The Dragonfather

Log Info

• Title: The Dragonfather
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Morgan, Bannon, Kira
• Place: A10 Temple of Daeus
• Time: Saturday, June 20, 2020, 3:18 PM
• Summary: Cryo is making her second appeal to the Dragonfather, husband to Althea and diety of her absent Zeke. He is a rare example of a god represented as a dragon to all races, not just the sith. Still, she is hesitant, worrying that her long faithlessness and behaviour while in the Temple of Daeus would cause her to be unworthy, and she finds excuses to delay. These include talking to Morgan about the Fae Monarchs, and Bannon about statues and their digestive tracts. She is invited to dinner at Morgan's, explains how it is dangerous, then finally departs with Kira to make her prayer attempts. Her appeal is disorganized and awkward, and she quickly leaves after having made it, then wants to rush home and perhaps read up on the other Gods of Light to be prepared for her other attempts.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* 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.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Morgan       4'10"    79 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short pixy like half elf with fair skin
Bannon       5'9"     195 Lb     Human             Male      A shorter man of Tsuran heritage, with a thin moustace and goatee.
Kira         5'0"     120 Lb     Human             Female    Blonde woman in simple robes with an eye patch.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The Temple of Daeus Complex

Cryosantha stands near the edge of the marble slab, lingering beside one of the columns where she has a good view of the marble statue of the Shining Knight, and beside him, his love Althea. Her plan is to fulfill the task assigned to her, pray and petition at the temples of the Gods of Light, although she has stalled. The look of love on the statues, represented in the posture and the looks shared between them has opened an unexpected box of emotions even if they're softskins. Also, the Temple of Daeus has the most negative associations for her, even if the clergy have been considerate and generous.

It's the third time she's changed her clothing and robe style, and she seems indecisive still, looking around at other passers-by for ideas and adjusting her clothes. A belt appears, mostly so she can stick her thumbs into it and worry it about as she bites her lip.

Morgan comes walking out of a meeting room "That is the location I found your faiths symbol but it must of been there for 200 some years. I think it was lost in that cave as there were no bones." she gets a thankyou as she starts to walk to the door. But stops to look at the art work here.

Cryo decides to copy Morgan's clothes, her words having drawn the sith's attention. Her clothes switch so she is wearing a doublet, with long loose sleeves that flare at her wrists, a tunic decorated with snowflakes that tucks into the belt she created earlier, and thick woolen pants, although the legs go only to the knees and there's a third one for her tail, making a triplet instead of a pair of pants. All are in stark white, with any decorations being a pale, glacial blue, matching her scales and markings. There is a cloak, with a satin, light blue interior. Tucked out of sight the whitescale also has a haversack across her shoulders. She examines her efforts.

Morgan notices that Cryo changed her clothing "Hat of disguise I bet." said as she is looking her over and shows no signs of her being mad at her style being copyed.

"AnyGarment Sleeves actually, my friend made them for me. I just have to think about them and they change." Cryo answers, getting an odd expression of concentration as she looks at Morgan. A small, pale blue embroidered lizard emerges from the pocket of the doublet, and in a rough sort of animation climbs up, moves from doublet to shirt, up over her shoulder and vanishes onto her cape. From behind it turns from a three inch long thing to the size of her cape. Her concentration drops, and she smiles awkwardly, "He's... in Hell, right now. You're Morgan, aren't you? The Archmage? I've read about you. And we met each other briefly yesterday when Tanith was about."

Morgan nods "I am Morgan the Lore master of the Arcane guild. And I have seen you in passing, but who is your friend that made that for you and is in a very bad place, one I been to and do not want to go back any time soon."

"Merek, Seer of Eluna. He's..." Cryosanthia hesitates, exhaling strongly and staring up at the blue sky canopy ceiling of close stars. She crosses her arms, hugging herself. "He wasn't well. He has Black Dragon Blood and this one thinks his horns were coming in, he is human, but he took news of Kol Demontyr's death... badly. Wishing revenge, wishing the vampire was still alive, declaring he would bring him back... becoming fixated on potatoes... he endangered us all, blew his arm off, and then in some misguided attempt to be heroic confronted a Demon Duke of Hell, insisted he be taken down, and was. I think his mind broke under a combination of thwarted revenge and impotent frustration... this one cannot be sure beyond he was not well and made a bad offer."

Morgan ahhs "yes I herd of that and I know Merek though not too well. He was always nice to me." she takes a seat at a bench "But I made sleeves like that once for a friend, and to be honest I should make them for my self."

Cryosanthia nods, "They are very handy, clothes for every occasion, providing one can imagine suitable ones to match the function. Anti-Magic fields are a concern and something you should be aware of. This one has not expected to be revealed and nude quite as often as I have been. Shockingly often. No matter if you have a non-magical shift, I suppose."

She tugs at the sleeve, then adjusts her belt, "This style looks nice on you, do you think it's too much on me? I'm supposed to be... petitionning..."

Morgan shakes her head "No it looks lovely and you did your own twist to it. And if you do end up in a anti magic zone dont wory about it, its just your body." the small skiny half elf says as if she has no shame about that.

"Thanks. This one is not bothered, she has endured worse." Cryo nods, inhales again. This time she adjusts the straps on her haversack. The edges of her mouth curl in an awkward grin, "Wish me luck. I shall go in and... ask. And apologize. I guess. Inspiration shall strike." Her tailtip flicks back and forth behind her, "Any moment now..."

Bannon is walking along the path leading through the statues, coming to a dead stop as he catches the last part of the conversation, his head tilting. His path of travel deviates, bringing him closer to the gathering and catching more and more of that which is being discussed. He does glance quickly towards Morgan, giving her a quick nod.

Morgan gives a hello wave to Bannon and then says to the Lizard lady "Ask for what, if you do not mind me prying."

With a bit of hustle and bustle, Kira makes her way inside the temple. Once inside, though, her hurry slows to a more respectful walk. Her head and eye remain a bit busy, though, as she looks about the interior. She's late and guiltily aware of that fact.

Cryosanthia removes a glove on her left hand. It is a whitescale leather glove, matching her own, and seems like a second skin as she pulls it off. It's almost unnoticeable normally, unless one is familiar with sith-makar hands. On the back of her hand is a snowflake, patterned on her scales, formed from glacial blue ones. "This is the mark of the Fae Queen. I was her prisoner and pet for eight decades. She did things in my body and mind, it allows her to scry upon and sometimes control me. Sir Seldan has said that the Gods of Light watch us now, and one of them might take mercy and remove it, as their servants have removed others, from others. He tasked me to ask."

"The Dragonfather is... hard. This one has not been a pious guest. If he has noticed me, I was not at my best."

Morgan nods as she tenses a bit about talking of the Fae "Well I am a Eluna follower so I can not tell you to much of this temple other then whos who. Have you tryed to have a arcanist like me to remove it with a remove curse or break curse spell?"

Kira may hear Cryosanthia and company before she spots them, though she steps ...briskly towards once she does. Close, so that she can keep her voice respectfully low. "Hello, Cryo. I'm sorry that I am late. How are you both?" She asks of them both, with a smile, albeit an apologetic one.

Bannon narrows his eyes, his feet carrying him forward to follow them all into the main temple proper. After hearing one particular thing said, Bannon looks towards Cryosanthia and grunts, "We're never seen at 'our best.' It's a very fluid concept."

Cryo gets fidgity and looks around for danger, notices Bannon who gets a nod, and Kira who gets a happier expression and an exclamation, "Kira! You come!"

The white sith turns and nods at Morgan, "Some, yes. A Break Enchantment, Acquire Affliction and a Paladin's Sacrifice did not remove it, neither did several strong Dispell Magic's. Some unknown spells were cast by the people when I was being cured of the ooze. It is persistent, this one is not sure a Remove Curse would suffice. Also... she tends to notice when it is interferred with. She has sent demons to retrieve me, the Duke of Hell and the Ice Demon. It is not safe to try without a lot of backup."

She looks at the statues, elaborates a little more, answering Bannon, "My... Zeke, follows the Dragonfather, and his faith is strong. This one... recovered here. After the Tower. I was polite to the clergy and nice to the guards, never ramming a table into their knees, but... have said angry, disparaging things... when Kol attacked, when the Demon Duke followed us onto these hallowed grounds, when the Fae Queen took Zeke from the doorstep of our room. This one felt... abandonned, and said so."

Morgan nods "bleeding slimes." is all she says as ahe gets a note book out and starts to take notes.

"I think it is beyond us to remove it," Kira adds, smile dimmed, with Cryo's explanation. Her smile blooms anew, though, as she agrees with Bannon, in a sense, "I don't think the gods judge us only at our worst. Besides, when times seem darkest is often when people can shine the most brightly."

She moves to sit with Cryosanthia, "Of course I came. I was just a little delayed."

Bannon tilts his head with a grin, "Well, if the Gods are omniscient, then they've see you at better times too. I wouldn't worry about it. The joke is on us, at the end of it all." He stops, taking a look at one of the statues and narrowing his eyes, "This person needs more fiber in their diet, or the person who made the statue does."

"This one found some of Merek's words appropriate and echo'd them, and they were unkind. It seemed for a time the gods ignored us, we were beyond help. The Fae Queen traipses in magic, the realm of the Brightlady, manipulating Universal Magic and turning them into oozes, to enslave and drain power from those infected. The marks may even be interconnected, and Sir Seldan confirmed the Mistake can use them for more than scrying. I am a hazard to be around, and that is a difficult truth to live with." Cryo explains, then blinks at Bannon, "What makes you say that of them? They seem... normal?"

Morgan thinks on what is said "Oh now that makes sense, Horja was right." she snaps to "My great grandmother is a fae one not liked among most of the fae, but not evil for a unsielie. I really need to contact her its about time I do that." she then relises she is babling about things no one here would understand. "Sorry I tend to talk and forget others dont understand me at times."

Bannon raises an eyebrow, "Hmm?" He then shakes his head, "Oh, just an observation." He then gestures, "Like that one right there? They certainly seems to be having a bad day. Without context, I'm chalking it up to a lack of ruffage." He then adds, "You, from soneone hazardous to be around to another, it really helps you sort out who your friends are."

Kira gives Morgan a glance that may not banish the idea that others may not understand her, as Kira isn't sure that she did. To Bannon, she is also playing a bit of catching up in regards to the statues, but now seems to get the joke. Even if he had to explain some of the punchline, her smile widens in mirth at it. A bit of that isn't blasphemous... she hopes.

That leaves Cryosanthia, whom she attempts to give a reassuring hug along with a quiet... growl? "you are no danger to anyone because of yourself, but because of her." <draconic>

"This one has been eating a lot of fish of late. I apologize if that makes me... off. And... it has, yes." Cryo answers Bannon, looking concerned. She moves and gives Kira a firm hug, holding then releasing the Sentinel. She whispers, "Thank you. Your accent is perfect."

A quizzical look is directed towards Morgan, and she tilts her head, "You would not have uncommon knowledge of the King of Light and Illusion, or the Queen of the Sluagh, would you? For a time we attempted and succeeded in contacting some of the other Fae Monarchs, regarding the troubling one, but stopped before these two."

Bannon waves his hands quickly, shaking his head as he exclaims, "I was strictly referring to the Temple statuary and the unique artistic choices of their creators. I partook heavily of beans and sausage for breakfast recently. I'm pointing fingers at no one due to know fully knowing what'll happen with hand gesture." He looks towards Kira, grimacing before he compliments begrudgingly, "What a lovely singing voice you must have..." He turns his head towards Morgan, his voice dropping into a stage whisper, "Did you catch any of that? I sort of got one of the growls and a roar, but there were a few hisses, snaps, and coughed up hairballs that aren't translating well for me..."

Morgan nods "I do know a lot of things about them but it is from a lot of storys that would take hours to tell. How about tonight you come to my house and I can tell you what I know and what I can lend you." she gives a smile hoping she is helpfull.

Kira's cheeks pinken at Bannon's comment, initially. "No, I'm terrible at singing..." A moment, then two. "Oh!" Now she blushes more as realization strikes, if a bit late. "I'm sorry. I've been trying to practice the language for some time. I didn't mean any offense."

The mention of the othe fae royalty turns some embarassment into concern. "We may need their help, someday, though I hope we don't. We don't know what the cost might be..." Still, Morgan's offer is helpful and she nods to her gratefully. "Any information you could find could be very helpful. So many of the clues or tales we've tried to learn from have not turned out beneficial, or were even worse."

"She assures me the fault is the Fae Queen, in the people's language." Cryo explains to Bannon, leaving a hand on Kira's shoulder. She looks at Kira, then at Morgan, "I would very much like to hear anything you would share. Your place is protected? She has done terrible things, slain all in the Soldier's Defense. This one has been staying in a Mage's Magic Mansion for weeks since the Ice Demon. Being out worries me, my hope is the Temples are watched enough to be safe but Alexandria herself is another matter. It is not the Arcanist's Guild, is it? This one... cannot go there."

Morgan nods "my place while not a mansion is well warded and protected. And I will have some Sith dishes for you." she names a few that she knows of. She then looks to every one "You are all invited."

"Thank you," Kira turns her smile to Morgan, "that is very nice of you. I'm sure Cryo would love company and a meal, not just information." There is that concern, though, and she nods with the white sith's worries. "She is, and has been, a target far too much. We don't know what is enough, so we're very cautious. Even the temples haven't proven enough, at times." A saddening and sobering reality.

"Yes, I would very much like those things. Your offer is generous!" The white sith bobs her head enthusiastically, smiling with teeth. Her tail is still a-twitching, a sign of nervousness, especially with her glancing around. "This one should get to my appeal. I am... not sure what I will say. I have no objections if you wish to accompany, the support is appreciated. I understand if you have other tasks or it is too personal request to want to witness. I... do not know how it will go."

Morgan smiles "I hope I can be helpfull with what you need, but I have a feeling I need to go to the fae relm some time soon. I need to talk to my great grand mother my self."

Bannon smiles and then shakes his head to Kira, "It's alright. I don't really speak Sith." He then grunts, "Well, thank you Morgan, but I'm afraid I'll have to continue on my business or I will be missed." He looks towards Cryosanthia, the edges of his lips turning downwards slightly, "Best of luck with that. I mean it." He then turns, proceeding deeper into the temple and disappearing.

"Healer's Grace be upon you," Kira offers Bannon in farewell, even if it is The Sun's temple. Speaking of that, and with Cryo's words, she looks back to her. "I will stay with you, but I can't offer much insight. The Truthsayers' prayers were very solemn and strict affairs. I don't know if that was due to Daeus' wishes or the monastery's."

"This one should have listened to Zeke pray more." Cryo says, sounding melancholy. She dips her head towards Bannon, "Peace on your Nest and luck in you endeavours, thank you for your kind wishes."

The whitescale looks at Kira and Morgan, and with a small shrug, heads into the temple complex. She is comfortable finding her way around, striding directly towards the main temple and the prayer area. Once inside she finds a cushion near the railing. She is very familiar with the services and cycles of this temple, and seems to have chosen a time when there isn't formal services occuring. She settles, kneeling and sitting on the cushion, hands on her knees. She inhales and looks skyward. There are the images of the Platinum Dragon, the Celestial knight, and while there are humanized versions of him about she is pleased that the main representation here is a dragon. Even if her eyes keep drifting off towards the Dragons of Light, mana lights.

She exhales, her breath a visible, condensing cloud, her words loud and a little haphazardly chosen. "Dragonfather. I'm Cryo. Cryosanthia. Sunguard Zeke's... he knows me. I've been here weeks..."

She breaks off, under her breath she says, "Scales, this is going terribly. I should apologize, plead? Which first?"

Morgan gives Kira a piece of paper with her houses address "I have things to do, make sure she gets a copy." she gives a nod and walks away.

Kira takes the paper and nods. "I shall..." Then she hurries to catch up to her sithster... well, as much as she can while walking respectfully. She quietly kneels nearby, offering a hand to shoulder for support, in any or all sense, or simply her presence. Whatever is desired or needed. She whispers, "You are doing fine, Cryosanthia."

The whitescale feels the touch, nods her head, inhales and exhales, then starts again. "Dragonfather, thank you for keeping Zeke in your light, and being forgiving of the actions he took which came from my affliction. Thanks also for letting me shelter in your house, beneath your power, even though I was an ungracious guest and acted like I had a room in a pub. I hope you can find it to forgive me. I have not been well, which you know, which should not excuse me from the times I should have tried to be better, and didn't."

Another hard breath, "I have been ... owned... and trained... by an evil mistress and she has her mark on me. A mark that lets her twist my mind, terrorize my... Zeke, endanger friends and innocents. I would be free of it, so I can act against her, bring justice, and redeem myself. It would help if you could make me smarter too, I know that's asking a lot. Um... sorry, just ... well not realy joking. Um. Please make her mark go away, thanks for sending Rocky back and sorry about the room."

Kira may be in service to The Healer, and in The Suns' house, but the two are hardly mutually exclusive. She offers a quiet prayer of her own. "With Your warming light, and Her compassion, You both watch over us all with Your unwavering devotion to us, and each other. We try to do the same: for Yourselves, Your children, and for each other. We only ask your aid in doing so, to overcome the obstacles we believe that we can't."

"Yes, and, thanks for sending Tanith to play with us. I enjoy her company a lot." Cryo adds hastily. She's looking around, her tail twisting in her anxious way, "Thank you, thanks. And I wish my love was good like yours. Thanks."

The white sith is on her feet, looking around, her tailtip has found it's way into one of her hands. She curtseys, "I'm sorry."

She backs out of the prayer area and leans up against a wall outside.

Kira understands that Cryo is anxious, and for several reasons. After the white sith rises and then politely ...almost-bolts, she stands to move after. Not to chase her down, per se, but as her escort. Even if all she can do is offer moral support and company, that's something. "I think that went well..."

"No, it went terribly." Cryo shakes her head, her horntips tapping on the wall behind her, "I couldn't stop thinking of all the nights I laid on my back, thinking this was the Tower, or my memories sprayed across the walls, or Zeke, thinking I was an illusion. The priest, being drunk dry in front of me by Kol. Horrible things that could have happened anywhere, but happened here because I was here. It's not my fault, but... it almost is. I hoped the right words would come, and I instead remember yelling at the Sunblades because they didn't come fast enough..."

"Sister..." Kira starts, softly, and, of course, offer a comforting touch with a hand. Or two. She might wish she had Brae here, in her former form, or had it, herself, so she could offer more hands. "If any of it happened because you were there, it was only because her eyes were there, not because of you. I know this place has many memories for you, and I'm sorry that many of them aren't good. You don't need to be here, or in any temple, to pray. It is a place, nothing more. A true temple is not a place, but people. It isn't stone or gold or monuments, but those who would come together in believe, whether hundreds or just one."

"The baths were nice, and the library, and where River Stone came back to life," Cryo says, sighing, "This one should have thought of those. You are right, but still, there are many signs of the Dragonfather. And it is more. Zeke's faith did not waver, all those years, but he was not answered. She did not allow other gods in her Tower. To me it seemed... he was not listening, even if Zeke believed. My doubt is large, that he would care about me. I feel like an ungrateful youngling asking a favour she does not deserve. That the Dragonfather could fix it, no doubts. That he would... the chasm is large. This one should be happy she has seen Tanith twice, asking for more seems too much."

Kira can't discount any of her words, recollections, or feelings in them. "If you don't feel that The Dragonfather is the one to ask, or you shouldn't, you don't need to ask further." The reminder of Tanith makes her unable to not smile further. "I think the Tanith is a sign that you are still favored. I... can't speak for Zeke, but I can understand why his faith remained."

She pauses a moment before asking, "If you were in your room, or the mansion, right now, and called for me... even if I weren't present and we couldn't see or hear each other... would you think that I no longer loved you? That I would no longer help you?"

"I would not... at first. After a long time with no answer... doubt would find this one." Cryosanthia says reluctantly, staring at Kira. "I would feel better if Zeke had come, or explained more before he left... this is not about that. He says be assured, so I will try to be assured. The Dragonfather has heard me... and this one can't change what she's done. We should go back to the room. I can think about visiting Morgan, or better prepare for the other temples. Eluna, Gilead, this one has thoughts, yet I can barely name the others. This makes me hardly a worthy petitioner."

Kira nods simply. She would have preferred Zeke had aided Cryo with the Dragonfather, as well... and much more. "I'll walk with you, or stay with you, as you'd like."

Cryosanthia hugs Kira, resting her head against her back. She breathes, slow and powerfully, "The company is appreciated, if you would stay. I would not keep you from things, I do want to rest in the room, think about things. Please come."

Kira returns the embrace, with a firm squeeze. "You're not keeping me from anything. It's my pleasure, and my duty. Let us go."

Morgan
Her diminutive figure stands at a keen 4'10", including the amber wave of hair flowing not much past her chin. Bound together by red bow, four long braids rise up from the crown of her head, and entwine themselves together in a single, undulating cascade. Her petite form seems childlike upon first glance, yet her witty laugh and smooth voice have far more polish than a mere babes. And those sparkling emerald eyes have seen far too much adventure to belong to any but the most hard-bitten of youths.

A long, deep blue, doublet adorns her with black buttons that hang undone. Long sleeves that flare some at the wrist to keep her hands free for her work. Below the doublet is a red tunic of cotton, black vines etch little flowers along the tailored garment that cuts in at the waist before being belted just above the hips. A pair of woolen pants, dark blue to match the doublet, are upon her legs, a flare to them as they breach over the tops of her calf-high black leather travel boots.

A cloak wraps about her as well, long and similar in its dark blue as the rest, a black metal clasp holds it about her neck as the dance of mystical symbols runs down the edges as if forming some shield against the elements.