Got a few theories now that I've replayed it again. I know the screenshots support and frame it according to my logic but there are a few ways a few conversations could be taken that I'm probably wrong.
My main take is that Hester and Ulrissa worked together to trap/tap into Ivala's power. This during the first war where the Church came to power, Hester sought out Ulrissa for help, who offered her a Goddess which allowed her to push the IE to a stalemate. Hester keeps the peace, Ulrissa goes to look into the tower or whatever she's doing and everyone benefits. Then comes Simon, who disrupts the plans they want so they feign neutrality and try and get on Simon's good side before stabbing him.
To support this. I thought Hester had trapped Ivala because she mentions her single eye grew more powerful.
https://a.pomf.cat/xayhni.png
And Hester has that monocle which could metaphorically represent an eye, or the only one working.
https://a.pomf.cat/kkvrmo.png
But Ulrissa. (A single eye like Magnimagic).
https://a.pomf.cat/jfzqfn.png
And Mithyn refers to Captors, Plural.
https://a.pomf.cat/llfupz.png
So yeah, I do think they've worked together.
https://a.pomf.cat/zvzang.png
And Hester did use Ivala's power for the massive firewall to halt IE's troops during the third invasion.
https://a.pomf.cat/doyoyo.png
https://a.pomf.cat/rcygsm.png
And then comes the crystal and the fallout from that. Needless to say, I'm looking forward returning to Ardoheim for Succession pt2 and investigating the crystal.
I've got some theories on some others.
Anak:
https://a.pomf.cat/qhjacd.png (This could be refering to Tanurak as well, hmm).
I think he currently has Zelica. During the Erosian war, Zelica was in the hands of the Great Sage, Tanurak met with him, who he chased off. However, the Sage was doing something or other, who knows maybe/not important. What is is that the Anak shows up and kills him, steals Zelica and proceeds to ramp up production of Theoson. If I had to guess, I'd say he was bleeding Zelica, Jade Empire Water Dragon style to extract divine essance or shards or whatever. And now that I think about, what if those Shining Swords are Theosons as well, just shards from Ivala instead of Zelica? Wynn says they'll eventually help so who knows.
https://a.pomf.cat/hhwoyn.png
It also kind of makes sense to me that any powerful enough mage will eventually enter the tower and encounter a Goddess or some shard, as Riala did, so I'm not surprised that the Sage may have found one and Ulrissa found one with Hester's help.
With the Second Gathering, he created Nyst and Skullpounder, who he based off of Skullcrusher I think, even if they both use the same image sets. I think he's creating artificial IK's that he has control over to help "keep balance", I also think Skullcrusher was a real IK during the first gathering without influence from Anak but he used the "from the Wilds of Renthnor" on Skullpounder so he could keep it mysterious.
Tanurak:
That first conversation is key I think, because he unknowingly tips his hand to Ivala, she raises the alarm to her captor (Singular? Is Mythyn wrong or is that an oversight on Sierra's part?) And since her captor/s is Hester/Ulrissa, they decide to act. Hester makes the crystal and taps into Ivala's power, strengthening the faith and the faithful against Tanurak's manipulation, while Ulrissa runs to Simon and points him towards Tanurak and says go get him.
https://a.pomf.cat/fghdax.png
https://a.pomf.cat/udkiey.png
https://a.pomf.cat/rikvgv.png
https://a.pomf.cat/uxwttq.png
Carina:
One member not locked yet and I think I can guess why. Remember how in the first chapter Carina was "guided" by Ivala, only to end up at the empty fortress and get corrupted, then Ivala stops talking to her. I don't think that Carina is a fragment of Ivala or anything like that but I do think she was manipulated to crossing paths with Simon because he needed someone with Holy Magic to work with him in the Tower, Ivala just moving Carina there so she could prove useful.
https://a.pomf.cat/yfjcfo.png
https://a.pomf.cat/kxixnf.png
Qum:
Favorite pink haired Succubus. She is one, from what I can tell. But having replayed I think I have a theory on her. Let me break this into segments.
Origin:
So we know she was captured by the Feroholm soldiers and was given her name by other Succubi, but what was she before that. it is a mystery. Let me by stating that I think she could be a Goddess, or even more likely an aspect of the tower. I draw this from the evidence available and how she acts.
https://a.pomf.cat/hzjrek.png
https://a.pomf.cat/qgtwkk.png
https://a.pomf.cat/uiedcs.png
Now I don't know if she's a straight "Mother of Succubi" Goddess but considering how warm and fuzzy Qum is by nature, her resulting children are like that. If she's an aspect of the tower, it would be of love and affection because of how she seems to just love everyone and wants everyone to get along.
Should also be noted the Lady of House Rose said there wasn't a racial Goddess for halflings and Antiala is just a construct, so maybe not Goddess.
Seeing Magic:
Qum's always been able to see the "pretties" meaning she has a unique way of seeing the world. It strikes me that she knows of Tower Magic, meaning that at one point she may have faced the same "reality" that Alonon did but instead of growing apathetic, it diminished her Intelligence to that of the Qum of today.
https://a.pomf.cat/fyrqhb.png
https://a.pomf.cat/xiwjdg.png
https://a.pomf.cat/trlhii.png
https://a.pomf.cat/sxygwp.png
Also I think this is a Freudian slip but if she knew the other Goddess as sisters, as the mother did:
https://a.pomf.cat/sghcwm.png
https://a.pomf.cat/xoqqlz.png
Mindset:
The bomb during 3AW gave the people around her a chance to experience her mind. And again, magic on that scale is like a Goddess but since she's under-powered she can't affect everyone for long, just enough to be useful.
https://a.pomf.cat/bgiweu.png
https://a.pomf.cat/elazfi.png
https://a.pomf.cat/uejlga.png
Tower Magic:
She has her unique way of seeing but I think she's been in the Tower before, which is why it seems familiar to her. There's this conversation during the Erosian Crisis that maybe explains something. It seems if she's an affectionate part of the Tower, the other Goddess eventually found their way in as well.
https://a.pomf.cat/squseo.png
https://a.pomf.cat/pbrous.png
https://a.pomf.cat/euquqe.png
Little Girl Connection:
Qum says that it's several sparkles staked ontop of each other. So even there Qum can kind of see what it is but not necessarily what it means.
https://a.pomf.cat/xxktja.png
https://a.pomf.cat/zlmsol.png
So in short, I think she's some sort of Goddess of Affection who went too deep into the tower, saw the same reality that Alonon did and ended up with Simon which is why so much seems familiar to her or is a force of the tower that represents unrepressed love and affection and entered the world like Ginasta did. Because Simon represent the "Terrible Warmth" Tyrant and a tower force dedicated to affection would be attracted to someone who's building a world where everyone can have more sex.
Little Girl:
Last one. This one is a bit tricky as I don't have all the conversations yet, but I suspect she's a refraction of a Goddess, latching onto Simon because warms up to him and then eventually asks for a Divine Shard. I'm not sure what Goddess she's a part of and what that something vast is, but if I had to guess, I'd say Ivala and an Incubus King like him can get into the prison to rescue her because she's trapped high up in the divine or outside it or something. Could also be from Zelica and this is her attempt at getting free from Anak. So not sure.
Also I do trust her, because of "more than you CAN know." Meaning that someone like Ivala has this planned out but can't tell Simon because her plan relies on him being the cautious type he is. If he knew that Ulrissa would backstab, Anak has Zelica and Hester is manipulating the entire continent, that would force him into long protracted battles but instead, he's been rolling over IK's in order of strength so pieces on the board are removed slowly but methodically. First IE, the FLord, then Esthera and Lustlord. Next Anak, then Hester/Ulrissa and Tanurak along the way. I think. And then he'll finally have access to the prison. I'm not sure where the little girl is in all this but she does play some part at the preservation of a Goddess and/or something that works in Simon's favor.
https://a.pomf.cat/ixamwb.png
https://a.pomf.cat/wmylxm.png
https://a.pomf.cat/zymtsf.png
https://a.pomf.cat/iuhkdx.png
https://a.pomf.cat/mqddqz.png
https://a.pomf.cat/dwnacc.png
https://a.pomf.cat/oiqmtf.png
https://a.pomf.cat/tqtdqz.png
And that's it. Can't see ahead but I'm pretty sure Hester does have Ivala and Ulrissa is not to be trusted. Anak will probably be next major IK to fall and if he has Zelica, even better. Also rescue Mythyn at some stage if Tanurak is targeting her.
I bloody enjoy this game though, haven't put 200+ hours into something in awhile.