The man in robes bows. He bows in DeeDee's direction, but he's looking at her hand. At me.
“Suzerain Sandy the Compassionate, I am Kiel. I am a Priest of Illavir, the Sovereign of Oblivion. She sends greetings to you.”
I can't miss the stirring in the watching crowd. Already-worried expressions grow more grave. Those at the back start to shuffle back still further; those right at the front press against those behind them. The visit from the priest is unnerving them. The announcement of Oblivion has turned the mood back towards fear.
I don't want to lose any Worshippers from this. Don't get me wrong, I'm not wanting to force or trick anyone into being a Worshipper. They choose to help me, and when I can then I help them. That seems fair. Having them chased away because of a misunderstanding seems off. I need something to let them know I'm on their side.
Can I assume this priest already knows my Domains? I suppose a god would have no problem telling. The priest has probably been informed.
“I do NOT have Oblivion among my Domains,” I state. “Why would a god bother with a numen of Livestock?”
The villagers mutter among themselves again. I think surprise overtakes the worry. Maybe even a bit of curiosity appears? I carefully don't mention my other Domain, and hope the priest keeps quiet about it too.
“Grymm the Butcher will not want to oppose the Sovereign of Death, and so cannot protect you,” the priest answers. I'm starting to wish we were having this conversation in private, especially when he continues, “the Lady of Oblivion is not so bound.”
Grymm? The Butcher?
Sovereign of Livestock with the Domain of Death.
Did I call my new Voice annoying? I'm thinking better of that now. It… she? is useful and also very good at giving me the right information at the right time.
So although Grymm would be my own ruler, because Deathbringer is HIS (her?) boss, I can't go there for protection?
Not unless Grymm is planning to usurp Deathbringer the Once Defeated as-
Wait, what?
You were not defeated. Therefore Deathbringer did not prove Invincible.
Oh. Oh, wow. Oh, blethering breek-tatties, Deathbringer will be PISSED. And will also know that I am very much NOT dead. But isn't here now to finish the job.
Probably wondering how a low-level nobody managed not to die… how similar is Death to Oblivion? Are they natural rivals? Has Deathbringer just gone storming off to this… Illavir demanding an explanation? But the priest was in the village before the Death God showed up.
I don't know the details, I'm afraid, dear.
Kiel might know, though. How the frig does one address a priest?
This priest may be correctly addressed as Venerable.
“Venerable Kiel, I had no intention of… drawing, ah-”
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Sovereign Illavir is the appropriate way to name her.
“-Sovereign Illavir into conflict with the Sovereign of Death. I'm really not important, except to these people here. I'm surprised either of the gods even noticed me.”
“You pass through my Lady's Domain, and return,” Kiel says, with the same calm emotionlessness with which he introduced himself. “You walk her land but do not fall within her Dominion. This… interests her.”
I… is that what’s happening when I lose consciousness? Oblivion? I can’t think of any evidence to dispute it. Have I pissed off two gods just by passing out for a bit? And do I need to figure out how to apologise without alarming my Worshippers at the same time? Without lying, because I’m pretty sure a god ought to be able to detect lies.
“I went to her land unknowingly, and left as soon as I was able. I sincerely apologise for my intrusion,” I say, as humbly as I can manage.
“My Lady is not quick to anger.” That’s not reassuring, Kiel. The longest fuses can have the biggest explosions at the end. “She wishes only to learn. In exchange, she will let the Lord of Death know that you are among those she watches.”
If I’ve translated that right, she wants to pick me apart, and in return she’ll let Deathbringer know that doing anything to me might annoy her a bit. Without me having Oblivion as a Domain? I think the Death God who just lost his super-cool title might decide revenge was worth that risk.
Oblivion is the only Domain more powerful than Death. Life can come from Death. Nothing comes from Oblivion.
…except me.
Fuck.
No wonder she wants to “talk” to me.
There's really not that much to learn from me. What I remember from Before is really, really patchy, and what I know now is nor much at all.
[SANDY THE COMPASSIONATE
MINOR ROCK NUMEN LEVEL 15*
Enemy of Death. Beloved of a small and isolated farming community of the Eborth Plateau.
POWERS
Inconsequential Miracle (WP 1)
Minor Miracle (WP 2)
Miracle (WP 10)
Bless (Max WP L)
Heal (Max WP L)
Curse (Max WP L)
Sacrifice (*)
Vituperation (*)
Multithreading 1
WORSHIPPERS: 24
DEVOTEES: 2
FAVOURED DEVOTEES: 1
WORSHIP POINTS: 21
ACHEIVEMENTS
*Creation
*Deathlessness
INFLUENCES
Life
Oblivion
Invective
DOMAINS
Invective
Livestock]
So there's a couple of things that might be unusual, but Illavir is leagues ahead and I think she would be getting herself a bad deal… but wait…
“I could talk. But would Sovereign Illavir also teach? To help me avoid ever going back to her land without meaning to?” Because I suspect I might need to go there intentionally, if I want to get back home. Just throwing myself into Oblivion without knowing what I'm doing… well, that could send me anywhere.
Kiel blinks. I hadn't noticed how little he blinks until he does it. That’s probably one of the reasons he seems so unnerving. He bows his head for a long moment, as the watching crowd grows restless.
The priest finally looks up again. “My Lady finds that acceptable. She will send an envoy to make arrangements. It may be myself. For now, I must go.”
So, he goes. Simply vanishes. Pop! Leaving me with a bunch of disconcerted Worshippers, several questions, and a growing sense of being in completely over my head.