"Nethys is the god of knowledge. He sees all the planes and all the worlds. His goals are much less legible than a god like Abadar's and to a first approximation he doesn't do anything except sometimes send his followers visions that invariably drive them mad. I follow him, because studying magic is considered a good way to follow him and it's not like he'll ever take a political stance I take issue with."

"Huh. What a strange sort of god. And, sure, that seems reasonable - are clerics generally trustworthy?" 

"I mean, it depends on their god and their alignment and there's no one at ninth circle who isn't capable of some terrifying things when the occasion calls for it but I think Nethys is incredibly unlikely to command intervention in our plans and Nefreti Clepati - the ninth circle cleric of Nethys in Sothis - is a woman, so hardly involved in politics or war."

"...Right. Er, and - what are the limitations on Gate and how much would it cost?" 

"We would probably donate a thousand gold to the temple for an audience with her and then try to convince her; she might demand further payment at that point or she might not. Gate can open on any other plane and pull someone through; ideally I guess it'd be cast just up against the door to our pocket dimension so he goes right in?"

Nod. "And how annoying would it be to specify the place to her - does she need to have scryed it herself or can I send her a memory? I guess if I scry for him when we expect he's asleep, and find him in his bedroom, and then have her scry for him right away... And if we'd made sure to leave the crystal ball alone and not drain its power too much for the day." 

"When he's asleep is best, it's much harder to resist a spell when asleep. I don't know if you can send her a memory, you'd have to ask her. And yeah, we should leave the crystal ball alone the day we're doing that, though she probably has her own."

"Makes sense. So I guess the next step is visiting Sothis to ask her?" He stretches. "Maybe tomorrow, I don't know how late is rude to show up to a temple or whatever, but I for one am tired." 

"Tomorrow sounds good. And we should - sleep on the plan, see if we think of any other considerations."

"We should."

Vanyel feels like he might well wake up tomorrow and decide that actually, kidnapping a terrifying immortal mage to interrogate him is the worst idea. Right now it seems like a pretty dubious idea but also like it might work to resolve the biggest problem of his entire life. 

His new companions seem extremely nonchalant about kidnapping a terrifying immortal mage but Mahdi does take notes for about an hour before he goes to sleep and Hagan talks to Fy for the same length of time.

Vanyel curls up with Yfandes and manages to sleep decently well, given what he has on his mind. 

In the morning, lying half in his bedroll and watching Fazil prepare spells, he mulls over whether or not it still seems like a - not good, exactly, but potentially justified idea. 

The obvious alternative is just getting himself home, which is a lot safer, and proving to the Senior Circle that he's not kidnapped. They're going to be suspicious, though, and - it doesn't actually solve the more pressing problem, of a mage in the north who might or might not be using the confusion as an excuse to invade. 

:'Fandes?: 

:I think we should at least talk to the cleric and find out how safely we can do it. If she can yank him out of his bedroom into the no-magic demiplane, there aren't that many things that can go wrong: 

Mahdi changes into much more formal clothing and then prepares his spells as usual. Fazil does the same thing. Hagan declines to - "I'll stay here. Not much use in negotiations with powerful clerics of Nethys, and I still can't show my face in Sothis."

"What's the reason today -"

"I am cursed by the spirit of the black beetle Ulunat. When I'm near him, my face transforms to match his. If you ever saw my terrible mandibles, you would never love me again."

"Mmhmm." He tosses him the diamond. "Raise Van if we all die, okay?"

"Tired of this life already?"

"Not at all! But if Abadar's plan is stupid I won't be much inconvenienced while it sounds like if Van's plan is stupid lots of people will be very inconvenienced."

Mahdi shakes his head. Gestures Fazil into the cargo bag. 

Teleports them to Sothis, outside the grand temple to Nethys, the seat of his faith in Osirion. 

It is really tall, and really elaborate, and a little bit architecturally improbable.

Vanyel is suddenly self-conscious about his not exactly formal clothing. He tugs his shirt straight. Takes a deep breath. He's never exactly liked interactions with priests and gods. 

Is Yfandes going to fit in the doors. 

Yes! They are very big doors. 

A young man comes over to ask them their business. 

Mahdi counts out a hundred coins of a shimmery silver metal. "A donation to the temple. We have a matter of some interest that we would be honored to bring to the High Priestess."

         "I see. The High Priestess is very busy, and - will see you right now."

Mahdi blinks. "We are honored. Thank you."

:Is that weird: Yfandes asks, not including the young man in her Mindspeech. :I'm guessing the very busy High Priestess doesn't normally see people on thirty seconds' notice: