Gilead Healing
Tenebrae - Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 10:14 PM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* A10: Temple of Gilead *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
For being a god of the natural world, Gilead's Temple is one of the most active within the City. Sacred Hounds mix with the mutts of the City and roam throughout the ancient stone temple. The temple itself resembles a kind of large dais or low pyramid, surrounded by stubborn trees and the vestiges of the wild that insist on growing even here, in the center of Alexandria.
Tne temple's exterior platform is reached by ancient stairs. It is upon this platform and beneath the open sky where most of the activity takes place. For more formal affairs and for offerings, a modestly-sized building rests within the platform's center. Ancient of look and of craft, a great tree grows within this building, reminiscent of the First Tree of the World, Ygdrassil.
If one enters the central building, one will be treated to a circular-cut out in the middle where sunlight (and wind, and rain) pours in, at the whim of the weather. A grove populates this building, with the one, great tree at its center. It towers over the other trees present--they appear almost dwarfed by its appearance, though are actually quite normal in size. Too, any number of wild creatures that should never be found within the City proper rest here, yet Gilead's presence here allows it. Many of them are under treatment by the Hunters, though some have become permanent residents.
While Hunters tend the grove, the Wardens serve as guards. If one ascends the central tree itself (for there is a door built into it), one shall find a palatial altar among the branches, waiting for supplicants to lay fresh-cut branches and fresh-killed game upon it.
The temple here is one of the busiest in the City, approaching the realm of Daeus and Althea, who stand as mother and father to the Son of Hounds. Gilead's hounds lie along the benches, near workers who sit to the side on the stone benches atop the platform, crafting arrows, discussing the recent hunt, and more. Druids openly walk the grounds, frequently accosted by farmers from out of town seeking veterinary advice and treatment for their livestock, or in some cases, solutions to vermin problems. The clerics themselves are actually more reclusive, frequently passing their time in the rooms beneath the stone temple, or hidden among the light, forest-like grounds that insists on growing around it.
Ga'Elian is standing beside his griffon, almost clinging as if afraid of losing him again. He watches as the druids and clerics layer enough healing magic upon the creature to ultimately restore him to complete, robust health.
Mikilos is not ranger, his tracking skills are somewhat lacking. But, when he hears of an elf heading into the temple with a wounded griffon, well there aren't too many of those around. And on the off chance he's mistaken, he'll meet someone new. It's win-win. The tall elf wanders a little, seeking, but not in a rush, oddly comfortable under the trees, eventually finding his way to the cluster of healers. He stands a short distance off, waiting to not interupt.
Ga'Elian doesn't fail to notice the arrival of Mikilos. He pats the griffon warmly on the shoulder and moves over to ask, "What brings an archmage like yourself into this of all places?" His tone is calm and friendly.
Mikilos smiles. "You, this time. Though I visit now and again. My sister is a Hunter. Not here, mind, the temple in Silvermoon. Anyway, what happened?" He nods towards the recovered griffon.
Ga'Elian smiles and says, "I'm flattered." Then, looking at the griffon, he says, "The cult leader of these so-called Masks of Vardama went off and slashed him to a bloody pulp in seconds. Unfortunately, he continues to escape. And he keeps poisoning me to actually sleep! It's most annoying!"
Mikilos frowns, and nods. "Better than something a little more deadly, I suppose. Did you hear the results of the Faroth-fea? I'd hoped you could attend, but opted for haste over making sure everyone could make it."
Ga'Elian says, "Oh, now that you mention it, I did hear about it. Unfortunately, I was a little occupied. How did it go?"
Mikilos shrugs. "Well enough. We got a result, a series of images. Rain, the sewer aquaducts, the city cistern. And a White Tower, surronded by ice and snow, somewhere to the north. The black phlem used for the ritual focus then swelled up and tried to attack me. Magics seemed only to make it stronger, but common soap and water destroyed it... though also made a heck of a mess."
Ga'Elian listens with rapt attention. At the mention of magic feeding it, he nods as if he'd seen that before, Again, at the mention of soap and water, he hmms and looks like that bit of information confirmed an idea or at least put some puzzle pieces together in his brain. He says, "Fascinating. I had assumed this was all local, but a white tower far to the frozen North? That's really quite fascinating."
GAME: Ga'Elian refreshes spells.
Mikilos nods. "I've been trying to research the tower itself. It might be so far north as Dran, or just into the near moutains where the winter snows have yet to leave. I've herd a few rumors of other encountering something about it, but no details. Alba the witch has also been studying the black phlem, I'm hoping to test the effects of an Antimagic field."
Ga'Elian nods. "Well I'm only too glad to help. I might suggest to Alba that she examine a certain purple panther that Darius has. It was a plain cat before drinking from a pool of that black liquid in the forest. As for the tower, I was thinking possibly even as far north as the Icewall Mountains north of Stormgaarde. I know a little about geography, but don't have nearly the ability to scan an area as you seem to have."
Mikilos nods, and frowns. "I've a few methods of divination, but most are intended to track people, not locations or items. There's a number of good people working to solt this plague mystery, I'm sure we'll solve it eventually. Hopefully sooner rather than later."
Ga'Elian nods. "Whereas I'm interested and involved, but my focus has been more on this Mask cult leader than on the goo particularly. Thanks for the intel, and for running the ritual. It may cost dearly, but I'm confident we'll get this all sorted out. Then I have an Infernal Duke to kill on his home plane."
Mikilos blinks, and raises a brow. "Oh? And just how did that come about?"
Ga'Elian sighs, then smiles and answers, "Well, Sandy and Astaren and Durrankar and I were investigating a wizard's tower in the Iron Hells, when we happened upon what at first glance seemed like a pit fiend. Of course, demons are my most favored subject of predation and study, so it befell that I actually recognized this one's face so well that I knew his name, and he was no mere pit fiend, but a duke of the Hells, no less. Little heed did I pay to the fact that he was captured and bound in servitude. No. We wastes no time in dispatching him as fast as possible. I must have sunk 20 or more arrows in his hide before died, jealous of my knowing his name and hia not knowin mine. So the next time we met, he overheard someone addressing me and has a personal vendetta. So, I need to go to his source of life and destroy him, or else he'll hound me eternally! His name is Eclavdran, by the way."
Mikilos nods, and frowns thoughfully. "'Eclavdran'... that sounds vaugely familiar, but I'm not placing any sort of detail. May have heard the name in passing. Utterly destorying -any- demon is no easy feat, and fiend less so. And a duke of the hells? Impressive to even try."
Ga'Elian nods. "Well, I can tell you, the prospect has me more nervous than anything I've ever contemplated, but I can't have the threat of it hanging over me forever either."
Mikilos nods. "I'm not inclined to barganing with the infernal... much... though in a case like this it's sometimes for the best. Though in this specific case, sounds like things have moved well beyond that option." He considers a few moments. "You'll likely want to do some serious recearch into the plane itelf. Magic, spells, even the natures of reality can change on other planes, you'll want to have a good idea what you're getting into."
Ga'Elian nods. "Yes. That's right, and I'd be lying if I thought it would be easy. I'm trying to be as prepared as possible, and I'm taking as much time as it takes, but I'm sure he won't forget about me."
Mikilos ponders. "You could introduce him to Sandy. She tends to be distracting. But they might get along, and the world doesn't need that sort of trouble.'
Ga'Elian laughs. Well, as I said, she helped me kill him the first time. I mean, she might be able to distract him, but I don't think I could get her to seduce him, and even if she would, I very seriously doubt the multiverse could handle the product of their union."
Mikilos nods. "The babysitting would likely kill Svarshan. He's got enough stressful kids around."
Ga'Elian howls in laughter. Erithamiel turns his eagle-head and squawks. This sobers up the wild elf, who turns and exclaims, "Buddy! Feeling better?" as he bounds merrily over to snuggle with the beast.
Mikilos grins, and foI've a few texts that might be a use whenever you have time to drop by. And in teh meantime I'll try and learn more about this White Tower. I suspect it's the source of the plauge, or at least a key stepstone to a final cure."
Ga'Elian looks back at Mikilos and says, "Perhaps I could stop by your private library and see what help I can offer?"
Mikilos nods. "You're welcome to stop by whenever. It's open to the public, so if i happen to be out at the time, feel free to use whatever resources suit you."
Ga'Elian says, "I appreciate the offer, and may avail myself of the chance sometime, but in this case, I think working together would be the most effective way for me to aid, if any aid I can be."
Ga'Elian goes OOC.