Stained Past

Log Info

• Title: Stained Past
• Emitter: Jinks
• Characters: Jay, Murder, Wu
• Place: A10: Temple of Serriel
• Time: Thursday, November 24, 2022, 9:14 PM
• Summary: Cesseli is physical recovered from his ordeal, but mentally still delicate and easily startled. He has been staying in the temple of Serriel. The bluejay lawyer, Integrity C. Truefeather, the 'C' is for concerned, has been a frequent visitor, keeping him company and bringing snacks. The late night work session is interrupted by a shattering window, with Murder and a Serrielite Priest tumbling through into the library. This startles Cesseli, who hides, Jay flies for assistance, while Wu, an experienced and mostly blind traveller, examines the priest's wounds, by smell. Omondi arrives and tends to the priests wounds, while Murder attempts to get a response out of Cesseli, and fails. The library empties out, and Jay sleeps with Cesseli, guarding him.

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

Visitors to the Temple of Serriel are met by two massive horses. Freshly carved from the palest marble, their grand faces look outward, reminiscent of Serriel's quest for the spread of Civilization across the known world. Between them lies a broad walkway, and beyond that, a temple.

Though small in size compared to others, this is a reflection of Serriel's youth, not of Her efforts or organization. Her clergy when seen are smartly dressed, and temple life features proud ritual and the glory of the law. Each stone is smartly cut, and precisely placed, and polished until it is faultless, though it bears no special ornamentation save the occasional mark of spear or shield.

The library of law within the temple's coffers rivals that of Vardama's, and amid the symbols of Her spear and shield also lies the symbol of the scroll. For this reason, the temple has a working relationship with that of Vardama and of Navos, whose members sometimes visit, and a small room or two has been provided for these conferences.

All in all, the temple may appear rather...bland, or even severe to some, though that ignores its true strength. Its strength lies in its structure and its integrity, its honesty, symbolized by the clean lines, the studiously, and masterfully crafted stone, at whose birth lay the hands of the finest khazadi smiths.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Jay          5'9"     145 Lb     Eaglefolk         Male      A perky male Blue Jay with a discerning eye.
Murder       3'6"     40 Lb      Goblin            Female    A goblin woman in studded leather.
Wu           5'6"     155 Lb     Human             Male      Elderly Xian male with a drifting eye and cataracts
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  NPCS of Note  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cesseli                          Kobold             Male     A peach scaled Serrielite clerk with a bulbous tail.
Omondi                           Sylvanori          Male     Deeply tanned, with dozens of blonde braids, and hazel eyes.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  As the GM  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Jinks        3'4"     39 Lb      Gnome             Male      A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The weather in Alexandria is unpleasant today, bordering on miserable. It's rained hard enough that the dirty alleys are floored with squelching mud and puddles collect over sunken cobblestones. The river bisecting the city sits high and the smaller ships heading inland from the sea are slowing to take extra care in their travels.

The circular plaza of the temples district is immaculately maintained and falling rain splashes animatedly in the basin of the fountain centerpiece. The fallen water flows efficiently down shallow slopes into trenches and drains and the rushing noise of the sewers below bellows up through the regularly-spaced and clean grates.

The temples themselves-- almost-always pristine-- glisten slick with water to look like-new.

Much is still inside Serriel's house. A few of Her devoted move about tasks that have kept them working past the honest hours but most have gone to meals or relax on side or private chambers.

Amongst the former, a peach-colored kobold in Serrielite robes toils in the law libraries. A twisting, four-post candelabra hosts three lit and sagging waxen pillars and no fewer than four tomes (two being oversized) clutter the workspace as the little reptilian fellow puts pen to paper.

Cesseli hasn't left the temple since Everything...

"Hi. Hi!" A black, white and blue jay egalrin caws cheerfully, announcing his entrance, resplendent in a three piece leather suit with a mithril vest. "I brought some more candles, and ink, and a sandwich."

He rushes over to the little reptile, "How are you today?" The egalrin's head bobs around as he examines his friend.

The weather definitely complicates things for the Goblin, as the wind throws her about, and the rain makes it incredibly hard to see at night. And lets not talk about the chill. Her flying is not the best, but it's not like many are watching. She finds her target, a temple among the temples.

The glass is ornate, stained in a pattern that tells the story of one of Serriel's Labours-like adventures. Murder notices this at the last possible moment, and she sighs, leaning her shoulder forward.

The sound of shattering glass follows, as does the sound of two bodies hitting the ground among the stacks of books. Two distinct groans are heard.

The weather in the city is foul, not fit for lizards. Cesseli and Jay are in a library at Serriel's temple. Murder just crashed in through a window, carrying, then landing with and on someone.

"Friend Integrit--EEE!" Cesseli flinches, pulling his head down and his small limbs into his robes at the crash. He freezes for only a moment before he puffs wetly at the nearby lightsource to kill it, then scrambles beneath his table to cower out of sight.

The library is a hall of half-light, now, with only the two lit sconces by the main doors and one at a rear exit some distance away. Wet winds blow in through the broken window and a neat stack of scrolls goes tumbling across the carpeted stone floors. One of the pages the kobold had been writing on flutters, threatening to jump up into the wind to be carried on some mad adventure.

And elderly man comes in through the front and almost runs into one of the stone horses that rest there. He grumbles, starting again at the second horse and reaching out a hand to pat the cold beastie.

The sounds of glass breaking have him perking up and he moves with a stiff gait towards the sound of the outside not sort of raining inside. As well as the groans and other things that aught not be in the temple.

"Eh! Everything ok back in here?!" Wu calls out.

"CAW!" Integrity squawks, leaping between Cesseli and the unexpected sound, wings spread to make him look larger. "Show yourself!"

At which point Wu walks into view, "Oh. Uh. I don't think so sir. There are noises." The bluejay replies. The fluttering paper catches his attention, and he puts the new ink-pots down on it, to save it from adventure.

"Someone came through that window, allegedly." He's a great bird for stating the obvious. "Hello?"

Murder's arm hangs limply at her side, sliced open in several places, and very obviously broken. Her other hand shakes as she tries to carefully pour a potion into a man's mouth. Dressed in the same Serrielite robes as the Kobold, the man has definitely seen better days. The colour of his face improves as the liquid makes its way to his throat.

"Heh, Serriel needs to light her house better. Couldn't see that window til the last moment.", the Gobbo says loudly. "Got a priest of yours here. Was escorting him to recover items stolen from several shrines, got jumped by... something in the night. Stabbed him good, wasn't supposed to be anyone still there. Brought him back fastest way I could." The Goblin carefully pulls the man towards the others, at least, towards the voices.

Wu again steps forwards towards the sounds as Murder speaks and starts dragging the priest through glass and whatever else. The older man's face takes on a sour look as he almost steps on the man being dragged. There he stops and squats down, getting hands under the injured priest's armpits and hefting up with a grunt. "Well don't be slicin' him up like a meat pie, girly. Lets get him over and into the light, eh? Get another priestly person up in here ta look him over. And you. Smell the blood from here and you're drippin something fierce."

He squints at Jay and grunts. "You a priest? No? Get one."

There's still no sign of the robed kobold. He seems content to hide in the shadows underneath the writing desk in as tight and small a ball as possible. If it weren't for the wind and rain there might be the sound of his blunted beak chattering.

There are the sound of folks rousing outside and moving to muster in the hall already. A window being smashed in the night is enough to draw a few curious folks, at least.

"Cesseli is a clerk, not a cleric. Me too. We're solicitors." The bluejay says, backing up as murder advances, "That stabby thing didn't follow you, did it? There's been far too many things going after Serrilites lately."

He ducks down, a corvid under a writing desk, addressing the small ball of lizard. "It's ok. It's ok. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. Your goddess won't. You've done nothing wrong."

He pops out again. "Okay, I'll go for help."

Jay flaps off down the hallway, "HELP! HELP! LANCER! I need a healer! Someone's been attacked! HELP!"

Murder eyes the old man, and then kicks the downed cleric. There's a light jingle. "There's a reason why he's heavy. He's got armor on. The only thing gettin' sliced is his robes. Slightly." She shrugs, then grunts and holds her injured arm close. "I'll keep. Get him healed."

The Goblin blinks at the Egalrin as he runs off yelling at the top of his lungs. "Uh. So we gotta wake up the whole temple?" She peers at the Kobold under the desk. "Hey. Sorry li'l guy.. gal? Didn't meant t'break your window."

Wu gives Murder a suddenly cross-eyed scowl. "You always kick injured folk when they're armored? That your way a treat'n the wounds? Kick'm till they're better?" He snorts and starts trying to assess the priests wounds. This means his face is so close to the priest's body it looks odd. Wrong. Especially with his head cants to the side like that.

The egalrin steps out into the hall in time to see a deeply-tanned Sylvanori pad into view, dozens of thin, blonde braids bouncing around his face and neck. The lithe elf's hazel eyes narrow at Jay and his wide, thin lips stay set in a mild frown. Roused by the noise, he took the time to grab his gladius and holy symbol but lacked the time and hands for modesty.

"Vanguard." He offers, terse. "How are you hurt?"

Meanwhile, Cesseli pushes back into the corner and tucks his blunted snout tighter into his crossed arms. His bulbous tail wraps around his ankles and up to the robes covering his shins. The little reptilian doesn't manage to respond to the gobber.

The Gobbo blinks a few times at Cesseli, and leaves them be, turning her gaze back to Wu. "Buddy, I'm maybe forty pounds soaking wet, I'd have to kick a lot harder for him to feel it. Sheesh."

Her eyebrows raise up as he practically shoves his face into the injured man. "His eyes are up a bit higher. His wound is on the side there.", she comments, eyeing the Sylvanori. She blinks several times and looks away. "He got run through the side, between the fourth and fifth rib, thereabouts. Fed him a few healing potions along the way, but he's lost a bunch of blood."

"In here, in the library. I'm fine. Fine!" Integrity flaps his wings convincingly, "Someone came through the window with an injured priest. They were attacked. Allegedly."

"This way." Jay leads back into the room, he points with a wing, "Over there."

Wu just grunts and moves his face up towards the wound, looking more like he's sniffing the wound then looking it over. "Kick'n priests.. youth today.. *grumble grumble* At least ya had enough sense to give him potions. I'm bettin' his lung is punched clean through. Likely has blood in the lungs. But I ain't much of a healer." He looks up towards the doorway..sorta that way, as Jay comes back with someone.

"Step back," the Sylvanori warns Jay. He doesn't quite lift the blade up to point at the egalrin but it rests between the two of him as he gestures to one side. Keeping sight of the unfamiliar man, the Vanguard pads in the rest of the way, scanning the library interior.

"Star-touch," he intones as he brushes the golden disc of his holy symbol against his lips. *fwash* goes a bleeding light, pushing out in a fast-expanding hemispherical dome to wash over the group half-cloaked in darkness and fade away.

His prayers continue, half-spoken and sliding in a more-comfortable Sildanyari. He pads closer and makes the kneel next to the wounded cleric as another *fwash* pulses out to briefly light up the room with his goddess' boon.

He still holds his blade as he joins Wu in his inspections.

"Okay, okay." Jay says, stepping back from the blade. His concern is elsewhere, under the writing desk, which is where he pops like a reverse cuckoo. He carefully nudges up beside the small lizard, repeating. "Cesseli, I'm here."

He spreads a wing over his fellow clerk and holds him, staring out at the proceedings. The healing warmth that washes over him is welcome, while unnecessary.

Murder snorts and shakes her head. "Youth? I'm middle-aged buddy. Probably got less years left n'you do." She rubs at a cheek and shrugs. "I have been adventuring since I was eight. I know healing potions. So uh... you know what a punctured lung smells like, then?"

The Gobbo grunts in pain as the sudden light burns into her eyes. She turns away, blinking and tearing up. "A warnin' would have been nice.", she grumps.

Wu backs up and makes room when the priest arrives. When the light of faith washes over him he shuts his eyes and enjoys the sensation. The second one catches him off guard too and he grumbles softly and rubs at his eyes such as they are. "Eh..Smells cleaner then a gut wound fer sure." That's as much answer s Murder gets from the older man. "He gonna be good now? And this one too." He looks over at Murder with a tight squint. "Halfling gal."

Cesseli half-opens both lids of one eye to look at Jay through a small sliver. He doesn't uncurl from his little egg-shaped ball but falls against his friend. "(... i'm almost done. tell them i just need a little more time and i'll finish my work so i don't have to go again,)" he whispers into his robes. He closes his eyes tight as he tries to stop shaking. "(i promise...)"

"Everything is better in a warm bed," observes the Vanguard. "Help me to move and settle him. Then, I will collect my supplies." This is directed at Wu as the elf snakes his holy symbol-wielding arm around the armored cleric.

Standing, the Sylvanori nods at Murder. "I, Omondi, thank you."

With the older man's help, they start for the hall. "Pull the curtains on the window. We will send someone to repair. Star guide you."

Wu helps Omondi with the wounded cleric.

The leagal egalrin is a fluffy and firm support for the egg of a kobold. He listens to his whispers and worries. The little lizard hasn't overcome his ordeal, still seems to blame himself for it.

"I've already filed a motion for extension, and I'm here to help with your research. I'll make sure all the footnotes are in the Alexandrian style, even though the Bludgun primacy is more efficient." He pulls his wing tighter around the quivering kobold, "I know. It's okay. I'll help. We'll do it. She's not mad at you."

His soft words cover his concern. It's been days, and while gratefully, thankfully, they were able to heal Cesseli's wounds and restore his tail, the psychological damage remains. As does his guilt. Despite assurances and the facts, he still judges himself partially responsible. Not fast enough, not sharp eyed enough. "We'll be okay Cesseli. I got you."

The little kobold shakes and listens. He's put on a good front; moving about the temple, working diligently, and refusing to accept a lighter load after being released from his brief stay at the Soldier's Defense. He's made every effort to lose himself in his work and dodged every excuse to leave the safety of the temple. Today wasn't the first day that he took on extra work, either.

"(i just need to finish. i love Her so much but i always, i...)" he trips over his anxiety, chirping and clicking nervously instead as words fail him. He rambles something about spells and then sags limp against the egalrin as the stress of the moment becomes too much and his little lizard brain switches off for the night.

"It's okay man, I got you, I got you." Jay coos. He'll sleep in the library, it's quiet, except for the broken window letting in the wind. Someone will come to fix that, presumably. The floor isn't comfortable and he's not a feather bed, but he is feathery and comfortable enough for Cesseli to sleep on. He wriggles around, getting the best position of wing and place to lean his head. "I'm not letting go."

He yawns, widely, exhaling hard, stretching his toes and then relaxing, feeling the weight of his friend, whom he reassures, "We'll finish in the morning. We'll be unstoppable. You're in... safe..." Integrity drifts off before he finishes the thought.

In safe wings, under the watchful eye of the goddess of Civilization, surrounded by the Library of Law. A comfort if ever there should be.

Jay, when he's dressing like one of his sisters
https://www.deviantart.com/titaniumdragon/art/As-You-Can-Clearly-See-In-Your-Books-on-Page-413-938225875