[Shionne is too smart to go about this kind of thing without looking at it from all angles...and yet, even knowing that, Alphen still worries just a bit about how it could end up. He already risked plenty by giving an offering to those gods -- the idea of relying on them, even a little...it makes him pretty wary.]

That sounds like as good a starting place as any. Hopefully he'll have some insight. If not, maybe someone else here does.

[And in the meantime, maybe they need to get good at doing research. He pauses, hesitates to add anything else, but knowing he's going to worry over it either way, he eventually decides to add,]

Shionne...if you do decide to work with those deities, let us know first, alright? I want to do everything we can to prepare for the worst, even if we're hoping for the best.