The Forgotten God (Table 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

"No, either way suits me. Having more time to consult the guidelines you wish to implement would be useful. Plus, it will allow me to complete my new bow as well." Looking at the sun outside, she figured they would probably be leaving Almas soon. "Well, now that our rousing breakfast is over, I shall head out to the library and see if my knowledge was incomplete. Epyon will stay with you; So once you are ready to leave, tell him to come back to me and I will know to rejoin you." Sevia whispered her orders to her familiar, which promptly flapped over onto Fhanys' shoulder. With that, Sevia made her departure and headed off to their library to search for any material on extraplanar spaces and how to modify them.

The most efficient way of modifying an extraplanar space is typically the Create Demiplane spell, ideally made permanent, which is still an expensive and rather time-consuming process. The average mortal couldn't simply claim a demiplane that may or may not have had its creator still alive (probably not, in this case, but that couldn't be guaranteed), and that was the real problem, since you needed ownership of the plane to modify it. Of course, gods were a bit better at establishing homes within a given place - if you claimed it and nobody took it from you, it was yours, which was most of what all the fuss in Aroden's domain (outside of that mess with the cathedral) was about. It might be possible to design a spell to seize control of the demiplane, then cast it with your godly power, though it would require magic of a higher level than you can currently cast.

Essentially, with the current resources at their disposal, it couldn't be done. Even using the place and traveling to and fro was beyond them. Though...it would be possible to hire a wizard or another spellcaster to cast the requisite spell needed, although that was less than ideal since it would essentially make them the owner of the plane.

Eventually, Epyon flapped his way into the library from a window Sevia had opened on purpose. Upon which, she abandoned her research somewhat disappointed and followed the directions of the bird back to her followers.

"I did discover that it is possible to alter our current sanctum, but that would require arcane magic on a scale far beyond me at the moment." Sevia told Fhanys with a hint of disappointment. "If we are ready to leave, then I shall provide us some mounts so that we need not walk"

Your cleric looked quite interested in that particular offer, and given that her things were ready to go, it didn't take long for any of your followers to finish preparing, say their goodbyes to the staff of the embassy, and follow you down towards the market area. From here - whether you went to see Father Otiward, went straight back to your base, or headed somewhere else entirely, it was all up to you...

Nodding, Sevia used some of her mythic power to cast a communal Mount spell, conjuring up four horses for them all. She didn't really need one herself since it was actually slower than herself, but it was better to stick with the group. Given its apparent closeness to their destination, Sevia decided they would head to Otiward's village and make sure he at least knew they were okay - she did want to apologize for making the man worry for the past month or two since she'd last seen him. Then they'd head on to the rest of her followers.

During their trip Sevia recasts Mount at least once, casting it a total of twice a day to see them for a full eight hours of travel each. During their resting periods, she set aside some time to talk with Fhanys about her clerical ideas, as well as where she saw herself in her church. As good as an administrator as Auguinare was, he certainly was not cut from the cloth of a Grandmaster or High Priest, and Sevia recognized Fhanys' potential.

She also made sure to complete her new bow as well, during their trip.

"I'm still trying to figure out what the places are." Fhanys admitted. "It sounds like there's going to be a very martial component, and I'm trying to plan for the future and ensure the right balance between faith and fighting. I think it might be best if all of the clergy have real fighting ability - so rather than just being priests all the time, they're both capable of and willing to go out and eliminate undead or protect the church. I mean, what's the point of praying for magic if you're not planning to use it in support of your faith, right? Oh, but I need to make sure they keep the faith prominently in their minds, too, and not get so wrapped up in fighting that they forget why they're doing it..." Fortunately, gods had ways of reminding clerics of wrongdoing. Still, given your thoughts on putting the undead to rest and the fact that most of your church was composed of assassins, it rather looked like you were in the midst of developing a very work-based faith. If that wasn't quite what you wanted, changing it would be easier sooner instead of later.

Fhanys was still cheerfully talking as you made your way down the road to her hometown, and a big smile crossed her face as she saw the place. She didn't seem like she called this place 'home' any longer, but just as clearly, it would always be a place she cared about. "Maybe we should surprise him..." she said mischievously.

"Hmm, that is certainly thoughtful. In the past my faith was roughly divided between fighting and faith, but having both more intertwined certainly provides a better overlap of skill and strength. But there are other functions my church also used to provide that have nothing to do with fighting, though for the time being they have been assumed by Pharasma's followers. When we reach our sanctum in Maheto you will be able to read more of my work that Auguinare put to pen." Sevia realized that her faith was probably more demanding than most, but what she sought to accomplish was also greater. But it was also important not to demand too highly that her clerics focus on fighting, as she did not want to turn away those who were unskilled or unwilling to use violence.

Ahead, she noted that they had reached their first destination. Looking towards Fhanys, she raised an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?" she asked, intrigued by her suggestion.

"Well, we could turn invisible and sneak into one of the rooms... or maybe just deliver some food to him 'cuz he keeps forgetting to eat when he's wrapped up in studying something." she mused. "Besides, it's good to keep him on his toes. Honestly, this town is kind of boring, so surprises tend to be the nice memories."

"Well a few months ago you certainly received quite the surprise." Sevia smiled fondly, recalling their first meeting. Well, the poor girl had been scared out of her wits at the time. How about I disguise myself as you, hmm? Surely seeing two would be quite confusing." She chuckled, before her face morphed into an exact copy of Fhanys' as Sevia cast a Disguise Self spell.

Fhanys chuckled and nodded as she moved forward, waving to people she knew as the two of you went along and encouraging you to do the same. More than one of the townsfolk did a double-take, though at least a few of them clearly caught on as you moved. Fhanys opened the doors to the church by hand, then strode in boldly. "We're back!" she said cheerfully - and was rewarded with the sight of the priest spraying out his drink as he caught sight of two of you. "Mission complete!"

Sevia dutifully followed Fhanys' lead, smiling and waving like she was the girl's twin sister. Of course no such person existed, but she might as well take advantage of their surprise for a quick laugh. As the two entered the church, Sevia managed to keep a straight face as Otiward spit his drink. "Oh my I did not expect that at all, hello Father." Sevia greeted, keeping up her disguise for a moment longer.

Father Otiward set his cup on the table - hard - then chuckled at the sight. "All right, all right, you got me." he said, raising his hands in surrender. "Welcome back, Fhanys. How did your trip go?"

"Ah, wrong one." Smiling, Sevia let down her disguise and revealed her real identity, gesturing to Fhanys herself. "It is quite a tale, but we will be leaving soon again and moving on to our...next adventure." Sevia said a little cryptically.

"May it be as interesting as it is successful." the priest said, still chuckling at your deception. "Still, I do hope you didn't go out of your way to come back here just to surprise me! Come in, come in!" he said, waving. His expression became slightly more serious as he looked at Fhanys. "All right, Fhanys. How did it actually go? Is this something you want to keep doing?" he inquired.

The girl sat down and took a deep breath, then slowly looked up and met his gaze. "Yes." she said firmly. "Lady Sevia offered me magic when I needed it the most, and I mixed that with my own abilities to send monsters back to their rest. It... it was frightening, but I still want to do it. I wasn't given these powers just so I could sit around doing nothing important with my life. I want to help people, and I think I'm in a good position to do that now." Father Otiward just nodded and smiled.

"I suppose I need to thank you again." he said, looking up towards you. "She's growing up very well indeed, and I'm quite proud of her." The younger cleric blinked back a sudden set of tears. "Come, come! Let's eat something worth having, eh?" he said as he got up and headed into the small pantry. "What would you like? Can't promise we've got it, of course, but we do try to stay stocked."

"Some tea and anything sweet would be nice if you would. I find telling tales over tea most relaxing." Sevia requested, giving Fhanys a pat on the back for emotional support. "Do not place all the credit on myself though, the girl has quite the initiative. And I will continue to offer her the opportunity to put that initiative to use bettering the world. The nation of Andoran was quite appreciative of her exploits a few weeks ago." Sevia said with a smile as she took a seat next to her follower.

"Unfortunately I have little to contribute to her adventure due to my absence. When I left you last I was on my way to a few of my other followers and gave them instructions to aid Fhanys while I attended to other matters in Cheliax of all places. Though I would not mind telling you of my own journey if you wish to hear." Sevia stated when Otiward returned, leaving the discussion open again for Fhanys to talk about her trip to the darkness in Andoran. She wasn't sure though how much Otiward would believe of her story though, so she'd make sure to leave some details out of that tale if he asked.

It wasn't long before the faint fragrance of tea filled the air, and the priest grinned as he served it. Some faiths were a bit harsh when it came to the things the clergy could enjoy, but this clearly wasn't one of them. He just nodded as he set the plates down on the table and looked at Fhanys. "You used your abilities to the fullest, didn't you?" he inquired, then laughed when she suddenly looked guilty. "Hah! Relax, girl, you're not a child anymore. We all have our own abilities in this world, and what you do with them is up to you... and your god, of course." He grinned in your direction. "Just remember your reasons for using them and you'll be all right." he set several cups onto the table, along with a plate of warmed pastries and some sweetener for the drink. As he did, the girl began to explain more of her journey into the vampire's operation. Fortunately, it didn't seem like most of the foes there had been too deadly - skeletons and the like were nasty in large numbers, but a basic grasp of strategy could easily overcome their few advantages.

As time passed, the cleric was quick to offer all of you rooms for the night - he seemed to enjoy having the chance to be hospitable.

Sevia raised an eyebrow and looked over to Fhanys as Otiward talked about her abilities. 'Is there something I missed' she thought inquisitively, wondering if Otiward was in fact talking about something other than clerical abilities. Sevia nodded in agreement with his assurance as well, "With power comes responsibility." she added, knowing best what that meant when you wielded a great deal of power and had so many relying on it. Taking the tea, which she of course sweetened, Sevia listened in once more to Fhanys' adventure, noting the additional details and generally enjoying herself, occasionally chiming in to explain her indirect assistance.

"I would be delighted to stay the night, though I think I should rather avoid that inn keeper or disguise myself. I do not believe he found my previous patronage endearing." Sevia chuckled, graciously accepting Otiward's offer. A bed would be welcome after a few weeks on the road. Though as they retired for the night Sevia seemed to recall that there had been that boy who'd been interested in Fhanys, she wondered why he hadn't stopped by since she assumed people would know they'd returned.

The boy in question hadn't been around last time you visited the village, either - there was a very good chance he'd gone elsewhere, though it wasn't entirely apparent what he'd set out to do. After a peaceful night - it was only after you'd woken up that Sevia prayed for her magic, a bit of thoughtfulness on her part - the sun began rising and the citizens of the town went about their business. The two other members you'd brought along seemed to be discussing something amongst themselves, while Fhanys was in the kitchen. She seemed to be focusing intently, and a small blade of force sprang out of her fingers - which was promptly used to slice some fruit that she arranged on a tray. "Ah, good morning!" she said. "Breakfast is almost ready!"

Sevia yawned as she pulled herself out of bed, quickly dressing herself and leaving her room. "Ah, my thanks." Sevia replied, as she found her way to Fhanys. Looking inquisitively at her followers, she tried to listen in to what they might be talking about.

Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34

"Hmm, we should be quick about it though, we still have quite a ways to go...Sorry if I seem impatient but we are pretty close to our goal. I was thinking we could spend more time during the day to travel as long as I keep summoning mounts for us. That should get us there in a few days." Sevia said as she sat down, apparently eager to eat and then head out.

The cleric just nodded as she served food. The other two seemed to be having a discussion that rapidly alternated between strategies for killing undead and somewhat-amused bets on how Auguinare was going to react when Fhanys arrived with you. After eating, Fhanys gave Father Otiward a tight hug and said her goodbyes, then gathered her things. Unless you planned to stop in Maheto for any reason, it seemed like you'd have no trouble returning to your base.

Sevia also gave her farewells, and summoned mounts for their small group again. Finally ready to continue on, they set out directly for the sanctuary, using additional summoned mounts to increase the amount of time they could travel.

After a few days, Sevia finally dismounted after leading the group to the portal. "The entrance is right there. It will open up when a person brings one of these charms close to it." She explained to Fhanys, gesturing to the location as she held up her own trinket. Dismissing the mounts, she waved the group forward into the extra dimensional space.

Fhanys looked at the trinket, then waved it up and down a few times. She followed you into the space, looking very curious, even as the other two followed along and immediately split up, probably to drop their things off. Choruses of welcomes could immediately be heard from your faithful, and one of them went running off deeper inside, even as those still in the main hall looked curiously at your cleric.

Finally, Auguinare came into sight, puffing slightly. "Ah, welcome back!" he said cheerfully. "May I assume your mission was a success? And this must be..." His smile faltered slightly as he saw Fhanys... who smiled and waved at him. Well, he had been the leader up until now... it was fairly normal for mortals to wonder if they'd suddenly be dethroned.

"Yes, the cleric I spoke of - Fhanys. Fhanys, this is Auguinare - I have generally been leaving the following in his care. He will help familiarize yourself with the group." Sevia offered introductions, hoping to sound neutral enough. She didn't exactly want to demote Auguinare, but frankly she intended for Fhanys to supersede him eventually, after she integrated herself with the others. "But yes, I successfully completed the task Pharasma's church had requested - and of course Bernard and Nysene were able to safeguard Fhanys in my stead. I caught up with them in Almas of all places, and...well it would probably be best to call a gathering so I can give the news to everyone. There is a lot to cover."

"Of course, of course!" Auguinare said, turning and clapping his hands. "You heard Lady Sevia! Gather everyone right away!" he said, dispatching people one by one to go run and round everyone up. A few others took your things to bring them to your room, and Fhanys just looked around curiously. Perhaps ten minutes later, they'd finally managed to round everyone up and get them together in the main meeting room, ready to listen to whatever you had to say.

After turning over her weapons and gear to an attendant - making sure to tell them not to open anything, Sevia lead Fhanys to the meeting hall. While they waited, Sevia explained how she first came here and had found the fragment on her soul which coincided with the destructive power of death and what it had been doing to the nearby mortals of Maheto. Once it seemed that everyone had gathered up, she turned towards her followers with open arms and a small smile.

"Thank you my faithful for your warm welcome. I have returned with good tidings for you all! Though I know I have been perhaps a difficult god to follow, but see how the faith of one has been rewarded. I wish to introduce the first of my faith - Fhanys, a devout cleric whom I have finally been able to grant a fraction of my divine power to." Sevia gestured to the girl next to her, then placed a hand on her shoulder as she leaned closer to her. "Give a demonstration if you would?" she whispered, requesting the girl cast a spell, anything really would do though the more impressive the better.

Sevia waited to have their attention again before continuing to the meat of her announcements. "Please welcome her with open arms, and treat what she says as if it were guidance from myself. She has already been proactive spreading the word of my faith, and has recently secured funds from the government of Andoran in exchange for services rendered defending their lands and uncovering rare metals for their nation. A great boon, and one we will need. After some discussion, I have decided for the time being that we should relocate to an area where we can make important accomplishments and end our ostracization. Our destination is Ustalav, the land plagued by undead and necromancy, a place in dire need of our presence. Furthermore, I shall remain with you all indefinitely during this transition to aid your efforts and provide guidance." Sevia paused to allow reactions from her followers and see where they stood, internally debating about whether to talk on what she had learned from the other Death and whether that would help or hurt her faithful...

At your request, Fhanys held out one hand - abruptly, a long sword of pure fire shot out of it, braided together with focused positive energy. She cut through the air a few times, then let go of the blade and allowed it to vanish. A moment later, she chanted and pointed to the floor, where a massive symbol spread out to cover the floor. It was a Symbol of Healing, to be exact, potent enough to destroy lesser undead instantly... or, in this case, touch every single one of your faithful with a burst of revitalizing energy. Taken together, those two effects... probably explained how she'd been able to bring down so many undead. When the flames were gone, Fhanys smiled and gestured to you again.

"...How much funding from Andoran?" one of them asked, looking at Fhanys. She told them, and they goggled slightly.

As a whole, the group looked somewhat nervous about abandoning their base... but, on the other hand, the idea of going out and working - not just sitting around all day - had an obvious appeal to them, and most of them looked like they were quite willing to follow you to Ustalav. As for the words of the watchful goddess, it was probably best to keep that to yourself - there wasn't anything mortals could do, really, and some knowledge wasn't meant for their ears.

Sevia nodded to Fhanys in thanks and turned to address them again, clearing her throat as she looked out at all their faces. "Many of you are nervous about this change. That is understandable. We will be heading for an unfamiliar land to take up a daunting task, and leaving behind much of our relative safety here. However it is important that we begin showing what a positive force our presence will bring to Golarion, and begin building up our reputation. For the time being, our position is acceptable, but we must grow and prosper if we wish to be thought of as more than just a cult. Within the next few days please make preparations to move, anything too cumbersome to take with us can be left here - we might be leaving this sanctuary but we are not abandoning it. Anyone who has been to Ustalav within the past few years please make yourselves known to either Fhanys or Auguinare...should you have questions please feel free to come to me later." Sevia finally concluded with a welcoming smile as she gestured to herself.

"Shadows Shield You From Harm." She added, using the standard term of goodbye to let them know they were dismissed - without the Celestial Sevia was used to putting the phrase in. With that finished she turned to Auguinare, a hand coming to rest on her hip. "Please begin making what preparations you deem necessary, we can discuss the specifics of exactly where we will be doing and what later. There is also another separate matter that will require mandatory attendance which I will take care of, either tomorrow or the day after." Sevia told him, declining to state the specifics of the ritual she would be introducing to them.

The faithful split up - some more eagerly than others - and went about the task of gathering everything they'd need for the long trip. Ustalav was quite some distance away, and only three people came forward to cite having been there... and only one of them was a local. Still, some information was better than no information, and at least you could question them to get any answers they could give.

Mainly the only questions Sevia had for them was what if anything important had recently been happening in Ustalav or Lastwall if the knew, and where the safest or most troubled areas were. Personally she'd rather find somewhere that they could set up at that wouldn't get them killed. She made sure to remember the local and told them they'd probably be looked to for advice from the others given their familiarity with the place. Sevia also checked with Fhanys to see if she had somewhere she could sleep temporarily and made sure the girl was fitting in as best as possible. Afterwards simply keeping herself abreast of preparations, how much needed to packed up and what, how long should it take, selecting those who seemed more capable as guards.

As the day came to a close and people headed back to their quarters, she made sure to check on the shadow housed within one of her pack's extradimensional spaces. "It is safe to come out if you want, we have reached our destination." She said, stepping back to let him out. "I would not let yourself be seen by my followers until tomorrow though, my faith's main tenant is putting to rest the dead, and I still need to help them with the use of other methods than violence." Sevia admitted somewhat sheepishly. She had made it clear they needed to direct their hatred only at those who abused or created undeath, but hadn't emphasized quite enough she felt that one needed to extend sympathy to those who hadn't moved on.

Ustalav had always been a fairly uneasy place, especially in Virlych, the home of the Gallowspire and the Whispering Tyrant. Even dedicated undead-hunters were nervous about that area - the local seemed to think that it would work better to pass by Illmarsh and gather supplies, then perhaps head towards Carrion Hill and investigate further. That particular city had changed hands countless times, and it had never been a particularly stable place. Nevertheless, it could serve as a useful outpost, and it was large enough to support the whole group.

Your Shadow simply nodded as you spoke, seeming quite patient. It apparently felt no particular desire to get out and explore the area, but... "Mortals... angry, if they think they have been lied to." It said slowly. "Good intentions can be... interpreted wrong. Speaking sooner, with honesty... better."

"Of course, that is why I will be explaining this to my other followers tomorrow when I demonstrate the ritual. I can reveal you then." Sevia explained, pleased with its patience. Well, it had been around a long time after all. She finally slipped off her remaining gear, the armor and weapons, before slipping into bed to rest. There was a lot on her plate but she was determined to get as much done tomorrow as she could.

In the morning, she dressed into robes more appropriate for casual interaction than the armor she typically wore. It was actually a little jarring at first as she left her room, giving offhanded greetings to her followers as she looked around for Auguinare - first to see if there was anything he needed from her, and second to let him know that he should inform the rest of her following that a few hours after breakfast there would be a gathering in the hall that had used to house the Raven's Talon which she assumed was empty. "I will be demonstrating an important ritual among Shadow Dancers and...how to deal with the undead without violence." Sevia told him, heading off for breakfast herself. Looking around, she sought out her cleric Fhanys, interested to know how she was connecting with her other followers.

The first sign of the cleric was a cry coming from one of the open training rooms, where the girl was busy sparring with two of the lay members of your church. Even as you watched, one of them stabbed out with a pair of swift jabs from their knives, onto to have them repelled by sudden panels of ice that appeared in the air around her. Her response was a sweep with a blade of fire that simply appeared in her hand and barely missed her target. "All right." she said pleasantly. "As you can see, you need both accuracy and power if you want to fight the undead properly. For example, this looks impressive..." She twitched her hand, and a blade made of stone appeared, featuring what looked to be an obsidian edge, "...but many undead are very resistant to slashing." The earthen blade changed into a club, which she held up. "This is a bit more practical, especially..." She whirled around and swung the club in an overhand movement. Rather than hitting the floor, though, the end of it shot outwards and crashed into a target ten feet away from her. "When you can hit at range." Her weapon vanished. "Versatility is key where we're going. You need different techniques for different undead, and if you can't kill them in one hit, then you should try to manipulate the terrain and turn it to your advantage. You don't want to get into a drawn-out match with a creature that sucks away your strength every time it touches you, and you need to be able to recognize the different types of undead at a glance. I'll help with that on the way to Ustalav."

Finally, she caught a glimpse of you, and waved cheerfully. "Good morning, Lady Sevia! I was just demonstrating a few of the techniques I found useful in Andoran. I've also found a few more people interested in becoming clerics, and plan to work with them on that later on. Um, i-if that's okay with you, of course."

Sevia merely crossed her arms and smiled as she leaned back against the wall to watch Fhanys work. The girl was surprisingly knowledgeable, and adept at fighting, not to mention concise with her instructions; a far cry from the meeker prisoner she'd first met the girl as. As the girl demonstrated her abilities though, she did think back to what Otiward had said...Sevia figured she should probably ask about that at some point. Still though, Fhanys' initiative continued to impress her.

As Fhanys noticed her and waved, Sevia held out her hands and clapped. "You hardly need my approval to better the faith. I merely wanted to see how well you were taking your transition, but you seem to be doing marvelously." Sevia said as she walked forward to speak more closely to the girl, her hands returning to her sides. "I already informed Auguinare but there will be another gathering in the former hall to the Raven's Talon in a few hours. Feel free come by there a little earlier and I can show you what for...For now though, please continue being an excellent teacher for those in need of your guidance." Sevia said, patting the girl on the shoulder.

Her next stop was to be the storage area, so that she could collect a few candles, torches, chalk, and a brazier.

"Yes, of course!" Fhanys said, clearly happy to receive praise - and determined to prove worthy of your attention. She was quick to return to the training, focusing on practical techniques instead of esoteric lore that wouldn't actually help people put down the undead. The members of your faith were mostly assassins, focused on slaying targets with small weapons and subtle techniques... neither of which were terribly practical against the majority of undead.

Collecting the materials for a ritual was easy, and plenty of the needed items were available - and given your status in this place, it wasn't difficult to have space cleared out so you could set things up to your liking.

After moving the items she needed, Sevia began to make the area ready. Honestly it was overly elaborate, but she felt inexorably compelled to insist that any Shadow Dancer follow the ancient ritual, as unnecessary as she'd demonstrated it was a few weeks ago. Using the chalk, she drew in a large circle, with smaller circles lining its perimeter that she placed the candles within, and one larger circle at the entire diagrams apex. With the outer edge complete, she placed two more circles within, one she drew in the image of the sun and the other an umbral symbol representing shadow. The comparison would be apt to any with religious knowledge, one represented life - the other represented death. But both circles were then linked by her with a depiction of her holy symbol, which in of itself represented the circle of life and death - though it would look odd to anyone who didn't understand the meaning of her holy symbol. To the sides of her holy symbol were then drawn a sword and shield, though both were shaped to look like a bone and a tombstone.

In the end, the diagram looked almost something like what one would make for a Planar Binding, though much less more complex, and odd in that it featured layers of circles with two obvious diametric points of focus instead of a singular central point. She set torches up some distance from the circle itself so as to not interfere with the light, and then temporarily extinguished the permanent Flaming Sphere spells that had lined the walls with Darkness spells of her own. After which, she lit the torches and the brazier, allowing the room to stay lit in natural, dim light.

Once she had finished, she briefly returned to her room to retrieve her shadow companion, asking him to merge into the floor and follow her to the prepared room a short while before the gathering was set to begin. "Please stay within the floor and emerge when I tell you it's safe." Sevia told the shadow once inside the hall.

The Shadow simply inclined its head, vanishing out of sight as you commanded. It didn't seem the type to display any sort of strong emotion, but there was a faint sense of what might have been amusement as it hid. The hallways got considerably more crowded as the appointed time arrived, with the members of your church obediently filing in for the meeting. Several of them looked quite impressed by the atmosphere you'd managed to create, though one - the sharp-tongued woman you'd seen instructing novices before - muttered something about having others draw the magic circle as practice later. Finally, everything seemed to be in place.

As her followers settled in seating themselves around the circle, Sevia used Spark to light the candles of the circle - giving the whole thing more proper light for them to see. Noting that everybody seemed here, Sevia stepped out to the circle representing the sun. "So far, I have spoken about my distance for the undead, and our duty to destroy them. I have spoken about the foulness of necromancy - specifically the art of manipulating life energy to create undead. And while I have laid this out in my text, I shall take a moment to explore it further - for you see, much of the undead in this world are not created so much as they are born by mortal souls unwilling or unable to pass to the afterlife. These poor souls deserve our sympathy, not our hatred. It is our duty to put all of them to rest, but violence should not be used when alternatives exist." She paused a moment to let that sink in. It was important to explain that so the next part would not seem alarming or contradictory to her teachings.

"What you see here that I have prepared is a summoning circle, it is not arcane or divine - merely ceremonial, as some of you might have noted for its symbolic iconography." Sevia gestured to the circle and then explained the finer points of what each part represented. The more intelligent of the bunch might even guess what its purpose was before she said it. "I created it eons ago for my Shadow Dancers when undeath first came to the material plane after the ascension of Urgathoa...With practice, a Shadow Dancer can call upon the service of a Shadow, an incorporeal undead. The Shadow is always morally similar to the summoner, and acts as their sword - the summoner promises to help bring the shadow to rest...In this way, we can sooth the souls of the weary and help them move on rather than force them." Sevia explained, hoping her followers would see what she was trying to explain. "Do any of you have questions?" She asked next, wanting to make sure everyone was on the same page before she continued showing the actual process and the shadow itself. She also wanted a moment to gauge the mood among her followers.

After a few moments, someone raised their hand. One of their neighbors promptly elbowed them, and they winced slightly, but spoke up anyway. "What if the summoner has a unique morality?" they asked. "I've killed a couple of crazy people out on jobs, and magic can do funny things to people's heads... and what if some mind-control effect hits the summoner later on? Would the shadow turn on them, or be replaced, or something?" It was fairly clear he didn't know much about the subject - no surprise, all things considered - and was trying to figure out more of the specific details.

Sevia was relieved to see they were taking it so well if someone was asking those kinds of questions. "The shadow summoned will be of a like mind to the one summoning to facilitate cooperation, shadows are intelligent and can communicate with us. A summoner always has the ability to dismiss a shadow if they feel the need to, so one need not worry about being threatened by them - though any time your connection with the shadow is broken there is a backlash of negative energy." Sevia said, hopefully belaying any fears about the practice itself. It seemed like he was the only one with the courage to speak up though, so she continued after a short silence.

"This summoning is a pact, when you summon a shadow you should recite an incantation during the process to communicate your intention and calm the spirit you request the service of. One would sit here, and once you call upon the shadow, it will emerge from the darkness created by the shadow you cast on that circle." Sevia sat down in the sun circle, which caused a shadow to form on the umbral circle opposite the brazier behind her. Sevia elaborated the phrase her summoners should use that she had before, though she stressed due to her absence in the pantheon shadows would not recognize her name when they invoked it. "I of course, have already summoned one as a companion." She stated at the conclusion of her explanation, standing back up and tapping the floor to draw the shadow out of the floor. Casually, she tossed a starknife that passed harmlessly through him. "As you can see, they cannot be affected by non-magic which make them ideal for fighting corporeal undead." She pointed out, gesturing to the shadow.

The spirit you'd summoned simply inclined its head (for lack of a better term) a fraction, barely visible even to the closer members of the audience. It seemed to be examining each of the members of your church in turn, but eventually its attention disappeared - nobody here seemed like they were relevant to its mission. A few of the closer members of your faith had pulled back slightly - there were plenty of nasty rumors about the energy-draining abilities of undead - but the braver ones remained where they'd been.

Another member raised their hand. "How easy are these companions to get? I don't think we'll all be walking out of here with new allies..." Most mortals possessed nowhere near the power and talent that people like you and your highest cleric possesses - indeed, wizards who could cast something at the rank of second-level spells were uncommon in society, and it took far more skill and experience than that to be able to call up a shadow companion.

At the very least they weren't jumping at it, she was actually a smidge proud that some were courageous enough not to back away. To the unprepared, shadows were highly lethal. "Not easy. The process by which to call to them is simple enough, but only those with significant strength of character could do so...to put it into perspective, with the proper direction, one would need to at least be as strong as a cleric capable of casting fourth level spells. It takes an extraordinary sort to achieve that strength of willpower." Sevia concluded, looking in the direction of Fhanys. So far she'd been the only one here who could possibly match that sort of power that she knew of, and maybe a few could accomplish it as well. Learning the steep requirements would disappoint many, but the rewards might entice a new level of effort from some.

"Please remember, that the purpose of this gathering was not merely to show you this ritual, but to help you learn how to deal with undead. There are many souls and corpses still clinging to the material plane - like this one - with unfulfilled purpose, and I encourage you to help them reverse that situation so they might pass on. Now, I realize you are all busy, so please return to your duties. As before, if you have further questions please feel free to come to me." Sevia concluded with the traditional farewell, dismissing her followers. She gestured for Fhanys to stay though so she could ask her what she thought about all of that.

"Hmm... I think we're going to end up with a fairly small group of people who can call shadows." Fhanys said once most of the others had cleared out. "I'm not really that experienced in combat, but those guys, mmm... fighting undead is different from assassinating people, and I think they'll need some time to adjust to the different threats. I do like the part about helping the departed, though - that adds a positive spin to things, and it's much easier to be proud of yourself when you're helping others. I don't think it will hurt our chances of being accepted by the nations, either." She nodded firmly. "Though... I can't cast fourth-level magic yet." she added after a moment, looking a bit sheepish. "I've only managed third-rank spells so far."

"Hmm, this is more a deficiency on my part then yours. You would only be able to cast spells of a level equal to my ability to provide them." Sevia explained with a conciliatory pat on the shoulder. "I am glad though that everyone took this as well as I had hoped. It can often be easy to think too rigidly where faith is concerned, and I hope for my followers to...keep an open mind." That kind of thinking had perhaps lead her to her murky alignment, and would attract quite a diverse variety of followers.

"Before you return with the others, I was wondering if you would perhaps be interested in taking care of Epyon? I will soon be dismissing him as my familiar...it is a little disappointing but I really would like to find a more powerful familiar, preferably one with hands. I was thinking since he has taken a liking to you, you might want him?" Sevia asked somewhat cautiously. She didn't want Fhanys to feel like she was pawning off her familiar to her. Truthfully she was fond of Ravens, but Epyon's usefulness was rather limited.

Fhanys looked startled at that request - and her reaction probably shouldn't have been much of a surprise, all things considered. Most deities chose animals they liked as their sacred companions, and the idea that the Raven Queen would give up her raven - unless it was to replace it with another - could only be seen as... odd. "A-are you sure?" she asked. It didn't seem like she'd refuse to take care of Epyon - there were very few things she wouldn't do for her goddess - but the request had definitely caught her off-guard.

Sevia was about to reply when she paused, a finger rising up to tap her chin. Given Fhanys' startled reaction, Sevia wondered if she should reconsider. It wasn't like she HAD to replace Epyon, she did like him despite her desire for a stronger familiar. "Hmm...not entirely. I would prefer to keep him, but at the moment I could find another companion much stronger...though, there might be a way for me to strengthen him. I will think on it a little more I suppose."

"For now though, I suppose you should return to your lessons. I need to speak with Auguinare about how our preparations are coming along." Sevia left Fhanys with a warm goodbye, her shadow trailing behind, which she asked to return to her room; she'd rather not have him spooking her followers with his presence. Then she set out to find Auguinare to ask about how their packing was coming along and what they'd need for their journey. She also asked about what route he felt best, indicating that they might stop at Illmarsh first, and head to Carrion Hill like their local suggested.

How many followers are there exactly?

Your church has about 30 people in it.

The preparations were going quite well, and most items of importance seemed like they were getting packed.

"Well, there're two good routes I can see." Auguinare said, unfolding a large map of the inner sea. "The easiest trip is probably by boat - take the river west, then north, and head past Razmiran and through Lake Encarthan. Illmarsh is on the eastern side of Avalon Bay, the northernmost part of the Lake, and northeast of the capital Caliphas. It's probably best to avoid the capital until we've established ourselves. We could also walk, of course. If so, we'll want to head northwest through Galt, then up through the River Kingdoms. I'd rather not pass through Razmiran - the other Living God might see you as a rival. Anyway, through that route we'd enter Ustalav from the east, so we could go pretty much straight west to Illmarsh to stock up on supplies and gather information." He hesitated for a moment.

"Do we... ah... have a specific policy on vampires?" he inquired. "Count Tiriac's probably still in charge of Varno, where we'd enter if we entered from the River Kingdoms, though he travels a lot and might not be there when we pass through. I believe in you, of course, but..." Well, the little church probably wasn't ready to face a group of ancient, aristocratic vampires in open combat. Fhanys' accomplishment aside - that had been one foe, and almost certainly a weaker one than those Ustalav hosted.

Sevia raised a hand to reassure him. "We need not clash with Count Tiriac immediately; I never demand my followers throw themselves on the spears of my enemies. That said, in time he is an abomination that must be dealt with." Sevia said, looking down at the map thoughtfully. "It would be much simpler to travel by boat, though with our numbers it might take some time to find a captain willing to take us all. If we can manage whatever the cost it would be, I would prefer that route - Galt is currently in a revolution is it not? And the River Kingdoms are an outlaw's haven; so heading that way would be much riskier and take longer." She would also be unable to summon that many mounts for her followers like she had with Fhanys on their way here; though if there was anything particularly heavy she told Auguinare that it could be carried with summoned mounts. It seemed then like their route and destination was set, she supposed heading north and walking was still an option of they were unable to secure a boat at the least.

"By the way, I would like you to collect all of the keys to accessing this place. I'll trust you to hold on to them until we can begin using this place again, though Fhanys and I shall keep ours." She mentioned. Thanking him for his thoughtfulness, Sevia told him she would be briefly heading up to Maheto to purchase some goods and would return shortly. If there was anything the group needed she also offered to pick it up on her way.

Just going to buy some cold iron for star knives, adamantine for arrows, and a couple alchemical components

"I just hope he doesn't realize we think that way before we're ready." Taking on someone with as many resources as a high-ranking nobleman was usually a chancy proposition at best. Even if they succeeded, the other rulers of Ustalav might not look kindly on the event. Still, he bustled off to go collect the tokens and make sure no one had a way to break in while all of you were gone - absent one of the markers, it was doubtful there was anything that could be done short of using antimagic to entirely dispel the place... or at least its door, which was pretty much the same thing on the practical level.

Maheto seemed much the same as it always had after the trip there - and, as usual, had plenty of materials for crafting with. Dwarf-populated areas were nice that way.

Sevia didn't take long as she wasn't looking for much, a few quick purchases, and a some time listening to the local rumor mill was all she spent in the city. Given it had been a few months now since the cessation of murders within the city she was at least a little curious to what the citizens were talking about.

Buy:
100gp 3x Fuse Grenades
246.5gp 2x Cold Iron Starknives
20gp 3x Adamantine arrows
20gp 3x Alchemist fire
50gp 3x Tanglefoot bag

-436.5gp
=2055gp total

Afterwards she returned back to the sanctum in due haste as the day came to a close - she imagined they'd be ready to leave by tomorrow, the next day at the latest. And to be honest she was a bit eager to leave herself. There was lots of opportunity in Ustalav for them, and she'd drag the nation out of the shadow of undeath kicking and screaming if she had to. Sevia wasn't content to let it rot like Pharasma seemed to be. Upon her return Sevia retired to her room, stowing her newly bought supplies and sitting down to commune with her familiar.

"Hmm...what am I to do with you Epyon? If I could just strengthen you a little..." There was only so much the familiar bond could provide an animal, many of the more powerful ones relied on natural ability. Still...perhaps if she imparted a diminutive amount of her essence with him...After a minute of concentrating she could already feel the difference - Epyon almost looked so much as felt like a new bird.

Murders were clearly no longer on the minds of the people of Maheto, and talk had returned to more typical concerns, like dealing with the government of Taldor... whose fabulous wealth they didn't mind taking in payment for the products the city produced.

It was only after you'd returned to your room that Epyon tilted his head, then pointed one talon, squawked, and conjured a semi-transparent bird-foot that picked up one of your items and put it into your bag. ...Well. The bird was more of a spellcaster now, and apparently quite interested in helping you pack.

Everything seemed in order by the next morning, when Auguinare and Fhanys were carefully directing the others and forming them into lines for the journey. The older, more experienced members of the cult seemed to be placed at the front and rear, while the novices were bunched together in the middle where someone could keep an eye on them. Each person seemed to be carrying their own supplies, and somebody had rather ruthlessly gone through the bags and pulled out anything they didn't actually need to bring. It was a long trip - even a little extra weight would be noticed, but the experience would probably be good for them.

Fortunately, most of the group's members were used to long journeys and supporting themselves - it came with the territory.

"We're ready!" Fhanys said, waving as she finally saw you.