((As this update will most likely be tl;dr, I'm summarizing it at the bottom.)) You say your farewells and quickly head out and slip into the Stream. You wish you could re-enter realms at any point as well, not just leave them so.
The journey to the city-world is quiet and uneventful. Only a few are using the Stream at the moment, it seems.
Again, you exit the Stream and find yourself next to the same skyscraper. It takes you a while to remember the layout of the city correctly again in the darkness of the night, but soon you move out, heading for your headquarters.
You land gracefully on the yard of the house. Inside, the house looks pretty much the same as before, though it is much quieter now in night-time. Most Guides don't sleep much, though, and you head downstairs confident you will find the Valkyries still working.
As you reach the bottom of the stairs, however, no-one is anywhere to be seen. The portal stands at the end of the room. The doorway seems much more solid now, and you think you can smell fresh grass from the other side. The portal's location in the realm seems to have changed though, now standing to overlook an impressive-looking mountain range bathing in the morning light.
As you watch, two Valkyries suddenly appear from seemingly nowhere, and, in a blink, appearing right in front of the portal. The next moment they're in the basement with you.
You guess time moves faster there.
' It is finished, as you can see. These mortals work surprisingly fast.' the first Valkyrie says, recognizing you on sight. ' Hrist is still inside, but we can fetch her for you, if you wish.'
' Tell her to be upstairs in five. Is Vogarm awake?' you say, and upon the Valkyrie nodding her answer, turn to leave.
The upper floors seem to be much more awake and active, filled with Guides and mortals from Vogarm's sisters' organization. You find Vogarm in the same room as before, reading some papers. The room is covered in piles of records and papers, and you're suddenly fortunate you haven't been handling all this paperwork.
' I need everyone you can get armed and ready as soon as possible.' you say immediately. No point delaying it anyhow. Vogarm seems equally surprised at seeing you and hearing this, and simply stands there eyes wide. You continue. ' I have much to tell you, but we need to get that underway as soon as possible. Have any of our guides been given any training at all?'
Vogarm finally snaps out of his stupor, and fortunately doesn't question anything. ' I've had the more experienced ones training them for a couple of weeks now, but they barely know how to hold a sword without chopping their own heads off. They're nowhere near a working military unit.'
' They will have to do. They'll be fighting with minds full of vengeance in any case. The Council will soon regret the day they decided to go to war with us.'
Vogarm shrugs, using the runes in the table to apparently send messages to the Guides. Before he's done, Hrist barges in, and you wave her silent as she starts asking questions. Once both are silent, you begin.
' First things first; two of the Essenceborn have promised their aid - they all have different opinions. I've also recruited the Winged Serpent... or well, convinced him to come fight the Council. I don't know if he'll come work with us at all.' you pause, and Vogarm and Hrist voice their very low opinion of the Serpent. You can't help suppress a smile.
' Now, this is important. As I left their realm, I was attacked by Za... an angel I've encountered before. In the Stream. The Council's constructing... engines of war, from the souls they've captured. They can force someone out of the Stream, and wherever they want them. And these things are tough in combat, as well.'
Hrist mouths 'that's impossible' to which you shake your head. If only.
' Good news is... or well, news is I managed to escape, and fled to the Infernal realm. The angel... followed me. The Infernals reacted.. badly. In short, I met with the Morningstar, who went on to lead the Legions of Hell in an attack on the Silver City itself. I do not know how they will fare, but I doubt it will be a victory for them.'
' After that, I headed for the Egyptian pantheon's palace, and found the gates broken open and the palace in ruins. Most of their pantheon had fled, but some remained in the Underworld, protecting their souls. And that's why I need everyone ready. We're going there and helping them clear their realm from the Council's troops.'
Should you talk/ask more with Vogarm and Hrist, wait for the troops to gather or perhaps something else?
((Right. The portal to the safe realm is ready, you explained everything that happened to Vogarm and Hrist and the Guides are gathering at the base and preparing for battle. I can't believe I managed to write this much about that.))