Honesty Is the Best Policy

Evensong has come and gone at the Temple of Eluna, and the majority of people have already left for personal meditations or other evening pursuits. Seldan is no different, although he is still seated on one of the many rugs made available for the purpose, off to one side and well away from the altar itself, and unfolds himself from where he had been lost in evening meditations. He stands, slowly, rather as one uncoiling, and steps off the rug, as if to pick it up and return it to its spot.

Serene was not at any of the evenings's devotions, which is no surprise. She's a rare sight around these parts, to use a turn of phrase, and isn't likely recognized by many. She enters from the outer temple area, pauses for a moment to gather her bearings, then considers. She notes Seldan among the the few others who remain, who are in the process of leaving or continuing their own meditations, then frowns.

Seldan certainly is not a figure she will have seen before, although his coloring is striking and his bearing the sort that draws attention. He wears openly the symbol of Eluna, and an open-front robe over shirt and trousers more suited to a wizard, but the physique is far too muscular to be a wizard. He is not one of the Seers, either ... so where does he fit? He does not seem to have noticed Serene yet, carrying his rug back to the pile near the pool. He pauses at its edge, gazing into its starry depths.

"Excuse me," Serene says, approaching Seldan in a less-than-stealthy manner, coming to stop a few short steps from him. "Have you seen Seeress Inoan? I am to meet her this evening but a... time... was not included in the message."

"Mm?" Seldan looks up, and stands just a little taller and straighter. "I did not see her this even, no. It is possible that she might be found in the library." There is no mistaking a fairly strong Myrrish accent. Whoever this is, he hasn't been in Alexandria very long. "Shall I seek her for you?"

Serene shakes her head once, firmly. "No, thank you. If she is in the library I have no wish to disturb her. I still remember her opinions of those who interrupted her research. I will wait." Her gaze, which had shifted to the library as if to try and gaze through it into the room beyond, slides back to Seldan. Her gaze is measuring. Hard, perhaps, but also carrying a touch of inquisitiveness. Or inquisition. "Forgive my rudeness. I am Serene." Her lips twitch at one corner, as if a younger, more exciteable version of herself might have been faintly amused. "Silver Guard Serene, I suppose."

The young man flashes a smile meant to disarm and reassure, with no hint of irritation. "No offense taken, Serene, and well met. Seldan Padaryn, also of the Silver Guard. There are few enough of us here, just now." If Serene has been here in the last six months, she may well have heard that name. Temple gossip has him possibly ill with plague, possibly scarred, possibly fallen, although current appearances suggest that none of those is actually the case. "Do I see her, I will tell her you sought her. You are only just returned?"

Serene tilts her head, just a fraction. "Well met, Silver Guard Seldan," she says, sounding somewhat formal, and then her eyes shift back to the library. "I have been back in the city for three days. I suppose when I checked in with the temple she learned of my return." The eyes narrow a fraction. "I imagine she intends to collect on a debt." Then she shrugs, an action accented by the creaking leather against metal of her armour as she looks again at Seldan. "I believe I have heard of you. Some conflincting stories, it seems."

For most of that, Seldan simply listens politely, but when the conflicting stories are mentioned, he stiffens, and straightens further, much in the way of a soldier awaiting judgment. "I do not doubt it, for there is much that has been said," he answers carefully, and just as formally. "What would you know of me?"

"You are a practitioner," Serene states, her eyes focussed and never leaving him now as if his body language might tell her as much as his answer. "You also Get Involved. If the stories are to be believed, you have had adventure enough for two paladins. Certainly more than some of our brothers or sisters ever see. And you appear to be none the worse for wear."

"The only statement of those that is untrue is the last." Seldan's muscles relax, without him realizing it, and he lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "It is true that much has happened, and that I yet pursue the one responsible for this plague. I am not alone in doing so." Some of the smile returns, and there's a boyish glee in his eyes. "She does not forbid us the practice of Her arts, and there is joy to be found there, along with the uplifting of the weak, is there not?"

"And you believe this task is not beyond your abilities?" Serene's question /could/ be taken as an accusation. Or a questioning of ability. Something about her tone suggests it isn't, however. "Yes, I do remember what it was like to wield the arcane, even if it was a long time ago. Joy, beauty... but I gave it up a long time ago. Sometimes I envy those of you who balance it with your calling."

Seldan's entire bearing and expression softens and registers surprise at the admission. "It matters not whether it is beyond me alone, for I do not stand alone. I would not stand here now without the help of others, and those do I honor and respect. It will take all of us standing together to beat her, and yet ... the plague is a thing created of magic, misused and exploited to harvest power from those afflicted. It matters not if I alone possess the power to stop it, for it must be stopped. But ... you wield the arcane, and set it aside? Why?" His tone clearly says he can't imagine doing any such thing.

Serene nods once, sharply, pleased with the answer. "Good. It sounds as though you have this matter in hand, then, and if you do not you are not afraid of doing what must be done. I will be in the area for the foreseeable future. If you need my assistance, I will come." Then the hardness fades from her eyes a little as she looks away from Seldan and into the pool. "Wielded. I can no longer. There is a long story to it. A long and stupid story. The short of it is I did not trust certain people, and purging it from me was my way of freeing myself from their shackles. And perhaps it is still there... I no longer feel it, however, and I have no regrets. I know my purpose and it is a purpose I chose."

Seldan, too, looks down and at the pool, soberly, taking in the implications of that. "A great cost indeed," he says quietly and sadly. "Yes, I balance the two. I would welcome your aid, for those responsible wield great power. Here is not the place to speak of the details," and he looks around at the now-sparsely populated sanctuary area. "Many are frightened by the plague, and with good reason. I ..." He stops, and looks down. "No, I suppose this would not be the best place," Serene concedes. When Seldan hesitates, she turns her head just enough to look at him... and she waits. Not pushing, but neither stepping away from whatever it is he hesitates to say.

Seldan seems to be warring with himself, but finally shakes his head and looks up. "Forgive me. I would not frighten the faithful, and speak of it in the company of others as little as I may." For some reason, he's edgy about broaching the topic in front of the faithful? Why?

Serene continues to watch Seldan for a few more moments before she nods. "There is no need for apology, Silver Guard. Your judgement is a large part of why Eluna marks you as a champion. I will not press." She pauses, then adds, "But if I am to assist, I will want to know as much as possible about this situation in the near future."

Seldan draws a deep breath, and nods. "I will speak, but perhaps elsewhere within the Temple would be best." He gestures towards the doors leading back towards the libraries and the more private parts of the Temple. "If you have the time?" He gestures graciously for her to precede him.

"No, I suppose this would not be the best place," Serene concedes. When Seldan hesitates, she turns her head just enough to look at him... and she waits. Not pushing, but neither stepping away from whatever it is he hesitates to say.

Seldan seems to be warring with himself, but finally shakes his head and looks up. "Forgive me. I would not frighten the faithful, and speak of it in the company of others as little as I may." For some reason, he's edgy about broaching the topic in front of the faithful? Why?

Serene continues to watch Seldan for a few more moments before she nods. "There is no need for apology, Silver Guard. Your judgement is a large part of why Eluna marks you as a champion. I will not press." She pauses, then adds, "But if I am to assist, I will want to know as much as possible about this situation in the near future."

Seldan draws a deep breath, and nods. "I will speak, but perhaps elsewhere within the Temple would be best." He gestures towards the doors leading back towards the libraries and the more private parts of the Temple. "If you have the time?" He gestures graciously for her to precede him.

Serene scans about, looking for the Seeress she was supposed to meet... then allows herself a faint scowl. "It appears as though I do have the time. I think Inoan has forgotten about me." Or Serene has the wrong time or day. But perish that thought. "We shall see if she is in the library after all, interruptions to her work or not. If she is, I am afraid I will have to attend to her request. If she is not, then it will be a good place to speak," Serene says frankly. As interested as she has claimed to be, there are, after all, proper methods of behaviour to be followed. At Seldan's gesture, she tilts her head, then steps swiftly and purposefully to the library.

"Of course, I would not keep you from your own duties." Seldan accepts this with good grace, and when Serene moves in the direction of the library, follows. Evidence suggests one raised as a gentleman, for he holds doors for her where he can, allowing her to lead the way. He seems to understand well about proper methods of behavior and order of precedence, demanding nothing, but allowing her to dictate.

Serene accepts the treatment, but not as one who expects it as her due by any means. More like as one who doesn't wish to waste time arguing about who should be holding doors open for who. This doesn't stop her from offering her thanks when appropriate, however. Once in the library she takes the time to verify that her quarry, the missing Seeress, is not to be found. This produces another one of those faint scowls. "Well, it appears I am free for the time being, Seldan. So let us talk. Will this be private enough? Or would you prefer one of the studies?"

Seldan waits until Serene has determined that her quarry is not to be found, with no evidence of impatience. "This will do well," he answers when asked, gesturing to a small alcove with a small table and a pair of chairs, and reaching to pull out a chair for her. "I fear not if her clergy know the truth of the matter, for it is a matter of interest to all of us. It is the layfolk I would not so frighten, for there is a great deal of fear as it is, within Alexandria."

Once she has seated herself, he follows suit and reaches to push a lock of ginger hair away from his face, a lock that is tightly held by a thin silver headband. "There is much that we do not yet know, and we learn more still. That which I know, I shall share freely. The tale itself begins a thousand years past, with a wizard by the name of Zeheir. Zeheir may have been a well-intentioned wizard, but this much do we know, that he wielded great power. His tower lies in the north of Ea, but there are copies to be found, throughout time and space, each with its own quirks and differences. One was seen near Silvermoon, another on the Plane of Fire. Others in different times. But, for all his power, he could not stop his wife from falling ill with plague. In his research, seeking to cure her illness, he created an ooze from the stuff of creation itself. That ooze has, in ways I do not understand, been merged with that plague? Such that it is both parasite and disease, and even Her grace offers no protection from it. It is that that infects Alexandria."

Serene unclips her scabbarded sword and leans it against the table as she lowers herself into the offered chair, then rests her forearms on the table puts her fingers together. She listens to Seldan without interruption, narrowing her eyes when she speaks of the wizard's tower, and further still when Seldan mentions the love of the wizard for his wife being one of the causes. Then she grunts softly when Seldan's explanation arrives at the here and now. "I often preach that to know the right thing is to know it in your heart, but this is a knowledge that must be tempered with reason. Which is difficult to do when the ones you love are involved." Her lips tighten at that. "You mentioned others. They have found a way to wield this ooze, then?"

"That is what is believed, though to what end, none can rightly say. This much we know ... a being referred to only as the Mistress took up residence in that tower, and has claimed it as her own. She imprisons humans within it, for magical experimentation and torment thereupon." He lowers his eyes, as if such a thing hits home. "She is believed to be of the true and immortal Fae ... and that which I have been shown thus far supports that. The ooze is as a normal disease, but becomes active when the plague victim is touched by magic in any form. It ... seems to feed from it, becoming bigger the greater the effect that touches the victim. It seems to," he pauses as if for words. "Be collecting that energy, to an unknown end, and this Mistress seems to have some control over that. Perhaps she has modified it for her purposes?"

"I know little of the fae," Serene admits, "beyond what appears to be a complete lack of moral compass. Or at least, morals as we know them." This doesn't seem to please Serene a great deal. "And you say our grace is no defence against it either. I suppose that means it resists obvious cures, magic and otherwise?" Serene leans back in her chair, folding her arms as she looks up towards the ceiling. "If the fae are using it, then I would be surprised if they did not change it somehow. Now how does the demon and the vampire come into this?"

"It does. There are two known methods to cure it. One might choose to owe a demon a favor to be disclosed later..." Seldan's explanation is delivered in a studiously neutral, impassive tone that comes with an unspoken _not on your life_, but he goes on. "Or, some of the inquisitors know a spell that may cast it out. The latter is difficult to achieve and wants a skilled caster indeed, and it ... leaves marks, but is effective. There is a third method," he adds, very slowly, "but I know of only two that it has been tried on, and both of us barely survived the experience. I ... do not speak of it, for it came about by means that put many at risk, and I would not repeat it." He draws a deep breath, and continues, "As to the others' involvement ... the vampire is Her lackey, her puppet, the one she sends when she wishes to have hands in Alexandria. I have ... crossed swords with him twice now, and he is not a foe to be taken lightly. The demon is involved through a product of spectacular foolishness. Silverymoon is hard hit by this plague, and sought in their pride to find their own answers, without reaching out to men in peace. They ... summoned a demon, and charged it with destroying this Mistress. That demon is a Duke of the Hells, Eclavdran."

"Desperate people often make desperate choices and pride does not usually help matters," Serene comments. "I suppose, to a certain mindset, a powerful being like this Eclavdran might be seen as a good counter to one of the true Fae. But I feel as though that might be something like deciding to remove a cocroach infestation with a massive spell of fire. Yes, it may solve the problem, but will simply create other problems in the process." The Charnish woman sighs and closes her eyes. "Vampires are strong, but can be dealt with. I imagine, however, that should he be vanquished this fae creature would simply find another tool. So unless he can be used to somehow get to her, his part in this piece is simply to be removed." She pauses, then adds, "Simple does not mean easy. Am I correct in this?"

"That is so," Seldan nods his agreement. "You speak truly, but he gains much of his power from her, and will teleport away if threatened. Does he show himself in Alexandria again, I have the means to prevent such ... if it works." He shifts a little, having seated himself so that his own sword may hang freely beside the chair. The movement settles the weapon and stops some sort of pull on the strap. "It may be that it is he who gathers the energy. As I have said, there is much yet unknown. Those two know how to cure the plague, and I suspect that they wield control over it."

Serene frowns in thought and is silent for a few extended moments. "We cannot always know every part in any given plot or scheme. So there are two foes to be removed. I am much more familiar with fighting demons than fae... and though they can be tricky, I see the encounter with this Eclavdran being much plainer than this Fae mistress. I doubt she can easily be dealt with without aid from the folk of the wilds. The Yggdrasil Union. Other followers of the green word, perhaps. And a powerful arcanist or two."

"And yet, these foes oppose one another as well," Seldan points out diffidently. "Master Mithralla has made something of a study of how one of the immprotal fae might be destroyed. He looks into weapons wielded by such as the Wild Hunt ... a thing with which I am not truly familiar and seems dangerous to invoke. Allying with a demon to seek her destruction ..." He trails off, his one saying quite clearly that he mislikes the idea. "It is a complex and difficult thing, but a true cure may not be possible without seeking first the destruction of they who control it. Not only must those who control it be destroyed, a cure of this must be sought as well."

Serene grunts again, then tips her chin back down to look at Seldan across the table. "If you had Eclavdan's destruction in hand, but the price of learning the cure from him was to let him go, what decision would you make, Silver Guard?"

"Let him go." There is neither doubt nor hesitation in Seldan's answer, nor in the icy blue gaze that seeks Serene's eyes, seeking to hold them fast. "For to leave it uncured is to consign the innocent to death, and deny their souls the Halls. One who dies of this plague becomes a spirit of disease, to haunt the living. And ... I would leave none to suffer." Without dropping his gaze, he removes the thin silver headband from his hair, letting the ginger waves tumble where they will.

Instantly, the thin silver headband becomes an ornate, floppy hat of red velvet, with silver stitching that sketches out arcane runes along its edge. For himself, the alabaster skin at once becomes patched with inkiest black, the patches irregular as one diseased. The patches are visible across all visible skin, although both hair and eyes remain the same. A creepy effect, to be sure. He does have a real headband, this one much more ornate than the simple one that is part of the disguise, and clearly magical in origin.

"If that means that I must then hunt him again, then hunt him I will."

Serene gives one short nod at Seldan's response to her question, seeming satisfied. Then, when he reveals the truth behind what Serene guesses as his magical illusion, her eyes widen a bit. She does not jerk away, or show any other reaction aside from her lips pressing together tightly for a second. "What I need to know now, then, is how best I can assist you. It would be easy for me to unknowingly disrupt plans you may have in motion. It is likely the easiest path for me would be to help track down this Eclavdran."

Seldan releases a breath he likely did not realize he was holding at the reaction, he nods slowly, eyes lowering from hers. He places the hat back on his head, and the magical illusion promptly resumes itself. It appears that the illusion is being used only to conceal whatever that blackness is, not to make him appear different in any meaningful way. "I would learn what it is that Eclavdran is up to," he agrees. "I cannot show myself, for I was foolish, and my face is known to his minions. His minions operate by creating ills to which he may subject people, then curing those ills in return for a favor later to be named. He would like to be free of his bindings, and will complete the task demanded of him - but what happens when that task is completed? What will be unleashed?"

Serene smiles slightly then. "It may be that my face is known as well, even if I have not heard of him before this. But.. if so, he might not link me to this quest of yours." The smile fades quicker than it appeared. "Nothing good would come of his release. My opinion may be biased, but I feel his part in this scheme must be ended first. The fae are often capricious, but not as often malicious as Eclavdan's ilk. And if the vampire is removed, it may slow this Fae mistress's plans for a time." Serene snorts softly at that. "And now I am talking in circles. I will discover what I can, Seldan, and let you know everything I learn. Send word to me if you have need of me otherwise. I will attempt to pursue any leads I gain, and if they lead to Eclavdan I will inform you and discuss what you wish done if possible. This is your quest, and you have a better idea of the larger picture than I. Is that acceptable?"

"It is, and I am grateful for anything you may learn." Those aren't just words, either. Real gratitude floods Seldan's features, features that had begun impassively and relaxed enough to hint at his worries and burdens. "It is not mine alone, I have come to learn. There are several of us, who work together to learn what we may and attempt to stop this menace. If you wish it, and they are willing, I will make you known to them, that information be shared among all of us."

"I am willing," Serene says immediately. "Secrecy has its place, but not at the expense of stepping on one another's toes." Then she pauses, as if considering whether to say more. While she thinks about it, she reaches for her sword.. once in hand she looks at it. Then looks back at Seldan. "There may come a point where keeping knowledge from the lay peoples will become a.. disservice to them."

About to reply, Seldan stops cold at the second part of that statement, all trace of relief, and smiles, gone. His eyes drop to the table between them, his shoulders tense, and he is left to sit in pregnant silence for a minute or more before speaking. "Then ... shall I do as I must." There is conviction there, but also regret, and dread.

Serene watches Seldan closely, noting every shift in body language, waiting for his response. When he gives it, she nods her head, then reaches across to grip his forearm. "I do not doubt you will, because that is what we do. What we must."

The answering grip on Serene's forearm is automatic, and there is real strength there, for all that he is fairly slight of frame as paladins go. Seldan makes up for the slim build with toned and hardened muscle, and his grip is that of a warrior, for the time that he holds it. Such a reveal will not come easily to him, it seems, as he lets the silence hang there. "Yes," he says finally. "We do as we must. Even if She is all that stands with me ... that is yet enough." The words are spoken mostly to himself.

"Good." The single word uttered is a simple one. A common one. An often used one. And yet... one that carries so much weight. Serene squeezes Seldan's forearm once more, then she rises and ties her scabbard back to her belt. "And Seldan. Yes, She will stand with you, but She will not be the only one."

Seldan looks up at those words, his gaze level, holding hers if she will allow it. "That - means a great deal," he replies, quietly. "You have my gratitude." The words seem to firm something up, deep within him, resolve some doubt that he might have had, ease his mind in a way of which he does not speak, a burden falling away from him. "And my thanks for your time, and for your help, Serene. I ... am glad that you have returned." "Well, that is another part of what we do. We go where we are needed." Then, as if she was quoting, Serene says, "A paladin travels where his conscience leads, quietly helping others with their needs. Not for glory, neither then for gain, good alone shall be the judge he heeds." She smirks a little bit at that. "The one who set me on this path liked to say things such as that. Often times when things get dark, remembering his words are enough to bring some lightness to the situation."