The God of Penda's Slake

The God of Penda's Slake is an illegal god tied to the region of Penda's Slake, a woods outside of Marcel's Crossing.

Chapter 2
Peterson directs Carpenter and Faulkner in the direction of Penda's Slake, staing that though his brother was certain that it was the haunt of some god, they never found clear information.

Chapter 4
Carpenter heads into Penda's Slake, looking for the haunt. In her walk, first, she finds a transfigured elk of birch and bone, caught in snares. Next, she encounters Charity and Gareth, and they realise they are being pursued by snare-dogs. They either stumble upon, or are led to, a chapel, which Gareth suggests they can barricade themselves in. Carpenter recognises the chapel as likely being the very haunt of the god pursuing them, but Gareth blows off her warning and enters. Upon reading the prayer marks on the walls of the chapel, Gareth undergoes a miracle/sainthood (it is unclear which, or if such a distinction even applies for the God of Penda's Slake). He is compelled to repeat the line 'There's them that lead, and them that chase'. He is then vielently transfigured into an elk of birch and bone. He charges out, and is then attacked by snare-dogs, who morph into having 'tree-like legs' and faces 'split down the centre' with 'two long and winding jaws'. They lunge, one at a time, slowly wounding the elk until the largest of them splits the elk's jugular. Carpenter notes that this is part of the ritual. The dogs leave, and the carcass transforms. The antler and ribs become part of a birch tree, and ivy grows where the blood pools. They wait until Faulkner arrives on the nearby road, which Charity attempts to use to goad Carpenter down off the roof where they are waiting out of the snare-dogs' reach. Carpenter realises Charity's deception before getting off, and identifies Charity as a lure of the god of Penda's Slake. Charity hops off the roof, and the snare-dogs remain monstrous, and nuzzle at her. Carpenter realises she has a chance to draw Faulkner over, and sets the chapel alight, which agitates the snare-dogs. Carpenter then jumps from the roof to reach Faulkner, badly damaging her ankle. After she has entered the passenger seat, she feels teeth biting into her ankle, and sees Charity, on all fours, face split down the center. She kicks Charity off, and passes out.

Chapter 5
Chapter 5 opens with a monologue from Charity, who talks of the nature of her god, her upbringing, and sings a song in its name.

Chapter 9
Hayward and Daggler follow Carpenter's trail via Peterson, and Daggler misidentifies the ruins of the chapel as a church of the Trawlerman, though Hayward states there's almost nothing left of it.