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[Ebiris]

"You have been overseeing this mountain for years, so any strange new feelings probably can be laid at your divine nature. We're supposed to be stewards of Creation after all," Alicia says. "There's no sin in taking charge or ruling over others. Hierarchy is natural."

[Anastasia]

"I don't mean it to be a sin," Antenora agrees, watching several devas carry great slabs of stone through the air. "Even if it comes from my deepest, most elemental and diabolical nature, I will see to it that it produces only righteousness. It's merely food for thought."

As the two of you watch the work for a short time, "Alicia, Antenora offered me a place here, to live and to learn when I am not busy with my other duties. May I have your blessing to do so?"

[Ebiris]

"If Antenora has offered then of course I give it my blessing," she turns to Emmaline. "I hope you find peace and wisdom here on our holy mountain."

[Anastasia]

"Thank you, my lady," Emmaline bows to you.

Antenora smiles slowly as she watches, the winds blowing, "Alicia, I also seek your advice on granting spells to my faithful. How it is done and began? I recall your first efforts with Syala."

[Ebiris]

"It's actually not hard at all," Alicia smiles, turning to Antenora. "You think a cleric doesn't work as hard as a wizard to master her magic? No, most of the mystical potency comes from the caster, you're doing little more than giving it your stamp of approval. Have you heard many prayers yet?"

[Anastasia]

"Some, with varying levels of clarity," Antenora admits ruefully, "As if a sending spell with interference from planar energies. They are slowly becoming clearer as I focus on them."

[Ebiris]

Alicia nods. "Okay, well one thing first is to set a holy time for you when they should be praying as when you'll be granting their spells. It doesn't have to be the same for everyone but there should be consistency. Azuth for instance grants spells at dusk, for Mystra it can be any time chosen by the worshipper - I used dusk myself for my own prayers. Really dusk and dawn are most common because they're easy to mark no matter where you are. So decide that yourself so you can set clear expectations with your followers. Ritual and consistency are important for them as well," she begins to explain.

[Anastasia]

"Dawn," Antenora says, no hesitation there at all. "With the first light of the morning that banishes the night."

[Ebiris]

"A thematic choice," Alicia agrees. "Which is important. Now once you have a routine it's easy enough - you'll hear prayers for specific spells along with all the other prayers you receive and you just approve them - those prayers have a different character than more mundane prayers, though you can deny or change them if you feel it needed. Don't worry about being overwhelmed, you'll be able to absorb and handle it all without effort. For actually starting that off you need to make clear your expectations in turn. You can give omens and messages to followers or prospective followers in various ways, or send messengers or heralds to provide more direct instruction on matters of faith. I used a mixture of the two in growing my faith, usually omens and miracles for initial contact before having someone appear in various guises shortly after to give those affected more direct guidance as to how I'd like my word and works to be spread."

[Anastasia]

Antenora absorbs all that and then says, "How much guidance do they need once they get started? I assume that lessens once the faith is properly established and the dogma is settled?"

[Ebiris]

"It depends on you, but ideally you want it to be self-perpetuating and self-growing, yes," Alicia nods, this a bit off the topic of granting spells but still important. "Some deities will remain hands on even then while others prefer to be more remote, it's really just a matter of your own preference and your worshipper's expectations. Would you like to try answering my clerics' prayers?" she offers. "Dusk is falling over Pallanth and in a few other places I'm worshipped so I've been granting a few while we've been talking and it's still going on. I can delegate to you so you can honour them in my stead."

[Anastasia]

"Please," Antenora smiles warmly at that, "A few minor ones, let me start simple in case something goes awry."

[Ebiris]

Alicia nods and connects one of her current devotions to Antenora. Clara Eointir is a half elf paladin living in eastern Pallanth who's resting at an inn after a recent adventure with some friends dealing with a nest of wyverns that were preying on outlying farms. Aside from actually showing devotion she's only praying to regain a few lesser restoration spells and making sure her special mount is okay, so it should be straightforward enough.

In point of fact Swifthoof is contentedly grazing in a paddock at the foot of the mountain right now.

[Anastasia]

To this you feel Antenora's will stretch out, connecting as invited.

> roll 1d20+14 Antenora Charisma
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 34 > [d20=20]

Maybe...Antenora's just good at being a deity? Go figure. The dice sure drive her that way.

It's as natural as if you did it, the magic given with a faint pulse. "That was so easy," Antenora breathes after.

[Ebiris]

"Of course it was," Alicia smiles gently. "It's what we were made for."