Priestess
Phallasma III, who begat a daughter, Selma Cairne, a powerful witch.
Selma and her husband John Petty Parminter, the great-grandson of
Exodesian Lodin, wished to spearhead a 1939 expedition into Exodesia
– well before the Bradcrofts. But they weren't nearly as mentally
or spiritually prepared as the Bradcrofts. Their expedition included:
Grey, a teen of immense magickal promise; her lover, Basil; Selma and
John Petty Parminter; Selma's sisters Ainwe and Anowre and their
husbands, the occult book collectors Rainer and Werner Faust, who
were brothers. The party was captured and tortured by the Obscuros.
Grey offered her life and that of her lover and son if the others
could go. Priest Assias was not thrilled, but he capitulated. Selma
blessed her child and departed; she also bonded with her mother
Phallasma, who favored her granddaughter Grey.

The small family unit stayed
butBasil was put to death for heresy in 1953 for studying the Presence
Vaikuntha. Grey was afraid for her young son, and they fled
Exodesia. Grey had been converted to Hinduism just before Basil's
death. The mother and boy had also been delving into the legend of
Vaikuntha, as well as his defeat 1000 years earlier by the original Black Cabal (a group that
forged a seemingly indestructible sword and amulet). Grey forsook the Exodesians and sought out Vaikuntha. She
invoked his worship to gain revenge, realizing Urias would have her
dead. Grey took Vance to Gossingham MA, near Hallmark. Faustine, ill
at this time, was divesting her share of the curio shoppe to Cary, as
noted previously.

Cary Bradcroft welcomed Grey
Parminter Orlison with open arms – very open, as they began an
affair. However, they always distrusted each