That said I leave heading toward my main tower.

The girls and Brandon follow, though why I don't know.

Allana catches up with me, "You really don't remember me ?" I look her over then shake my head, "No. But I can still feel faint traces of my blood about you but you feel more like you belong to someone else now."

She frowns, "I was your favorite lover for a long time. You used to beat me and make me do the most daring of things. I missed you when you were gone."

I nod, "I got new thralls now, one is my lover. The other is a mage. I will have to have them meet at some point."

Isabelle Smirks "From the sound of it you have half the town thralled."

I shake my head, "Spells and mental domination mostly. Few choice people are actually thralls but it was not easy to get that done and not get interrupted by others. If you know what I mean. Not how I would normally chose to do it."

The vamp girls nod, the thrall is just pouting. Brandon looks thoughtful and mutters, "Not the same person anymore."

I turn to him, "Of course not. I don't remember who I was before. I remember parts of my mortal life and bits and pieces I thought were dreams. But when I first woke I was starving and completely the beast. I killed allot of people and was pretty much insane for the first few weeks. I have only been in my right mind, or what's left of it, for the past week. It has not been a good week. Had to destroy a child I accidently made, had a short war with followers of Dreth and later with a clan of Gnomes all because Grendle gave me these 3 towers and a hunting domain. I been fixing up the towers. Making them livable again. The one we are going to now was a home for many of the homeless. A few still live in the bottom 2 floors while I have the top two floors. 3 of their number know what I am to and really don't care as long as I don't kill them and let them stay as having a roof over ones' head and walls to keep out the wind and rain is a good thing in their book."

The girls actually look surprised at the building as we approach it. Walking up the short hill to its front door, which is wide open and has a couple large, though obviously homeless men in front of it. One puts his hand out, "You not homeless, you leave." I am moments away from removing him from this life when Pete darts out, "NO! Hugo, no, she is the one who built the walls and put up the door. She is allowed in."

Hugo thinks, "I say no. I rule here."

I cock my head to one side and Hugo drops to all fours, rolls on his back and woofs like a good dog. "Hugo is a good doggy isn't he" I coo. If he had a tail it would be wagging right now, as it is he is trying to move his butt in such a fashion.

Pete, to his credit, is just grinning at him. The other large man sees this and runs off. Pete looks at me, "Thank you miss. They showed up evening before last and declared them the new lords of the place. Well as much as Hugo can talk. They been bulling people who would have kicked us out so we let them stay without contacting you. Though I think they got another gang behind them and something else is up cause while Hugo was 'in charge' the other one was whispering things to him and kept him in check more often than not."

I nod, looking a mite surprised, "Wow, you can talk."

Pete blushes slightly and looks at his feet. I grin, "So the other 2 at work ?"

He just nods all talked out it seems.

I turn to the girls, "This is Pete, normally a man of few words and one of those I mentioned earlier. The other two are Silas, he is a scribe these days, former sailor, missing a leg and Grumpy Gus if you see a man with jet black hair, who looks pissed at the world that's probably him." Pete just nods.

Brandon smirks while the girls eyes keep going back to Hugo the dog boy. I finally give in, "What ?"

Alma-Tep, "You could not do that before, dominate like that. You had trouble just getting it to work when you held a person's eyes let alone like that."

Brandon is smirking, "It's like I thought, she had a mental block. Now that the part of her mind that kept reigning in her instincts is gone she has abilities she did not have before. Though she is probably not as nice as she was before either. Before you were quite stubborn about keeping your humanity as best you could while still being a bit of a monster." he tells me.

I nod, "Yep, don't have that limitation any more. Something about waking up a unliving killing machine tends to do that to a person. Having to dig my way free of the earth and all did not help either."

Isabella frowns. "There was a clear path from where we hid you to the surface."

I look at her, "How long ago was that ? Was there a cave full of formed stalagmites ? A river running through it ? Multiple tunnels leading all over the place ?"

Both women, eyes wide, shake their heads.

"There is now. Also signs of earth tremors and at one point one hell of a mages battle, the type that liquefied the earth and swallowed up people and animals. 'Rooms' that are just air pockets when the ground was made molten. It's all down there."

Brandon, still smirking, "It has been 500 years girls, even the earth can change in that time."

I look at him, "That long ? No wonder I was so hungry. From my notes I only had about 200 years' worth of enchanted life before the beast would take over. Oh and thanks to whom ever thought to put my stuff in with me. It has helped me allot."

Isabella looks interested in that, "No one put any of your stuff in with you. It all just vanished one night. We did not know what became of it."

I consider, "So that's what that note I found meant. Hm." I grunt but don't elaborate.

Chuckling Brandon ask, "So what did you think of the grand cathedral they built over your resting place ?"

I give him a blank look, "What Cathedral ?"

By this time we are inside, so he heads up to the roof and looks about then points across the way, at the Temple of the Brothers, "That's the place. Took them years to build it, all in honor of you."

I stare at it. "That is the Temple of the Brothers and there is a temple to Dreth the Moron god under it. I got the towers after I rescued a bunch of mages that had been captured and were being tortured to death below it in a lame attempt to take over the worlds magic. Why is it no one in this time can read Runes anymore ?"

I ask them. They just look blankly at me. I shrug and drop it.

They end up asking Pete about the brothers and how they came to have their temple in MY Cathedral. I get the impression that the Temple of the Brothers is going to be having mass deaths very shortly. They look ready to go and do Just that to. Me I want to watch.

I have not been in the Cathedral proper so I am a little curious. I summon Jase and Jon while we walk there.

"Hello Jon, Jase welcome to the party." I say cheerfully to them.

Jon sighs, "I was in the middle of something." I look at him and grin, "Breaking a new girl is not really in something, especially where you were."

Jase bites her lips, "I actually just told Andrea off and was making a dramatic exit when you called. So I am good. Where are we going ?"

I nod toward the tallest building in the region, "There. Oh and the dark skinned girls are apparently childer of mine. Don't really remember but you both know about my memory problems." they nod. Jon looking over the lovely Jase in an appraising manner. Jase is just ignoring the scoundrel.

Allana on the other hand slides up next to Jon and holds out a hand, "Hello, I am Allana, I was a thrall of Robina's about 500 plus years ago."

Both my new thralls look shocked. I grin, "Did I fail to mention the extended life span ?"

Jon croaks, "No but you did not indicate it was quite so extended."

Jase is boggled, "So there are options to this immortality then ?"

Allana nods, "As long as you are in favor and can get a steady supply of freely given blood, you don't really age and can live as long as your host does. Longer if you make the right sort of friends."

Alma-Tep looks back at me, "That would be me really. Though I find her a bit annoying I thought having her around might jog a few memories loose."

I consider, "Other than your name I got nothing on you either really. Just the Connection between us really. If not for that I probably would not pay much attention to you other than, well your pretty." She grins.

Isabella smiles, "That is what attracted you to her to start with. She is pretty, then you learned the gods of her lands were screwing over her life to and you felt a connection. Lots of drama, pissed off gods, and other madness ensued with the end result of her joining the family."

"Would these be Egyptian gods ?" I ask curiously.

Both look mildly surprised, "Yes." Alma-Tep answers.

I nod, "So that is why Hathor called me an Evil Thing."

Alma-Tep looks very surprised, "She manifested here ? Why ?"

"I thralled one of her priestesses and she Really did not like that at all." I reply, "Said something about bathing my evilness in purifying Sunlight."

Alma-Tep nods, "Yeah, she was one of the gods who made my life Hell. Pissed her off when you turned me to. Never mind the fact I was dying cause she had a priest put a knife in my back, hag that she is."

"I called her Cow-girl, which really she is a cow goddess to start with. So she gives milk and Hamburger, and steak, and ribs, and um baby cows ?" I look thoughtful, "Not sure I understand how she is beauty though. Cows are by no means lookers." Alma-Tep is snickering. Isabella rolls her eyes. Allana just looks blank, I guess Alma-Tep is before her time. But then I don't think much of the thrall. Sure pretty face but the mind behind that face is cool and manipulative and I really don't care for what I see there. My younger self must not have read peoples' minds much to have missed that, or the girl became that way as she got older. Now when I look at her all I see is food or maybe someone to chain up and make scream as I torture them to death.

I slip up closer to Alma-Tep, "Tell me" I start, in what my memory tells me is Greek, "Have you had this girl sexually ?"

Alma-Tep looks back at her and shakes her head, "No. Not my type really, you were my type back in the day. Not sure about the you now though or me now either. Come to think of it other than the other female thralls I don't know of anyone who has had her. Why ?"

"Cause she smells of manipulation, deceit, and from what I can read of her mind she has never had sex with me and only one or two easily cowed girls in someone else's group. She was a thrall but I don't think it was for sex. I admit I was looking for information on who I was and other than an Idealized version of some tall blonde I find nothing in her mind that really relates to me."

Alma-Tep bites her lip, "Well you had a good sized harem back in the day. Most of them who did not join the clan either went with someone else or died. Many died of grief truth be told. You tend to collect interesting people, I will give you that. But your Reason back then was an interesting form of justice. I get the feeling you have a new Reason now."

I nod, "Magic. I love magic, so I thought to make it my reason. Not that I have had a lot of time to study much recently but I sure have gotten to use it allot. Mostly shaping spells for stone and creation magics. Trying to rebuild these towers."

She smiles and it's a brilliant smile, "You always did love magic. I always thought it was your second Reason myself. You were a Powerful Archmagus when you left us. I hope that some of your old power remains."

I nod, "I found I can work quite a lot of magic. More than I recalled being able to do. I think my memories have been pushed back to nearly the beginning, though I do recall being blond a few times."

She nods, "You were a beautiful Golden blond in your last go round, which lasted about 700 years. Isabel would know more as she is one of your older childer and one of the most loyal." I look at the 'barbarian warrior' and can believe it.

Isabel smirks, "Well part of that is because I went and blood bond myself to you. I was SO in love with you and you with me, despite your intense sexual appetites. After I was turned I came to understand those SO much better and really got in to them with you for a time. But I don't recall ever having Allana. She was new back then, still in training. So you may not have shown her your best secret moves. Come to think of it, given her aversion to male genitalia, you would have either lost her or moved her to the food ranks when she learned how you loved to use those toys."

"She speaks greek ?"

They nod, she smiles at me. I groan. Isabel shoulder bumps me, "You tended to want everyone to speak certain languages, reading and writing were high on your list to. Greek, Latin, Egyptian, and German being the 4 most used languages in our group plus Dethic and some Elven common. We adopted Dethic as our private clan language by the way. Use it in our letters and such though sometimes we mix the language and words around to confuse anyone who intercepted our words." I nod, that is a good idea actually. Glad someone thought of it.

I turn around to ask Brandon something and he and his pets are gone, "Where did Brandon go ?"

Isabel, "He has his own concerns to look in to." is all she will say. I keep poking her verbally and she will not tell me, then I start using my fingers and when I find a sensitive spot I use it mercilessly to get it out of her. "He is looking for a gangrel called Gregory, who is supposed to be around here." she finally spits out while trying to protect that ticklish spot. I stop with the tickle torture.

"Well that is going to be hard as he is dead and minus his head. I got it in my tower soaking in a laminating formula. Making a nick-knack out of it." I inform them. They both look rather surprised.

Alma-Tep ask, "What happened to him ?"

I shrug, "He attacked me, I slipped a silk garrote around his neck and pulled. Meant to pull him off balance really, tie him up till he calmed down. But I used to much force and sliced his head off. Most everyone around here thinks I did that on purpose and I let them. "

Isabel groans, "He is not going to be happy to learn that. Seemed to think Gregory had some sensitive information or something. We really don't know what that is about. Gangrel clan stuff is all he would tell us."

"Happened earlier this week. Not my fault you took so long to get here." I point out as we continue to the Cathedral, "So what is in this Cathedral you all built for me ?"

Alma-Tep sighs, "Mementoes, some magical stuff you had collected, not all useful, but then you just liked it was magical not really if you could use it. Some art, including some paintings and statues of you by various artist. Some true to life, others a bit more, um, how do I put it."

Allana, "Goddess like. Some of your thralls believed you were a goddess and made art in that vein."

I shrug, "Back in the day, when I was more or less mortal, many thought I was a half god. Always been exceptional, stronger, faster, naturally skilled in certain arts. Mostly combat stuff, so go figure. Was not always this pretty though. I was a little above average at best as a teenager. Interestingly I had brown hair when I was mortal to. Not sure if that means anything this time though."

Alma-Tep, "So, in modern terms you would have been a Tom-boy ?"

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I shake my head, "Actually most people thought I was a boy, well till my chest came in, that confused things but also gives you some idea on my looks of the time."

Isabel shakes her head, "Average boy turns in to pretty girl, go figure."

I grin and do a little sideways grind dance, "Go Figure Go" I whistle cheer as I do my silly dance. Alma-Tep and Allana giggle, Isabel just rolls her eyes.

We are all smiles when we reach the temple, which is actually built In front of the Cathedral, but inside the walls of the place. We enter through the hole I made which someone has started to seal off but it's still wide enough for us to pass through.

Guards on the inside stop us though, "Hold it, this is not a new entrance if you want to come in use the gate."

I shrug, "This works better, at the gate we would likely have to ask to come in, give a reason and all that, here we just walk right through."

Allana smiles, "Hard to beat that logic."

Guard, "Till we fill this hole in some vandal made."

"That would have been ME. I made it when I rescued over a hundred people from the Temple of Dreth that is underneath This temple, but now we are going to the Cathedral."

Big guard shakes his head as he reaches for his sword. Isabel grabs his arm and holds it in place, "Not a good idea there. We are going to the Cathedral that My people built and if you try and stop us, well it's a good day for you to die."

The second guard calls out an alarm and a dozen swords-persons (some women in the mix I note) as well as a smattering of armed priest come running. I stand there and smile, seeing how many minds I can take over before they arrive. I count about half, including some so called priest whose faith is so weak that their gods do not protect them from my power.

2cd Guard, "The tall girl just stated she is the one who put the hole in the wall, and some bull story about a Dreth temple here."

The highest ranking priest (and someone whose faith is so strong I can feel his god protecting him from me) shakes his head, "There Was such a temple there, till someone got in, freed a bunch of prisoners, and then made a massive escape. We have captured most of the rogue priest that were down there. You if I recall, were away at the time with your partner. Some family business I believe. Just as well, they were reacting like everyone here was in league with Dreth, given most were mages, it was messy."

I correct, "Excuse me sir, Everyone rescued from here were mages, as were all the ones who were tortured to death in that temple as Dreth made another moronic attempt at taking over the worlds magic. I counted a couple dozen bodies just in the time I was there. I am also the one who tied all the torturers to their equipment. Everyone left behind in the torture devices, or cages, were followers of Dreth. Guards, priest, and torturers."

The priest looks very surprised, then very very angry. He rounds and orders a dozen persons captured immediately. They were all persons found alive but trapped in the cages or machines ala torment.

One guard squeaks, "What you just taking her word ?"

He nods, "The Lord Seth lets me hear spoken Truth. Her words ring true."

Another counters, "Then how is it you did not know about the Dreth followers ?"

I answer, "Cause Dreth blocked the spell, duh. From what I have seen, Dreth gets his followers by putting doubt in your fellow priest and followers and then draws them to his workings. Provided those people are not mages. He does not understand magic and hates anyone who does. How someone so Stupid got to be a god is beyond me."

Head priest, "Born to it unfortunately. The Goddess Mother, whom the Cathedral is dedicated to, tried to treat all her children equally. Did not always work."

Isabel looks pissed, "That Cathedral is Not dedicated to your Gods Mother. It was Built by MY people in regard to Our Lady whose children those three are not. Her children are mostly girls and most still walk the mortal world."

He looks sadly at her, "I can see you believe that, but you are wrong."

I look at him, "Well as she was Here when it was built and it is her Mother whom it is built for, I think you are in the wrong. Especially as it was built in Dedication to ME. Though it's been a very long time since any called me a goddess, except in the Sex Goddess way and then only my lovers. "

He openly scoffs, "You a God ? I doubt that very much." I shrug and then drop Majesty Levels on the crowd, standing tall and focusing it over the mortals (lesser amounts hits the children to, can't help it, it is an Area of Effect kind of power). I crank it up a couple more notches to get through some of the more resistant types. I think I took it TO far when everyone with in line of sight drops to their knees and starts to worship me.

I look at Isabel and Alma-Tep, who both look surprised and close to joining the mortals, "To much ?" They nod. I drop it, but the damage is done. Even without the Power on, most are still in awe of me. Which really is the point of that power, emotion manipulation.

I sigh, and look at the high priest, "So, believe me now ? I really don't like showing my true self like that, but it was better than the long drawn out arguments you were going to try. 500 years ago, my children built this place for me as well as a Whole lot of followers and even allies. I personally have never seen it as I was" pause, then add, "away." better than 'asleep' I think, "When I come back, it's to find vampires in my halls, evil temple killing off my magic makers and shapers and some moron trying to use Dwarven childrens stories to harness magic by torturing those mages to death and gathering their blood. Go away for a few centuries and the world just goes stupid."

Guard ask, "Why did you go away ?"

"End of an era. War to clean out some old evils and other things to take care of in the outer realms. Lots of politics involved there to."

Alma-Tep surprises me, "Myrm and Seth are relatively new gods really. Only been around about 400 years and both started based on a couple of mortal Hero's and their evil brother who was trying to turn himself in to a god even then. He Sort of succeeded but accidently took his brothers with him. Myrm was a Ranger and Druid, Seth a Rogue, merchant and pirate really but not a bad sort, more cunning and daring do than murderous scoundrel. Dreth, Dreth was a self-styled mage who was a bit touched and believed himself far more powerful than he really was. Which as I understand it is where things went wrong for him. Mixing magics that should not be mixed with delusions of grandeur and well he is Still trying cause otherwise he is the god of Ineptitude and Stupidity through lack of foresight. Only the desperate and power mad follow his twisted banner. A Blind Eye on a white sun is his symbol. Which tells you allot about him really. All of them are minor gods and only worshipped locally."

I look at her and she shrugs, "I collect religious information the way you collect magical knowledge and trinkets."

I just nod. So that is her Reason. Interesting.

The high priest nods, "We don't praise Seth for his um, hobby but for his skill as a sailor and merchant. We Hope, bah who am I kidding, most everyone around here at least in part makes their living from smugglers and pirates. Us included. Still we tell everyone that the golden haired woman in the paintings is their mother. Though as I understand it no one knows for certain what their mother looked like."

I look at Alma-Tep, she smiles and nods, "Yes I know. Met her, Completely understand why her boys left home. Mean woman even by our standards."

I nod and grin. We not nice people.

Doubtful guard gets suspicious again, "You don't have golden hair " he starts.

Isabel sighs but it's a different priest who explains it, "It's a sign of Divinity. Many of the Old gods were depicted with golden hair, or enhanced bodies or other things that were impossible for a normal mortal to have. Hair of Spun gold is one of them. Granted the lady here is beautiful but till she Reveled herself to us none took her for more than a mortal. Which is not uncommon for gods who choose to walk the world. I imagine it gets old having people throw themselves at your feet all the time."

I nod, sounding tired "You have no idea. Especially as I promote people to be strong of character. Hate weak willed types. If I wanted doormats I would see a weaver, not people begging me to walk on them. And yes I have met some strange people who actually like being walked on, and others who like to do the walking to. Not my thing though."

Priestess (one of those with weak faith), "Pardon my lady, but what are you the Goddess of ?"

Isabel smirks, "She is the Hand of Fate, It falls to her many times to determine if a society lives or dies. She lead the army here 500 years ago when a corrupt empire was using these lands to hold 'political prisoners'. Meaning people they had kidnapped from other lands and were trying to use them to control those other lands. Freeing those people broke the hold the corrupted ones had and those nations joined forces and crushed that country, then divided it between themselves so they could never rise again."

Alma-Tep adds, "Many who were displaced by that war later settled these lands and were your ancestors."

I shrug, "Which given how this place is run, makes perfect sense. Dissidents, prisoners and prison guards with nowhere to go, all ended up staying here and formed the society you have now. Though I imagine it has gone through many changes in the last 500 years."

Those there all nod to that.

"Upwards of 50 years ago we actually had law and order. It was under a tyrant who was the son of a Tyrant and well rebellion happened and with the people free. We had at first anarchy, then slowly gang rule, then this mysterious City Council came about, took over and organized the gangs and made this place what it is now. Country run by criminals, with the business of crime the main export and import. We get the occasional adventuring party. Some seeking some fabled treasures, some seeking revenge on one pirate captain or another and others trying to carve themselves a kingdom here. That last kind don't normally last long, but that vampire sure came close. Too bad about it being Hathor who got rid of her."

I so want to tell the what really happened, but I can't without making up a long convoluted story, so I keep my mouth shut.

At long last we are escorted to the 'hidden' entrance to the Cathedral. It was hidden behind a tapestry of the two overly handsome brothers standing in triumph over a hidden and evil looking figure while holding a glowing chalice that had rainbows pouring out of it and over them.

The scene behind them shows forest and farm lands behind Myrm and a ship on the sea's behind Seth while darkness and madness swirl around the figure they stand on.

I nod, "They were not that good looking were they ?"

The high priest shrugs, "Maybe, maybe not. I can't say, but it is a very good tapestry."

Alma-Tep nods while looking it over, "It's symbolic of how they came to be gods. But to my knowledge no one knows what the actual device was that did it. Except them of course."

A foot behind the massive tapestry is an alcove with a recessed door in it leading to an long hall that opens in to a massive anti-chamber with the huge double doors to 'My' Cathedral. The doors themselves are beautifully inlaid with pictures of people marching, studying, and doing different artistic things. Including painting, carving, working magic and making clothing, dressing in provocative attire and modeling it before crowds. I grin at the last couple of panels, "Modeling, really ?"

The girls shrug even as the great doors open for them. Inside is dark (to the mortals) but has a subtle light that we vampires can see in perfectly. The high priest is softly swearing, "Something in this place eats all the magic lights we put in here. They keep turning dim if left in here too long."

Isabel grins, "That is to protect the paintings actually. It has been found that paintings exposed to bright lights for prolonged periods start to lose their color. So a spell was placed in here to keep such lights dim unless certain phrases are spoken."

Nice code for us to close our eyes to. Eyes closed the ladies Alma-Tep and Isabel recite a poem about light returning from Night in Elven. It is a beautiful poem and beyond my ability to translate in to another language and keep its purity and beauty.

When we open our eyes the room is lit by dozens of soft white lights and it is SO Beautiful I find myself staring in awe at it. Giant pictures, each a different pose, of a golden haired woman doing different things. From plucking red fruit from a golden tree to weaving tendrils of light that flow from her hands, to dancing with other beautiful women (one of whom is recognizable as Isabel though she wears much different clothing and is not as tan as she is now). In between the paintings are items, clothing encased in glass, a tall plain black staff with fancy iron ends (dwarven work if I don't miss my guess), gauntlets of fine black leather over a very fine dagger that looks strangely familiar (eagles talon style), a brass headband with one of the old symbols of Tychi on it. There are other cases around the room showing statues and art and items collected over several life times. Some hint at our vampiric nature, but nothing actually displays it. I even find, way up at the top of an arch my name. Robina Lady of Shadows, Hand of Fate, Mistress of Misfortune to the Enemies of the Balance.

I have to cast my own lights to bring the high words in to light, showing them made of Mythril and at least 2ft tall letters. I point this out to the high priest, "All you needed to know about me is written right there."

He leans back and reads the words, "In our defense, that is very high up and without your light, hidden in the shadow of the arch. But it does in deed state this place belongs to her. Odd her being called the Lady of Shadow though."

I shrug, "As an agent of the Balance it fits, Shadow being Between the Light and the Darkness."

He considers then nods, "Ah good point."

Female Guard who is following us, "I like the line Mistress of Misfortune to the Enemies of the Balance. As both Myrm and Seth are gods of the Balance to."

I glance back at her and nod, good point.

Allana points out, "So your back to calling This shrine hers` and not giving claim to the Lady herself."

He points out, "While they have similar body features, the face and hair are very different."

I nod, "Well to be honest, I am no longer her anyway. I go through cycles where my appearance and powers alter. Stronger or weaker, face and form alter to. Ironically I am stronger now than I was back then in some ways, but weaker in others. I think it depends on what I am needed to do. Right now, in this place, stopping Dreth seems to be it. Beyond that I have felt no other urgings from the Fate or Gods I serve."

Isabel nods and sighs, staring at the picture with the pale her in it, "In my youth I was fair skinned and formed, here 500 years later I have dark skin but lighter colored hair. Stronger than I ever knew to be possible to. Though I kind of fit in to this place. Back then I was Captain Logan of the Black Rose pirates. I fell in love with this golden haired goddess and she with me. We had many adventures together, did things I would never have done on my own and went places I never dreamed existed. Turned me in to a Hero to some and the greatest of villains to others. Mostly enemies of the gods or the state we lived in."

I slowly nod, "I remember some of that actually. The 3 pirate captains, ships of blood rose, crimson rose and black rose. I think. Some may have been dreams." I sigh.

Isabel grins, "Yes. Those were real, town sort of like this one. A real den of thieves, pirates, and near do wells. Maybe why you like it here. So like home and lots of pirates. You always seem drawn to pirate types." she states looking Jon's way as he gawks at some of the antiques in the front room. Jase is carefully looking at a book, inside a crystal case. I walk over to her.

She points, "What is this ?"

I read the cover, "Primer on ancient runes and languages. Or that is what the cover says."

Alma-Tep comes over, "Was a book made to teach people to read runes and such from old languages. Basic stuff for beginners. Used by people who already knew how to read standard scripts. Some nice childrens poems in it to. We included it as it is something of a sore spot with her. She hates it when people don't understand basic runes. Nothing magical in there except an explanation of Witches Runes and how they were used to keep magic in check when writing scrolls and such."

I nod, "Those runes were made to insert in to spell scrolls to keep the spells from going off accidently and to add the right tones in pronunciations to the more complex words and formula's. If you knew how to read them. Otherwise without understanding them their scrolls became much harder to use. Which was a safety feature really. Kept the uninitiated from using their magic against them. At least in theory. Worked with the lower skilled mages, but the more knowledgeable sorts, like me, figured them out and worked to quantify how the runes worked."

Jase's mouth is hanging open as she now stares at me. I shrug, "I am an Archmagus, I know Allot. Though I am not as strong as I was from what Isabel has hinted at."

Alma-Tep nods, "At one time she could work upwards of four 9th ranked spells, like Wish, in a day. Wish is some potent magic let me tell you. 9th level spells were almost god like. She spoke of 10th ranked spells, had some listed in fact, but the gods had barred anyone not an Intermediate level god or above from using them as they could be too dangerous."

Isabel grunts, "Only after some fool magus actually used them to try and take over a Greater Gods role in the universe. He failed, but because of his actions the gods made it so no spells beyond the 9th order could be used by mortals ever again. From my readings there were 12 orders of spells originally."

I shrug, moot point now. Jase is still in awe of us though. I reach over and push her mouth closed, her jaw pops with an audible snap. Her eyes are still bugging out of her head though. I think if she could speak it would be loud for a minute or so.

I say to her, "Respect the magic and you can go far, Fear the magic and you are only holding yourself back from the grand mysteries. And from what I read from your books, your group teaches Fear for magic more than magic, the Rules of Magic, or anything else. Overly cautious to the point of making it so most who would do magic won't because your group would have them afraid of its own magic. Silly notion that. Like many sciences, magic can be dangerous, true, but if worked right, respected properly, and not done by morons, it is a wonderful thing."

I was looking directly at this woman, being dragged before the high priest, in chains. From her mind I can see she is a high ranking priestess of Dreth, but was only middling to Seth. She is pretty, but has no ability or understanding of wizardry type magic.

She scoffs at the older man, "So you found us out did you. But you bring me to the temple of the false mother, how appropriate."

"Oh we know she is not the Mother of the Gods. That came very much to light when someone pointed out the Goddesses name written on the arch between the front room and the inner shrine." he points to the 3 softly glowing lights that illuminate my name and old title.

The woman looks shocked. "Dreth told me this was one of the biggest lies taught by your all and here you freely admit it, in front of non-believers to."

I look at her, "You worship a god of the Inept and delusional, I would not cast stones if I were you."

She rears up, "He is Not inept or delusional. He was a mortal, who became a god, only his brothers betrayed him and forced him from his true place as the God of Magic!"

I laugh, "Child, I know gods, and there are several Gods of Magic and they guard their power most jealously. He was never That good or that powerful and his lame attempts to take over magic are a sham at the best and a waste of talented lives at the worst. I am the one who freed all your prisoners and locked the lot of you up in your cells inside your little temple. If Dreth wants revenge for that, tell that panty waist to come face me in person, Immortal to Immortal. And just to get this straight, This Cathedral is dedicated to ME."

The girls all nod to that.

Alma-Tep states, "This place was raised 500 years ago, after her armies destroyed the prison that once stood here. The stones of that place were taken, cleansed in sacred rights, and then used to build this wonderful shrine to her greatness. Filled with art created by her followers and leaders with holy relics of her faithful. And works she inspired us to do. The most faithful of her servants she even imbued with Immortality so that we may serve her will better."

I give Isabel a raised eyebrow look, she just shrugs. From Isabel's mind I can see Alma-Tep, while a soft spoken girl, most of the time does have a touch of near fanatical faith in me and despite everyone, my old self included, telling her I was a servant of the gods and not one myself, she continues to think of me as a goddess. I don't play the god card often cause I really don't want the headaches from it or the mindless followers. Not to mention I don't know what the Gods that made me will do to me if I try that path and am not sure I want to know.

I can feel some powers, beyond the Brothers level, watching this scene unfold. It is a nerve wracking sensation to say the least.

The Priestess of the God of Losers seems to be able to sense them to. That is interesting. She smugly looks at me, "Your followers claim you’re a god, but I notice you are not claiming that."

I shrug, " At worst I am an Immortal, at best a demigod, but I don't ever want to be a full-fledged goddess, too much of a headache and would cut too much in to my Me time."

I can actually Feel some of the watchers giggle or scoff at that statement. Though the ones who know me best know I have a strong sense of 'me first'. My own comfort and safety first, at least in this go round. Not sure about the last one. Course I have but these 3 women and that wandering gangrel for reference.

I turn from her and go look at some of the other stuff. But I don't Feel anything, any connection, to anything in here. Nothing sparks a memory or anything. So after an hour or so I leave. I just quietly slip out while the others reminisce or in Alma-Tep's case, argues religion with the two priest.

The person I was then is a memory, I realize I am no longer her. I am someone else and maybe that is a good thing in the long run. Reinventing myself, trying somethings different than who I was before. I did learn I had been a soldier, a merchant, and a leader of armies in at least 3 of my past lives. This time, I don't know who or what I will be. Maybe a mage, maybe a monster. Maybe a queen. No telling. Only time will tell.