It is going to be interesting...

First things first, will be finding an rescuing Melissance, he implied that in Book III, and I happen to have overheard him in Book IV.

Of course finding one person in the vastness of the Abyss may prove tricky, although, from Book III, apparently not as tricky as I would have thought.

I will say that there are going to be a number of shifting loyalties in Book IV

Incidentally see the BB/ button up above, that will insert codes for things like

I don't remember Talarius being made an Apostle of Doom. Did I miss that? Well, I'm halfway through a re-read of Bk3. I'll just be sure and mark it when I see it this time.

Here are my options for what happens to Talarius:

1 - He remains a loyal, if much more critical, and vocal member of the Rod
2 - He switches loyalty to Tommus
3 - He becomes a member of the El Ohim, seeing as that's about the only method that gods can be officially taken to task.
4 - He becomes Mellisance's personal foot rubber
5 - Due to a refusal, or inability to accept all of the Truths that's been dumped on him, he decides to throw logic out the window and become a disciple of Tizzy. Ruiden assumes golem form and becomes a scarecrow in Tizzy's weed garden.

Hmmm.

1- Likely. Though I think he'll be MUCH more critical. In fact, this may be the best outcome for the Rod.
2- Possible. He really is starting to see Tom as a model of Honor.
3- Possible, but I don't see this as likely. Just doesn't seem in character. Not at the moment, anyway.
4- No. That train has left the station. For him, and especially for her. Her Stabby Toy, maybe.
5- ROFLMAO.

I'll as soon say to wait and see, so i would. However 1 and 2, in terms of criticality and at the very least following Tom until he sorts himself out.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, the hilarity that would ensue!

Well, since Doom doesn't do resurrections that would be our only option to get him back.

Of course, he can't die in the Abyss, so it would have to happen on a material plane at which point it's a race between Tom and Hilda to see who gets to him first!

She (or any of the other avatars or major priests--Teragdor, Iskerus) could ressurrect him normally, Tom would have to D'Orc him.

Hmm, writing that down and seeing it in print, it just struck me for the first time in 70,000 years that that may sound a little obscene.

Well, that actually brings up a small discussion in CoA:ITW.

All the gods and their priests can do resurrections, but if it's complicated, you go to a priest of Hendel, they are the best healers.

All priests can heal, but they have specializations other than healing that are attuned to their gods. E.g. Hilda has lots of combat rituals/powers. Torean's people do tracking, location, and hunting, etc. Krinna's do wind related/Enchantment things, Namora's do water and Sorcery related things.

In the case of the 5 Siblings, they are true elemental affiliated deities so their priests can do things similar to what wizards of the same element can do, plus healing/and or other combinations.

Actually CoA goes into quite a bit of discussion on resurrection, since it's something that Kristof has to think about quite a bit. Both of his parent's sides have had serious resurrection issues/experience. His father, the Emperor has access to the best healers in Astlan, from Hendel, and they've had remarkably bad luck with bring back his former wives....his mother's father loses heirs at a rather alarming rate to "unrecoverable deaths" I.e. situations where resurrection doesn't work.

I thought CoA:ItW was supposed to be released Jan 31st, but I don't see it yet. Probably be Soon™.

Can't see that there'd be any main character cameos at this time, though there'll likely be some mention of the shenanigans around Freehold. Iskerus mentioned in Bk3 some of the goings-on in ItW before he got drafted to Nysegard.

Dear Tizzy, may I suggest opening an Abyssal gate and holding TAG's feet in the Abyss every time he starts to gape?