Don't look right at it but there is an invisible demon about ten feet our left, is it worth engaging before we get where we're going?

...probably not. It's worth stopping it from getting into the Heart but if it doesn't try that it doesn't seem worth the risk it's stronger than us.

So they will BLITHELY IGNORE THE INVISIBLE DEMON en route.

The major gods around here are Abadar - banks, trade, cities - Iomedae - war, where it's not stupid or Evil - Gorum - war, no such restrictions - Torag, dwarf god of honor - Pharasma - birth and death - Sarenrae - healing and redemption - and Erastil - farm and family.

Huh. Biggest names where I'm from were a god of, like, humans and their salvation, and a nature god? Plus lots of less popular ones.

- we had a god of humans but He died, caused all kinds of problems. There's a nature god, Gozreh. Probably His worship is big in some places but Mendev's at war with the Abyss so we are inclined towards gods with an interest in that.

Our god of humans also died - he did some thing about incarnating as a human and then dying and then coming back as a god for some reason that never made sense to me.

Huh. If ours is doing that He hasn't gotten to the part where He came back yet. But He died a hundred years ago and that's when the Worldwound opened and a ton of other terrible stuff happened and now the world sucks. I don't know all that much about it, honestly. Irabeth's Iomedae's and She really seems like by far the most reasonable god, if you must pick one.

And must you?

Hmmm? No. Mendev bans some faiths but doesn't require any.

Oh, that's a relief, I need more than the one sentence blurb to really get to know a god.

I have never really seen the appeal myself, outside the case where they're giving you powers. 

They're the best game in town for that at home, too, if what you want is healing. Physical healing.

Healing and clean water and the ability to smite demons. Paladins are pretty much invaluable at the border. 

The Defender's Heart is a two story building, an inn and tavern with a courtyard, a tall wall, and anxious archers posted on all the roofs. It's densely packed with resting soldiers and frightened civilians. People recognize Anevia, and only side-eye Bella a little. 

Only three of the civilians sheltering inside are secretly demons!

Three demons in here.

Thank you. Point them out to me and I'll tell Irabeth's people?

That one - that one - and that one there - and maybe have them go after them out one at a time so the other two don't know they're made?

Yeah, we'll try to draw them away from the civilians with some excuse and then ambush them in a meeting room or something, one at a time. Do you have a sense of how dangerous they are?

No, I can't read them more closely or they'll fry my brain.

Understood. We'll handle it. And she goes off to talk to some people.

Bella is going to find somewhere to sit down. Her boots are very comfortable but she has been tromping a lot.

There's not enough space for all the people sheltering here to sleep at once but there's space to sit. There are children crying, and slightly older children playing, and slightly-older-than-that children looking after the little ones, and injured people, and elderly people. Not all that many able-bodied adults, aside from the guards Anevia is now talking to.

There's a bar serving stew and bread and beer and - clothes? Trinkets? Maybe it's just a general purpose store right now. 

Are they charging?

Not for food, yes for everything else.

She'll take some bread and stew, then, and then go see if there are any immediate child complaints she can address.