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<blockquote data-quote="Corey" data-source="post: 1008034" data-attributes="member: 140"><p><strong>Cato goes calling</strong></p><p></p><p>The White Sanctum sits on a small hill just south of Phrada’s Great Market. While the work is less impressive than that of Jehna’s Sanctum, its white walls induce a pleasant sense of peace in Cato’s chest.</p><p></p><p>Inside, he is greeted, offered water, and invited to pray until the Sanctist can respond to his request for a meeting. After an hour Sanctist Zakariyah, a handsome older man with distinctly Median features, comes and sits, politely waiting for Cato to complete his devotions.</p><p></p><p>Cato thanks Zakariyah for the attention he has paid to the refugee’s spiritual well-being. The old man responds in a manner similar to Sanctist Naraka- a shrug, he is happy to be the instrument of Avasara’a mercy.</p><p></p><p>Cato then discusses the unity that is necessary to defeat the Ghinn, especially where the Eternal Hierarchy and the Dissenting School are concerned.</p><p></p><p> "Everyone is the enemy of the One Enemy,” Cato says, “and nothing would please him more than to see Avasara's servants bicker among themselves."</p><p></p><p>Zakariyah accepts this advice with a smile, politely reminding the enthusiastic young man before him that the servants of the Hierarchy have not been seen east of the Cassandric Empire in twenty years, since the Bastiyaanis threw the imperials out.</p><p>Cato then invites the Sanctist to come to the blessing of the ramshackle sanctum in the slums.</p><p></p><p>“Is there a new one?” the old man asks. “Sanctist Aeschylus and I just convened prayers in a newly dedicated Sanctum in the Empty Quarter last week. We’re it not for the pressing importance of plowing and fortifying the city my charges would be repairing it already. ”</p><p> </p><p>Later, talking with Aeschylus, Cato sees his former mentor break into hysterical laughter. Several times he gains control of himself only to look at Cato and fall apart again. </p><p></p><p>“My dear brother, may Avasara love you and Arrousha’s words guide your life,” Aeschylus finally says. “Naraka instructed me to see to lead the Sanctum shortly after you left on your mysterious mission. Having seen the Perfect People, I think Sanctist Zakariyah’s Redeemer ideas are impractical but he is a good man, almost as good as Naraka. He was probably biting his tongue not to tell you to come and speak to me.”</p><p></p><p>Aeschylus hugs his former student. Through the hug Cato can sense tremendous gratitude. It has probably been weeks since the older man laughed.</p><p></p><p>Cato quickly learns that an audience with the Council of Tyrants will take a month to acquire. </p><p></p><p>Those whose minds were emptied in the strange events around Metazerne’s encampment are physically well under Sanctist Aeschylus’s care. Indeed, Aspirant Naraka can be seen preparing food for those who have none. His language skills remain incomplete, but his smile is broader- less burdened- than it was before.</p><p></p><p>It is getting late when Cato arrives at the home of Kamshad Tissaphrenes. The house is large and its painted façade leaves no doubt that wealth resides within. The door guard is deferential to the servant of Avasara and happily relays the message that Alexandra of Jehna has a guest. </p><p></p><p>Inside, Cato is taken past a beautiful fountain, frescos of fields, and walls colored in light blues and deep reds. Guiding him into a room adorned with a simple low table and couches for reclining built out from the walls, an iron-collared slave asks him to wait.</p><p></p><p>A period of silence is followed by a joyful bellow, after which Cyrus appears. The aging soldier wraps Cato in a powerful embrace before recovering his composure.</p><p></p><p>It seems word of Cyrus’s service to Cassandra and deeds performed during the Battle of Nezad reached the right ears. He is assisting the Tyrants by training their soldiers. </p><p></p><p>“Scruffy, shameful, and marked for death,” he concludes. Such acclaim from the old man is rare. Deinon, he relates, charged him with protecting Alexandra and sent them from the city shortly after Cato left. </p><p></p><p>When he learns of Cato’s intent to speak to Jehna’s refugees, he puts a protective arm around the younger man.</p><p></p><p>“Now I can’t stop you, but I think you’re not fully considering what happened up there. Epiphilates, the Ionian faction’s choice to replace Ixion, betrayed the city twice. First, he pulled them out of the vendetta with the Tadus when Ionian numbers were needed. Then there was this business of letting the enemy walk into Jehna and slaughter these people’s kin. Now, you have a good reputation- serving in the Sanctum and your recent victories. But some folk might not see that, they might see an upstart Ionian. They almost tore Aeschylus apart when they first got here. Let ‘em cool off for a bit.</p><p></p><p>“Plus, I’ll let you in on a not-so-secret secret. The Tyrants of Phrada are good and just, but why did they let the tribes in? Seha and his boys have been raiding their trade for years. Now, strategy was always the province of people more educated than me, but I’d guess having the Duraani warriors in the mountains causing the Perfect People headaches- and getting them to think of things other than Phrada- passed through the Tyrant’s minds at some point. Phrada benefits in more ways than spiritually by taking them in.</p><p></p><p>“About Deinon, his loincloth was always a bit tight and his head was filling with that Ionian purity foolishness- but he would never betray Jehna.” </p><p></p><p>At this point Alexandra radiantly enters the room. She is overwhelmed and spends a long time crying on her brother’s shoulder, stopping only when a slave brings wine and food. </p><p></p><p>Finally, she tells Cato of the kindness Kamshad Tissaphrenes is showing her. He is an honorable host and is donating food from his personal stores to the refugees. Alexandra has her own servant and a new wardrobe. She has yet to venture out of the house much, preferring to spend her time weaving blankets for Jehna’s refugees on a loom in the women’s section of the house.</p><p></p><p>Cyrus accompanies Cato to the barracks of Iskander’s Legion. The complex of buildings is located near the Lion’s Gate where the party originally entered the city.</p><p></p><p>The note of introduction and Cyrus’s well-dropped references to the Immortal Band and Nezad gain the pair quick access to Iskander. The mercenary is surprising mild mannered and refined. Seeing the letter, he offers Cato space in the barracks and hearty congratulations on ridding the world of Metazernes. To the news Cato has already gained, Iskander adds that Bastiyaan has yet to see a nomad incursion into its territory this year. Usually almost as soon as Spring’s Onset arrives so do the nomads. </p><p></p><p>It is well after the middle part of the night when the two emerge from the barracks. Exchanging a fond goodnight, they each head for bed.</p><p></p><p>*********************************************</p><p>DM’s notes:</p><p>Regarding your desire to see Aeschylus' Sanctum, please see the introduction to this thread. </p><p></p><p>If you wish to make a speech, I will assume some of the people will gather to hear you, write it and I’ll let you know about the response.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Corey, post: 1008034, member: 140"] [b]Cato goes calling[/b] The White Sanctum sits on a small hill just south of Phrada’s Great Market. While the work is less impressive than that of Jehna’s Sanctum, its white walls induce a pleasant sense of peace in Cato’s chest. Inside, he is greeted, offered water, and invited to pray until the Sanctist can respond to his request for a meeting. After an hour Sanctist Zakariyah, a handsome older man with distinctly Median features, comes and sits, politely waiting for Cato to complete his devotions. Cato thanks Zakariyah for the attention he has paid to the refugee’s spiritual well-being. The old man responds in a manner similar to Sanctist Naraka- a shrug, he is happy to be the instrument of Avasara’a mercy. Cato then discusses the unity that is necessary to defeat the Ghinn, especially where the Eternal Hierarchy and the Dissenting School are concerned. "Everyone is the enemy of the One Enemy,” Cato says, “and nothing would please him more than to see Avasara's servants bicker among themselves." Zakariyah accepts this advice with a smile, politely reminding the enthusiastic young man before him that the servants of the Hierarchy have not been seen east of the Cassandric Empire in twenty years, since the Bastiyaanis threw the imperials out. Cato then invites the Sanctist to come to the blessing of the ramshackle sanctum in the slums. “Is there a new one?” the old man asks. “Sanctist Aeschylus and I just convened prayers in a newly dedicated Sanctum in the Empty Quarter last week. We’re it not for the pressing importance of plowing and fortifying the city my charges would be repairing it already. ” Later, talking with Aeschylus, Cato sees his former mentor break into hysterical laughter. Several times he gains control of himself only to look at Cato and fall apart again. “My dear brother, may Avasara love you and Arrousha’s words guide your life,” Aeschylus finally says. “Naraka instructed me to see to lead the Sanctum shortly after you left on your mysterious mission. Having seen the Perfect People, I think Sanctist Zakariyah’s Redeemer ideas are impractical but he is a good man, almost as good as Naraka. He was probably biting his tongue not to tell you to come and speak to me.” Aeschylus hugs his former student. Through the hug Cato can sense tremendous gratitude. It has probably been weeks since the older man laughed. Cato quickly learns that an audience with the Council of Tyrants will take a month to acquire. Those whose minds were emptied in the strange events around Metazerne’s encampment are physically well under Sanctist Aeschylus’s care. Indeed, Aspirant Naraka can be seen preparing food for those who have none. His language skills remain incomplete, but his smile is broader- less burdened- than it was before. It is getting late when Cato arrives at the home of Kamshad Tissaphrenes. The house is large and its painted façade leaves no doubt that wealth resides within. The door guard is deferential to the servant of Avasara and happily relays the message that Alexandra of Jehna has a guest. Inside, Cato is taken past a beautiful fountain, frescos of fields, and walls colored in light blues and deep reds. Guiding him into a room adorned with a simple low table and couches for reclining built out from the walls, an iron-collared slave asks him to wait. A period of silence is followed by a joyful bellow, after which Cyrus appears. The aging soldier wraps Cato in a powerful embrace before recovering his composure. It seems word of Cyrus’s service to Cassandra and deeds performed during the Battle of Nezad reached the right ears. He is assisting the Tyrants by training their soldiers. “Scruffy, shameful, and marked for death,” he concludes. Such acclaim from the old man is rare. Deinon, he relates, charged him with protecting Alexandra and sent them from the city shortly after Cato left. When he learns of Cato’s intent to speak to Jehna’s refugees, he puts a protective arm around the younger man. “Now I can’t stop you, but I think you’re not fully considering what happened up there. Epiphilates, the Ionian faction’s choice to replace Ixion, betrayed the city twice. First, he pulled them out of the vendetta with the Tadus when Ionian numbers were needed. Then there was this business of letting the enemy walk into Jehna and slaughter these people’s kin. Now, you have a good reputation- serving in the Sanctum and your recent victories. But some folk might not see that, they might see an upstart Ionian. They almost tore Aeschylus apart when they first got here. Let ‘em cool off for a bit. “Plus, I’ll let you in on a not-so-secret secret. The Tyrants of Phrada are good and just, but why did they let the tribes in? Seha and his boys have been raiding their trade for years. Now, strategy was always the province of people more educated than me, but I’d guess having the Duraani warriors in the mountains causing the Perfect People headaches- and getting them to think of things other than Phrada- passed through the Tyrant’s minds at some point. Phrada benefits in more ways than spiritually by taking them in. “About Deinon, his loincloth was always a bit tight and his head was filling with that Ionian purity foolishness- but he would never betray Jehna.” At this point Alexandra radiantly enters the room. She is overwhelmed and spends a long time crying on her brother’s shoulder, stopping only when a slave brings wine and food. Finally, she tells Cato of the kindness Kamshad Tissaphrenes is showing her. He is an honorable host and is donating food from his personal stores to the refugees. Alexandra has her own servant and a new wardrobe. She has yet to venture out of the house much, preferring to spend her time weaving blankets for Jehna’s refugees on a loom in the women’s section of the house. Cyrus accompanies Cato to the barracks of Iskander’s Legion. The complex of buildings is located near the Lion’s Gate where the party originally entered the city. The note of introduction and Cyrus’s well-dropped references to the Immortal Band and Nezad gain the pair quick access to Iskander. The mercenary is surprising mild mannered and refined. Seeing the letter, he offers Cato space in the barracks and hearty congratulations on ridding the world of Metazernes. To the news Cato has already gained, Iskander adds that Bastiyaan has yet to see a nomad incursion into its territory this year. Usually almost as soon as Spring’s Onset arrives so do the nomads. It is well after the middle part of the night when the two emerge from the barracks. Exchanging a fond goodnight, they each head for bed. ********************************************* DM’s notes: Regarding your desire to see Aeschylus' Sanctum, please see the introduction to this thread. If you wish to make a speech, I will assume some of the people will gather to hear you, write it and I’ll let you know about the response. [/QUOTE]
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