Urtho's mages are aware of the risk. It seems important. And Iomedae is clearly very good at what she does, but she doesn't have scrying, or the communication-spell, or the ability to Gate. 

The priest looks....kind of overwhelmed and terrified, actually, as they line up for the Gate to General Movat's camp. (They're actually doing an unscaffolded Gate from well away from the Tower, and intending to arrive in the woods just outside said camp; if there's an assassination planned, this makes it slightly less likely that the assassins will immediately realize Iomedae is there – and if they do, it'll be much less likely that the bleedthrough of an explosion will compromise either the Tower or the arguably-even-more-precious linked-up permanent Gate network.) 

Mitigating collateral damage from superweapon use is one of her leading priorities right now. The other is being very alert to occasions to fling herself out of the way of a very big Fireball. Her assessment is that this is more likely than not not an assassination attempt, and if it is one likely to fail, but that's still more probability of success than she likes would-be assassins to have. At home it's a risk she'd take unhesitatingly (and she'd decline most of the escort) but at home dying is substantially less costly.

There's still nearly two hours left on the Protection from Energy; she intends to leave before it runs out.

One of the mages raises the Gate. 

The random patch of woods is quiet and peaceful. Iomedae's escort is already scrying ahead - five of them at once, checking different areas - and they haven't yet spotted anything concerningly out of the ordinary but they're very tense. 

The priest takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders, and starts walking toward the camp. He's not used to moving in forests and is clearly having a bit of a hard time with it. 

One of Iomedae's magic items gives her Freedom of Movement at all times. Under the circumstances she's not sharing, but she'll walk slowly with him and slash branches in his way, and ask as they go what religious requirements there are for mages who are followers of Vkandis.

There are requirements for daily dawn and noon prayers, which can be waived in exceptional circumstances but just 'being out on campaign' doesn't count as exceptional. There are weekly religious services on their holy day, which should be administered by a priest and require certain supplies (incense, a shrine) even in the field, again unless circumstances are exceptional. Followers of Vkandis should not be asked to conduct offensive operations on holy days and are restricted on some uses of magic, though it's allowable to defend themselves if necessary. There are religious laws on appropriate use of magic; this generally overlaps with Tantara's laws and the usual practices for military mages, but the temple order made a judgement call that it was best for mage-units to be commanded, or at least accompanied, by priests above a certain rank in the temple. (There was perhaps a rapid effort to train and promote more priests to the relevant rank.) 

...The priest does catch his cane on a jutting root at some point, and will probably fall unless Iomedae can quickly steady him, but other than that, they're able to make steady progress toward the camp. They don't yet have a clear view, but it doesn't sound like a commotion is happening. 

She can absolutely catch him, probably before he’s even really stumbled. 

Then they'll reach the camp without incident, though the priest is very out of breath by the time they finally clear the trees. 

There is in fact no sign of an active crisis, but the camp is very much on high alert; there are sentries stationed practically every few yards, and even though the Gate was immediately detected and one of the mage-escorts also immediately reached out with the communication-spell to confirm their arrival, several of the sentries nearby are very startled and somewhat alarmed to see a group of people coming out of the forest. 

The priest is still trying to catch his breath, but he holds up both hands. "I am here - with Iomedae - to speak with the mage-units - about an urgent problem." 

Iomedae will not particularly attempt to look not dangerous - that’s just dishonest - but she will do what she can to look non-threatening. 

She is not out of breath.

The tents belonging to the units of Vkandis followers are very easy to spot; their tents are a different color, a deep red (rather faded now), and bear Vkandis' standard, a stylized sunburst. Most of the mages have cloaks bearing the same sunburst, and it's easy to recognize the priests assigned to each unit, since they also have hats (less elaborate and more practical than the senior temple priest's).

Not everyone is at the camp – they're contributing quite a lot of sentries, who are spread out around the periphery of the camp – but everyone who is by the tents is reacting quite strongly to the approach of the priest with Iomedae, whose regalia must mark him as especially high-ranking. By the time they reach the tents, at least thirty people are lined up at attention. 

The senior priest with Iomedae is mostly managing to look calm and in control, his impression only slightly ruined by the fact that he's still puffing and out of breath and his robes are disheveled from the forest trek. (He is still, in fact, pretty terrified.) Urtho's mages fan out around the two of them, though Iomedae in particular probably needs protection less than anyone in this camp. They are not managing to look calm. 

The priest takes a few breaths. Holds out his hands, relaxed and open at his sides. "Who is in command here?" 

     One of the priests with the hats steps forward. Bows. "Captain Ashuat. We are honored by your visit, Your Holiness. What matter brings you here?" 

"- A very serious and concerning matter. Some men of your Thirteenth Platoon were on detached duty in Urtho's Tower, correct?" 

     "Yes. What about them?" 

"I need to know who was in command there, and if their contingent had any - special orders. Particularly orders directly concerning the interests of our Sunlord. When did you last receive a status report from them, and what were its contents?"

     The other priest frowns. Doesn't say anything. 

The older priest looks over at Iomedae. 

Iomedae is sizing him up in turn. Is it his job to kill her and if so what was he told about why.

After a few more beats, the priest steps forward. He meets Iomedae's eyes; he's still frowning slightly, but does not otherwise appear tense or especially worried. 

"I have no desire on my own behalf to quarrel with you, Iomedae, servant of Aroden. But I speak for Vkandis Sunlord, and for the future of Velgarth, when I say that there are many things you do not understand, and that your intervention in this world is unwelcome. We would like you to leave, and swear an oath that you will never return, and that your god will not send others in your place. If you depart before dawn tomorrow, we need not fight at all." 

The elderly priest is staring at him, his expression more one of blank shock than horror or fear. 

“I will make such an oath if Vkandis will give His - to Aroden, or to the other gods of Velgarth as they can confirm to their own followers - that this is in the interests of the people of Velgarth, and not because He is willing to do them grave harm if I remain here.”

The younger priest clasps his hands behind his back. He still doesn't look worried, just mildly irritated. 

"It is our Sunlord's right and remit to react as He sees fit, and certainly I have no power to stop Him. I would recommend you trust that Vkandis knows what is in the interests of His people, and accept His offer. It will not be open forever." 

"I know very little of Vkandis. His church is made up of wise and good and generous people, but the only action I know to have been His is the theft of a dangerous weapon with which He now threatens me. Many gods desire the good of their followers, but not all of them do, and that Vkandis is one who does is not something I can trust in. If He is, He can say so. This is a reassurance that He ought to be eager to provide, I think, so that I may depart in peace, and Aroden does not feel compelled to send this world more help."

"I think your Aroden cannot actually reach us here, right now. I am sure you would be welcome to speak to the followers of other gods about Vkandis' intentions. I am also sure He is not the only god who is concerned about your presence here, simply the fastest to react." 

"If all the gods active here are of accord that I should go, and at least one of them credible in serving the people who worship them, I will. It appears to me that this war would have pressed on until either Predain took the Tower and triggered a catastrophe of a scale that destroyed the whole kingdom, or Tantara triggered one to stop them. I think a peace is the best route to stop that, and I fear for that peace if I leave. But the gods can see farther than I, and it could be, that it's better for me to go.

I can't abandon this peace off the word of one priesthood, even one I regard highly, because in my world of origin there is a god, called Asmodeus, who wants the obedience of humans only because he is flattered by possessing slaves, and hopes on death to capture their souls so he can torment them and reshape them into evil beings. He is a monster, and yet his church can tell whatever stories they like about him, and chooses not to tell that one. I do not suspect Vkandis of being any such kind of being -" his priests are mostly not Evil, which is a good sign - "and I'm sure that, from what you know of him and his faith, the idea must seem absurd, but it's the sort of thing I absolutely have to rule out, before giving my word.

I should further point out that while I will depart if that's what is best, the theft of the weapon does not incline me towards departure -- if anything, the opposite. I would depart far more readily were all the superweapons dismantled, and I feel some responsibility to see that done. If the thing you ask is in the interests of the people of Velgarth, there is no need to threaten me, and if it's not in the interests of the people of Velgarth, then no risk to my person would make me willing to bind Aroden to an oath to abandon them forever."

The priest sighs. (He still looks remarkably unworried, for someone having this particular conversation with a person who has demonstrated all of the terrifying powers that Iomedae has recently.) 

"I wish you would listen. I think it would have gone much better, that way; the risk is not solely on you. But if your god's precepts - or simply your own stubbornness - bind you not to consider the path that avoids conflict between us, then I am not sure we have much else to talk about. ...You have until dawn to reconsider." 

"It will take longer than that," she says patiently, "for me to confirm with the other gods of Velgarth that it is in the interests of the people of Velgarth for me to depart."

The young priest does not really seem to consider this his problem. 

(The elderly priest is making a small, stifled upset sound. The shock is probably not doing him any good; his face is grayish. He looks like he wants to say something and is not succeeding at making words happen.) 

You know, all right. Iomedae is going to make him nearly incapable of feeling fear, for the next few minutes. It's hotly disputed if the way she does this is even magic; she just meets his eyes and smiles steadily.

His eyes widen, and he blinks at her in obvious surprise, but then takes a deep breath and stands straighter. "Mage-Captain Ashuat, this - plan, if you can even call it that - appears to me to be a grave mistake. Are you that certain you understand our Sunlord's will better than the elders of the temple?" 

     The younger man looks back, levelly. "The judgement of the temple elders is not the same as our Lord's will. You know that as well as I do. In an emergency, we cannot be paralyzed waiting for the priesthood to convene and debate – we must act." 

"And I know the litany says that in troubled times, we must act decisively with courage on our convictions. But I think you are wrong, and what you're planning to do risks far, far more than could possibly be worth it." 

     An untroubled headshake. "I disagree. I think that our Sunlord sees further than either of us can." 

"This is a matter that the temple must discuss. You can't just - act unilaterally." 

     "On the contrary, it is the only thing I can do." 

"It's– you could get thousands of people killed, and - did you hear the story of what happened with the Fifth - it might be for nothing. Do you think you have any chance of surviving this? How can that be worth it?"

    Shrug. "If we die, it will be serving our Sunlord's will. He knows what needs to be done." 

The older priest takes a step forward. Looks earnestly . "Is there anything that would change your mind? If I convene the elders now? If I petition our Sunlord to send a vision and explain what He really meant?" 

     "You can do as you see fit. I know my part in this. I knew she would come to argue, and suspected that she would be stubborn and refuse any offer of mercy, even threaten our Sunlord in turn. So it is already too late to be undone." 

The elderly priest turns, abruptly, back to Iomedae. "I don't understand why this is happening or - know the true will of Vkandis, but surely it cannot be this. I think I need to convene the other elder priests of the temple order. I don't know if it will...do any good...but this - isn't all right. I'm sorry." 

"I understand. I am not angry with you, and I do not name Vkandis my enemy from the idiocy of one of his followers. Go now, with one of my escort who can Gate you, and convene them as urgently as you can. And I'll send just as urgently for the envoys of the other gods, so that if it is necessary that I depart from Velgarth I can learn it."

Urtho's mages are coordinating amongst themselves. They should...split up, probably? Half can go with the senior priest; if he wants to get the representatives of every major temple in every city, he's going to need a lot of Gates. 

They're not sure what else needs to be done but probably something? For one, it seems like the mages of the Thirteenth who were at Urtho's Tower, and presumably involved in the weapons theft, aren't even here – it's very confusing, they're not sure if that group already had orders when they were relocated, or if they received some sort of divine revelation directly from Vkandis and chose to act on it and pass a message back, or if the priest here also had a divine vision, he was - sort of talking like someone who was that sure?

But either way, it means the weapon isn't here, and they have no idea where it actually is or what the actual plan is for the threat that they've apparently set in motion and intend to carry out tomorrow morning at dawn. 

"I think that General Movat and Urtho should be informed of this subversion of Tantara's forces, not by Vkandis, whose high priests wisely reject this and whose council is rapidly assembling, but by a set of people claiming to represent Him; and Predain, of course, needs be informed, lest they take the detonation of the superweapon as an action of Tantara in violation of the ceasefire."

And she turns back to the young priest of Vkandis. "I would, if it's possible, much prefer to minimize collateral damage, and so I will identify a location far from any Gate-terminuses or other hazards, and uninhabited, where I will spend my time from sunrise to high noon tomorrow and on subsequent days, taking no further precautions against assassination than I take the rest of the time, including taking my sleep during those hours if I sleep. I'll cordially request that you try to kill me, if you're so inclined, during those hours."

A couple of the mages will rush off right now to inform General Movat, who will likely want to talk to Iomedae before she Gates out of his camp. They'll get a communication-spell message routed to Urtho with the highest urgency. After that, they...want to arrange for Iomedae to speak to the followers of other gods who might be able to request urgent divine advice? Normally getting divine revelations is not a thing you can demand on a schedule, but normally the followers of gods aren't stealing superweapons to try to threaten the most powerful defender of their country into abandoning them. 

(Urtho's people really quite badly don't want her to leave. They don't want a large swath of one or both countries to be destroyed either! It's a serious dilemma! ...They should, uh, probably clarify whether she's intending to park herself in an uninhabited region of Tantara or of Predain. Tantara...plausibly does not actually have any uninhabited regions large enough to contain a fireball that big, though they can perhaps try for a very frantic evacuation. Predain might but will also be very upset about it.) 

The young priest inclines his head in response to Iomedae's statement, but doesn't seem to consider it necessary to reply. (There is not, in fact, at this point a way for him to even pass that request on. They weren't being idiots; he has no way to contact the handful of mages responsible for the final, critical execution of this operation. They have a plan for tracking Iomedae, though, and when the deadline passes they're probably not going to be dawdling.)