"Nine people missing from Ulhav, down the river. We last went there in early Desnus, to deal with the ghouls. Likely their local necromancer is back." Valerian explained promptly, moving over to where she stood by the fire. 

He knew that she often forgot the geography of the nearby lands. City-born and raised, so while she trivially remembered the layout within, the names and overall nature of the land slipped from her mind. “Will we be able to kill him this time? Is Kato coming as well?” Kato and Valerian always had their issues, but they worked well together.

“No. He's studying under one of the count's Wizards.”

“Most likely we won't need him. If the necromancer managed to be raised, assuming he did die last time, then he should be down a few levels. He's going to be capturing peasants in order to build back some of his defenses, though he could also have an apprentice given the number missing.”

Okay, so one of the count's Wizards was a necromancer and/or vampire. That's the only reason Kato would study under someone rather than work it out by himself.

She doesn't mention this to Valerian, however.

"Jacques could be trying for some sort of undead monstrosity, it has been months." Necromancers with delusions of grandeur of being the next Tar-Baphon were tiring, especially since that aspiration usually faltered by being stabbed, but that also means they'd maybe take risks like 'trying this obscure necromantic ritual I dug up'; or the smarter ones used their six-month-long sabbatical to make a deal with some of Geb's liches.

“Unless he's found a backer, I don't think he's the type to manage that by himself in any short period of time.” Implicit was also that if he had they were immediately leaving and calling in bigger guns. Liches were in some ways dangerous just from being a Lich, but a majority of that was in fact the 'you have to be at least a decently powerful Wizard'. Most likely, Jacques had simply returned from the dead or managed to avoid getting killed in the first place.

“True. Probably just the normal raise undead slaves and performing horrific experiments. When are we leaving?”

“Tomorrow morning. Prepare Phantom Steed for the two of us. I'll be here in the morning.”

Then, without further comment, he left the inn. His work often had him away for hours at a time, ranging from late night to odd hours in even stranger places.

Delphine sighed, and went back to her room. She often felt like something was missing in Ustalav.

After serving at the Worldwound for two years, she had left to find some place where she could contribute to the protection and improvement of. Rather than give her sword over to Lastwall to direct, she had hoped (perhaps vainly) that there would be opportunities that she could dig up that Lastwall was simply too far away to focus on efficiently.

She could leave. Head back to gleaming Lastwall once more and offer up her services. Perhaps even finally swear herself to being a Paladin, or become an Inquisitor like Valerian (though of a better Goddess). She could return to the Worldwound, but this last year of constant adventuring had done wonders for her level advancement (and wealth, but much of that was being donated to the Church of Iomedae).

Putting it off for another day, she climbed in bed. Reaching into her pack which she carried with her everywhere (she did not carry enough for it to be worthwhile to purchase a Bag of Holding), she pulled out The History and Future of Humanity. Possibly she would find some insight within that, which she just needed to read again.

There's a thin book with a metal clasp, a rose imprinted upon it.

Rather than question herself, she immediately drops the book onto the floor and casts Detect Magic.

Nothing.

Hesitantly, she grabs the unlit candlestick and poke it open.

The inside pages are empty. The paper does look shockingly high quality, though.

Right. Who could have planted this on her, and why. Pickpockets for some absurd reason leaving a counterweight to make her not notice? (She took a quick glance into her bag, but her copies of Aroden's and Iomedae's holy book were still there, along with her Spellbook and money) 

The rose on the front made her think of Milanites, especially with the thorns. Was it some absurd attempt to incite her to visit the church?

Hesitantly, she picked it up and quickly glanced through the pages.

Nothing!

Right. Unlikely that they forgot to write out recruitment pamphlets (especially on such nice paper).

… Did it have some secret message, and it was passed to her by mistake? Hand it off to some noble who won't be questioned about secretly worshiping Milani? Rather ostentatious for that.

Was the book intended for her? She hadn't been to Milani's church once, except for that time when the orphanage brought the children to one of every Church of the Good/Neutral Gods in Cassomir. Delphine was not completely not-a-Milani-follower, she'd gladly fight against a terrible government or Evil, but Delphine knew she certainly tended significantly closer to the Iomedean methods.

Giving a sigh, she settled into bed. She would need more spells to investigate by herself, and she might need to ask the Church of Milani if they knew about this.

Sleep came very slowly. Worries about whether it was time-relevant came to her.

By the next morning, she prepared several spells. Including one she didn't often find need to use.

See Invisibility

There's no invisible ink.

However, something does happen.

Hello? Are you there?

What? Delphine stares for nearly a minute trying to think about who and why and how. 

Was this some absurd variation of Magic Mouth?

She cast Detect Magic again.

Nothing.

That tingles.

“Can you hear me?” No reply.

Right. Of course. Write in the scary magical maybe-artifact book. She would not write her name, though she doubts even Hell could make that be considered a sufficient signature.

Who sent you, and for what purpose?

She writes, once she manages to find a quill and ink pot.

I was sent by the Spirit of Femininity Unleashed! I'm here to offer you its power!

What. Also, since it replied immediately and in a relevant manner, this was possibly even scarier than some obscure or designed variant of Magic Mouth. Bidirectional information magic artifacts would be amazing for organization.

What is the 'Spirit of Femininity Unleashed'? What alignment are they? Why are they offering me power? What do they get in return?

Her top hypothesis was 'dream'. Her next actionable one was that this was a Demon ploy to give her power then send her back to the Worldwound to then betray them to the Abyss. Right after that was this being a soul trapped within a notebook by some Lich who really wanted to fuck with her. This being truthful was barely within consideration.

They are kinda like a Goddess! Of being pretty and powerful in feminine ways, and letting those that are empowered become more like that!

She doesn't really have an alignment per se, but she'd probably be Chaotic Neutral.

You were chosen by the Spirit, and I was given to you as an avatar to guide you in choosing how you want your powers to be expressed! Especially in ways that are in the spirit of femininity unleashed. She does not require you to give her anything or let her influence you, beyond whatever you literally agree to!