"We can look for worlds that would be appropriate as a base," Ma'ar is saying, in the calm quiet safe dimness where all of them are. "In addition to worlds that - have resources we can use in this particular fight." 

"Yes, that would be helpful. I have some thoughts on criteria for such worlds..." 

And, in yet another parallel space:

"- I am coping all right," Leareth says to Aroden, wearily. "I do feel - very stretched, and definitely not at my best, but...I do not think direly enough to justify using the Rod of Security tonight." 

"Well. I think it is quite possibly correct for you to take that month to gather yourself and your personal resources, at some point in the next few days. What are your considerations in terms of choosing when?" 

"- Whether anything goes wrong with dispatching adult Ma'ar and his Carissa on their mission. Or with Mhalir's departure to go negotiate with the Andalite forces. And then I will want to wait for reports from all of our agents, to make sure there are no hints of rumours or leaks that Asmodeus might be able to chase down. And..." 

All of them speak for some time longer, in the metaphorical place that Aroden is holding together for them; in the full group, and separately in pairs, back and forth. 

And eventually Aroden stops them. "I had better send you back, now, before I give all of you headaches, or use up too much of my own resources. Thank you, all. I - am reasonably optimistic about our course, here." 

The five of them who are not (currently) gods, find themselves back in Leareth's absurdly shielded meeting-room in his operations building in Aktun. 

Leareth rubs his face for a moment, and then gets up. "Everyone, take a break, have something to eat and drink, rest a little. And then we discuss more." 

He wants this to be OVER Ma'ar takes a deep breath, and nods, and stands up. 

The younger Ma'ar is mostly over feeling intimidated, if only because he's exhausted - do they really need to do more of this today... 

Once everyone has had a few minutes to gather themselves and recover from the meeting with Aroden, Leareth calls the room to attention. 

"All right - we need to talk about our contingency-plans for if we receive evidence that Asmodeus knows something..." 

Leareth finally Gates them back to the palace suite after suppertime that evening. 

Ma'ar heads straight for his Carissa's guest room. Knocks on the door. 

She gets the door promptly.

He looks incredibly exhausted. 

"We have official permission from Leareth to go," he says. 

- nod. Shiver. "Thank you."

"I...feel slightly better about things? I think." Ma'ar heads over to the bed and sits, heavily. "We have a plan - well, a number of plans, Leareth wants to line things up so that if Asmodeus finds out we can move fast - but it sounds like the first-line plan, if we can pull it off, will be to attempt negotiations with Him first." 

Nod. "In theory lawful gods who can share information shouldn't go to war, they can just figure out who'd win and do that."

"You would think, right. I - am not sure why it did not end up that way in your Golarion, Iomedae knew the resources She could bring to bear - I suppose Asmodeus thought it was not a sure thing..."

"He might've been confident and wrong. Or - it might be that He made some arrangements, down on the ninth layer of Hell that no one can see, that were worth the peace coming later and -

- costing three billion people who He wasn't going to get to hold onto anyway -"

Shiver. "I do not like that thought at all." 

"I don't like anything about any of this." Hug?

Hug. 

"It was very odd," Ma'ar says eventually. "Meeting another me - he is so clearly a me - who is also a god..."

"- I guess it would be! It's interesting that He - stays a you - as He becomes a god...."

"I mean, he is different! More different than I am from Mhalir, I think. But I think - less different from, say, Leareth, than, hmm, than the difference between Aroden who is human and little Ma'ar? There is still something there I recognize." 

"Does He think there's a way to not..."

"Yes. He - acknowledged it is not entirely up to us, if our enemies are smart or lucky that might constrain our options again. But...well, he is sending Mhalir to talk to the Andalites in your Golarion and stage their ships nearer here in hyperspace - Aroden does not think Asmodeus will have any way of finding them there. And then, even if He does move first, Aroden will be able to negotiate with him as gods do between one another, and - perhaps with all the information on how it went last time, and knowing we are ready to attack, he - might back down even then." Shrug. "And hopefully we can do better than that - if we amass even more resources, enough to clearly be overkill, Aroden thinks that it would be the smarter path for Asmodeus to surrender upfront."