Beneath the Moonlight

A chilly fall breeze only serves to deepen the night's chill in the suite Temple of Eluna. It is late now, the moon well risen, and only the nighttime keepers are left here, settling in for quiet meditations. Another peaceful night.

Well, not quite.

Seldan stands by the door, fully arrayed for battle in a way that is not only normal readiness. Bow in addition to sword, openly armored and geared for all that he is worth, a knapsack at his feet. He stands in a parade-rest stance, gauntleted hands at the small of his armored back, eyes staring straight ahead as the words of a silent prayer form on his lips with no voice.

For a brief moment a shadow moves across the moonlight's path, and then the sounds of large wings beating the air drift inside, audible thanks to the reduced activity in the temple and the relative silence of the Temple District at this time of night. The noise ebbs briefly, then takes up again only to fade this time as distance carries it away. Moments later a slightly wind-ruffled Serene is entering the temple grounds, cloak and sleevs rumbled, stray hairs escaping her braid.. but otherwise looking as she usually does, her stride conveying its usual purposefulness.

The figure looks up, the rote prayers on his lips falling silent. He is as the alabaster pillar tonight, tense - waiting for something, but he straightens a little as he spots who it is. "Serene, Her light upon your path. A moment, if I may," he calls.

Serene's stride slows.. then comes to a stop when she processes who is hailing her. An indication, perhaps, that depending on who it had been she may have simply kept on walking. "Her light illume, Seldan. A moment I have," she concedes, "But something is not right. I am here to collect news, but I am to be off again shortly."

"Much is not right, and should you find the time to return, I am in need of your aid." Seldan's gaze is steady, and sober. "Too many members of the guild grow arrogant, believing themselves to be above punishment, and wantonly and recklessly place the city's people at risk. I am aware of one who summoned a demon to aid her while lying ill in Eluna's temple. Another turned to a green dragon and destroyed several buildings in the streets between the temple and nobility district. A third consorts with a devil in her establishment, even calls her friend. Even now does one attempt to summon Eclavdran, to bind him to his will. I have had my fill of such dangerous foolishness, and I seek those who would lend their voices with me in calling the Guild, and them, to task."

Serene lets her breath out... and as Seldan spells out the short version of recent events, her eyes close and a hand, the gloved one, goes to her temple to start massaging it. "I have been too focussed outside of the walls," she admits. "This.. none of this.." She is momentarily struck with an ability to properly voice her... disappointment? Rage? Moments pass as she collects her thoughts, working through implications. "That the guild is not already seeking to remedy this is troubling. Perhaps I should not have distanced myself from the guild years ago... but I had not thought that its membership would fall to this level of disregard."

"I ... am still on the guild books, and although I am seldom called on, I have answered when called. I ... do not think that that should continue to be, if this does not stop, and swiftly." Seldan blinks, his eyes lowering. "I remain in Alexandria, that I might protect its people from evil, corruption, and foolishness. It seems that of the three, the foolishness is the greater threat - for now. And now, more than ever, must I remain, for the sake of its people. You are greatly respected within this city, though you are oft outside its walls. Will you lend your voice to mine, and together we will cry, _Enough_?"

Serene nods slowly. Perhaps even sadly, but she nods. "I must urge you to remember, however... that the standards we hold ourselves to is not a fair standard to hold others to. The foolishness of these individuals is not under debate.. but remember that they are individuals." She lets out a heavy sigh, then schools her face back into its usual form. "But those indviduals will be held accountable, and the guild leadership will be made to understand their responsibility as well."

"That is all I ask, that those who harm the innocent, or place them at risk, be held accountable for their actions. I ask no more than that, but it will not happen, do we not stand forth and demand better." Seldan nods his acceptance of Serene's reminder, his own expression impassive. "I will stand alone, if I must, but I shall not remain silent while the people of Alexandria pay the price for the Guild's arrogance."

"You will not be alone, Seldan. I will be there to lend my weight to the.. conversation," Serene promises. Then her eyes narrow. "About this demon you say who is a.. friend.. of one of them?"

"Even so. You are familiar with the TarRaCe?" Seldan shifts out of his parade-rest stance, but only to a normal stand. He is very much not at ease, but his gaze is direct. "The proprietor is a servant of the Bard King, but has befriended one named Rupi. Through spells, I was able to learn that Rupi is indeed a devil, most likely a succubus, but when I approached Trickster Sabina on it, she acknowledged it, and refused to turn from her. I seldom make it so far out, with Eclavdran returned, but - I have not forgotten."

Serene scowls, her gauntletted hand twitching towards her sword. But it doesn't close the distance. "I may have to.. visit.. this establishment," she finally says, then shakes her head. "But if you have already done so, I doubt my words would make a difference." She leaves out the 'if there would even be words' bit.. but one can almost hear it there. "Has there been any further word regarding Eclavdran?"

Seldan's eyes close, and lower. "Aya struck a deal with him, and belongs now to him, entire and whole. I got but a glimpse of her, ere she turned and fled from me. They are allies." This one hurts, that much is clear. "Even now do Master Mithralla and others attempt to summon him, taht he may be bound. I think this utter foolishness, and dangerous does it fail, and so I keep vigil, here, awaiting trouble does it strike."

"They... what?" Serene's voice goes... flat. Not raised, just flat and... perhaps dangerous. The news of the summon pushing, at least for the moment, Aya's fall from the front of her thoughts. She's already turning back towards the temple's entrance, her errand here forgotten. "Do you know where this is being done?"

"Outside of town." Seldan's eyes lower still further, shame coloring the set of his shoulders. "I tried to warn them. I knew what became of Verna, when she tried the same. They would not hear or heed, and I thought it wrong to try to stop them by force. If there is trouble, the fault is mine."

"And what force would have stopped them, Seldan? I am not one to judge if the fault is yours or not. I was not there, and standing vigil here, of all places, is certainly not a bad decision," Serene says, but now she is moving towards the exit, removing her glove so she can place fingers to lip and emit a sharp, piercing whistle. "Silver and I will range. Perhaps it is not too late. If it is... Mikilos and I will have words. That man OWES me."

"I would fly with you, if you would have me," Seldan invites, finally taking a step forward. "I would not have you stand alone, do they fail. I stand not alone, and nor do you. I am prepared to leave, at any time, to ensure their safety, or that of the city."

"I certainly would not stop you, and your presence will be welcome," Serene says over her shoulder, raising a hand to shield her eyes once she's outside as Silver once again bears down upon the paths outside, ready to bear her away. "And two of us searching will yield better results than just the one." Silver, or course, turns his head towards her.. just... looking. "Three of us," she amends.

For the first time, a smile comes to Seldan's lips. "Come, then, we hunt together beneath Her holy sight, and pray that we find naught." He picks up the knapsack at his feet and strides forward now to join his fellow Silver Guard. It seems that he is a light traveler. "I have flown before, and fear it not. Let us go."