“Mercy properly utilized will be greater than any blade. The same for terror, never descend too far one path. A belt with only one type of knife will only bring down one type of foe, diversify yourself. If you wish to grow more powerful, but that is why you are here afterall”

-Imperial Duke Taris Eilgbert Abt “Devourer of Dragons” to his wards

Some say that when they meet their deity there is a tunnel of pure light to enter before being able to meet, instead I am simply placed in some richly adorned room alone. You would think this is some rich and traveled noble’s meeting room if not for the sheer mana interlaced into everything and the very air. Even the Arcane Consortium’s Capital does not have this much latent mana infused into itself. And that was the work of centuries of mana crystal formations and infusal rituals. Taking stock I see that I am dressed in my finer robes but this is not the formal dress set I wear but my finest warmage set. Clothes I find rather comforting from the familiar weight though not the familiar wear and tear. A quick check and I find that it is also not attuned to me, the enchantments are there but different. The appearance but not the essence of those who have worked on it.

Taking a bit more of a look at the immediate surroundings I see that there is the setting for a tea party here. The rest of the room appears like a study with shelves of books and cabinets with various objects in them. I suspect that if the cabinets were not sealed then I would have been driven mad by the sheer aura released by them. I recognize the power of them, artifacts known as Trappings of Divinity. Regalia fit for a being of the divine realm to have on their person, perhaps even personally by a deity. I have never seen so many gathered together, one or two at most inside a vault or cathedral but not like this.

After having finished taking in my immediate surroundings the hardwood door opens and entering is a woman in a deep velvet dress. Behind her were several maidens dressed in less vibrant but still high quality robes, they appeared to be something akin to handmaidens for a high ranking individual. The glowing ethereal wings that floated behind them marked them as divina, beings of the divine realm. Many were servants of the divines, those dwellers of one portion of the astral plane. They file through the door before standing at attention in the manner of servants. Their apparent master entering afterwards. Another woman dressed in a luxurious cream robe with silver and gold accents/embroidery, and wielding a scepter that seemed as if it was made of a much more radiant gold. She was a stunning figure who would likely shame any woman who called herself beautiful. The woman seemed to embody the epitome of beauty that even a cynic such as I could not dispute. But her eyes are like avoid, vast and promising much from its echoes. Deep knowledge, vast knowledge, things we so desperately want but shy from for our own sake. I rose from my seat and gave a low bow before saying

“Greetings my lady, I assume it is you I have to thank for bringing me to this place?” The lady smiles a polite smile, not truly welcoming but not disrespectful. Her eyes however, they were deep. I felt the whispers grow stronger then retreat, anticipatory almost.

“Indeed I was the one who granted you your presence here, I can believe that you realize your circumstances?”

“If I may be blunt. That I would have been a disembodied soul incarnate in whatever plane that was before without intervention then yes” Her smile continues even as she seats herself in the high backed chair before me. Her handmaidens continue to flank her as the tea is poured for her.

“That would be mostly correct though instead you would have gone to The Realm of Souls to be judged instead of that blank zone you were in, but then again you would have tried your best to avoid all that I am quite sure. A fascinating weave of different magic arts upon your soul” She halts for a sip while I take one as well as custom dictates. A fascinating brew, even if tea is not my truly my palate it is a very...vibrant mix.

“I thank you but.. I can assume that you have a reason for doing this, few are the beings who can give without something in return”

“Yes indeed, while I was not directly involved my colleagues were the ones who caused your death in an accident that even I find absurd to have occurred. The simple explanation is that you and your soldiers were hit by a how to say ‘accidental release’ of power. Something that under the circumstances should not have occurred. Unfortunately for you we frankly do not feel that there is a simple method of reversing what has occurred so instead we decided on a more efficient outlook”

“So you do not want to waste power on fixing your mistakes and will instead take advantage of what has occurred and can I be so arrogant have me commit some act or service?” Not something I can do something about, the divines look to different spheres and I have done similar things by accident before. Damage control is not always truly possible.

“Yes that is indeed what we felt was best, we have a, how to say a new position to be made and feel that you would be a good fit for it” At this however I frown, the Imperium is many things, of its people and its patron diety as well but...

“What services would can I say a deity need for a necromancer, we are not exactly the most sought out figures when it comes to most ‘holy’ work. I would assume that my services would default to the one whom I am an adherent of”

“Normally yes but in this case your expertise would be well put to work, something akin to being a warden or jailer. Soul work is complex, divines have their specialization after all. And for that matter we have already gone through the channels for that.”

“May I ask exactly what soul would you want a necromancer as a jailer instead of one of your servants?” I frown seriously at this, mercurial our divine is but....Disloyal she is not, loyalty is granted and returned in full.

“Not actually a singular soul, we have a how to say it rather large dumping ground of bones and bodies that is now grown so big that even the divines must now interfere. I believe that your deity knows more” Her eyes are still a void, but her manner a dismissal. Bristling at such an act however I halt myself, now is not the time for slights.

Appearing in a shimmer of light is a figure of regal might. Robes of cloth and metal enshrine her body completely. A scepter is tied to her belt along with a large amulet. Upon her head is a diadem of simple plain design but one that blazed power. Her face is sharp, haughty chiseled. Not something to bashfully declare as a symbol of beauty. A face that has known hardship and commands utter respect. Eyes brimming with strength, and an infectious resolve. Rising from my seat I kneel before my goddess Silida, patron goddess of the Imperium.

“Adherent, you may rise. I shall take over explaining for now. I do not like how this situation developed but matters are proceeding already so I must make exceptions. Your task will be two fold. You will initially depart under the grace of my fellow here, the next part is my task to you. As your founder Aldagera did before you so must you repeat. Bring my dominion to foreign lands. Raise my shrines, spread my name. Show the lesser planes what a true divine is. The task as related to her will be unavoidable in accomplishing my decree” The words of my goddess echo within me, her orders are absolute. As she speaks my soul vibrates, her blessings growing stronger upon it. The whispers abait as they have never before.

“Exactly what matter of the material planes would need intervention from deities, and how can I actually contain such a thing?” It is best to continue forward, less time drags on and things grow too far.

“Actually this predates us, the land of Veragan is an obscure portion of the material planes. One not often given to attention from we gods. In the scheme of things we are a young pantheon, there were others before us that either died out or left this realm. In this particular case the many remains of those past era’s are particularly collected in one location, that much death in a concentrated locale may give rise to things we cannot control. Things that will empower those who would be against us, even if it is a lesser land to your own we cannot ignore it. You will be sent to deal with that, but do not expect to ever see your homeland again. There are many planes beyond those that were the cradle of your birth.This was partially why we did not notice this for a long time, but now that we have I felt that after having taken a look at those whose bodies had died in the ‘incident’ and became souls I found you”

“Well, you seem to have put some thought into this matter. I assume that there is not meant to be much reason for me to decline” A polite tone, sarcasm would perhaps not be understood or looked down upon.

“That is correct, but do not worry you will have much to satisfy you as well as the largest possible research base and material for you to make use of” The lady’s offer is tempting, but a path of hardship.

“If what you say is true then indeed that is the case, but what aid exactly will i be given to be successful in subjugating this area”

“You know of the dungeons in this world? That will be the general basis win which we can ensure that you will control this area”

“Those would be the creations of both the gods and other beings for various purposes?” Not my strong suit, I concerned myself with the secular and limited portions of the esoteric.

“Yes those constructs were made by both we gods and others for purposes that vary though for us gods it was mostly ensuring that the flow of mana was not stopped, providing resources to our wards in a proper controlled manner along with containing one or another threats in a nice little confined space. You will be receiving such an aid in order to facilitate your stewardship of the area, but as both a test and being beyond our control you will have to beware of outer threats. Some will be greedy or foolhardy enough to attempt to venture into those cursed lands, you are free to deal with them as you wish barring of course anything too ethically wrong”

“Very well but I assume such a task will not be so simple for me to take up as well?” Scars, a history made manifest. Such a thought quirks up as the words leave my mouth.

“Yes, the distortions that that land give off makes travel and oversight from the heavens rather risky and for you mortals much more ‘problematic’. We can send you the dungeon system aid but too much more could cause, ‘unwanted’ effects. You will have to travel there from a relatively far point, but it will give you time to adjust to local affairs and not enter blindly. There shall be time to adjust and establish yourself. The flow of living time can be entered with some variation” My goddess speaks this while looking at her counterpart with a look, I dare to say slight annoyance but cannot place my weight upon it. Best to introduce other practical matters.

“Will I be facing interference from shall we say other points, you are the only one speaking to me in what appears to be a private area after all?”

“Yes while it may not be outright warfare for now, we gods do indeed have our share of politics. I can offer my aid and the non-interference of some of my brethren but others will attempt to fight you. I cannot account for everyone and there may be some I do not know of who will fight you, the land we will send you to contains a rift. One that allows others to further any plans they see fit. And there may be other forgotten objects in that place that gods would gladly have under their possession. It is a wild land and you are the champion we have chosen to tame it” The lady speaks well, my goddess is young in terms of the divine realm much less the astral plane. The sects of the Grand Sight are primordial in comparison.

“Very well, but what may I expect to be immediately available for me to use? If I am to actually even arrive at the location which I might add you never actually named, I will need more than what I assume is on me right now” If such a thing will even be allowed to be kept, the stench seems too incorporeal as I examine it.

“That is a given, I am not some forgetful deity so removed from my wards as to not know their needs. You will have what you need and a little bit more to ensure that you arrive where you need to be. The practical matters of the young races are something more of my domain ” Some more seeming tension, some of it manifesting in ripples of the world. The lady waves it away and returns her gaze to me. Best to move on.

“I believe this ends our business I will take up your task my goddess and my lady”

“Good I knew that I could trust in you Garrick, may the fortunes of magic be with you my chosen one”

“Adherent, you know what I will say on such matters. My support will not waver, go forth and conquer”

As the goddess smiles and holds out her arms I kneel to who I know to be Veuna the Goddess of Magic for her statutes are often in the temples from home. Her words accompany a searing sensation in mind and soul, her blessing wraps itself around me. As it settles down within me, I keep my sight still. Best to wait on examining my soul. Soon afterwards I feel a swirling rope of mana wrap around me and spread to create stunning circles of unknown sigils to take me to where I must start. My goddess also raises her hand and I feel the circles stabilize, her expression one of a ruler sending their scions forth. This will be an interesting journey to take and one that will perhaps hold much in the balance, but so be it even if I was talked into this at subtle sword point and compacts.