Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles

It has been some days since anyone in the Temple has seen Seldan, which is most uncharacteristic. Rumor in the Temple had him hurt just before evensong on Tariday, and none have seen him since, or seem to know where he went. When he walks in this morning, though, he seems hale enough, and even relaxed, or at least as relaxed as someone in full armor and fully armed can look. He again wears that thin silver headband, and pauses at the other side of the pool for religious observances.

Serene is wrapping up a conversation with a tired looking priest. One might say she looks concerned, but then Serene usually looks concerned or grim or any number of unrelaxed states. The expression morphs into a scowl, but the grey haired woman nods acceptingly. She passes over what appears to be a broken chunk of wood, then steps away and briefly touches the centre of her breastplate with her fist. It is only when she turns about that she spies Seldan by the pool. Usually not one to waste time, Serene starts his way.

Seldan seems to be in a similar habit. He drops to one knee, gauntleted fist over his heart as he faces the altar from the opposite side of the pool. It does not take long, and he stands, looking around and breathing deeply as one orienting himself.

Seldan seems to be in a similar habit. He drops to one knee, gauntleted fist over his heart as he faces the altar from the opposite side of the pool. It does not take long, and he stands, looking around and breathing deeply as one orienting himself. He doesn't seem to have spotted Serene yet.

Serene remedies that. "Seldan," she says, once she is within conversational earshot.. no need to disturb the peace of the contemplation pool. She continues walking around the pool until she comes up before him. "I hope you have a moment."

"I have all the time you require, Serene, although we should seek a quieter space." Seldan does indeed seem to be just fine, and turns to her fully as he speaks. "Else are we likely to find ourselves disrupted." He looks then towards the back doors that lead from the marbled main temple into its recesses, and especially towards the library.

Serene dips her head slighly in acknowledgement of the suggestion, turning half to the side and gesturing for the two to walk together. "It should not take long." She sounds almost.. bitter about that. "What I have to tell you is short, though possibly important."

Seldan falls immediately into line, nodding. "There are things that I would also share with you, and even some good tidings, but I would hear your tale first." Two armored people do not fit through a door at the same time, and he courteously holds the door for her as the two's walk takes them into the back areas of the Temple proper.

"I welcome the good news. What I have to tell is... frustrating." Serene crosses into the library, then pauses for Seldan to do likewise. After the door closes, she leads the way to a table off to the side, pulling a chair out for the eldanar man before taking a seat in another. And then she gets right into it. "Myself and some others have destroyed a nest of vampires that I believe were affiliated with this Kol of yours."

"Yes, I had come to learn that Salina allowed Kol a brood, although I had not chanced to see you ere ..." He frowns suddenly, his brow furrowing in puzzlement, but takes his chair anyway, shaking his head. "I had not chanced to see you in some time, to warn you. "But you have found and destroyed at least part of Kol's brood. That is a mighty deed, indeed, and no easy task." He removes his gauntlets, the right one much more decorated than the left, and sets them aside, listening carefully. "This is a take I would hear in its fullness."

Serene scowls further, almost as if Seldan just poked at an open wound. Or at least a sore tooth. But then she waves her hand, as if to dismiss any notion she might actually be upset with the other paladin. "We destroyed the nest.. but I believe several of them escaped. I was foolish and allowed myself to be rendered... blind... by an ally's magic. I was left with little to do but channel Eluna's holiness and hope to catch as many of them as I could while they fled." Serene lets her breath out. "From the beginning. We were sent to investigate this nest. A burrow of sorts, guarded by shadow demons. They did not stop us for long, but did delays us long enough for the vampires to flee further into the forest to an old shack of a house. There was a woman in the burrow who described, I believe, Kol... I sent her with Silver to the temple of Vardama, for she had been in the process of turning. Then we followed the trail. We thought to be cautious; we knew not how many hostages or thralls they may have dragged with them. But the sith'makar druid, Durrankar, scouted the house... then returned swiftly reporting he had heard them talk about killing and draining 'her' immediately. So we rushed the house. It was foolish." The leather portion of Serene's gauntlet creaks as she tightens her fist... her lips press tightly together. Then, "There were no hostages. And it was, to borrow a term from a friend long a go, a royal mess. The vampires swarmed, I was caught in the sun spell of Durrankar. We still feared their was a hostage, so the witch Alba infiltrated the house only to get swarmed herself. Then Durrankar brought the house down. Alba and Kira were trapped. I was blind. I believe most of the vampires must have escaped."

Seldan's interest as the tale begins turns to seriousness, and then to a scowl that nearly matches Serene's. "A mess indeed, and a frustrating one. Your allies were no thinking clearly, it seems." Real sympathy is written in the Myrrish-accented words. "We must keep in closer contact, for much has happened since we last spoke. Kol himself is no more, by a trap set in part by his own hand, but these vampires must be found and hunted down, once She is no more. Should you wish my aid, you need but ask. I know how Kol himself was defeated. His brood are of the same mind, and likely can be lured in the same way."

Serene grunts quietly, then shakes her head. "None of us were thinking clearly, if I am going to be fair. We were all driven to haste by our concern over hostages... as it turned out, there were none. Not even this woman they talked of draining." Serene slumps a little bit as if the telling has released a little bit of the weight. "I had heard Kol was vanquished. I also learned that the priestess who sent us on the mission was slain. I fear she was the one Durrankar heard them talking about, for Kol was there, at the shack, at the moment of our attack. He vanished before I could reach him." Her fist thumps the table then. "The rest of his brood /will/ be hunted.. but if they leave for elsewhere, they will probably escape justice."

Seldan closes his eyes sadly at that. "He had assaulted the Temple of the Draco Solis and was controlling many of the Sunguards there. I ... happened to be in the temple when he struck, for errands unrelated." A deep breath is followed by a sigh. "I and a few others were able to pin him down and distract him from the Sunguards and the faithful until he was dragged into the shadows. It was not until later that he gave us the opening I sought, but this much did I learn: Kol, and by extension his brood, are creatures of deep passions and base desires, and may in the lust to sate those desires be heedless of their own destruction."

He goes on. "I would tell you how Kol came to be destroyed, that you might find it useful in your hunt, do I not for some reason accompany you. Kol used a plague ooze to destroy the Temple fountain, but the water that ran from underground to feed it sufficed to immerse him. I used my own blood - for is bloodlust his main desire - to lure him to the water's edge, then six of us tackled him into the water and held him there, until he dissolved to nothingness."

"A fitting end to the creature," Serene declares, satisfied that that threat, at least, is ended. And to hear it from Seldan, there can be no doubt. "I will remember the strategy should we find it spawn. But with his death, they may be free.. not simply to follow their own path, but may be free of his passions and desires as well. Though not likely his bloodlust. If I discover a lead on them, I will seek you out." Serene pauses to file that information away, then continues. "I may have exhausted my ability to research Eclavdan, in the mean time. I could find no link between him and the fae from any references before the present. His consort... there is nothing. It came out of nowhere it seems, though his... I will not call it affection, but perhaps attachment... seems real enough."

"Please do, if you wish my aid in hunting them down, you have but to ask." Seldan listens, frowning and pushing that stray lock of hair from his eyes. "I understand, but it may be that our true attention should be elsewhere, for now." He pauses, thinking. "Although Master Mithralla may have procured for himself a weapon that may slay the Endless Winter that is our true target ... I think he knows naught of weapons, and is bound to allow no other to touch it. I think it will avail us little, for all it was dearly bought." He lowers his eyes, real regret there. "But ... it is in my mind that Eclavdran may be unable to reach her in that tower, and he is bound to her destruction. If she were to be forced from the tower ..." He trails off.

"So two possible options. This is better than one, or none at all." Serene asks nothing of the cost, for all that she has learned by now that dealing with the fae always has a price. "Two plans of attack that may coincide. If Mikilos lacks the skill to bring her demise with the weapon, perhaps it can drive her from the tower as you say. Though I would not sell the wizard too short on that. She can be injured and weakened. Perhaps it is only the killing blow that his weapon must land."

"That may be so," Seldan nods, his lips setting in thought. "Would you join the assault? Your strength would be a boon, but we move swiftly. She holds prisoners, on which she performs cruel experiments. I have but one more thing I would do ere we plan the assault."

One of Serene's eyebrows goes up just slightly, as if to ask 'you have to ask?'. But then she nods. "I will do whatever I can to assist your mission. Just send me word. If you know any specifics of what I should plan for, tell me so I may be ready."

Seldan smiles in response to the raised eyebrow, his laugh short and quiet, but understanding clearly. "I wished not to make assumptions upon your time." He sits back a little in the chair, resting hands on the table. "We know not -all- of what she does while there, but this much do I know: She makes use of corpses, and she may use living creatures to create abominations of nature, using magic. I shall prepare to face a spellcaster capable of great magic, abominations of nature, and the undead, and to protect the innocent as well."

"More than that, I cannot say, but the last task I must see to ere we plan the assault is to seek to pierce the memories of the one among us who will know the most of the tower itself, its guardians, and its traps."

"Very well. Please keep me apprised. This fae creature's recknoning, Eluna willing, is close at hand. With hope her destruction will bring an end to this plague.. not to mention the torment of those she takes." Yes, this conversation appears to have done much to improve Serene's mood. Perhaps even bring a measure of satisfaction.

Seldan inclines his head in agreement. "That is the other tidings I had wished to share with you." That is said in the tone of one remembering. "A means of curing the plague has been found, that will not harm the afflicted. It is not easy to execute, and if one slips, it will make the patient ill..." He pauses. "But it can be done, and with others at hand to control the ooze should it appear ... even the very ill have been saved."

Serene's eyes wide and she actually smiles. Mark the day. It is a small smile, as hers tend to be, but it speaks volumes. "As I have said before, even in the darkest nights Eluna's light might show the way. This is excellent news, Seldan. Very good work. You must tell me the details so that when this is finished I might aid with the recovery should I have the means."

"So She does, in this case literally, for it is in the dispelling of such fell magic, should one manage it thoroughly enough, that the plague may be banished." Seldan's smile matches Serene's, and it is no mere reaction to his fellow Silver Guard's own expression. "She showed Her face to us, after a great one of those was banished in the Temple District. We are not alone, Serene, and She provides both means and strength. Target the victim with a spell of dispelling, but it must be strong magic and well-placed, to get all of it, and one must get all of it, or it will swiftly regrow and be angered."

"You and I have little need for proof of Her, I believe... though it is great comfort when she reminds us," Serene agrees. "I was not in Alexandria, but I was close enough to see and feel it. When I learned of the battle afterwards, it only confirmed." Serene's smile fades, then, as she returns to business. "I believe I can help with this cure, then. I will remain at or near the temple then to assist. Send any my way whom you feel I can help."

"There are a few, known to me, who have it, among those the one whose memories I need. I fear that I failed her." Seldan looks down at the table, suddenly troubled. "The spell went awry, and hurt her so badly that she lost herself and attacked me. It is ... not the first time that she has so done, and her mind is not fully her own. Perhaps she will have better control with one that she does not know."

"Seldan." Serene speaks the name with emphasis, attention grabbing. "I understand I was not there and cannot know fully the situation. Nor do I know who this friend is, or the kind of relationship you have with her. But I doubt her control would be worse with someone she knows. If anything I would think your presence would have kept it from being worse. Perhaps I am wrong, but it seems perhaps you seek to shoulder some blame because you feel guilt over causing her pain. Do not. If she is a friend, when she recovers she will understand you are doing what you can to help her." She pauses, letting that sink in a little bit... or perhaps giving Seldan a chance to refute her observation. "But if you wish I can accompany you to see if I can provide aid."

Seldan looks up, eyes widening a little. "The Endless Winter holds part of her mind, I think, for was she a captive within that tower for some years. She was ... its maid and housekeeper, and that is why I need her memories, ere we plan an assault upon the tower. But ... she can be at times compelled to kill, those who the Endless Winter wants dead, and she cannot fight it, does it appear. More than once have I stood between those she compels, and her target."

"Well, then perhaps it /is/ something about you," Serene replies. There's no smile, no smirk. But maybe a faint twinkle in the eye that could easily be imagined. Everyone knows Serene has no sense of humour. "When it is convenient, then, take me to her and I will see what I can do to help. Is this acceptable?"

"It is not merely acceptable, it is greatly appreciated," Seldan breathes out, relaxing, although he appears to take Serene entirely seriously. "I will send to Zeke to see if she is awake and will accept such. Have you aught else that you would know of me, or share with me, ere I do so?"

Serene shakes her head. "I believe that is everything I have to tell... and it sounds as if you have disclosed everything you can think of. I will retire to the meditation pools to request the appropriate prayers so that I might be ready."

"Of course. I shall find you after evensong, then?" Seldan refers to evening services, when most of the faithful pray for their spells and greet Her face. "Your help would be beyond valuable." He stands, and picks up his gauntlets, his smile genuine. "If I learn of any of that brood to be hunted, I shall seek you out. Her light fall upon your path."

Serene rises as well, then adjusts her sword belt and replaces her chair. "I will be ready by then, yes," she tells him. And when he mentions the vampires, her eyes narrow. "You are correct in that there are more pressing concerns... but I will appreciate any knowledge of them that may come about. Thank you. Her light illume you."