Meat Murder

Tenebrae - Friday, March 09, 2018, 6:17 PM

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-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple of Daeus *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The temple of the Sun Lord glitters golden beneath the same. Rather than walls, the majority of the temple is composed of what appears at first blush to be a raised round platform made of one of the largest slabs of marble likely in existence. Columns rise into the air as if to hold some massive ceiling, though instead of a normal ceiling, one finds the deep blue sky, studded by a disconcertingly close canopy of bright stars. One should not worry, however, as the rain never falls, and the wind never blows on this particular temple, but for a gentle breeze, whatever the weather outside may be.

Despite the austerity of the columns, warmth suffuses the grounds. A grand, marble statue of the Shining Knight stands a the center, a hand outstretched in benediction. Beside Him, the statue of Althea, their hands clasped in love. The central position of the temple to the others gives view to all of their children, and the two look upon one another with the solemnity of love that has been the center of so many tales and legends.

Masterfully designed mana lamps provide further soft, golden lightning where needed, their pedestals carved in the form of the Dragons of Light, over which Daeus is said to have dominion in His form of Draco Solis. Majesty, justice, and welcome suffuse the temple grounds. Around the central temple are a series of smaller buildings, each with a simple function and form. One houses the sacred book depicting some of the earliest known translations of the Laws of Light, which pilgrims from near and far come to visit. Another houses the well-appointed quarters of the Sunguards, and among all the ground bristle the Sunblades.

A fair and sunny day sees fluffy white clouds rolling across a deep blue sky. The sun is warm and inviting, though the shade is still cool. Daeus's temple is busy on such a day, and wandering between the larger people is a wee Goblin. Bearing studded leather armor, and a sword at least a foot longer than she is tall, the Goblin woman is examining the finery of the Sun Lord's house in Alexandria. She pauses at the base of one of the dragon-shaped pedestals that bear the mana lamps. With a quick feat of dexterity, she scales the pedestal and peers more closely at the light, sniffing at it curiously.

A large human kneels on a small knee cushion in one of the quiet alcoves between the pillars of the temple. He wears a heavy jerkin over a quilted gambeson of a light brown hue. On his left side lays a greatsword, on his right a greataxe. He kneels in quiet prayer, his eyes closed and his lips moving silently. He doesn't seem to be aware of the goblin's presence yet.

Mikilos wanders, as he is often prone, but on this particular occasion the tall elf doesn't have his nose stuck in a book. Instead he seems to actaully be paying attention to his surrondings for a change. Or at least, to one part of them. "I'd recomend against that. They get somewhat cranky when someone scuffs the dragons." He doesn't have a greatsword, but he does have a rather nice longsword at his waist.

The Goblin blinks, and peers at Mikilos for a moment. She grins toothily and puts a finger to her lips. "Shh." Turning back to the lamp, she licks along some of the finery, smacking her lips afterwards. "Hmm. Gold? Looks like gold but doesn't taste quite right."

Sigrid has connected.

A warm and sunny spring day sees the Temple of Daeus full of people. Which is fitting for the Sun Lord's house in Alexandria. A large human knees in prayer between a pair of pillars of the temple, one of many people knelt in prayer or quiet contemplation. Curiously, a dawn elf has paused near on of the dragon-shaped pedestals, peering up. Near the mana lamp above, a Goblin clings to the marble, sniffing at the lamp itself.

Mikilos tsks absently, but doesn't seem too concerned or upset. "Brass, I would guess, perhaps bronze, though likely some off alloy of those. I suppose it might be gold plated here in the temple." He blinks, and considers a moment. "...you identify metals by taste?"

Sigrid exits the Temple, proper, and heads over to the small group enjoying the sunny day. "Good day," she calls in a pleasant baritone, perhaps not surprising given her size, and peers at the group. "Please do not eat the furniture," she says to the goblin.

The large human opens his eyes as he hears the others begin to speak. On opening his eyes he sees the gobber woman perched by the lamp. He starts and grabs his greataxe and stands in a rush. When the elf speaks to her however, he relaxes and hooks his greataxe at its place on his back. Kneeling for a moment, he picks up the greatsword and stands, looping the baldric of the greatsword over his neck and crossing it over the greataxe on his back. "I pray you do not intend to defile the temple by damaging the lamps in your inspection of them." his voice is a mellow baritone that echoes slightly in the interior of the temple.

Murder's head comes up at the sound of more voices directed her way, but she looks down to Mikilos. "Some! If you taste and smell something often enough, you can recognize it." As Urso begins to approach, she licks at the shiny finery one last time, and then drops down to the floor below, landing in a crouch-tuck-roll maneuver. "Nooooo.", the Goblin woman says in a soft, sing-song manner. She glances to Urso with a toothy grin. "I would not damage the Sun god's own home..." Murder gestures upwards at the sky. "While he was watching it." That bit said more quietly. To Sigrid then, she giggles lightly. "I was not eating it. I was tasting it."

Mikilos considers a few moments and shrugs. "I've certainly heard of a coppery taste before, and am familiar enough with the flavor of rust. Hadn't given much thought to other metals."

Sigrid eyes Murder suspiciously. But maybe goblins tasting things is normal? "Do not taste too many things," she recommends. "It would cause confusion." How do you taste a thing without eating it anyhow? She is confused.

Urso chuckles as he shakes his head at the green one's words. "Then it is good that He is always watching." Urso crosses his arms as he smiles and contemplates her. "I have come to have a new found respect for those of your kind, miss, after travelling to Alexandria. First a resourcefullness I find astonishing...and but a week gone, I had opportunity to cross blades with some of your wilder kin in Veyshan (ooc I think that's the name of it?) and they taught me of the ferocity of the clans. Now I find that your kind can differentiate between metals by taste alone!" he shakes his head and says, "Truly informative."

Murder peers up at Urso as he crosses his arms. "Well, I do not believe it is all that amazing. You can tell the difference between food and drink, yes? Taste enough metal, and one knows it. Iron tastes different from copper, and both of them are different from silver and gold. I've yet to taste platinum, but I will." She crosses her arms, posing in such a way as to appear to be a miniature, female mirrored version of the much taller warrior. "Are you hitting on me?", she wonders with a cheeky tone in her voice. "Flattery will get you everywhere, but gold works faster." The Goblin woman snorts and laughs, shaking her head. She blinks at Sigrid, squinting her eyes. "I shall taste all the things, lady." Murder looks back to Mikilos. "You don't bite the coins you are given to be sure that they are what people say they are?" This seems surprising to the Gobber.

Mikilos smiles faintly. "No. Firstly because I tend to deal in letters of credit, and when not, in solid ingots rather than smaller coins. And few care to cheat a wizard. I don't typically turn people into newts, but if ever there were a reason, that would be it."

Sigrid shrugs to Murder, and she won't argue. She knows the futility of arguing with small people over their right to silliness. "Very well. But I will not be pleased to have to tell the Master Sunblade why his servants are having to clean goblin drool from all the brightwork."

Kira has arrived.

The sun shines brightly down upon the house of the Sun Lord, which is just and right. Fluffy white clouds chase each other across a deep blue sky. The Temple of Daeus is a busy place, and today is no exception. Many kneel in prayer and contemplation, while others come and go, making offerings or simply to reflect. A group of folk have gathered at the base of one of the mana lamp pedestals, and appear to be in conversation.

Murder peers at Sigrid and shakes her head. "I licked it, I didn't drool over it. That's just gross." She stomps a clawed foot upon the ground and huffs. "Is that your job here, then, to inform upon the drool content of the temple's belongings?" The Goblin woman snorts and looks to Mikilos then, her eyes widening. "A wizard?", she says quietly, her tone a bit more reverent. "Shaman?" Murder offers the grey one a deep bow. "I am Murder. Rager of the not-named clan, from beyond the vast."

Mikilos grins, but returns the bow respectfully. "Archmage Mikilostravia Abrioudelanarchie Mithralla, Lord of Estranillia, Builder Arcane. But just 'Mikilos' is fine, or 'Miki' for short." He considers a moment. "A 'rager'? One who uses magics of the blood in battle?"

Sigrid eyes Murder, and says, "When you lick things, your drool gets on it, and it must be cleaned. Your unsuitable and unsanitary activities have been noticed, and I was directed to request that you stop." She frowns. "I would also request that no murdering happens here, no matter how strongly you feel."

Kira walks into the courtyard bearing a smile and a large basket half full of freshly baked bread. Her robes have the mark of The Healer rather than The Sun, but we're all family here. Besides, she knows how dedicated the Sunfolk can be. Sometimes, they forget to eat, and that's just not good.

Murder's eyes widen as Mikilos seems to understand her 'profession' as it were, and she smiles brightly, nodding enthusiastically. "Yes! I was shown the secrets of blood when I was a wee gobby, and taken in for a time after the destruction of my clan. When my blood sings to me, I can run faster, jump higher, and cut better with my sword." She tilts her head slightly to the pommel that wobbles above her right shoulder. "You have heard of such a thing?" Sigrid's request has her cheeks colouring a deep red. "Oh, no one else here kills, hmm? Pretty much everyone is armed with a blade. And are you going to request that that fellow there stop spitting on the ground? Cause he just did. Again!" Murder hmmphs and looks away. "Your requests will be taken under advisement."

Mikilos nods. "I have heard of such things, yes, though I can't say I'm very familiar. There's a golem around who doesn't something sort of similar. And yes, the Brightblades tend to draw a very firm line between 'killing' and 'murder'.

Sigrid sighs at goblins. "Even a child understands that spitting on the earth is not the same as licking brasswork. And that defending peace is different than taking a life arbitrarily," she says, echoing Mikilos. "We do not condone the taking of life, but if people threaten the welfare of others, we will end that threat. Take /that/ under advisement."

Kira makes her way towards the gathering to offer, "Hello! Would anyone like some bread? There is plenty leftover from this morning..." Her smile then purse some as she picks up some of the words and tone of the conversation in progress. "We should always do our best to protect others, protect all life. There's always a way to do that without harm. Sometimes it's just not easy to see." Her smile broadens again.

"So at what point have I threatened to murder anyone?", the Goblin woman asks of the giantess looming above. "Your helpful reminder is as insulting as someone telling you not to piss in public. I get it." She looks up at the brasswork. "So that's brass, hmm? Not bad." Her eyes flick back to Sigrid. "As for unsanitary, are people eating off the brasswork up there?" She snorts and shuffles closer to Mikilos. "Do you study such things? Even as a curiosity? As yet another way magic manifests itself in the world?" Murder blinks a few times. "Golems can do that? The definition of blood gets more broad if you take that golem into consideration, doesn't it?"

Mikilos grins, and nods. "I study a wide range of fields, and Munch, the golem in question, is far from typical." To Kira, he shakes his head. "No, thank you.

Sigrid says to Kira, "That's so. But it takes quite a strong arm to survive the wrath of evil. And we are not always strong enough to save those who have devoted themselves to its cause. And then again, the undead cannot be reasoned with or reformed, no matter how much we wish it." To the goblin, she says, "If you find that request insulting, then choose a name other than Murder to wear around this temple. And if someone called themself Piss, I would tell them not to do that here also. We have facilities like anywhere else."

Kira nods to Mikilos, then offers a loaf to Sigrid with a smile, "We should always try.." A brief dim. "And you're right that all we can do for the unliving is put their bodies to rest, unfortunately." She shifts the baket around a little to offer another loaf to the gobber. "People might get the wrong idea with name list those. We wouldn't want that."

Murder pauses to peer curiously at Kira. The Goblin woman sniffs at the air and casually shuffles her way towards the one person who doesn't tower so above her. She'll suddenly reach in to snatch three of whatever is in Kira's basket, and THEN the one Kira offers, quickly move away so that it cannot be taken back. At least not easily. Murder looks to Mikilos then, chewing on a loaf. "Munch? That's an interesting name. I wonder if the lady hear has asked him not to eat things, because obviously everyone's so beholden to their names that they can't but help do what their name represents." She shoots Sigrid a glare. "So I'm supposed to choose a new name because you don't like my current one? You assume that all I do is murder, then?" The Gobber shakes her head. "Let me know if your operation is successful, the one to remove the entire tree from your behind." Murder looks to Kira. "Thank you for the bread." The little green woman begins to pat herself over and then reaches up under her top. She... fusses for a few moments before pulling out a little silver coin, which she offers to the blonde woman. "Make more, feed more."

Kira's smile blooms further and she dips in a curtsy at the donation. "Thank you very much. We will!" After she straightens, she remembers her manners. "I'm sorry. I am Kira, Sentinel of The Healer. I don't mean any offense, but those who don't know you would probably think things like that from your name. Until they learn otherwise."

Mikilos nods. "The Golem Who Eats. I think he's also taken to calling himself 'TerrorMaw'. To be fair there -were- a few instances when he arrived on what is and is not okay to consume." Turning to the godly types, he tsks softly. "That's not.... strictly true. There do exist undead who can be reasoned with. Those with the minds to do so typically chose not to, but very rare exceptions exist."

Sigrid will take the loaf from Kira with thanks, and says, "Yes, we should try as hard as we can to save those we can. Many hearts can still be healed." She says to Murder, "No, I supppose asking for courtesy from one such as yourself is too much to ask. I apologize if I have offended your sensitive nature, which is so much more justified and suitable than anyone else's sensitivities." She says to Mikilos, "I defer to your knowledge. I only know of the simplest and most basic undead."

Urso, having been loathe to interrupt the conversation of the penitent decides that it is time he stepped back in, "Misses, all are welcome here in the temple of the Rising One, his light shines down 'pon us all. This is not the place for harsh words or anger, but a place of worship and I thank you both for remembering that and respecting it." his tone is polite but brooks no argument on the matter. "If we wish to cross words, perhaps we could away to a pub instead, that way the atmosphere would be more congenial...and I could slake my growing thirst as I watch the two of you pry at each other with claws extended."

Murder grins at Kira and shrugs. "People assume lots of things. As you may guess, my name is Murder. And I'm not offended..." She glances to Sigrid a moment, before looking back to Kira. "I just find it .. amusing that my presence is so dire as to require warnings." The Goblins woman looks to Mikilos then and chuckles. "TerrorMaw is a fantastic name to strike fear in one's enemies. And uh, I suppose a golem learning on his own what is edible and what is not could be a source of upset. And humour." She looks back to Sigrid and frowns. "Hey, I get it, you don't like people licking things. That's fine. I'm more talking about the assumption over my name. And don't further add to the insult by your false apology." Murder blinks and looks to Urso. "A pub does sound good. It's getting warm here. Where to, then?"

Mikilos nods to Murder. "Likely run into him at some point. Tends to wander the back roads, but comes to town often enough." To Sigrid he nods. "Typically the result of magic gone wrong. Genies and the like."

Sigrid nods at what Urso says. "All are welcome, who do no ill." She allows a snort at Murder's reply, but doesn't reply. She also leaves unsaid whether licking the brasswork is doing ill. She does take out a rag and wipe it clean, though. She gives Mikilos a puzzled look. "But genies aren't undead, are they?" she wonders.

Urso shrugs a shoulder and says to Murder, "Any pub will do. I have not had much chance to inspect the finer dives in this city, so if you would repair to an establishment, lead the way." He nods to Sigrid's words and says, "It is not uncommon of different races to have different practices however. I see no harm in her action or her intent...Curiosity has ever been a boon to peoples of all stripe. Mayhap her action has been judged against a set of standards alien to her?" He glances between the two then gives Kira a smile of greeting.

"Does TerrorMaw live in the city or out of it?", the Goblin woman asks of Mikilos. "If you see him some time, would you say that there's one who shares the same song of blood who wants to meet him? I mean, I'm probably going to aimlessly wander these streets far more than I'd like... mostly because the architects of the city seemed to worship chaos and it shows in the street layout... but I am as likely to miss him as find him." Murder looks to Urso, and her expression grows embarrassed. "Uhm. I am. New to the city. So I do not know the pubs or inns or taverns here. I do not know where any might be."

Kira offers Urso a loaf, though has to politely decline the invitation. "I would love to join you all to sit and eat and talk, but I need to make sure that others eat, first." She lifts the basket a little. "I wish you all a good time, and may The Healer's Grace be upon you."

Mikilos smiles. "If you seek Munch, either the Guild or Old Clunk's Junkyard are good spots, but i'll mention something if I see him. As for pubs, the Fernwood near the market is highly recomended, or the Ox Strength by the docks has a solid selection, if a poor reputation. But it's not too bad during the daylight."

Sigrid nods to Urso, and agrees. "Yes. I see that I have unjustly expected human standards from a goblin. I did apologize." However backhandedly. But it was taken in kind, so that's fair. She bows to Kira, as she departs, and says, "Peace favor you."

Kira has left.

Sigrid has disconnected.

Urso takes the offered loaf of bread from Kira before she turns to go. He walks to where he was kneeling before and reaching behind the pillar, he bends and grabs his pack. Dragging it out beside the kneeling pillow, he opens it and takes out a piece of linen cloth which he uses to wrap the small loaf in before placing back into his pack. Slipping the wooden toggle of the pack through the loop of leather to secure the flap, he stands and shoulders the pack and says, "Well, there are a few pubs in the city, if rumor can be believed. I know of one in the lower market district that serves a passable ale and a Jungerhoff that will set your belly afire and force the roses to blossom in your cheeks, if any of you are of a mind?"

Murder nods then to Mikilos and smiles. "Thank you for that, Miki!", she says cheerfully. She glances sideways at the giantess, and snorts, turning her head away and huffing. When Sigrid walks away, the Goblin woman stares after her, and sticks her tongue out. The Goblin waves to Kira, "Thanks again!" Murder seems to suddenly remember the bread, and continues to munch on it. She cants her head slightly. "Jungerhoff?", she wonders.

Mikilos nods, and perks his ears, listening. Frowning mildly, the wizard takes a bit of something or another from one of his pouches and rubs it between his fingers. "Excuse me, business calls." And then he's gone. No flash, no smoke, just.... gone.

The paladin nods as he takes a moment to strap a finely made breastplate that bears the device of a sun upon the chest of it then he says, "Aye," he frowns when Mikilos disappears then looks down to Murder and says, "Well, it looks as if it's just the two of us. Jungerhoff, by the by, is a whiskey made by the Storm Dwarves. Quite the heady concoction." Urso reshoulders his pack and glances at Murder.