Anevia squints. "There's the Prelate leading the fight on the other side. All is not lost!"

Except for Terendelev's corpse, that seems pretty lost. "I really hope whoever took Terendelev's body is an ally... The Prelate would have raised her by now, but Deskari cut off her head; maybe it's still missing." Her head is small enough for a Large demon to steal (not to mention Deskari himself), or even just to throw down into the chasm, and it's an obvious move to stop the crusaders from raising her.

"Who even could take her body? She's huge..." Seelah is really hoping to hear an answer besides the obvious one.

"Maybe someone Called a really strong outsider?" Yeah, she wouldn't bet on it, but she'd like to keep hoping while she can.

"Who is the Prelate?"

"Lord Prelate Hulrun Shappok. Governor of the city in Her Majesty Queen Galfrey's name, head of the Mendevian Inquisition - which is Iomedae's - and incidentally the strongest anti-demon fighter in the city after Terendelev, and one of the strongest in the country, at least out of those who actually work for the country. He's an inquisitor, not a paladin, but a really strong one."

"I think you know better where we should go next. Lead on."

"I think we should go over to the Prelate - around the chasm - but let's ask the people at Desna's really quickly if there's a reason we shouldn't."

Desna's temple is crowded with people seeking shelter; people who were at the festival, survived the initial attack, and wisely decided going home was too dangerous. It's defended by a mixed group of city guards, adventurers, and clerics; they can't make it 'everyone who can hold a weapon' because they do not, in fact, have enough weapons for everyone.

A man with Desna's butterfly pendant greets them at the door. His hair is curly and golden - almost literally so; it shines with a sourceless light that would do a member of the Golden Lineage proud.

"Anevia! I'm glad to see you well. What news?"

"I was hoping to ask the same of you! We all fell down the chasm Deskari opened, and just got back up. Do you know where Irabeth is, or what happened to Terendelev's body, or anything else that's more urgent than helping Hulrun?"

"I'm afraid Deskari took Terendelev's body with him when he teleported. Irabeth was fine last I saw; she took a second group of defenders to clear out the lower city. The Prelate has been fighting almost non-stop; I've used up almost all my spells on healing and we don't have many other clerics. Sunnestier is with the Prelate; Nestrin Alodae was in the cathedral when it fell; most of the others left with Irabeth to go to their own temples."

That's frankly better than she feared! 

"I'd like to introduce you to Lann and Wenduag. Lann, Wenduag, this is Voyager Ramien, cleric of Desna."

"They're of a people who call themselves the Neathers, descendants of the first crusaders who live underground below Kenabres, and who may soon come up to help us in our desperate hour. The Neathers all look different from each other, so if you see someone - like that - please don't assume they're demons or tieflings."

"Also, the Gray Garrison has cultists in it, and in the sewers under it. Don't go there for now. I think that's all the news I have that concerns everyone." Telling people about the at-large vrolikai doesn't seem like it would help morale, so Anevia takes Ramien aside for a moment to impart that bit of news.

She turns back to the party. "This is your chance to shelter in a relatively safe location while the crazier of us go help the Prelate and tell him about everything."