Grand Cathedral of The Goddess, Bishopric of Koben, Aethera.

The High Bishop's eye twitched as Father Travis groaned once more beside him. It was the same today as every other since the Father returned from his latest adventure. Travis has always taken his oath to the Church with seriousness, though there were increasing calls that it was zealous wrath against the Goddess's enemies rather than faithful service to Her.

The High Bishop took these accusations at face value, it was a difficult thing to separate the two. Not only that, but the Church had need of those willing to fight in Her name with such zeal!

But since his return it was becoming clearer and clearer that the Father has fallen to pride and anger. Everyday he was knelt before the pristine marble shrine to the Goddess and prayed for passage after his prey, and everyday he huffed with impatience as, once more, he was refused such.

It has grown... tiresome. The High Bishop was hesitant to reprimand him though. Father Travis has done good work for the Church in his years of faithful service! But his obsession of the kobolds was concerning. There were some that have even said that he has blasphemed against the Goddess for Her refusal of his wish!

Another groan was heard in the quiet cathedral as the frustrated Father once more found himself denied his desire to chase after the kobolds.

"Father?"

The Father's eyes snapped toward the High Bishop.

"Yes High Bishop?"

"Do you not think that perhaps it is time for rest and contemplation?" The High Bishop asked and pleaded.

The Father was tempted to agree, but he couldn't! He was so close! He could feel it!

"Nonsense High Bishop! Through perseverance will Her will be met!"

So the Father returned to his supplication, much to the quiet annoyance of the rest of the congregation. The High Bishop returned to his own praying. Until a huff of annoyance sounded next to him, once again. His patience was at an end!

"Father!"

"Y-yes High Bishop?" Travis asked, surprised of the heat in the High Bishop's tone.

"I believe it would do you good to take some time to rest and meditate!"

"But the Goddess!"

"Will still be here when you are refreshed! It would do you some good to get some rest. As strong as the spirit is, it needs a body to do Her will, and a body is no good without rest!" The High Bishop ORDERED.

Travis looked around at the rest of the congregation, who gave him annoyed looks. He stood and bowed his head towards the High Bishop before storming off to his quarters.

The High Bishop gave a sigh of relief as he watched the Father leave the hall.

"Thank you Blessed Mother!"

Father Travis barged into his modest, though well furnished, quarters.

"Those fools!"

He paced with barely contained fury. Could they not see that the kobolds were yet another blight upon Her world and that leaving them be would be tantamount to allowing their filth to spread and multiply! How long before their numbers grow once again?!

Why has the Goddess abandoned him so in his hour of great need? Were his years of faith and service not enough?! Doubt began to fill the Father's mind. Had he failed Her somehow? Was the last adventure a test and he was found wanting?

No, he thought resolutely. He had not failed Her! It was the High Bishop and the rest of these mewling cowards that hide while he and others go out and snuff out The Blessed Mother's wicked enemies! That's it! That's what was wrong! She had not abandoned him! The rest were just jealous of his faith and conviction! They were keeping him from Her somehow! Keeping him from communing with Her properly!

They must have a way of blocking his prayers from The Blessed Mother, he'll wait until nightfall before he goes through with his search for whatever it was they might be using! Until then, maybe the High Bishop had a point, his body needed rest.

So that is what the Father did, he slept until night fell then he made his way to the shrine of the Goddess.

"My apologies Blessed Mother."

He extensively searched the alter looking for... something. Anything that would explain his lack of answers. But he found nothing other than holy oils and scripture.

He silently cursed, if the High Bishop had something like that where would... The High Bishop! If it wasn't here then it would surely be in his office! The Father made haste to the High Bishop's office, doing his best to remain silent in the dark and quiet halls of the Cathedral.

While he had some authority in the Church he didn't want to be bothered by senseless questions, or worse, be confronted by these weak willed cowards! It was up to men such as him to do what must be done and he could ill afford to be slowed in his mission by those who lack the will to do so!

After many close calls he arrived at the doors to the High Bishop's office. He pushed gently on the door. It was unlocked. That was either a good thing or a bad thing. He pushed it further, cringing at the creaking of the hinges, and stepped through.

Where he found the High Bishop, awake and at his desk.

"Father? What are you doing here at this hour? Do you need assistance?"

The Father snorted derisively.

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"Yes, I do! I need you to cease your hinderances against the will of the Goddess!"

The High Bishop looked like he had been struck!

"I beg your pardon?!"

"You will receive it once you stop blocking me from doing the Blessed Mother's will!"

"What in the Nine Hells are you talking about Father?!"

"You cowards are all the same! Jealous of those of us who take an active role in Her work! Those of us who risk life and limb in Her name while you and the rest of those weaklings cower and hide!"

"I will hear no more of this blasphemy! You will leave and return to your quarters and we will discuss your penance in the morning!"

As the High Bishop made to shoo the Father he grabbed the High Bishop and threw him towards his desk!

"You will not prevent me from Her will! I will find what devilry you are using to keep me from Her!"

The Father tore apart the High Bishop's office. Turning over tables and pulling out cabinet drawers. Papers and inkwells were discarded and thrown about in his mad search. It looked like a storm had blown through when Travis had finally ceased his frantic search.

"I don't understand! Where is it?!"

Others had arrived at the High Bishop's office where the rest of the Brothers and Sisters watched as the mad Father looked about with crazed eyes. The High Bishop stood from where he had fallen.

"Father?"

Travis rounded on the High Bishop.

"It's ok Father! You're just tired from your long hours of prayer! You're delirious from such dedication to the Blessed Mother!"

The Father looked at his hands. Was he right? Was this really just a mad delusion from lack of sleep? He looked up at the High Bishop, who looked at the Father with pleading and scared eyes. The High Bishop, Travis thought as a darkness took hold of his mind.

He grabbed a nearby letter opener and held it out at the High Bishop, to the shocked cries of the rest.

"Its YOU! YOU'RE the one doing it! You will cease this dark magic and allow me to commune with the Goddess!"

"I don't know what you're talking about Father! I am doing no such thing!" The High Bishop cried out as the Father advanced on him with a crazed, zealous fury, in his eyes.

"If you won't stop it willingly, then I will!" Father Travis yelled as he charged the High Bishop with his weapon. Before the blade could pierce the clerical robes a bright light flooded the room.

HONK HONK!!!

Father Travis jumped to the side by instinct. He looked up from his prone position as a great metal monster raced by in the darkness. Great lights illuminating its path.

Father Travis looked around at his surroundings. He was no longer in the cathedral. He wasn't sure where he was. There was a chill in the air. Which meant that he was far from where he used to be. The trees were different than those from Koben.

He stood from his position on the bare earth and got a better look around. Then he saw lights in the distance! A town! He began his journey towards the town. Hugging his priestly robes closer to beat back the cold. As he neared he began to notice things.

The buildings were different than anything he's seen. Even on his adventures he's not seen buildings quite like these! Square with flat roofs. Though some looked to be made with brick and mortar, many more were made with a hard stone like substance. Even stranger were the lights around the town! He looked closer at one and found that it wasn't fire that powered it but some strange glass!

Father Travis winced and looked to the source of pain. A minor scrape on his arm from where he fell. A simple prayer and the divine magic would fix it easy. But it didn't. He tried once more. But with no success.

"By the Goddess?"

Perhaps sending him to this strange place had depleted his Goddess's blessings? That must be it! He just needed to tough through it while the Blessed Mother rests!

As he made his way through the town he came across what looked to be a church! But it wasn't the grand cathedrals of home. Or even the small, though no less grand, churches of smaller towns and hamlets. It was a simple church, made of stained glass and white wood walls. A cross was hung over the doors instead of the Goddess's Rising Sun.

"Just where has the Goddess sent me?"

He limped over to the church doors and pushed them open. The church was quiet except for a handful of late night faithful and the local preacher.

"Welcome my son! How may The Lord assist you this late hour?"

"The Lord?" Travis asked.

"That's right my son! Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!" The preacher called, with a chorus of quiet Amen!

What kind of backward people are these as to confuse the Blessed Mother to such a degree?!

"There is no Lord! There is only the Goddess! The Blessed Mother!"

"Ah! Catholic are you? Venerate the Virgin Mother? That's alright! All children of God are welcome in the House of The Lord!"

"NO! NO! There is no Lord! There is only the Blessed Mother! It is She that lights the dawn with Her Blessed light! It is She that scours the wicked from the land! Not this false pretender you speak of!"

The once polite air of the church turned tense as several others turned their heated gazes on the newcomer.

"My son! This is a House of the Lord! If you are not a believer you may leave!"

"This is a house of lies and false idols!" The Father shouted to the increasingly hostile congregation.

Two men stood and advanced on the Father.

"We don't take kindly to folk like you!"

"Then you will burn for your heathenry!" Travis called and made to cast holy fire on the heathens! But none came. Nothing came to his aid! Not fire nor lightning nor anything!

The two men humored the Father long enough and, roughly, dragged him from the church and threw him out. He landed heavily on the concrete sidewalk. He didn't have the strength to rise. The Goddess has abandoned him. This was his personal hell for failing Her and striking the High Bishop! That was it. He had died and this is his torment.

Tears fell as he accepted his fate. Then a hand fell on his shoulder.

"What troubles you Brother?"

Father Travis looked up at the two men that had come to his aid.

"Everything! The Blessed Mother has abandoned me to this hell of unbelievers!"

"Ah. You are not a believer of Christ I take it?" One man asked as he knelt closer to Travis.

"No! How can anyone NOT believe in the Blessed Mother!"

The two men's eyes lit up with fervor!

"You are a follower of the Mother?"

"Yes! It is She who fills our hearts with purpose! It is She that we give our lives for!"

The two men looked at one another with wide grins.

"Why didn't you say so! You'll not find Her worship here in town!"

Travis looked at the men in confusion even as they helped him to his feet.

"What do you mean?"

"The people here in town don't believe in Her! They drove us into the hills and mountains for following Her!"

Fire filled his heart with righteous fury once more!

"How dare they rebuke Her will and love!"

"Amen Brother! But don't worry! Everyday more and more are welcomed into Her embrace! Its only a matter of time before we reclaim what was taken from Her by these fools!" The man preached with fire and fury that filled Travis with purpose once more!

That was why he was here! To do Her will on the frontlines once more! To spread Her name with wrath and fire!

"Where is Her worship held then if not here in town?"

The two men escorted Father Travis to their car nearby where they drove him to a church in the woods. A church made of dark wood. He looked around at the darkness of the area.

"Why is it so dark? Where are the lights?"

"We must remain secret for now. If those in town knew we practiced so openly then they would march on us in force, and we are not yet strong enough to confront them just yet!"

What insult! To not only rebuke Her will but to threaten Her followers! It made the Father's blood boil with rage!

"By day we act as a normal church of the area. But by night we cast off these false trappings and venerate Her in proper glory!"

They opened the dark oak doors and escorted the Father inside. Where fire braziers lit the dark wooden hall. Illuminating the hooded congregation and their hooded leader that spoke at the twisted wooden pulpit.

"The time comes closer Brothers and Sisters! Like a sickly patient the town calls for its misery to end! It calls for Her to return it to how it once was! It calls for US to reclaim it for HER!"

"AMEN!" The shadowy congregation cheered.

"Even now our numbers swell with those that see Her truth! Politicians! Mechanics! Regular townsfolk that cry out for the safety and warmth of Her loving embrace!"

"AMEN!"

The orator held out a gloved hand towards Father Travis, and all of the dark eyes turned as one towards him.

"We have a newcomer. What is your name Brother?"

"Travis. Father Travis!"

"Father?! That is some title is it not?!"

"It has been earned from spreading Her name!"

"Then come forward Father Travis!"

So Travis did, he marched up to the pulpit and the hooded preacher. He placed a hand on Father Travis's shoulder with affection and understanding.

"You follow the Mother then?"

"I do!"

"You see Her truth?"

"I do!"

"You see the injustice done to Her?!"

"I DO!"

Cheers erupted from the pews. The hooded man turned towards a darkness that Travis hadn't noticed.

"Then enter the darkness. If you are true in your conviction then you will pass into Her embrace! Or you will serve Her in other ways!"

Travis looked towards the darkness. He didn't fear the dark! She would see him through! So he marched into the darkness and came to an elevator. A single man greeted him silently. He pressed the button and the two descended into the earth.

His hooded companion never uttered a single word as the darkness swallowed them. Nor did Travis speak either, he spent his time muttering prayers and steeling his resolve. This reminded him of the trials that the Clergy did when he first entered the Goddess's service.

They would be thrown into a dark room devoid of all light, no sun, no candles, nothing. They would be like that for what seemed like hours. Alone with nothing but yourself. It drove weaker men to madness from the lack of the Blessed Mother's light.

But not him. He prevailed once before, he would prevail again! The elevator stopped at the bottom of the mineshaft. Nothing but darkness was ahead of Father Travis. A darkness that he met head-on. A darkness he embraced willingly and with conviction. A darkness that welcomed him where the light had cast him aside.