A still pause. "The most likely reason that Path of Transformation is not useful to you is that you are able to accomplish your goals without it before you can make use of it. This is highly unlikely, as your plans extend substantially beyond merely a single true copy."

One second. "A Bound Arcadia is your action, in the same way a spell you cast or a punch you make is yours. It carries with it your influence, can be traced back to you, is protected by your protections, has the weight of your level of existence, and such forth. If your Floating Library sends forth spies, you send forth spies. If your Gingerbread Palace feeds people, and you have an aspect that revolves around feeding others, it may activate."

One second. "Do you have any questions?"

"...is my Floating Library likely to send forth spies under circumstances where I wouldn't have chosen to do that?"

A short still pause. "No. A Floating Library is an extension of your will: it will only do that if you desire it to. Its actions are yours: it does not take them independently."

"Understood." In which case she thinks she'd like rather a lot of Bound Arcadia, because they're all going to be her, and it's good when there's more of her.

"What's next?"

A very brief stillness. "That was your final option."

All right then, it's time to ask all her final questions and assemble all her final answers. Hoo boy.

She casts her mind back to the beginning of all this. Exceptions, right? "What were the names of the two very long-term Exceptions, the one that brings new Icons up to the strength of older ones and the one that..." what did it do... "...enabled faster Aspect formation? And, hmm... what were the Exceptions that improved Icons, again? I think I want the two long-term Exceptions, and then for my third Exception either Classy or some kind of Icon improvement."

A brief stillness. "Tree of Progress enables you to add Aspects and even Icons back to your younger self when you acquire them, making them as strong when you get them as if you had had them all along, though because it accomplishes this with the same level of potential it will either consume Potential or weaken you. It is still an impressive ability, of course, as Aspects intentionally acquired later tend to be more useful. Aspected doesn't make your Aspect formation faster: it allows you to draw more Aspects from your Icons at a given level of Ascension. Those Icon-derived Aspects are substantially more powerful than traditional ones. Exultant improves whatever your third Icon is, Psion or Circle of Towers Druid based on stated plans. True Outsider would improve your Outsider aspect: the interactions of a bolstered Living Nexus Aspect with your plans would be interesting to observe."

Living Nexus... she can't quite remember which one that was. "What is it about Living Nexus that inclines you to say that?"

If she has a very good memory, she can notice that this is an exact repetition of what was said earlier, without any pause. "Living Nexus. One of the more famous attributes of Outsiders is how easy they are to summon. Their position is an interaction, rather than a place, and that interaction can be redefined through conjuration without resorting to Spacial magic. But that's only one example of a broader phenomenon. Powerful Outsiders can hear prayers directed at them, and direct their influence back through those channels. They can mark a place or person or object with their symbol, and channel influence to that symbol. They can hear whenever their name is spoken, and in a single step arrive before the one who invoked them. At the first ascension, you probably can't do any of these things, but the mechanisms of it are buried within you. You'll find taking advantage of connections, forming connection, and controlling them is easy. Things tied to you will naturally create connection you can control. You're technically vulnerable to summoning spells, but your Chthonic Will means that such forces can only be invoked when you permit it. It's not impossible to summon you against your will, but they won't be doing it through a summoning spell, but pure dimensionalism, and even that you'll strongly resist."

Two seconds. "It is highly likely that, if you will it, your clones will be channels for you, and you will be a channel for your clones. That could enable greater influence, course-correction if the copying process errs, and perhaps hive-mind effects or focusing the power of all of you as needed by any of you."

"Oh, that does sound very interesting. Yes, I think I like that a lot. Let's say I'll take the two long-term ones and True Outsider, then. And the next choice was..." What the hell was the next choice. "Was it Icon? I'm still indecisive about my Icon, but I do definitely intend to take either Psion or Circle of Towers Druid, with the intent of picking up whichever one I didn't choose at the first opportunity. Let's leave that open for now. What was the next choice after that?"

"Both Circle of Towers Druid and Psion will grant you an extra Gift, bringing you to seven. Assuming you choose Elf, which costs two Gifts, and take the Physical Refinements that grant Gifts, you will have nine Gifts available. Through selecting Dream Seeds, you can acquire up to thirteen more. Shortened, they are Safety, Change, Travel, Legacy, Success, Home, Discovery, Industry, Stability, Togetherness, Love, and Children, the last of which will grant two."

Right, those. She remembers being broadly positive on them, and given that she wants to invest in just about every Bound Arcadia, she probably wants to take the lot. Which one was she a little hesitant about? Love, right? Love seems like a valid area for expansion of her personality. "I think I will take all the Dream Seeds. What was the next choice after those?"

"Your Tribe, and any physical features you wish to specify."

"I want to be an Elf, and I don't care to specify any physical features. Next?"

A very slight still pause. "The physical refinements and improvements: four for improving pregnancy and likelihood thereof that will each get you a Gift for having taken, three simple presents that should prove useful, and five methods to improve your body, particularly for combat. 

"Right, those. I think I'll take all of them. Next?"

"That leaves you with 19 Gifts. Which Aspect Emblems do you want?"

"Um, let's see... can you explain the Psionic Arts aspect emblems in more detail?"

No pause. "Psychokinesis lets you move things: it can be expanded in various ways, but it will start with being able to lift very heavy objects without them breaking around your hand or forcing you into the ground. Telepathy lets you communicate mentally with others, initially those you are touching and share a language with, growing into mental manipulations and control over crowds at incredible distances. Precognition lets you understand the future. Incarnation lets you use psionic energy to create objects: initially a sword or a bridge, but with Ascensions entities with minds of their own can be crafted."

"Then I should take Telepathy, and a Combat Skills emblem for unarmed combat, and the druidic emblems for the transformative and connective traditions - I think they were Fall and Winter? - and an Artistic Integration for architecture, and maybe Athletic Skills, and, what was the one that had something to do with Orgone manipulation?"

A short stillness: they're common, now, as she moves away from what everyone asks. "Yes, Fall and Winter. Elixir Field will be a good starting point, or replacement, for internal Orgone manipulation. Fall and Winter are also Orgone manipulation, but they are external practices. That will consume seven Gifts, leaving you with twelve."`

"Okay. Telepathy, unarmed combat, Fall, Winter, architecture, Athletic Skills, and Elixir Field. Next was... I think Chained Spirits, let's leave those alone for now... Bound Arcadia, I think I want all of them. How many Gifts does that leave me with?"

No pause. "Two."

"Then... I should think about Chained Spirits."

She thinks about Chained Spirits.

"Can you think of any obvious downsides to taking a Succubus and an Attendant—would there likely be conflicts between them because of their different natures, or is that not likely to be a concern? Are there any other Spirits who might be better suited to my goals?"

"For the wise, a lesser Succubus is often a political tool, while the Lesser Elysium Attendant is a healer and supporter. While both would be useful for you, the Succubus is perhaps less attractive if you are a Psion. A Wheel or a Lesser Feral Thing would be useful for physical self-defense in the short term, given your focus on long-run growth and advantages."