If you were charged with evangelizing to this fallen world, sanctioned by a god, would you shy away from admitting it? No! Loud and proud: beer for the beer god, disco for the Elysian throne!

'I am the voice of God. I am the will of Heaven.'

'Longswords are for people who can't cast Spiritual Weapon.'

'Heavy armor would be ideal but Ironskin and Cure Light Wounds are acceptable consolation prizes.'

Steel rings against steel in the coliseum, on the battlefield, in the lonely wilderness as the storm howls and all nature joins in harmony. A thousand breeds of monster crawl beneath the earth, dead things returned to menace the living, advancing from the lightless places towards civilization. This is all you have. Will you spill blood to protect it?

'I am the most clerical cleric in all the clergy.' Say it. Say it because it's true.

"I am the most clerical cleric in all the clergy," she whispers.

"What the f—"

She jabs him with the wand and believes in herself as hard as she possibly can.

"SHALALALALA!"

It still looks and feels like an ordinary stick, but the illusion that flickers over his skin like a mirage tells a different story.

"Ouch."

And since Abadar's Truthtelling doesn't force him to go on, that's all he has to say about that.

Gwen maintains a neutral expression.

"Name and occupation?"

"Cordell Birdwhistle. I work mornings and afternoons at the Cannon's Jaws."

"Can you tell us—"

"Who is the murderer?" she interjects.

"How should I know? I'm not the detective; that's your job."

"Are you the murderer?"

"Are you mad? Of course I'm not."

"What was your relationship with the victim, Cordell?"

"No relationship. I only saw him here once before he died, and we didn't exchange words."

"A man shows up in your tavern, then a few days later that same man turns up dead. Very suspicious. Why did you kill him?"

"Do I have to answer her?" he asks Gwen. "Is this mandatory?"

"The spell's duration is limited," she says, in case he actually expects an answer.

Gwen is privately bewildered by her partner's questions, but she's the one with decades of experience using truth-magic. She'll have to ask for her reasoning later.

"I did not kill him, I do not know who killed him, and I do not appreciate this line of inquiry."

It's not looking good for her 'Cordell is the murderer' theory. The main thing it has going for it is her very, very short list of suspects. Perhaps Cordell can help by expanding it.

"Has anyone arrived in or left Escadar recently? Anyone who stood out to you as shady or potentially murderous?"