Pacify the cult

"I'm just sayin'" Gilzra speaks to you quietly, both hidden behind a boulder "I don't think you've thought this through. Your devotion to your faith great and all, but it's misplaced. You gotta play the hand you're dealt, and the deck has been stacked against you."

"What are you suggesting?" You ask angrily "It's a little late don't you think?" Rosita and her three cultist companions were on the road, and Glen spotted them and joined you all without being spotted. It had quietly rained while you slept, making the roads slow going and the mossy ground under your feet squishy and slippery

"Know when to fold them, know when to hold them, and if you can't win fairly, cheat." You see a self-satisfied smile on her face, one that you're less inclined to reciprocate.

"I'm guessing that's how you got in trouble with crime bosses" Your dismissive tone has no affect on her. Gilzra may be chatty, but nothing is distracting her from the mission, and certainly not your judgement.

"Oh no, not at all. I had to be on the run to be a crook."

"Than why did you-"

"Another day luv" Gilzra responded quickly, patting your shoulder, "It's show time and you're the leading lady. Ready?"

"I think so" you try to peak around the boulder without being spotted. You can see them plain as day now, and could probably throw a stone at them if you wanted "I hate being this nervous. Is it always like this?"

"Hey" she said gently and quietly "You've got this. I promise, I'll never let anything bad happen to you" That was quite the promise. Never is a big word, but you were sure that she would at least make sure that you were okay now. With a deep breath, you rise up and face them, arms out wide.

"Sister Rosita!" You shout loudly "You're a persistant woman."

There was a quick jolt, but believing it was just you, the four quickly relaxed. Seeing the men again, now donned in impressive armor and weaponry, caused a lump in your throat to form.

"Too bad the same can't be said about you" Rosita chides you. "I was thinking it would be at least a week of chasing you down before you gave up. You gave up on your church, you gave up on me, and you gave up on yourself."

In your periphreal, you see Gilzra start to shift. These barbs are catching her as much as they are you.

"I didn't give up on anything Rosita. I can't run my entire life and I should have to. I didn't do anything wrong."

"Oh?" Rosita asked toyingly "than you're ready to put the past few days aside and come back with us than? My friends and I were starting to miss their new favorite cocksleeve"

"That does it!" Gilzra stands up, masterful dueling swords drawn. Your mind races ahead of time itself, seeing and fearing a bloodbath between the cult and your new friends. You can't stand it, and a silent part of your mind screams to Phoenicia for help.

"Stop!" You shout, just as the others were preparing to provide cover and join the fray. You feel a rush of energy flow through you and out into the world, as everyone stood still as a statue. There was no magic restraining them, you don't think. They just obeyed the command.

This is what you'd hoped you would be able to do. You had made minor use of Phoenica's divine blessings since having taken the oaths of devotion to her, but nothing like this. That it still works means that the Goddess of Life has forgiven your misdeeds, which takes an even greater weight off your shoulder.

You slowly walk from protection of the boulder and speak to your oppressor closer, keeping your hands up, not sure if its needed to maintain the spell or not "Rosita, you can't have me. You tricked me into being your partner, and you tricked me into becoming your ****. That's all over now. I'm giving you a choice. Turn back, leave me alone, and beg Doolyn and Phoenica for forgiveness, and you'll have it. If you insist on coming after me again, I won't get in the way of my new friends from stopping you their way."

Rosita looked at you blankly, as if her mind wasn't entirely there. She started to nod, before calmly saying "this isn't over Demetria. You're a pawn trying to capture a Queen." With a solitary move, she motions her followers to leabe with her, proceeding quietly with them walking behind.

Gilzra and the others walk to join you, slightly stunned. "Wait, that worked?" Glen asked "All this time we could have just had a priestess or someone with us and we could just talk our way through problems?"

"Beginners Luck" the elven mage retorted "the arcane arts can cast similar spells, with practice. The strength of the mind you're using it on has a lot of impact on success. Bards and the like have been known to use similar tricks, though often those involve getting someone out of their pants."

"Still" Gilzra added "Demetrias proven her worth and her courage. I think we have nothing to worry about when we help her the rest of the way"

You start to move back, slipping on a wet stone. Losing your balance, you stumble and fall forward. Your undignified fall is broken by Glen, now laying under you on the muddy ground. You feel super awkward, looking into each others eyes, as you can feel an erection pressed against your through his pants, and you're sure he can feel your dick as well. If so, he seems completely unconcerned.

"Well, that's a little unexpected" he says with a smile, slowly lifting himself up from the ground. His words are a little cryptic; if hes saying what you think hes saying, that may prove to be a relief, if things with the two of you progress further.