Class

One Planar Class (Outer Planes)

Tier 7 achievement available

Melee Class:

Senior Master rank in at least one combat skill

Senior Master rank in a defensive skill

Having gained over 70% of melee class experience in solo combat.

Having gained over 50% of class experience from killing rather than subduing of foes.

Caster Class: Wizard

All Affinities Known

Additional Affinity Detected: Jade Court Celestial (Evolution)

Able to cast all spells in fifteen spell lists

Stealth Class:

Senior Master Rank in Perception Power or Skill

Senior Master Rank in one Power specific to class

Senior Master Rank in a stealth or deception type Power or Skill

Master Rank in Danger Sense

Master Rank in Stealth

Outer Plane Class:

Have evolved three Powers related to class

Senior Master Rank in two Powers

Senior Master Rank in two related skills

Additional Class requirements - Succubus:

Retained purity of spirit at the time of Class selection.

No innocents killed

No innocents corrupted

Demonic Pact Power evolved into Allegiance Bond, or Servant’s Oath.

Provides the following gains:

Species Evolution at time of selection.

+ 10 Willpower per Level

+ 10 Intelligence per Level

+ 10 Charisma per Level

+ 10 Quickness per Level

+ 4 Free Attributes per Level +10 Magic Rating per Level

+ 7 Melee Attack Power per Level

+ 7 Defence per Level

+ 2 Skill Points per Level

+ 2 Knowledge Points per Level

Unlock acquisition of Power: Daylight

Unlock acquisition of Power: Gate (Lesser)

Unlock acquisition of Power: Ki Aura

Unlock acquisition of Power: Ki Flight

Unlock acquisition of Power: Mana Critical

Unlock acquisition of Power: Planar Shift (Self)

Unlock acquisition of Power: Planar Beacon

Unlock acquisition of Power: Spirit Passage

Unlock acquisition of Power: Suppress Target

Unlock acquisition of Power: World Step

Increases chance of gaining major insights in Unarmed Combat

Increases chance of gaining major insights in any Meditation and Mental skills

Increases chance of gaining major insights in any Arcane Skills

Increases chance of gaining major insights for Infiltration, Haggling, and Social Skills

]

Profile

Name

Eakcï

Species

Fallen

True Name

(Variant: Hidden Mortal Soul - Cursed)

Home Plane

Progression

Class

Level

Experience

Species Progression

Fallen

1

0 / 2000

Class 1:

Pure Scion of the Sun

1

0 / 2000

Class 2:

(Open)

Class 3:

(Open)

Class 4:

(Open)

Defence

225 Ki Armour Active: 375

Melee Attack Power

355

Health

23,643

Attributes

Un-allocated: 8

Strength

106

Faith

190

Endurance

100

Magic

236

Quickness

214

Pool: -

Intelligence

218

Ki

1,608 Base: 201 Multiplier: x8

Willpower

310

Mana

155,992 Base: 19499 Multiplier: x8

Charisma

148

[L] = Lesser. [M] = Minor. [No Tag] = Standard. [I] = Improved. [G] = Greater. [Im] = Immune.

Resistances

Abyssal [L](7), Acid [I] (6), Air (2), Chaos [L](6), Cold [I](16), Decay [I](5), Earth (12), Electricity (20), Fire [Im], Mana [I](11), Mental (M) [16], Mundane Materials [G] (1), Negative [I] (5), Poison (10), Primordial [L](1).

[B] = Beginner. [Ap] = Apprentice. [J] = Journeyman. [Ad] = Adept. [M] = Master. [S] = Senior Master. [G] = Grand Master

Powers

Allegiance Bond (20), Angelic Aura (10), Daylight (1), Death Strike [M](8), Dominion [S](2), Energy Drain [S](30), Flight [M](40), Gate (Lesser) (1), Greater Teleport [M](40), Harmony [S](1), Ki Armour [S](8), Ki Aura (1), Ki Infusion [S](8), Ki Movement [Ad](1), Ki Strike [S](10), Mana Critical (1), Planar Beacon (1), Planar Shift (Self) (1), Protean [M](2), Rebuke [Ad](1), Seed Doubts (5), Silent Kill [M](8), Soul Sight [M](1), Spirit Bridge [Ad](11), Spirit Passage (1), Stimulation [Ad](19), Suppress Target (1), Telepathy [Ad](40), Tongues [Ad](32), True Sight [M](40), Universal Life [M](30), World Step (1)

Ki Infusion

Jade Court Mana, Spatial, Destruction, Primordial

Skills

Active:

Abyssal City Navigator (12), Acting [M](1), Agile [S](20), Alchemy [Ap](10), Analysis [S](10), Danger Sense [S](3), Erotic Dance [J](40), First Aid (12), Haggling [Ad](44), Inscribe [Ad](44), Intimidate [M](1), Leatherworking [Ap](5), Mana Finesse [S](7), Mental Hardening [S](5), Pain Tolerance [J](35), Perception [M](40), Planar Sense [M](1), Profile Control [M](7), Sense Motive [M](7), Silent Storm [S](8), Spell Disruption [Ad](30), Stealth [M](29), Time Sense [M](11), Zen State [S](7)

Knowledge:

Abyssal Lore [M](20), Arcane [M](18), Celestial Lore [M](7), Demonic Lore [Ad](28), Devil Lore [Ad](10), Elven Lore [Ad](45), Hidden Lore [M](29), Infernal Lore [M](1), Infernal Processes [M](1), Norse Lore [Ap] (11), Planar Lore [M](40), Planar Portals [J](18), Religious Lore [Ap](27), Rune Lore [Ap](26), Skill Lore [Ap](5), Ten Kingdoms History [Ap](2), Undead [M](90)

Bonus Points

Skill:

2

Knowledge:

56

Languages

Abyssal, Andúnë Elven, BrÍn Hand sign, Celestial (Common), English, High Elven, Infernal, Norse, Primordial Abyssal

Special Abilities

Inventory

Level

[Ad](10)

Max Capacity

45000 Kilograms

Stored

The Agony of Horus. (4) Messenger’s Loop, (1) Dagger of Tracking

Bracers of Missile Negation

(2) Large Dimensional Bags capacity 4,000 kg (full).

Grimoires. Treatises. Infernal Folio.

(1) Storage Pouch capacity 40 kg (empty), Cube of Memories.

Soul Gem - Setau

Worn / Carried

Bracelet of Shadow Vines. Ring of Silent Motions. Scorpion’s Kiss.

Onyx Ring.

Spells Lists

Air Law, Calming Ways, Concealing Ways, Crystal Law, Earth Law, Elemental Shields, Fire Law, Guises, Ice Law, Light Mould, Lightning Law, Lofty Bridge, Moving Ways, Order Bonds, Planar Law, Revealing Ways, Sensory Deception, Shield Mastery, Spell Reins, Water Law

Title:

Lady of the Accursed

Faith Tier:

Large Cult

Faith Caster:

Head Priestess

Eivor (High Priest 34 / Merchant 13)

Sects

3

Worlds

2

Largest World

Priest:

93

Centre:

Eyrarháls

Other:

8

Members:

5,743

Missionary:

6

Locations:

12

Allies:

Elven Pantheon: Summer Court and Forest Court. Members of Norse Pantheon. Mars.

Respectful:

Dwarven Pantheon

((She is not just silent; you’ve cleansed your Soul of her poison. I hope my hint assisted. ))

It did, thank you V. Though might I know a name I can call you?

((Now your corrupted Id has gone, of course, please call me Laodice. ))

How can I get you free Laodice?

((Child, please worry about yourself for a time. ))

Won’t you tell me?

((I will not put you in such danger, nor provide information that leads you to plan such a venture. ))

Julia set herself back in her Mind Palace and found the black disc threaded with strands of gold. The energy they radiated illuminated the disc’s material, and instead of solid blackness, it was a smoky opaque hinting at forms beneath the surface. Flowerpots filled the holes where the thrusters had stood, each brimming with blooming roses of varied hues.

Trying something new, Julia focused on Spirit Bridge and imagined one of the control screens she’d set up acting as a videoconference. The beautiful woman who appeared on the screen startling Julia; somehow, she always pictured V as male in her imagination. A vibrant steel gaze considered Julia from the screen, the hue glowing with internal life. The beauty of her features was beyond Julia’s comprehension, with the sheer luminance of life shining overwhelmingly to her perceptions.

[Spirit Bridge [Ad] (10->11)]

“Laodice?” Julia asked, “But I’m sure your voice sounded male.”

“You heard me how I wished you to hear. My brothers and I came into the Abyss, if someone learnt of your connection to me best for them to be misled,” Laodice replied, her tone apologetic. “Thank you again for his rescue.“

“With you trapped, that just means only one of your brothers is unaccounted for?” asked Julia, wondering where she could find clues.

“You know as much as I do on the matter,” said Laodice, the seriousness of her gaze a tangible pressure. “My brothers were all still fighting when I fell to the Leviathan’s blood curse. Do not concern yourself with either of us, we knew the risks.”

“But he sent you-” Julia objected, but a sharp gesture from Laodice cut Julia off before she could continue.

“No,” Laodice interjected. “We volunteered for what needed to be done.”

Julia let the words sink in and tried to let the weight of her choice balance her perspective.

“Can I get some advice?” asked Julia, after long moments, her voice calm and no longer edged with resentment.

“It depends on the subject, Julia,” replied Laodice, her open expression prompting Julia to start with her biggest concern.

“I’m worried about what happens when someone following my faith dies,” Julia admitted freely.

Laodice just smiled at Julia’s question, but it was a smile filled with respect.

“Worrying about others is your first concern; Torm is right. Before, you’d have needed to become a Demon Lady, but as a Fallen, it’s possible. If you find somewhere that resonates with your nature, you can establish a Domain. Your petitioners will either find their way there or wait for you on Judgement. Likewise if any die before you’ve established a Domain, you’ll find them there waiting for you.”

“I could just wait till I get free and then establish a Domain,” suggested Julia, reluctant to go power-grabbing.

“That is an option,” agreed Laodice cautiously. “However, it means your Power will be slower to grow, and your faithful will be more limited in the Blessing they can channel from you. It’s somewhat of a cycle; you’ll gain fewer Faith reserves from them until you have a Domain. That means they’ll not be as strong opposing evil as they should be for their faith.”

“What is a Domain?” Julia asked, the reply making her stop to consider it further. “As I’ve seen petitioners of Set as Larvae in Àluga.”

“It is not a topic for a simple conversation. Indeed, the Larvae situation isn’t something I can tell you for sure as it’s Sets choice. As for the Domain, some you’ll learn only from experience, as it varies much between Powers.” Laodice replied, and Julia could see her weighing her words. “At its most fundamental, a Domain is a reservoir of energy, establishing it now won’t stop you from moving it later. Once established, it will grow on its own as your faithful flourish, and those of your faith can draw from it. Initially, you’ll have no conscious control of it, but if they try to channel a Blessing for a purpose, you’d find repugnant, the Blessing will not flow. The Domain resonates with your nature, and they cannot deceive it.”

“Any suggestion about places to establish a Domain even if I can move it later?” Julia asked, still undecided.

“Not Pandemonium it was the right choice with your Id, not now; you might wish to change your home plane to the same Plane. If you become Planar locked for a time, you’ll be able to get to your seat of Power. Two other consistent facets of a Domain are: its always a sanctuary for those of your Faith, and it makes it possible for you to contact your faithful in dreams and other ways,” said Laodice. “The Plane that surrounds the Spire, would be the easiest for your faithful, but it has risks.”

“What Plane is it? What sort of risks?” Julia asked, wondering what sort of trouble it would bring.

“It is a place with many names, some cultures call it the Plane of Doors, the Spire’s Shadow. Others don’t really name it they consider it a nexus, or hub, as they can reach all major Planar regions from it. Some considered it the outfields of the Spire around which all Planes spiral. Others disregard it simply as a killing field, a Plane of violence that attracts the most conflict since anyone can reach it. Celestial Armies seek to control the areas closest to the upper Planes, to ensure Demons don’t control the Planar Gates and prevent Petitioners from reaching the Powers they serve.”

“You’re suggesting I set them up in the middle of a warzone?” Julia asked, incredulously wondering how long the Domain would even remain standing.

“The Plane itself is infinite and touches other Planes only via gateways, not physical boundaries. It would be possible to find a location away from the main paths of conflict. Once your Petitioners are inside, your Domain’s nature would keep them safe, as long as you exist.”

“I’d just have to worry about Petitioners making it there?” questioned Julia, a mental image of a remote isolated town coming to mind. Her lips twitching as her musing invoked the cheers’ theme song from her memories.

“Correct. Most powers have Celestials serving them for just such a reason: to act as protectors for groups of Petitioners travelling to their Domain. Petitioners can face worse things than death since they are already dead, you yourself have stolen Petitioners from Set; be it those whose view of events had turned jaded towards their Patron,” answered Laodice. “Then again, likely that is why they were on Àluga, deemed unworthy to rest within his Domain because of their doubts.”

“Any other options?”

“If you find an unclaimed world in Carceri to take as your own, though that would take a century of work, and a vast accumulation of Faith. Otherwise, some Planes within the Abyss, the Lómë, are not the only good species caught within the Abyss, and some of them control entire regions of the Plane. They have transformed those into paradises, each an Oasis amid the corruption of the Abyss.”

“What do you mean a world in Carceri?” Julia said, remembering the diagram of the Plane that looked like a necklace of beads. ”I thought it was a loop of orbs.”

“The spiral of orbs in Carceri doesn’t contain only asteroid sized objects as some believe that is just on one layer of it; most are the size of your Earth or larger. Some are close enough to see between them while others are so far apart, they are alone in the darkness. The river Styx, is the string that connects them, but its mystical connection isn’t apparent looking between the worlds of that Plane.”

As Laodice explained, she lifted her hands in sight of the screen and an image appeared above her fingers. It was crystal clear, a far cry from attempting to take in Laodice’s beauty, that seemed to whirl within her perceptions.

“I should let the others know and see about meeting up.”

“That won’t be simple for you now,” Laodice cautioned immediately, quelling Julia’s excitement.

“What do you mean?” asked Julia, her puzzlement obvious in her tone. “I’m not Named.”

“Dear child, no you aren’t a Named Demon or even a Demon Lady - you’re a Fallen. A newly born one, powerless compared to others, but still far above what many achieve. You spoke to Torm about your games where you explained Archons, Angels, Demons beyond the Pale, and those classes. Think of yourself as a brand new Planetar pushed from heaven’s door. None of those exist in the Titan’s reality, but the lowest of the Angels don’t become Fallen. They become Erinys and other Devils, only ones from the middle tiers and higher become Fallen.”

“I jumped from being a Succubus to a Fallen!” Julia exclaimed, her mind trying to go blank in disbelief. “How did I have that much power?”

“Whatever rules the Titan has in place decided it was suitable to assign you that species, I could not sense all the messages you received. It’s not the power you had in your last Form; it released all the Abyssal power you had left accumulated in your form. Did you not sense the destruction wrought in Ùeqräkas by your emergence?” asked Laodice, the puzzlement clear in her tone.

“What did I do to Ùeqräkas?” asked Julia “I thought it merely a bigger explosion then when I burnt the bodies to ash last Ascension.”

“It’s not what you did, it’s rather damage the Abyssal energy that came through the rift caused. I’ve seen what you showed Yngvarr. A microwave? How would it handle billions of volts and amps going through it?”

“They’d blow up, or their safety measures would trip,” answer Julia, an exploding electrical sub-station springing to mind.

“Demons don’t believe in multiple layers of safety measures. Your emergence appeared to be at the same location as your first ones. The question isn’t if your emergence damaged Ùeqräkas but how much is still standing. Some of the better Enchanters, likely their wards will now ensure their homes are Fortresses for eons unnumbered. Most buildings however, they’ll be picking up materials from them for kilometres in every direction.” Laodice stated, her amused tone making her view of the prospect clear.

“Oh,” Julia said simply, as she considered some of the unstable structures and magics, she’d seen within it. “Perhaps I’ll avoid it for a while.”

“That would be for the best,” Laodice agreed, pausing she spoke further. “Just as well you didn’t provide all the materials given for the Souls to Usd’ghi, you’ll need some resources for your Domain.”

“Nor have I returned her shares of that last trip, but it might balance things out. The accounts are in Viper’s name - quite sure I’m no longer considered a signatory on it. What did you mean it won’t be simple for me to see them now?”

“You’re a Fallen,” stated Laodice. “They aren’t allowed on any world in the material plane where the Pantheons have influence, except via a Gate being opened specifically for them. Since the True Name, the Lady inflicted on you is no more, at least they have no absolute way to force your appearance to a summoning.”

“Fuck!”

“Indeed, it’s a mixed fortune, especially since you still wear the Sigil of the Sisterhood,” commiserated Laodice, the compassionate energy in her words wrapping Julia in warmth.

“There was a message when things calmed about Balnérith knowing,” Julia said, glad she’d at least gotten some good news about Andre during that madness.

“She’d certainly know your True Name has become cleansed. What else she would have been able to learn, I couldn’t say for sure,” offered Laodice. The outline of Laodice’s glowing wings drew Julia’s attention as they flexed when she shrugged.

“Time to get moving then,” Julia stated firmly, before releasing the Mind Palace.

Great, so I can step between worlds now but can’t even get summoned.

((You can access worlds too primitive for a Pantheon to have formed. Though you’d need to find a naturally formed Gate leading to one, which is difficult. You’d have to explore much of the Wildlands, or find a spot on another Plane that resonates with the primitive world. Many planes are infinite things, even with the number of worlds he has likely made since my capture it’s still a needle in a haystack.))

Julia smiled at the friendly change in Laodice’s mental voice.

He makes worlds.

((He is constantly trying different life. I like to observe them evolve from the seeds of possibility he plants on a world.))

Both intelligent design and evolution?

((Not exactly as you understand either of them. So not exactly, but yes.))

Analysis

[Angelic Aura: The possessor’s energy suffuses the space immediately around them, providing resistance against anything attempting to harm them. As this Power improves, it will reduce the energy requirement and provide protection against greater threats. At higher ranks they can extend the aura to protect allies.]

Okay, well, that’s nice. Pity I stand as much chance as a snowball against Lady Balnérith.

((For now.))

“Livia, I broke free from Viper, but things have gotten even more complex. I can’t come to the material plane without a Gate now. I got evolved into a Fallen. I still wear the Sigil, but Lady Balnérith’s influence has been removed from my True Name. It’s hidden again, so I can’t pass it along securely. Love you and hope you are well, Eakcï.”

Instantly sending a similar message off to Yngvarr’s journal, Julia stopped and considered the messages she’d sent for a moment.

“I am Eakcï now, and I’m out of that diseased cocoon.”

It might help if she could decide if she was making a declaration or merely attempting to convince herself.