"We'll want to experiment, so- mostly different spells, but also different versions of the same spell. Each standard priestly spell varies depending on their god. The variations don't always change the effects of the spell, but sometimes they do."

"Huh, can you give examples?"

"Yes, why don't I give you some examples! If I cast Lesser Restoration, it might work as an antidote to some poison, or cure a disease, but it wouldn't do much to recover damage to your overall health, fatigue, or things like that. If a priest of...Neselthia," she gestures at said priest, "cast the spell, it might help clear a drained mind but not do anything for flat-footedness. A Locate spell cast by a priest of Heru-wer might most easily find you culturally significant objects, while one cast by a priest of Kelemvor would find you something that someone dead prized dearly. Or Heroes' Feast! Heroes' Feast makes a meal which has several positive effects on the people that eat it- but in the hands of different priests, the kind of food would almost certainly be different amounts of nutritious, filling, or tasty, and the kinds of options might be different if the caster didn't request something specific."

"Huh, that's really interesting! Does this vary by individual or by god?"

"In my experience, it's mostly down to the god involved. Gods are more powerful than us, so their beliefs shape the magic that they give us."

Nod nod.

Kelna doesn't have anything specific she needs to say, so she thanks Lintalai again for coming and says she'll be keeping an eye on her (metaphorically).

The priestess leads her out.

And Mahli is there to collect her.

"Lintalai. Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Yes, thank you."

"One moment. I will bring your wizard."

Mahli flies off.

As she waits, Lintalai hears the sound of something clattering behind her.

Hmm what's that?

It looks like a coin has bounced out of Neselthia's offering bowl and rolled towards her feet.

It's shinier than one might expect from the current light, almost like-

No, in fact, it is glowing.

"Um, does anyone know what's going on with this coin?" she says a bit loudly.

A few passerby look towards her-

-and then all she can see are threads, all around her, pulsing and twisting and intertwining. Some of them are green, some blue, all cloth but also moving, slithering snakes, simultaneously. A visual cacophony as they pulse around her. Lintalai stands in a spot free of threads, between a few intersections, in empty space, and she hears the sibilant, hissing voice come from all around her as it shouts:

LINTALAI ARCADIA

A WARNING

I ADMIRE YOUR MIND, YOUR CURIOSITY, AND YOUR GOALS. IT IS THROUGH SEEING YOUR MIND THAT I KNOW MY MISTAKE, HENCE THIS WARNING.

THE MIND OF A MORTAL IS AVAILABLE TO ANY GOD, WITHOUT PROTECTION.

I SAW INSIDE YOUR MIND AND THUS I STOPPED LOOKING FOR ITS TREASURES. YOUR MIND IS A TREASURE ONLY WHEN LEFT UNTOUCHED, UNSEEN.

I HAVE ABANDONED MY CURIOSITY ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS, BUT NOT ALL GODS WILL DO SO.

PROTECT YOURSELF. TAKE CARE. AND SOON, ACQUIRE WHAT YOU WILL. I LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING.

Lintalai SHRIEKS.

There is some hissing about this. The threads pulse, and one snaps; it's the color of her hair dye, in its bottle.

PROTECT YOURSELF. NESELTHIA WILL ASSIST YOU. ACQUIRE HER RESOURCES FOR YOUR OWN.

-and then she's back outside Neselthia's temple, surrounded by concerned onlookers who are expressing concern for her and asking what she needs, without much care for how confusing or distracting the questions themselves might be.

Neselthia's priestess is there within moments.

"Lintalai? I had a vision- Neselthia believes a god may have spoken to you?"

"That - that might be what happened -

- she said gods can read people's minds, that I should protect myself, that Neselthia would help -"

"-yes, she will. I- gods can know almost anything, yes, in theory. Most of the good gods never would, but we can offer you some measure of protection. There are gods you would not be able to protect your secrets from, even with Her help, but - not all thoughts are secrets, even the private ones."

"...what does that mean?"