I think you are rather overestimating the tolerance for magical shit (TM) that the average human diplomat is willing to deal with. Basically from the cradle people in this setting are taught that is you see anything weird you run, not walk, to the nearest priest and make it their problem. Peasants in the back an beyond might substitute hedge mage and nobles wizard, but the principle is the same, magic is scary as are those who wield it, nevermind embody it like spirits.
That's why it's important that in the Empire the important rivers have gods, so the diplomat can go and talk to their cult, and the cult's priest goes to their god.
It's only in exceptional cases where you need people to talk directly to a strange spirit, and that's where
It's also the big disadvantage, because it gives the priests more influence.
The Sigmarites were front and center in the kill-squad last time the Colleges were outlawed.
Some wizards are old enough to remember that, most others got taught by one of those.
Having the Emperor/Elector Counts get the Cults involved with something valuable to do in the deployment of the Waystones and so inside the tent rather than criticising from outside may be valuable on its own.
And you probably wouldn't go with the Sigmarities, more likely you'd go with the Cult of Verena or Shallya (Waystones as preventative medicine), etc.
And priests of the major cult aren't required, they're one option amongst many for talking to the cults of the river gods.
Fundamentally, negotiating with the cults of the river gods doesn't need to be our problem. Keeping those gods/spirits content is something the leadership of the provinces their rivers flow through already need to do to avoid boats on them losing the ability to float. Managing the relationship with those cults should be part of business as usual for them, just as it would be for all the local influential cults, not something Mathilde needs to invent. We should just be able to go to an Elector Count who goes to their piety advisor who goes to the relevant high priest.
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