"I did say can. The Chaon, the once-marked and twice-marked - can they match their counterparts of Ionu? I do not know. Illusions can hide one from sight - the Chaon would never see us coming. The twice-marked can cloak themselves from sight - even Auristics, since they draw on Ionu's power - and remove all trace of their footsteps. No sound would they emit. No scent. But what of the Chaon? They can corrupt us. If they can find us, catch us by surprise, they can do so. But Ionu's chosen are oftentimes mentally unstable. We often dwell in realms that intersect with reality and fantasy on a regular basis. Sometimes we are drunk on perceiving everything Mizahar has to hold us. So what can the Chaon corrupt? Perhaps ruin our lifestyles.
But what of the thrice-marked? I know not what the Druvin can do. At best, I can hazard a guess that they can corrupt others more easily. Perhaps even a body of unnatural power. The priests of Ionu... I have only met one, and she was frightening. At times, reality and illusion intermingled. Illusion could possibly become reality as long as she maintained a modicum of her focus on it.
In the end, I would say that if the Rhysol-marked can see through all the illusions that we wield, if they can catch us and tear us apart, they would triumph. But if they fall for our trickery, they will die. The more marks we have, the closer we are to Ionu. And by default, the more unrestrained we are by human ideas. I don't know if Rhysol could defeat Ionu. Ionu is practically unknowable except to a select few. But is Ionu more powerful than Rhysol? I don't know.
As for Alvadas... I wish I had the silver tongue of a bard of legend, or one of the Inverted. A simple description will have to suffice. Alvadas is the city of Ionu. It is the star on the western coast of the Northern Suvan Sea. When you first enter, you are greeted by an enormous stone face. The Gaping Maw. It will question you as to your purpose for coming to Alvadas, and you walk through its mouth to enter the city proper.
It is chaos, beautiful chaos inside there. What your mind can conceive of, Alvadas can create for you. There, illusions are reality. We walk and breathe illusion every second we exist there. Streets of liquid diamond that tastes of fine whiskey? Lanterns that uproot themselves from the ground and take a stroll every now and then? Houses that dance a jig every time a small girl walks by? All that and more. You can get lost for days while you try to find your destination, only to find out that what you're looking for is right behind you all the while. You can take one step and find yourself in front of the House of Broken Mirrors, where you can delve into the darkest aspects of the human mind.
Perhaps you might question that rationality of going to such a place, where one may be often inconvenienced at any one moment by the city. But Alvadas never grows old for me, as I continue to discover new novelties and terrors in the Streets Below."
He trailed off, staring into the distance as he enthusiastically reminisced.
"Aye, Mizahar holds many secrets. After Ravok, I may return to my home. Or visit the Nuit stronghold of Sahova. Or explore Sunberth. Perhaps even study the Akalak in their city. But that will have to wait."
Crypt considered the Nitrozian's offer for a few seconds before grinning. Six golden mizas was adequate, although he was hoping for a bit more. The mention of the possibility of a raise was encouraging, and working for the Nitrozians would allow him to obtain some degree of clout in Ravok.
"It is indeed acceptable. I shall now take the protection of the Nitrozian family and their interests as my highest priority. If that is all..."
