Gloria e Flamae Solei

[GreatLemur]

OOC: I've got to admit that while I started off rolling my eyes at Dathen's masked badass bit, I'm really liking his growing conflict with faction policy. Good work, Verbatim.

 

[Bobitron]

Lhulan Ceth

He hurries out of the inn at last, avoiding the servants and guests alike. His back to the rising sun--already too high in the sky--the black-bearded priest makes his way through Sigilstar towards the Church of Infinite Mercy, asking directions where necessary with a distinct Brelish accent and an avuncular smile. He does not mention Father Cilain or his acolytes, but watches the crowds for anyone fitting their descriptions.

Along the way, he buys a voluminous canvas backpack appropriate to a traveler. He slips out of the crowds for a moment to tuck his leather satchel inside the new bag, and continues on his way.

You have no trouble departing the inn without raising attention. One particularly aware servant glances at you in a confused manner as he greets you while passing in the hall, but seems content to go about his business.

The Church of Infinite Mercy seems to have a good reputation among the normal citizens of Sigilstar, with each merchant and passerby answering with a smile. After asking for clarification a couple times, you make your way to the church. The area surrounding it is full of some of the poorer people of the city, but there is little of the povery you have experienced in your travels to other lands. The mood of the people in the area seems positive. You recall a verse of scripture from your studies. Translated loosely, it states In time of need, those true to the Flame will find their pantry full and amorphae heavy with wine. Blessed be the followers of the Silver Flame, for the Flame provides for the faithful.

Rising up from the streets, still cold from the night air, the Church of Infinite Mercy is a humble cathedral without the flamboyant Flamic touches possessed by newer churches. The door is open, letting in fresh air into what you presume is the chapel. A young acolyte, not more than eight or nine, is beating out a thick woolen rug with a paddle in the street, struggling to balance the weight of the rug and still effectively swing the paddle. He coughs from the thick dust his clumsy swats raise.

 

[GreatLemur]

Lhulan Ceth

Upon seeing the he acolyte, the foreign priest rushes over, staggering a little under poorly-balenced load of his backpack. "Oh, my boy, my boy!" he cries, the brambles of his wiry beard framing a smile as bright as the morning itself. "Not that way, no! Here, I'll hold"--he grabs the rug and drapes it over an arm held away from his body--"and you beat."

 

[Bobitron]

"Oh! Thank you, Father." He grins up sheepishly at the friendly man.

Taking a few solid whacks at the carpet, he raises another large cloud of dust, coughing again as it fills his lungs.

"Are you here to visit the Infinite Mercy? I'm sure Father Cilain would be happy to meet you." His nose wrinkles up as he raises a finger to his mouth in thought. "Where are you from, Father? I don't think I've seen you here before. On your way to Flamekeep, aren't you?", he nods smugly. "Father Cilain told me he'd take me to see the Flame next week. I'm so excited!"

 

[GreatLemur]

"Well, then, how did you guess that?" the Brelish priest wonders aloud. "Bright lad. Father Cilain must be attending the Council too, yes?

"I'm from Breland, my boy. Do you know where that is? It's a whole other country to the south." He speaks in the enticing, softly-enthusiastic tones of a good teacher. "I'm quite excited to be going to Flamekeep, myself. I've only been there once before. And I decided that, as long as I was going to Thrane, I'd leave a little early and see this Church of Infinite Mercy I'd heard so much about. Your Father Cilain is much talked about in Breland, you see. Is he within?" The priest gestures towards the church.

"Oh, my manners! I apologize." he cries, gesticulating effusively. "My name is Father Mhaerin. Pleased to make youre acquaintance!" He offers a hand to the boy.

 

[Bobitron]

"Oh, my manners! I apologize."[/color] he cries, gesticulating effusively. "My name is Father Mhaerin. Pleased to make youre acquaintance!" He offers a hand to the boy.

The lad reaches out a hand, suprised at the man's open nature and pleasant tone. "I'm Turath, but the others call me Tur."

He starts rolling up the rug, draping it over his shoulder as he speaks. "Actually, the Father isn't in right now. He took Fillia and Grende to visit a small parish just outside of the city. He should be back by sundown. Maybe you could meet him tomorrow?"

He turns and starts walking towards the entry, waving as he walks. "Feel free to take a look at our church! I have alot of things I need to do. I wish I could show you around, but you will have to find your own way."

 

[GreatLemur]

Lhulan Ceth

"Father Mhaerin" enters the church for a quick, casual look around before he heads back to the inn.

 

[Bobitron]

Lhulan Ceth

"Father Mhaerin" enters the church for a quick, casual look around before he heads back to the inn.

The church is much simpler than many of the newer cathedrals raised to glorify the Silver Flame, but is otherwise physically unremarkable. It would appear that approximately 15 acolytes live at the church, in addition to the Father and his two assistants. This is out of the ordinary. It is far more common to have a church of this size be run by three to four permanent members, and any students of the faith would live in their own homes. A portion of the basement appears to have been converted for use as bunks for the acolytes. Father Cilain keeps a small, well organized desk in a room just off the chapel. The room is only ten by ten, with warm wood paneling and a small iron stove for additional warmth in the colder months. Fillia and Grende sleep in a small room above the chapel, the door marked with thier names. The acolytes milling about the building performing chores pay you little attention.

 

[GreatLemur]

Lhulan Ceth

Emboldened by the Father's absence and the acolytes' disregard for his intrusion, Lhulan gives the Church a slightly less casual investigation, checking for clues as to the boarders' identities and peeking in rooms where he can. If confronted, he'll repeat the story he gave to Turath: that he's a Brelish priest who's interested in the way the Infinite Mercy is doing things.

Assuming he finds nothing very unusual or runs into trouble, he will return to the inn with all haste to give his initial report.

OOC: It might not be necessary, but I've made two new die rolls for this activity. One formal Search check for the use of the Investigation feat, and one Bluff check to obscure Lhulan's motives in poking around the church. Note that I included in that Search check the +4 bonus from Lhulan's inquisitive's kit, and a +2 synergy bonus from Knowledge (religion) since it's a church he's investigating. Feel free to ignore those bonuses if they don't seem appropriate to you.

 

[Bobitron]

Lhulan Ceth

Emboldened by the Father's absence and the acolytes' disregard for his intrusion, Lhulan gives the Church a slightly less casual investigation, checking for clues as to the boarders' identities and peeking in rooms where he can.

OOC: What?!? Only a 41 on your search check? I thought you were a pro...

The rooms of the church are sparsely furnished and simple in layout. While the additional occupants are out of the ordinary, their presence seems innocent enough. You bluff your way past a couple of the accolytes, for while none of them question you, several do seem confused about your presence until you assure them of your identity. The basement, converted to take the boarders, has been emptied of everything except some spartan bunks. None of the boarders seem to have any personal belongings to help clue you in as to their identity, but through your comversations, they seem to be of varying backgrounds, ranging from farmer's daughters to a lesser noble's son.

Fillia and Grende's room is open to your inspection, but also reveals little. Each of the followers has a large chest at the foot of their bed, but it is mostly empty, holding only extra clothing and blankets.

Father Cilain's small retreat contains little aside from the desk. It holds religous texts and scrolls from many esteemed authors. Some of them are mildly heretical, but nothing that would do more than raise an eyebrow in the Council. His own journals are also present. They mention his thoughts on the Pax Flamae, which he truly feels is the path that will 'save our beloved Church from spiralling into the depths of Wrath, Hatred, and Damnation'. There is no mention, however, of the Lodge of Glory or how he discovered its ressurection.