The Psionicle, Part X

[Jarval]

"You can head home Ruth." Jansson says, well understanding the discomfort of riding in armor. "The business at the temple may take some time yet, and there is no need for us all to wait around."

He dismounts as he speaks, and walks into the temple, looking around for someone to speak with.

 

[GnomeWorks]

Jansson - you head into the temple. The double doors that serve as an entrance open easily, and you enter a large hall, lit by torches emitting light that resembles moonlight. The sound of your footsteps echoes eerily throughout the hall... and a young-looking human boy quickly comes out of a door in the far wall.

"Can I help you?" He asks cautiously.

 

[Jarval]

"Ah, yes you can." Jansson replies to the youth. "I have grave news concerning one of Rashida's faithful, a woman by the name of Shardorn. Who should I speak to about this matter?"

 

[Zhure]

Osius

Delayed by not being on horseback and his brief conversation, Osius dusts himself off outside the temple and tries to look reverent upon entering.

 

[GnomeWorks]

"Grave news?" He asks quickly, though in a slightly subdued voice. "Shardorn... the name sounds familiar... let me go get someone with more knowledge..." He quickly disappears back the way he came.

While he does so, you get a better look at the insides of the temple, as your eyes adjust to the unusual lighting. You are standing on what appears to be a central aisle, the tiling under your feet a depiction of the phases of the moons, leading up to a pair of round table-like objects at the far end of the hallway. On either side of this aisle are cushions set on the floor, generally darker-colored.

A few long moments pass. Eventually, the young boy returns, this time followed by a well-aged human woman.

"Greetings, travelers." She says, nodding to you. "I am the head Priestess of this temple of the moon goddess... the young one here says that you bring grave news of one of our number. What have you to tell us?"

 

[Jarval]

"I am afraid it is grave news indeed. Shardorn was traveling with myself and my companions on business for the city council." Jansson bows his head sadly as he continues. "We were ambushed, and she and another of my companions were killed in the resulting fight. We have brought her body back, and I would place her and my companion into your care for tonight.

"There is more I think you should know, but it is of a somewhat sensitive nature. Is there somewhere we could discuss this business privately?"

 

[Zhure]

Osius

Osius appears completely out of sorts in the temple, obviously trying not to stare at the religious paraphernalia and acolytes. When Jansson starts speaking Osius's face once again becomes serious.

 

[GnomeWorks]

There is a long moment of silence after Jansson describes what happened.

"That is grave news indeed." The priestess then says. She closes her eyes for a moment, and her brow furrows slightly. "A private place to speak... a moment." As she speaks, she makes a waving motion at the young acolyte, who quickly disappears into the doorway that he had came in through, pushing past several faces that had appeared there.

Waiting a few moments, the priestess pulls out a silver holy symbol, very similar to Shardorn's. She holds it out at arm's length, facing towards the wall behind the two circular tables. "Moonlight," She says, and a fierce, cold cone of moonlight spreads from the holy symbol, illuminating a dark grey door in the center of the wall that you were sure wasn't there before.

She puts her holy symbol away, and the moonlight fades; but the door remains. She walks to it, and opens it, gesturing for you to enter. "We will have privacy within." She says. "You can tell me what you will, inside, with no other to hear it but myself."

 

[The Forsaken One]

Ok Jansson, you just come by later when you know more about this stuff and when youve seen the council. I might take a look at your equipment if I can repair it a bit. That long track didn't do our equipment much good.

And turning her horse Ruth heads back to her house.

 

[Jarval]

"If I may, I would have my other companions join us. They may know more on some aspects of what we would tell you, and I doubt they want to stand in the street for any longer." Assuming the priestess agrees, Jansson calls the others in.

"We also have the bodies of Shardorn and our companion on a outside. If there is somewhere they could be placed for tonight, I would be most grateful." This said, he steps through the moonlight-opened door, and into the room beyond.