The Lamentation of Lolth - Chapter VI

[kirinke]

Teleri winced at the diplomatic speech of her human friend. Sometimes, getting to the heart of the matter is more productive than twisting around and doubling back.

She sighed, the pain and inner turmoil very apparent. "I am sorry my friend. Sometimes I am too blunt for my own good. Perhaps we should get inside someplace, where it is warmer? she asked more politely, as she saw that the woman was drenched to the bone.

 

[Verbatim]

Ayden watched as the others began leaving heading towards the temple, Sielwoodan's words still echoing in his mind.

~If Chasity died here...where is Andreas...could they have forced Chastity and Andreas into a situation they knew they could not escape from? Uncle, there are so many questions and every one seems to branch off into so many more...~

Rising to his feet, Ayden felt tired to the very core of his being and as he looked over at Broddy and Calenthang he envied them both for a moment.

~To just be able to grieve for a moment without having to think of what the others might think...~

Putting on his still damp cloak and hat, Ayden pushed the doors of the inn open and began walking towards the church of Ilmater.

He managed to catch the others as a young acolyte spoke to them about the church wishing to see them and as Sielwoodan arched a questioning eyebrow his way, Ayden stepped forward through the others and walked at the head of the procession next to Sarlis and Teleri.

As they reached reached the temple, Ayden tried to remember all he could about the subtleties of the Ilmater faith, as the last thing he wished to do was make a serious mistake during their introductions. Hoping to keep it as simple as possible, Ayden hoped that a greeting and blessing would be enough formalities between them.

You step beneath a raised wooden portcullis into a rain-soaked, diamond-shaped courtyard. A robed woman leans against a stone cistern at the courtyard's center. Your escort steps to one side and bows reverently to the holy woman. The woman bows back and murmurs, "My blessings for your service, child."

Suffering has put wrinkles at the corners of the cleric's eyes. Her pain tugs down the edges of her mouth. Dressed in drenched robes of mourning, the cleric turns toward you with a welcoming gesture. She nods and attempts to smile, but her lips don't quite manage the gesture. "Thank you for coming," she greets quietly. "I am Andress. Welcome to Twilight Hollow." She pauses only briefly, then confesses, "I'm afraid I must beg a favor from you--one for which I can offer very little in return."

As both Teleri and Sarlis quickly spoke to the High Priestess, Ayden listened to their words and wondered for a moment if there was truly anything more he needed to add, but another sharp gaze from Sielwoodan made him step forward and lift his gaze to meet that of the Priestess.

"I must apologize for my lack of a proper greeting Priestess, but it has been many years since I last saw one of Ilmater's clergy in Immersea. However, it has not been as long since I last saw Lady Chastity and another of our companions, Master Andreas. When I last saw them, they were alive and hale helping keep the peace in Orchard Falls, and when I see Lady Chastity now..."

Ayden could feel the bitterness and fatigue threatening to creep into his voice, and he knew that pointing fingers to make himself feel better would not help things out any.

"We were told and have been under the impression that Lady Chastity and Master Andreas were taken under duress by the White Brotherhood and brought here. If our information was wrong and Lady Chastity returned here for another reason, please tell us and ease our minds, but if they have killed her and Master Andreas let us see to their killers first and then we will return to help you as best we can."

 

[Majin]

~At the Double Bolt Inn~

"Hey Vex. I got a job for you," he tells his familiar giving him a small piece of his bread. "I need you to follow the others and let me know whats going on. Just watch and stay hidden and try to stay out of trouble."

Vex snatches the crumb with an exasperated sigh. "Work, work, work, that's all I'm good for, and I do it for breadcrumbs, can you believe it?" the weasel complains to itself as it hops down off the table. "One of these days I'll make it big, big I say, and then I'll be the one controlling the breadcrumbs...." The familiar's voice trails off as it heads out of the tavern, following his charges, though Broddy thinks he hears a small squeak of triumph and the words, "Dance, puppets, dance!" before Vex with his grandious plans of world domination travels out of earshot.

~Temple of Ilmater~

Sarlis inclines himself in front of the priestress. "Lady, It would be an honor to help you, in what can only be a noble cause coming from a lady such as yourself. We do also have unanswered questions, and I would gladly accepts to perform any favor, asking as my only form of payment answers to them.

As you might know Lady Chastity was a friend of some of the people that travel with me. I didn't have the honor to know such a unique individual, an individual willing to sacrifice her life for your village. Such a dedication is something that only a very few can ever reach. I only wish, I could get to such a high level of spirituality.

We are not questioning her choices, we are simply trying to understand the nature of her sacrifice, what leaded her to the ultimate sacrifice. Knowing that her death wasn't vain would greatly ease the pain and allow us to better appreciates her actions."

Andress sighs slightly, a small guilty look on her pained face before answering Sarlis. "It was with my blessing that she went to find the lair of a band of ruthless brigands. These brigands were attacking farmsteads on the outskirts of Twilight Hollow. Chastity wanted to end the threat once and for all. According to my divinations, they were hiding in the ruins of an evil temple."

"I must apologize for my lack of a proper greeting Priestess, but it has been many years since I last saw one of Ilmater's clergy in Immersea. However, it has not been as long since I last saw Lady Chastity and another of our companions, Master Andreas. When I last saw them, they were alive and hale helping keep the peace in Orchard Falls, and when I see Lady Chastity now..."

Ayden could feel the bitterness and fatigue threatening to creep into his voice, and he knew that pointing fingers to make himself feel better would not help things out any.

"We were told and have been under the impression that Lady Chastity and Master Andreas were taken under duress by the White Brotherhood and brought here. If our information was wrong and Lady Chastity returned here for another reason, please tell us and ease our minds, but if they have killed her and Master Andreas let us see to their killers first and then we will return to help you as best we can."

Andress' brow furrows slightly and her face takes on a puzzled frown. "I don't believe I've ever heard of this... White Brotherhood, you say? Perhaps these are the brigands that Chastity attempted to stop? She had just returned from a pilgrimage north where she took it upon herself to take up the mantle of another faith, a practice we have adopted here over the years. In better to understand the suffering that occurs in our world and take it upon ourselves, dear Chastity chose to wear the guise of a different faith than her native Ilmater for a time, in order to experience the hardships clergy of these other faiths must endure.

As for this Andreas you speak of, we did not see her enter town with anyone else, but if this White Brotherhood had done something to her before she returned, that might explain why she was not up to the task of routing out the brigand hordes to the west."

 

[DarkMaster]

Sarlis watches carefully the priestress as she speaks trying to discern if what she says hold together, before adding anything.

[sblock]Sense motive +11[/sblock]

 

[Majin]

OoC: Sarlis does not sense anything out of the ordinary with the priestess' mannerisms, body language, or anything of that sort. As far as he can tell, she's sincere in what she has told the party.

Calenthang - 7 silver.

 

[Verbatim]

Ayden felt as if part of his world was threatening to turn itself upside down as Priestess Andress addressed him.

"Lady Chastity was not truly one of Torm's paladins? Why would she lie to us about that? Especially as she called upon him to reveal the auras of those she encountered? Did Lady Chastity not mention anything of her helping the town of Orchard Meadows*? Master Andreas was also a male priestess, and a sorcerer of no small talent, which is why I find her death so hard to believe as between the two of them, there was very little they could not have handled."

Ayden's hands went to his temples as he tried to make sense of the madness he felt threatening to wash over him at any second.

~What is going on here? Could there be two Chastitys?~

[sblock]Sorry for the Orchard Falls earlier...meant Orchard Meadows and somehow wrote it as somthing else..[/sblock]

 

[Majin]

Andress' eyes widen in surprise at Ayden's mention of Chastity's use of Torm's blessings. Soon after, a slight smile, the best she can manage, crosses her lips. "That is welcome news at least. It seems that The Triad has smiled upon our humble practices. As you may or may not know, Torm works closely with Ilmater, under Tyr," she nods. "It appears that they have worked together in this and granted her the ability to better experience the trials the Torm faithful must go through."

Recognition crosses her face as Orchard Meadows is mentioned. "Yes, she did mention returning from there. She had completed her pilgrimage as a Torm faithful and was ready to resume her duties here in our village. It is quite terrible she was not with us long upon her return," she bows her head.

"Though again, she did not show up with anyone else. This Andreas is unknown to me, and her squire was the last one to be with her when they left to quell the brigands."

 

[Mimic]

Broddy smiles again as he watches he familiar run out of sight, he made a mental note to give him a big piece of meat when he gets back. "One must be carefull when your weasel familiar wants to rule the world." He thinks to himself, chuckling slightly.

[sblock] That just too funny Majin, makes me wish I named him Brain[/sblock]

"Any luck, friend Broddy?" the warrior asks his concentrating friend before ordering a meal and another pitcher.

Broddy looks up with a smile and gives a nod in greeting. "I am not making much head way, the text is something that I have never encountered before, its magical but to what extent and how I can't be sure of. When I think I have figured out a paragraph or so its changed when I go back to it. Its like trying to pick up quicksilver with your hands." He shakes his head clearly frustrated but is quickly replaced with enthusiasm. "But don't worry, I will figure it out."

He closes the book carefully looking up with concern at the drinking man. "What about you Calenthang? How are you doing? I'm kind of surprised that you didn't go with the others."

 

[Manzanita]

Drogo

"This is interesting news indeed. But what of her squire. We knew of no such person when Chasity was traveling with our company. Can you tell us what her squire looked like, or what talents he (she?) possesed?"

 

[Velmont]

Sielwoodan stay silent in his conrner, but seems absorbed by his thoughts.

Would that mean they would have split before Chastity has come here? And why would news of there kidnapping would have reach us? If they have split, only one would have been taken, or the news would have been two, not only one... something smelling pretty bad in that.