Stories, History, And The Undead

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

         Eluna's temple stands near her brother's, and trees of the grove often wander their vines that way, only to be chased away by the priests--much as two children might battle in the back of a cart. Eluna's temple is composed of solemn, alabaster pillars and marble, as ancient as Her brother's though more austerely kept. Each pillar represents a phase of the moon, over which She has dominion. Their surface is scribed with the words of ancient dreams, those first recorded in the known world, when mankind was first awakening to their significance.

         In the center of the temple lies a grand pool. Serene in its surface, it reflects the open sky overhead, though the temple is covered by an arched ceiling. At all times within the surface may the stars be seen. Surrounding this pool are a number of tasseled rugs, on which petitioners sit and meditate, or seek counsel for interpretation of their dreams.

         Warriors of Daeus are often found here, providing guards where the wards of Eluna prefer introspection and contemplation. These fighters bear dual symbols, signifying the tie between divine father and divine daughter. They and the priests here speak in quiet voices, reminiscent of Eluna's place as the Dreaming Goddess.

         To the north of the temple is a modest library, its function primarily in the way of records--recording of dreams, of meditation, of theories of the proper use of magic--teachings directly opposed by the Shadow Goddess, Taara. It is this last shift that has seen an increase in the number of guards among the temple, and the increased adoption of the Star of Tears among the belts of Seers.

The Temple of Eluna is a wondersous sacred place for its worshipers. Worshipers that come from all walks of of life, from all races and creeds. Though some are less seen in the temple than others, like the Shadow Elf that stands near the entryway. He is drawing some few looks of course, one of his kind usually does.

Though thankfully there isn't as many stares and shouts and whispers as the last time. Maybe they are getting used to him. He can only hope.

At the moment though he stands talking politely with one of the Warriors of Daeus. Nodding slowly as he chatted with the armored warrior. "Ah so, you do know someone who would teach me more about crossbows?" There is relief on the Shadow Elf's face. "I'd be most happy to find someone who would teach. The topside world is...much more lively than I thought it would be!"

Aya has arrived.

Nim wanders into the temple, having left his dog and much of his equipment outside, out of respect. He makes his way past the guards, carefully examining them and making a show (perhaps a little exaggerated, in a playful way) that he means no harm. But he hurries past before they decide to really take interest. And then he is so busy gawking at everything around him. He is staring up at the top of a few of the columns, basically just taken in by the majesty of the place. So, he very nearly runs into Lorik and the guard.

Luckily, his alert ears pick up enough for conversation to prevent any type of collision. "that's a very good idea," he interjects, uninvited, "I mean, crossbows are definitely the way to go. I once saw a man... well, I think he was a giantborn... shoot a crossbow bolt straight through one side of an adult Dragon and right out the other. no kidding! They weren't even fighting! He just did it... remarkably they were friends and the dragon forgave him! anyway, if you have a Dragon problem, that's what I would use." Nod, wild hair bobbing with his head. And he has the most sincere, overly honest look on his face, just to make sure you believe him.

There is a surpised blink from Lorik as someone else interjects in his crossbow discussion and the Shadow Elf turns to peer towards the gnome with the wild hair and the even more wild story. He blinks a few times, parsing the story before he smiles ruefully.

"I haven't seen many dragons, I have to admit, but the ones I've heard of wouldn't take too kindly to being shot. I don't think so. They must have been very good friends!" A nod at that, as if it is the most obvious conclusion in the world.

"But I don't want to shoot though any dragons, just though perhaps a goblin or two. And around my friends..." Again a rueful smile. "...my cousin seems to delight in getting into my line of fire." A longer pause. "Oh! Forgive me, I'm Lor'ithaik, though please. Call me Lorik. Its much shorter than trying to stumble over my name."

Eluna's temple is not one of Aya's most visited, much less desired, locations. It is also one of the last places she'd expect to find mul'niessa. Yet she did so quite recently. Thus, she arrives again, perhaps out of curiosity, to learn what may or may not have transpired related to one or more.

She doesn't announce her arrival this time, however. She simply ...appears in Lorik's vicinity, with evaporating whisps of black fading in her wake. "I take it you haven't found alternate accomodations yet?"

Nim listens to his newfound friend, a broad smile appearing on his face when Lorik doesn't seem to question his story. " I think maybe they were playing some sort of drinking game. But you can never know for sure with dragons and giants. And hi! everybody just calls me Nim! It's very nice to meet you, Lorik," the 'young' man says, full of enthusiasm. " I don't have any cousins who let me shoo--"

and then, Aya just sort of appears out of nowhere and the little man exclaims, "Woah!" and jumps about a foot in the air. "Did you just see that?!" he asks no one in particular, "That was pretty cool. I mean, I can be pretty sneaky. But I haven't figured out how to appear out of thin air!" He starts to try to circle Aya, as though trying to figure out how she did it, if she will let him.

There is a blink at the familiar voice and the black whisps of smoke as he takes a half-step back and away from Aya. "Oh! Miss...Aya right? Oh I've found some yes, but I was looking for a tutor in the arts of using a crossbow and remembered the warriors here! So decided to ask if they knew of any teachers in the warriors arts. I don't suppose either of you would know one?"

A flash of a smile though at Nim being exciteable as he is. "I have no idea how she does it, but its impressed me twice now!" he adds looking towards Aya.

Aya arches a brow at the orbiting gnome, but doesn't appear to object. The brow then turns back to Lorik. "Yes, and no, I don't know of a tutor specializing in crossbows off-hand. I'm sure that I could locate one, given some time."

Nim circles Aya and somehow resist the urge to check her for wires, though his hand reaches out suspiciously before he thinks better of it. "it is pretty impressive," he agrees before he shakes his head at the question about knowing of any teachers. He wrinkles his nose and adds to Aya's answer, "I just moved into town and I don't know anybody, either. Well, I mean, except for you two!" As he says that last part, his countenance brightens up once again!

"Oh you ust got here as well?" Lorik asks of Nim. "I arrived only last week." A slight smile then. "Well my friends and I did. A cousin of mine, my little sister, and a friend of ours that we...sort of broke out." A longer pause. "My people don't take kindly to people that don't worship Taara." The Shadow elf admits with a shake of his head. "I do like meeting new friends though!"

A blink towards Aya however at the offer. "Ah, I wouldn't need someone who specalised in them. Though that would be ideal, I just wish for a bit more self defense training...there seem to be much more in the way of barfights and random dangers around. And it would help me survive more excursions with the Guild."

"Some are more open-minded than others," Aya offers to Lorik. "If you truly wish to defend yourself, I suggest that you improve yourself, first. A weapon is only as good as its wielder. If you made them one and the same, you never need worry of being caught without." To Nim, one lipcorner rises. "Impressive results can be achieved if one works hard enough."

For all his joking around, Nim listens with interest to the other two, paying attention to their expressions, as well. His head bobs up and down at the question about being new to town. He smiles as the other man mentioned his family, eyebrows quirking at the mention of a breakout. But he doesn't seem to show any disapproval. He /does/ show a lot of approval of what Aya says, nodnodnodding rapidly. "She is super right about that! When I was at the monastery, they didn't even let me look at weapons for like 300 years! But as a result, you can see the finely honed fighting machine that stands before you!" And it's kind of hard to tell if this is just more joking or if he is being at least somewhat serious about that last part. Just to illustrate the point, he makes a "fierce" face and holds up his fists in a fighting stance for about 1 second before resuming his relaxed and friendly demeanor and body language.

"Well I plan on improving myself," There is a pause from Lorik. "I just would like to hedge my bets as surviving long enough /to/ improve myself is all." The elf replies with a flash of a grin as he glances between the two of them. "I mean I /have/ to imporve myself, if I want to go back home and see if I can help others of my kind see the truth of things."

There is a sigh for a moment but then he shakes his head.

"Ah sorry! I didn't mean to lay that out. there." A flash of a grin. "Wait..." A pause again as he looks towards Nim. "...300 years? You were in a Monastery that long? I..." A longer pause. "...wait...how are you still alive?"

"They chose to feed him, I'd guess..." Aya gives a simplistic answer to Lorik's question before adding one of her own. "Where is home, exactly? And why return, if it was as uncomfortable for you as you made it seem?"

Nim just grins at Lorik and shrugs his shoulders. He nods to Aya's statement and adds, "And eating lots of carrots, I think. For the most part." And then, much more seriously, about helping people find the truth, "an admirable goal." It's probably the first time, the whole conversation that he has been serious and it doesn't last long. As Aya asks a few more questions, Nim finds a column to comfortably lean against.

"I just mean..." Lorik pauses a long moment. "...wait are you just making up a story for me?" He asks with a slowly growing grin aimed towards Nim. "You seem to like stories." He adds with a chuckle, though Aya's question brings him back to earth though and he offers a slight smile and a shrug. "Well...someone has too I suppose. They don't really know any better for the most part. I figure at least giving some of them an option and seeing how that goes could change something?"

Aya rolls one shoulder. "He is a gnome." As if that explains all. Perhaps it does, from her point of view. She continues with the topic with Lorik promptly enough. "If your brethren are so ignorant, you might be able to change their opinions. Most of mul'niessa I have met weren't ignorant. Some were too greedy and others too weak, but rarely ignorant."

Nim just shrugs his shoulders again about making up a story. "Of course I like stories. Everybody likes stories. I bet the two of you have some good stories," he comments cheerfully, apparently not insulted in any way by whatever conclusions might be drawn based on his race. He finds something to climb up on and comfortably sit on. "Well it sounds like it's the weak ones that he aims to help. And he probably should! They are the ones that need it most."

"Some of them are," Lorik agrees. "Just like most places. My family is one of the more greedy or power hungry types. But like Nim here said. Its the others, the ones that can't really help themselves, that need the help. There are quite a few that just have been lied too and don't know any better." A long pause. "I mean really I didn't know there was anything /wrong/ with undead servents and blood magics until I went looking for a different path."

Its been a long and strange road for Lorik.

"But this is heavy talk for friends that have just met isn't it?" A longer pause. "I meant to ask Aya, do you do work for the Guild around here? I'm curious how that works? If either of you know?"

"Not the best topic to discuss here, especially," Aya agrees, gesturely vaguely with one hand to their surroundings. She accepts the segue easily. "I have performed tasks for the Guild, yes. Many do. It is a neutral and unbiased entity, for the most part. Contracts are not exclusive, nor binding beyond the task intended. You can accepts tasks as you wish, and membership is a formality."

"I don't think you're supposed to have undead servants," Nim mumbles under his breath, glancing to the guards. As the conversation moves on the topic of the Guild, he looks a lot more at ease and also very interested. "that sounds like a organization that I might like to get in touch with, myself. I mean, everybody needs a job now and then. Unfortunately, they stopped giving free carrots when I left the monastery," the notes with feigned disappointment. " Do you guys know which way I might go to talk to someone about that?" As he asks, he jumps up from the spot where he was sitting, spryly coming to his feet.

"True," Lorik says wryly towards the both of them. Apparently agreeing with both the statement that this isn't the place for this talk /and/ the fact that undead shouldn't be servents. One more deminstration of just how off center his moral compass is. One more reminder to him. But at least he's trying to fix it.

"come on then Nim! I can show you where the Guild hall is at least." A geatful look towards Aya though as she explains about how the Guild works, and one can almost see him making mental notes.

"Well that makes it easy, maybe we can find something there to keep Nim in carrots." A flash of a grin. "And me with a roof over my head. Which both I think would be ideal."

With that though he thanks the Warrior he was talking to and starts to step away. Though he pauses. "Aya...I don't suppose you could show us? Or give us directions there?" A long pause. "I'm terrible with maps..."