Church of Ilmater RP

[LeslieMS]

[The excitement of the task at hand finally passes, a large object now occupies the empty corner of the children's room, carefully hidden by a sheet. Much of the evening is spent cleaning suspicious amounts of purple paint off of a great deal of things...

The return of Uncle Jonas is awaited with all the patience that 33 6-8yr old children can manage.]

[LeslieMS]

[Word once again arrives ahead of the wagons. A large shipment of food supplies, as well as some other things for the orphanage and temple is arriving from Damara very soon... weather permitting within a tenday.]

Meri sends word again, to:

*The Flaming Fist, who will need to, no doubt inspect the wagons before entering the city. After the explosions nearly two months ago, never hurts to be careful.

*To the Temple of Torm which has offered storage space.

*To the Weavemasters who have offered additional storage space

*And to all temple volunteers helping with food preservation and distribution

To expect this deliver in the coming tenday.

//IE after everyone gets back from Christmas... weather delay may be rp-ed in to account for people being away for new years.

I do believe Hydro and Katz were DM overseeing this aspect of the Food shortage rp.

Any players that have been helping with this, [since october's floods and novembers fires] please send me a PM between now and the end of Dec.


//On another note If I could please have all Ilmatari player send me a PM with the character name and player log in, I have promised a lot of you some answered questions, and some info both on the forum and ICly. After Christmas I will be catching up on some Meri stuff, and would like to get in touch with the Ilmatari. Consider it a roll call of sorts.

[LeslieMS]

[A messenger arrives, announcing that unseasonable rains have delayed the wagons' arrival to Baldur's Gate. Meri takes time to make the required arrangements ahead of time.

The soup kitchen at the temple is busier than normal lately, though it would seem that things are over-all quiet at the temple, and routine about the orphanage.

Still, talk of Bhaalists keeps a faint furrow to Meri's brow]

'Sister Addy, Brother Marcus, please... As those of the Ilmatari come and go, could you let them all know I would like to speak with them. All this talk of Bhaal's faithful... I worry it won't be long before we have troubles again. I need to make note of them, and skills and such. I will not have the past massacres of our initiates and novices, repeat.'

[The constants at the temple nod and agree that measures should be taken to protect those unable to protect themselves.]

//
I do need to know who is active and what not, please. I know a lot are away for the holidays and for school and what not. I have promised some folks some information... and forgive my memory, I don't recall who, or what. If all you folks could please send me a PM with your Ilmatari character's name, I would greatly appreciate it. Those who need info not found in this thread... please include that in the PM.

Thanks!

[LeslieMS]

A MERI CHRISTMAS

//Something for the orphans and for the Saint to smile about. Had to share with everyone though...
This was better to me than a Christmas card.
I wuvs you all!!
Would have posted sooner but being away for Christmas, and Physical Therapy kept me out of the orphanage.//

[LeslieMS]

[Well over due, and looking worse for wear...

A train of wagons enters the city, slightly battered and in fewer number than expected. Still carrying the grains and food supplies meant to ease the burden left by flooded/burnt crops, a welcome sight regardless.

The caravan from Damara, an expected dozen wagons, arrives numbering eight. Bandits, rains and illness having slowed the large group from its intended destination.

The wagons are inspected carefully, and once unloaded at the temples of Torm and Ilmater, are repaired. The worn and weary group that saw the cargo from Damara to Baldur's Gate, are given accomodations and aid as best as Meri can offer. The fact that the wagons were attacked for the food they carry and not for valuables such as gold, only accentuates the food shortage problem.

Still, as the majority of food is distributed among the populace, and the soup kitchen at the Ilmatari temple able to feed many, prayers of thanks are offered. In the future, measures will be taken to better protect incoming supplies meant to ease the famine.

Mean while efforts to store, preserve, and distribute the food as evenly as possible to those in need, continues.]

[As rumors of Bhaalists and other threats abound of late, the orphanage stays better guarded. Meri herself, ventures out from the orphanage more often, though seldom leaves the city. New initates are given training materials to read over, and are asked by Sister Juna and Brother Marcus to seek Meri out as duty and time permit.

Those who seek Meri, looking for Sir Jonas Rokranon are told that he is still away on business, and that she is unsure of his exact return.]

//
I will have Meri out and about over the next couple of days, Real Life Allowing of course. =) If you need me, send me a tell IG or a PM.
//

[LeslieMS]

[The Living Saint is seen walking back into the city of Baldur's Gate, briskly, and without a word to anyone... She moves unerringly to the temple of Ilmater where she spend hours in prayer. To those who ask what is wrong, she simply answers:

"I just don't understand... How..."

She then returns some time later to the orphanage, and sees to the duties and lessons, mutedly... without sleep or pause. In her free time, she disappears to her room, a frown etched on her face. Some would say she looked angry at times... others would say it seemed she had been crying... But none would get an answer or an inkling to her thoughts, save the closest and dearest few. Those who have known her the longest, know all to well the unmistakble look of emotional pain that she does her best to hide.]

[LeslieMS]

The saint is not seen at the orphanage or the temple... for much of the night and most of the day...

However...

Once the statue is repaired thanks to persistance and kindness...

She returns late in the evening to the orphanage, a large group in tow... Food is served and for the first time in weeks... a genuine smile touches her face... Short lived though it was, amid all the worry and rumors, and recent troubles... Many long absent faces were returning. The shadows would not last long... in that she was certain.]

[RuinDelversFortune]

*A sealed letter finds its way to the Ilmater temple, with the words Saint Merielle, Pray For Us written on the outside. Once open, Meri would find the following.*

[LeslieMS]

[Meri... upon receiving the letter, reading it... and glaring at it... Takes said letter, leaving the orphanage in Sister Juna's care... and with a very ... unsettled expression, marches to the temple of Torm to find Jonas]

[LeslieMS]

[To say the saint has been acting strangely in the last few days... is an understatement to those who know her best. She barely speaks, and wears a mask of exhaustion almost constantly now. Her brow is creased in thought, her lips move in silent prayers.

Those who help at the temple and orphanage, and those who work there watched as the woman worked ceaselessly, scrubbing both places top to bottom... a Tell-tale cleaning spree... the only admittance that there is trouble... somewhere...

The morning after the orphanage and temple are left spotless, Sister Juna is left in charge of the orphanage along with her husband, Tessian. Very strict orders are left that both her husband and her niece are to be kept warded, constantly and kept in the orphanage at all times. Questions of why are answered with:

"I worry over all the ill news of late..."

A vague answer at best, but further prying is for naught.

Sister Rachel is given charge of the volunteers at the temple, and Sister Adolina is given full oversight of the soup kitchen. Prayers are left at the Alter, and she simply tells Brother Marcus:

"Be on your guard, Brother Marcus. There are many ill tidings, and many shadows we must endure. I trust your gentle hand, Brother... There are some things I must tend to the south. I know not how long it will keep me from the city."

The elderly priest nods at her, frowning with worry.

"Shall I send word to our allies, Sister?"

She regards him carefully before nodding.

"Yes. Send word to as many of them as you can think of. Tell them... We must gather... We must prepare... There will be much mending to do in the months to come... Much to endure... "

His brow creases.

"I shall send word to our allies among the Triad."

"Not just the Triad, Brother... Any who would stand for the good of the realms... This-- This will effect all of us... in time... We must be ready."

"I will see to it, Sister. May the Crying Lord walk with you on your path... Merielle."

"May Mercy keep you all, Brother... I will return as swiftly as I am able."

Without another word... she departs south, lacking both, her usual cadre of 'guards' and her patient smile... Instead she marches, swiftly southward... her jaw set determinedly.]

[rokranon]

Whispered rumors hint that Saint Merielle Silene was attacked in her own temple. How the assailant got past the normal group of Triadic knights and other guards is a mystery, though it is said a tall figured dressed in a purple hood and cloak like Sir Jonas Rokranon's was the last to leave the temple in a hurry, at around the time the attack took place. How odd.

[Pentralia]

Alistaria can be seen running from the orphanage to the temple but learning that Meri had just left before she arrived, she raced back to the orphanage.

[LeslieMS]

[Meri... Seems well, her robes already repaired before she sought sleep the night before... Oddly this set of stitches stand apart from the others, clearly not meant to be fatal. She remains at the orphanage for now, duty falling to the other Ilmatari at the temple. Brother Marcus was seen to spend hours re-blessing the temple after the bloodshed.

When she does speak, she says little, and very little on the actual event, save that she knew better and would be more careful... and that she is well. For now, Meri's demeanor is much more guarded, as is the Saint herself. Who for once... doesn't seem to mind the flury of protectors.]

[Pentralia]

While the Saint recovers, she will find that the children are fed and cared for as well as food, drink, and her chamomile tea appearing in her room just at right times. The food is edible but it is obvious the cook is still learning; although the biscuits are like rocks.

[Pentralia]

Upon returning from assisting Auriel in the rescue of a high priestess of the Lady Moonbow, Alistaria returns to the orphanage and visits with Meri about learning the divine healing art. She is full of determination as she feels this is her calling in life.