(A moment later, she remembers he probably isn't talking about the same sort of curse the evil sorcerer used to suppress rebellions.)

"... Er, I don't want either of those now.  But what sort of things would I be noticing from that?  There have been a lot of things out of place in my life recently."

"No worries, we're not going to give you magic loyalty against your will - anointings just don't stick if you don't want them!

Normal kinds of symptoms I'd expect are things like, uh," Alvero thinks for a moment and seems to be counting things off on his fingers, "failing to dream or having very specific dreams interfering with restful sleep, feelings of unreality, being unmoored in time - not really understanding that events follow other events, impulses to do specific unusual things generally in response to something like a name, feeling like you're dead... okay, there aren't really normal symptoms here, soul scars basically all have extremely weird symptoms. Most of these are from past life visions, so might be nothing like whatever has happened to you?"

Alvero makes an eloquent shrugging gesture and attempts to look charmingly helpless.

"It doesn't sound like we're going to make any stunning discoveries in the next couple of minutes, so I'm going to head out," says Yasmina, collecting a stack of papers off the desk. "Assuming nothing else interesting happens, I should be back for lunch. Camilo, keep them in this tent or well away from camp until someone gives the all clear, I don't want them wandering around camp if I have to bring anyone back; fetch them anything they need."

"You've been feeling unreal sometimes, haven't you?  Talking about this as a story..."

"I was doing that in my old life too.  But yes, I suppose this has been feeling not quite real.  Sometimes.  Do you think that's from the scars?  And what other 'consecrations' could help?"

"It's a pretty common thing for 'something is wrong with your soul' to do! Actually, that's the one we understand best, because it's possible to do it deliberately - it's one of the side effects of what we use to jostle the soul back in position if it looks like that might work - that one does not look like a good idea here, though!

It's also a pretty common symptom of your life being extra confusing and difficult, though, so it's not necessarily just the soul thing. Fortunately the treatment is quite similar!

Consecrations are a kind of aura - a place that makes you feel specific things, although nowhere near as strongly as an anointing or a curse or something, and it stops when you leave. Usually things like believing you can change the world, or that things you do for other people are worthwhile, or you can protect the things that matter to you. It especially helps people who are feeling a bit useless or upset about things that they don't think they can fix, but it also has a direct effect on your soul, making it more open to change - so, talking about things that have caused a soul-related problem under one of these can help fix it."

Alvero is clearly both enthusiastic about this subject and trying very hard to find some way of explaining this that doesn't further upset his audience.

"There's one of those in Anduz or Anvil, right?  Maybe when I get there."

After a few moments, she adds, "Thank you.  I'm glad my soul isn't any worse."

"It's really quite hard to damage a soul! Even yours isn't really damaged.

There's probably some consecrations already up in Anduz, or I'm sure Yasmina can find you a priest of whatever virtue you prefer to put one up for you, it's not that expensive. I hear in Anvil they put them up on tents! Uh, that's normally a bit of a waste of liao as the aura goes down when you take the tent down, otherwise they last a whole season before you have to put them back up."

"It isn't damaged?  Then what would you call it?"

"It's more like - scar tissue? Something was wrong, it's mostly better, but it's left some - debris behind. I think there might be something else under that, but I can't tell with the obvious stuff in the way... so it's probably worth another look once that's cleared out."

"Yes.  Damage.  Was that angel expecting that when she sent me into this, or what?"

Selma squeezes her hand.  "I don't know, but she should have warned you."

She turns to Alvero.  "What are these Virtues?  And what do you do with them?"

"I don't know a whole lot about Angels, but I'd be fascinated to hear anything you know about them," replies Alvero.

He is immensely happy she's asked about the Virtues.

"Our Virtues are Loyalty, Courage, Pride, Prosperity, Wisdom, Vigilance and Ambition. These are the best ways to be for a human being - for all sentient beings. Following a Virtue - striving to embody it, encouraging others in it - is how a human spirit can overcome the Labyrinth, and an orc soul can cross the Abyss.

Also, they just make the world a better place to live - a secondary principle we hold is benevolence, that true Virtue makes the world a better place for everyone.

As a sutannir it's literally my job to explain, spread and encourage people in their Virtues - although I'm not a stuffy Highborn priest, mostly I do practical advice, songs and stories, and generally ensure that people can enjoy their lives.

Are there any that you're particularly interested in, or should I start with explaining my own favourite - which it does sound like you have a considerable amount of, to have come out here in the first place!"

Half of those Virtues sound uncomfortably familiar to Liliana.  "I think I heard something like that in my first life.  Virtue helps you through the story of your life and makes it better for everyone.  I... I forgot that."

"Your favorite's Courage?"

From Alvero's reaction it's quite clear that he hasn't actually been briefed on the whole 'multiple remembered lives' thing. "You - have memories of a previous life?" he asks.

"And yes, Courage," he picks up quickly, "which is of course a virtue often found amongst Freeborn; from the name you might think more amongst corsairs, but actually the virtue has more to do with facing unwelcome truths and holding to what you know is right. For instance, if someone gives you a stupid order, it is much more Courageous to tell them that it is stupid than to charge into danger on their command."

"I wish I had more of that.  And what about Pride?  I think I've got too much of that.  Maybe I even had too much beforehand and that's why I chose this life like I did."

"Now, around here we call that the Excessionist Heresy!" Alvero is smiling and clearly signalling this is to some extent a joke. "But it may be that Pride is, again, not quite what the common word means? Pride is committing fully to everything you do, small or large; and embracing what you are, and what you have been, not hiding it away - even if it is not what you would do now."

He is clearly itching to ask more about the past life thing, but too much of a professional to let it distract him from preaching.

"Embrace it?  Embrace what I've been?"  She spreads her hands, shaking her head.

"Then maybe you do have some Pride to work on," smiles Alvero, in what he hopes is a comforting fashion. "We are everything that has happened to us, including our worst mistakes; maybe a Pride priest would say it better, but it is alas often an unwelcome truth?"

She nods.

"So... what?  I need to change myself?  Or keep remembering so I don't act like that again?"

"Only you can decide that for yourself," Alvero tells her. "If your heart lies with Ambition, for instance, or Prosperity or maybe Loyalty, then it's entirely customary to reinvent yourself and not let the past drag you down; if you wish to follow Pride, or similarly Wisdom, Courage or Vigilance, you'll most likely need to find a way to accept what you did and understand how it has - or can - make you stronger."

"So... how would you suggest I pick?"

"That's a big question!" beams Alvero. "Normally you would hear a lot about them when you are growing up, and naturally pick one that suits you - or some people try to follow them all at once, but that often doesn't work very well! I am very happy to tell you all about any that you are interested in, to see if it is something that fits how you are - or how you want to be."

Liliana looks interested for a moment, and then sighs.  "But I don't know yet what I want to be.  I wish I could leave all this behind me, but - but I can't.  The people last night recognized me.  Achard - my husband - he's probably still alive.  And I still feel those habits I chose."