"Not without significant changes to current law- it has never come up. Marduk allows evil immigrants, if any Amentans would rather live there than form a colony in your Amentan island on Abellio."

"There's billions of Amentans, probably some of them will try almost anything."

"Then we'll happily welcome them. Otherwise, yes, I would advise building on Abellio and taking only excursions to Buxenus, once your lack of soul becomes common knowledge."

Nod nod. "I was wondering if there was a way to get a soul."

"It's an interesting idea, but I can't think how it could be done short of requesting a miracle- or casting a wish. I will include the matter in my prayers, if you wish."

"The angel said they'd get me a war gymnastics teacher so I could learn some magic but I'm not actually sure what things war gymnastics lets you do and I would like to be able to do more kinds. Also it seems like it might be important for becoming immortal."

"Do not seek other forms of immortality. The immortality a soul confers will be quite satisfactory. As for magic, war-gymnastics can be versatile, but it does have some limitations compared with spellcasting. Spellcasting often changes the world, while war-gymnastics affects the self. It is an advantage, if you can learn it. But acquiring a soul could be something the gods need to intervene to accomplish, and direct intervention is rare. I wouldn't expect it to be possible for most Amentans."

"Oh. There's no way to - scale it up -"

"No. If your people are a people without souls, then most of them will die. We will do the best for them that we can, while we can."

"Okay. Maybe they can invent something technological about aging or something but really there has to be room for babies first." Sigh.

"Hopefully Amentans will have time to figure all of these things out, given the space to do it in."

The priest looks around surreptitiously; people are mostly heading out now, since it's almost time to close, but there's still daylight out.

"Was there anything else you needed from Marduk today?"

"I don't think so. Thank you for all your help."

He bows at the waist respectfully, and starts to close the temple.

Lintalai goes about the rest of her business. She has accumulated lots of things to do and people to talk to. Her dads are getting a huge volume of email even though this can only really delay their ultimate response as they read through it all.

Things are done, and people are talked to. During the next couple of days, Marduk's priest informs her that selling anything to Marduk citizens requires some kind of treaty, trade agreement, or contract, but once she has any of those things, Lintalai can sell whatever she likes, including information.

On her third day in Heliopolis, an angel arrives with several messages. Some, for the bird-person divination expert, and some for Lintalai. The angel looks mostly similar to the one that Lintalai saw before, although the skin tone may be slightly different and the wings larger. It gives no sign of knowing her, but does call out to her when it sees her:

"Lintalai! We have a message for you."

She goes up to the angel. "Thank you!"

"Your Intrepid has spoken to us, and will assist you with learning the language. We have found a war-gymnastics teacher for you. She will join you soon. We still do not understand money and cannot assist you with it. The gods that we serve have become curious about you. They advise caution, prudence, and sense. Many other gods will see Amenta as a threat to their interests, and will attempt to stop your colonization efforts. Thank you for drawing our attention to your cause so that we may fight in service of it."

"Which gods do you serve?"

"I serve many gods of travel and new discoveries, Cyrrollalee foremost among them. The gods who have taken notice and wish to greet Amenta are Cyrrollalee, Marthammor Duin, Ihehy, Neselthia, Isharia, Iallanis, Deneir, Celestian, and Shekinester."

"I haven't heard of most of those before, what are they gods of?"

"Cyrrollalee: The Hearth of Fellowship, The Home of All Halflings, The Hearthkeeper, The Faithful, Yondalla's Housekeeper- has come here to make a home for you."

The angel opens its mouth and makes the sound of a door, creaking open.

"Marthammor Duin: Finder-of-Trails, the Watchful Eye, Watches-Over-Wanderers, Pathforger- welcomes colonists of all kinds."

The sound of cars honking as rain falls.

"Ihehy: the Nurturing Mother, the Quiet One, She Who is There for Those in Need- hopes that Amentans may have all the children that they wish."

The sound of a cow, mooing.

"Neselthia: Guardian of Wealth and Commerce, Protector of the Dead, the Devoted Lady, Lady of the Sands- wishes to ensure productive trade with the women of Amenta, and hopes that children grow up to earn money in the ways that they wish."

The sound of coins falling into a plastic bowl.

"Isharia: Bountiful Lady, Lady of Rivers, She Who Knows Her Spells- has come to investigate this new discovery."

The sound of- what someone might imagine a star twinkling to sound like.

"Iallanis: Garland of Mercy, Uniter of All Tribes, The Casteless- hopes that there is freedom on Arcadia for Amentans who seek something outside their old ways."

The sound of people singing in a chorus.

"Deneir: Lord of All Glyphs and Images, The First Scribe, The Scribe of Oghma- wishes to learn of Amenta's languages, and share with you our own."

The sound of a finger tapping on a pocket everything screen.

"Celestian: the Far Wanderer, the Star Wanderer, the Bizarre Wanderer- will assist with travel across the vast distances between Arcadia and Amenta, in return for the chance to see your stars."

The sound of a rocket launching.

"Shekinester: the Preserver, the Acquirer, the Seeker- wishes to learn of what Amenta has to offer this world, and to ensure that its inhabitants lives are not cut short."

The sound of snakes hissing in near-unison, discordant enough to make out the five separate, overlapping voices.

"- that sounds really good! Can Celestian help directly with portals or do I still need to get regular spellcasters?"

"Celestian will assist with portals indirectly, by providing you with spellcasters. Direct intervention would be dangerous at this stage, as it could attract negative attention. Please, avoid the attention of Usir and Labelas Enoreth. Usir is a good god, and a friend of some of those that wish to promote Amentan immigration, but he favors the undead, and would see Amentans immigrating too quickly as a threat to them. More significantly, Labelas Enoreth is a god of orderly progression of time, and he would not wish to see Arcadia's technology level increase too rapidly. We should move subtly, without attracting his notice."

"Okay. Is there anywhere I shouldn't go while that's a concern? - also what's with all the sounds you made?"