... But for a little spot on the beach.

"Ah! Congratulations." says Tisvetaia. "Well then, I don't need to distract her at a pivotal moment after all, nicely done."

"Thank you. Are you planning to remain there?"

And with her expanded attention, she can see to her newly-acquired residents at the same time. Maeverine's other acolytes are probably not salvageable. She smites them. The priests she'll deal with individually. They are all directed to gather in the nearest temple.

"No, I don't like part of me being this isolated, and I suspect you'd rather have your space. But I can stick around a while longer if you want help or some kind of advice."

Acolytes get smited. It's very uneventful. Also very easy.

Most of the priests go to the nearest temple. Many of those are already swearing to serve their new goddess instead, just please don't kill them they don't want to die. Some of them are more quiet and pensive. Some of them don't go to the nearest temple, and instead start trying to get out of the goddess's domain as soon as possible.

"Some residents may wish to leave, with Maeverine gone. I can recommend your domain as a destination, if you are willing to accept immigrants."

She is reassuring to the priests who come over willingly. She intends to be a different sort of god than Maeverine. If you have anything you want to change about how things are run, this would be a good time to mention it. Go forth and spread news of her to the people, and give them the same message.

The ones who try to leave are gently but firmly prevented from doing so. Where are they going, and why?

"I am. Though I would prefer if you didn't mention I helped you kill Maeverine, if you don't mind. Other gods might think I'll try the same with them. And that would get... Messy."

Most of the priests go to do as she says. Some request to not be her priests, and be free to do whatever they'd like. Two ask for her name.

Mostly, the ones that are trying to leave just want to not die. At least, that's their story. Some of them tell it better than others. A few of them are lying to her.

"Of course. It shall be our little secret."

She tells them her name is... Ellayania. The priests who wish to be priests no longer are released from their duties.

To the leavers, she is not intending to kill them, but as long as they will not cause trouble that will tarnish her reputation, they are free to go.

The liars are not free to go. She reminds them with godly landscape-controlling emphasis that she can tell when they lie to her.

"Excellent, thank you."

The priests will inform everyone of their new goddess's name! ... Everyone is pretty wary. The priests that are released from their duties scurry away.

The leavers leave, and the liars... Attempt to lie better, mostly. One breaks down into sobs, it's quite memorable. One stammers that if killed Varkalosix will avenge him, somehow. One begs for forgiveness.

Varkalosix? Really? Her compliments on managing to maintain a hidden allegiance under Maeverine's nose. That one is free to go, but don't give her cause to regret this.

As for the others, she is willing to be lenient, but only if they tell her the truth. Where are they going, and why?

Squeak, says the one who managed to maintain a hidden allegiance under Maeverine's nose. And then off he scurries.

Most of the liars fess up eventually. They also seem to be working for Varkalosix. It seems she was running reconnaissance on Maeverine.

She was not the only one planning Maeverine's demise, then. How exciting! Off they go, then. Tell your master Ellayania would be interested in having a more formal sort of chat.

Are there any trainees left at the main temple?

And there go the minions, to talk to their master!

There are a few trainees, yes. Maeverine kept a steady supply of them so she could afford to occasionally kill some off. They know something is up, but most of them seem to think that it's another test, so they are acting accordingly.

No, this is not a test, no really, she's a whole new god. Go and look at the remains of one of the acolytes if you don't believe her. She understands most of you probably no longer have homes to go to, but if anyone would like to go somewhere else, she can facilitate that.

... Mostly they don't believe her. They tell her that if she is not Maeverine, they aren't going to work for her, and aren't going to help her. Some of the bolder ones say that if she really killed Maeverine, they'll kill her right back.

A few of the younger ones do believe her, and would like to go home.

Well, first things first, get the young believers separated from the older trainees. Then try to gently determine if their homes still exist, or if they were destroyed like hers was.

As for the older ones, she's not going to force them to work for her. But are they sure they want to be that open about their intent to kill her?

Most of their families are pretty dead. A few are still alive, but those families were pretty indoctrinated by Maeverine. They gave up their children willingly.

Some of them say yes! They will be that open about their intent to kill her!

Some of them hesitate and say that they won't work for her unless she's Maeverine, but maybe she doesn't have to, you know. Die by their hand right then. When they're teenagers and yelling at a god and overwhelmingly likely to die horribly.

Sorry, kids, looks like going home is not really an option. You can stay at one of her temples until you're older, she can try to find you somewhere else in her domain to stay, or she can send you to another god who has a really nice domain. (Hey, a couple of you Varkalosix priests, wait for a little bit. She may want you to escort some children elsewhere.)

Smart decision, hesitators. Your prize is not being smited. You can have a few days to think it over, if you like.

The others are smited. It is only the minimum amount of horrible.

Some of the Varkalosix priests will hang around, they guess. If the god tells them to. But they're not super thrilled about being babysitters.

Most of the kids would really rather not stay in the temple. Anywhere else but the place they were taken and tortured. Some of them break down crying.

The ones who are smited die, and it is very uneventful.

There, there, children. You don't have to stay here. In fact, why don't we all go outside, away from the temple to keep talking. Do you want to leave this region entirely? Ellayania can make that happen for you, just say the word.

She begins to make alterations to the temple. First to go is the altar, melting smoothly into the floor. A glassily black slab is raised in its place, with shelves on the wall behind. Books begin to appear, her favorites of the ones she's read and remembered. Benches, of the same black stone as the altar, around the perimeter of the room with light sconces for reading. The more... ominous of the rooms Maeverine maintained are sealed up and the layout of hallways is shifted to block them.

Some of them do. Some of them don't - the idea of leaving a place they know again seems awful and terrifying. Some of them just quietly say they will go wherever they're told to go.

One day, Ellayania can make her own temples instead of refurbishing Maeverine's. But for right now, this is very cost efficient.

For now, a certain degree of continuity is useful. Not too much, but enough to ease the transition.

The children who wish to leave, she directs to the priests of Varkalosix. She impresses very firmly on the priests that they are to escort them to a safe, friendly, nearby location. Whether in a domain or not according to individual preferences. If she hears of anything ill befalling them on the trip, she will be upset. To the children, she offers a vial of her holy water to take with them, so they can ask for any help she might be able to provide.

To the children who don't want to leave, and the ones who will do as they're told, she offers the suggestion that they travel to the port town. There are people there who would take them in. (People she marked as potentially noncompliant when serving as acolyte-in-training to Maeverine. She offers them special favor if they take care of the children.)