Shiva almost doesn't hear the conversation between Astrid and Caio until the Ling's name is repeated, as she thinks about the potential consequences of such a reincarnation.

"It would be a risk, Valentine may even have a way to find Astrid's location if he's keeping magical tabs on Ling. But you all know more about magic than I do."

Turning back to Six, Shiva quietly poses another question.

"This power that I have, it's kept me alive since I was young. The anger, the magic, and now I can shift my body into a weapon. Giving that away will just make me another ******* with a sword. Would there be any way to assure that I retain some kind of comparable strength?"

"Your skill at arms kept you alive long before your demonic blood bubbled to the surface," the man in blue tells Shiva sagely, "and you would be neither the first warrior to swear their service to a higher power, nor will you be the last."

Shiva reflects on the worlds of the man in blue. As she opens her mouth to respond, she remembers her plea to Mistress. 

"I guess. Could you tell me the chances of my survival if I were to contract vampirism as a way of stopping my body from failing?"

Again, the six figures exchange worried glances.

"Your desperation takes you to dark places, child," Agenor cautions Shiva. "Combining such a curse with your bloodline could easily have unforeseen and altogether more unpleasant effects."

"I do not see the danger others do in the dark. So many, even some of those I love, see darkness as a corruptive, violent force. But it's so much more than that."

Shiva looks to Ari, then back to Six. "The strength of the dark is one of intuition, of magic and primal courage. It embodies the fears of those who resist change, who wish for the world to remain the ugly little deformed thing it is because it makes their jobs so much easier."

Looking back to Ari again, she winks at them with a playful smile. "There are some who see more than that in the dark, and may it bless them for it. Even as it kills me, I do not hate that it is part of who I am. I treasure myself for the things this world hates. And I won't give that up just for a chance to be like them. So, I ask for a way to remain myself. Warts and all."  

Alaris Forien, bogatyr of the Lady of Life, watches in silence as the rest of the Septem Mortale converse with Six. Shiva's right - it really is like listening to six Nikolais at once, all so certain they know what's best. A heavy weight settles in the pit of their stomach as the conspiracy of the baelnorn unrolls like a parchment scroll of horrors before them. 

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 ”Alaris, surely the church would allocate some resources to us given the gravity of the situation, yes? I can’t imagine the Lady would abide by this perversion of life.”

"What the Lady wants and what the church will pay for are often two very different things. I'm sorry, but it's true." The aasimar frowns and it seems like the light dims in the chamber for a moment. "I will ask, but Valentine may have little birds listening even there. Do we even truly know what he wants?"

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"I do not see the danger others do in the dark. So many, even some of those I love, see darkness as a corruptive, violent force. But it's so much more than that."

Shiva looks to Ari, then back to Six. "The strength of the dark is one of intuition, of magic and primal courage. It embodies the fears of those who resist change, who wish for the world to remain the ugly little deformed thing it is because it makes their jobs so much easier."

Looking back to Ari again, she winks at them with a playful smile. "There are some who see more than that in the dark, and may it bless them for it. Even as it kills me, I do not hate that it is part of who I am. I treasure myself for the things this world hates. And I won't give that up just for a chance to be like them. So, I ask for a way to remain myself. Warts and all."  

Alaris returns a sweet and guileless smile to Lala, and light returns to the shadows. "I told you I won't continue debating you. I will love you instead. But you romanticize that which extinguishes the light, swallows beauty into nothingness, and cloaks creatures like the Morganstern so they can suck the life out of the world."

Shiva smiles with a roll of her eyes as Ari defends the position they have taken since she first met them.

"And I love you, angel face. And if I romanticize the dark, then you certainly choose to look past the vulgarities of the light. Let's agree that light and dark are both sexy in their own ways and move on, I think we understand one another."

Caio exhales in sharp annoyance.

“Lofty ideals and dark romanticism aside, the powers you wield are what threaten to kill you, Shiva.” he says in classic, damning, ‘matter of fact’ tone. “Hold on to your Abyssal blood and use it to pave a legacy of good with the dwindling time you have left, or do what you do best: shift, change, adapt. You are not your lineage. You say you don’t want your demonic nature to devour you, but if you resign yourself to letting it define you, well,” Caio tosses his hands in the air in a gesture of defeat, “You know that we will do what must be done if that time comes.”

The inquisitor begins to pace.

”Light and darkness are merely tools. We are blessed to have both at our disposal. We have our objective, as insane as it sounds: find and enter Valentine’s realm. Destroy this chalice. I imagine in this great city there is someone who could help us with the first thing on the list. If any of you have a better suggestion than talking to the Collector, I for one would love to hear it.” 

Shiva is stumped, as she often is, by Caio's blunt yet empathetic summation of her situation. Between the sentiments of her two closest friends, the choice becomes clear. 

"...that's it then. Reincarnation it is."

Walking over, she gives Caio a smile and a quick pat on the shoulder, knowing his preference for as little physical contact as necessary. She brings Alaris and Astrid in for big hugs before turning around to face Six. 

"I can try to speak to the Collector now and come back with whatever the bastard has to say. Beyond that, Mistress may actually be able to assist us. I have no idea how old she is, but she seems to have been around the block. Enough to be terrified of the Morgensterns."

"Are you certain?" Maeve asks Shiva. "This would mark the end of your life as you know it and cast your soul back into the elemental cycle to be reborn. You will return to us changed forever."

Shiva nods confidently. 

"Like my friends and the man in blue said, all the parts of me that matter will still be there. I'm certain."

Six heads nod together in understanding.

"Then let it be so," the old man in brown intones. "We will require some rare oils and unguents for the ritual. Elder amber resin, an elixir of moonlit lavender, powdered bark from an ancient oak and elemental eucalyptus salve would all help to ease the process. Phoenix feather oil would be ideal, if you can get it."

"If you can't find that, you might also look for stardust jasmine oil, astral myrrh, celestial larkspur petals and iridescent serpent scales," the dwarven woman adds.

"Not to mention dragon's blood ambergris, crystalized fey honey and sylvan tears!" The gnome adds excitedly with a gleam in her eyes.

Shiva smiles, clearly enthusiastic. But that enthusiasm fades to an expression of confusion as the ingredients are listed.

"Um...could you all write those down for me, please? And where would you recommend that I start looking for these things?

"Of course, love," Maeve tells Shiva kindly. There's a touch of pity in the halfling's eyes. "Some things could maybe be bought from a trader, for a high price, but most you'll have to find in ancient forests or the lairs of magical beasts."

"Naturally."  Shiva says with a now-tired smile. "Thank you, I'll do what I can. For now, I'll head down and see what that no-faced prick can offer." 

Bringing her hand to the mark on her chest where Énbarr had created their bond, she casts her thoughts out towards the nightmare. 

"Énbarr, I require your help. Can you take me to the Shadowfell, to the Collector?"

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Caio exhales in sharp annoyance.

“Lofty ideals and dark romanticism aside, the powers you wield are what threaten to kill you, Shiva.” he says in classic, damning, ‘matter of fact’ tone. “Hold on to your Abyssal blood and use it to pave a legacy of good with the dwindling time you have left, or do what you do best: shift, change, adapt. You are not your lineage. You say you don’t want your demonic nature to devour you, but if you resign yourself to letting it define you, well,” Caio tosses his hands in the air in a gesture of defeat, “You know that we will do what must be done if that time comes.”

The inquisitor begins to pace.

”Light and darkness are merely tools. We are blessed to have both at our disposal. We have our objective, as insane as it sounds: find and enter Valentine’s realm. Destroy this chalice. I imagine in this great city there is someone who could help us with the first thing on the list. If any of you have a better suggestion than talking to the Collector, I for one would love to hear it.” 

 
"In truth, it is likely that few know Valentine's secrets as well as his children," Agenor tells Caio. "Jonathan Morgenstern could be a valuable ally in this endeavour."

Meanwhile, Shiva hears a distant whinny and the sound of pounding hooves.

Caio nods. 

“Right. Very well.” The inquisitor almost seems tired, as the enormity of what lies before them weighs on him already. He turns and notices what Shiva appears to be doing, and he places a hand on her shoulder. At first it seems a gesture of comfort, but the grip tightens. 

“I hope you know that you’re not talking to that cretin alone.”

Shiva turns to Caio, at first surprised before relaxing. 

"Thank you, I'll probably need the support. And Other Shiva will be able to help too, she's able to speak directly through me down there."

She then looks out towards the distant sound of hoof falls. 

"She approaches."

Looking over to the six figures, she gives them a reverential nod. "I believe we have what we need, unless there is anything that you want from us before we are on our way?"

"May the winds guide you," Six intone in unison, "water cleanse you, earth cradle you and fire light your next journey."

Then each of them turns and disappears into the shadows of the tunnel from whence they came.

Caio let’s out a tired sigh and turns towards the sounds of Enbarr’s approach.

”Alright, let’s go talk to this shadowy ****.”