And that has made all the difference.

1270 a9 - Dawning of Sargarath

The sisters have taken me in so kindly, it almost makes me sad for what I have in store for them. Unreasonably of course, they're going to love every second of it. The younger sisters are putty in my hands, I can't believe none of them have broken their vow of chastity. As Mother would put it: they are thirsty as hell.

Speaking of Mother, I think I've finally managed to drain her power enough to risk moving her. It's a glorious sight, to see such a proud demon laid low before me... especially her. I cannot deny that I was truly terrified of her that night outside the Abbey, how fortunate I am that the virgin Goddess saw fit to save me and lay Mother low. I do so look forward to repaying her by revitalizing her dreary old cult. The best part is that I'm not even defying her, not really. The virgins stay virgins, so they stay connected to her, but they get to have a little more fun and so does she!

Once I can tempt the others fully, I'm going to bring them to Mother one by one and let her body do the work for me. When I have the cooks under my sway I'm going to start drugging the others and bringing them over to my way of thinking forcefully. I shiver to think of what fun that will be.

Janine is becoming a problem, the others tell me that she's thinking of going to the War Mother. I cannot deny, I feel a closeness with her that isn't present with the others, but I will not allow her or War Mother Avina to get in my way.

Who would have thought that a half demon would unlock the key to manipulating the divine?

"Goddess..." This is it... this are the answers to all of your questions. The more you read the more clear everything becomes... and you can only read half of it!

This must be Selena's book... and she must be a half demon! Could that succubus in the cavern have been her mother? Had she lived down here, below the abbey for some reason? That night when the Burning Rose saved her from the demon... Selena had been plotting this the whole time! The way to the Goddess was through her followers! Corrupt them and the Goddess... "Oh Goddess..." You raise your hands to your head as the revelations come one after the other, the sensation of an exultant and urgent deity reinforcing their correctness.

"We have to stop Selena... have to wake up all these sisters! But how?" The Rose wavered, sadness permeating your connection. "You don't think we can save them... do you?" The sadness deepened, cold resolve underlying the emotion. "Is... whatever Selena is doing to the sisters... is that why you've been so..." There was a long pause, "unlike yourself?"

Yes.

The tone was clipped and you got the feeling that you shouldn't mention The Goddess' slip ups if you wanted to be in her good graces, "Alright... I guess if I can't save the others... then I'll have to settle for getting Janine and the Sword of Saint Magdelena out." The Goddess seemed anxious, "You want me to just run? Without Janine? Without the Sword!?"

The sword is a powerful artifact. And Janine is a good woman. But the truth of this place must be revealed.

The ground shook slightly and the air seemed to waiver from the prolonged speech of The Rose, causing cascades of dust to fall from the ceiling. Behind you, the creature stirred in its cage before slumping back again.

You pace anxiously, hands on your head. You couldn't believe this. Abandon all these sisters and the artifact you'd been bequeathed? Logically, you understood: this corruption was far more insidious than the loss of the abbey just as poison was far worse than a simple cut.

But still...