Church of Ilmater RP

[newoa]

Paus Nefzen enters the temple with a wooden casket. The casket is taken deep within and placed in a small room. When the casket is opened grewsome sight to behold and the smell is unbearable. Paus douses the body with holy water a second time and askes acolytes to assist him in preparing for resurrection. After some time of preparation, prayer and meditation the mans body turns from mutilated mess to a pale sickly colored half elf. The acolytes and the priest are seen caring for him for the next few days as the half-elf named mealir slowing regains his color and strength.

[VinnytheSquid]

A young man is seen walking towards the orphanage with a hurried pace. His quick knocks on its door suggest the urgency of his purpose. When the door is opened he speaks quietly, but in a manner that suggests he struggles not to blurt out his message all at once.

"May I please see the Living Saint? I've a letter for her and it's very important that she gets it. I must deliver it to her personally. I was paid extra to make sure it arrives in her hands."

He continues to ask for Merielle until after sometime he is finally convinced that she isn't available to come to door. As he speaks with Sister Juna and hands over the letter, his urgency borders on annoying as he constantly reminds her to give it to the Living Saint personally and quickly.

"Please, please, please see that she gets it. It's very important. I told you that it's important, right? Please make sure she gets it. You're going to give it to her right away aren't you?"

//OOC: PM Sent

[LeslieMS]

[Merielle waddles down the stairs as gracefully as any woman of her present girth can, and takes the letter from Juna.]

"Thank you, Sister. I intend to try to get some work done in the gardens today... Now don't look at me like that... I didn't say I was tending the Duchal Palace gardens... just the herbs and the roses."

[sighing, she takes her dry toast from the kitchen and sits down to read the letter.]

[LeslieMS]

[She blinks a few times and eyes the letter.]

"Sister Juna... Is Jonas here by chance or do I need to go find him at the temple?"

"I think he is upstairs."

"Could you find him please... I think he needs to see this..."

[The Saint frowns heavily and sits down with a sigh. Mean while Juna goes off to find the silver haired knight.]

[LeslieMS]

[After discussing the letter with her brother, Meri sits down and pens a reply. It is written on plain parchment in simple ink, the script is neat and concise, from a practiced hand. It is sealed with Ilmater's holy symbol, and delivered hastily.]

//PM returned.

[LeslieMS]

[While there wasn't yelling exactly, from the Ilmatari temple, it is obvious that a less than civil conversation took place within. The red-haired Saint was seen being walked back to the orphanage some time later, amid arguments that she did not need to scour the entire temple top to bottom and was in no shape for it. The Sisters and Brother Marcus are rather tight-lipped about what has the tiny healer so upset... but it obviously has nothing to do with her health.]

[VinnytheSquid]

A hooded man in plain but high quality leather armor and a black cloak approaches the Temple of Ilmater. He leaves a sealed letter for the Living Saint with a small donation.

// OOC: PM Sent.

[LeslieMS]

The tiny red-haired saint, looking a bit haphazard herself, does her best to calm the rather angry paladin.

"Jonas... slow down."

She glances up the stairs, her husband humming cheerfully as he tugs more boxes down from upstairs.

"I've still some arrangements to make with the Children, and Sister Juna is already fussing I have been packing too many crates. Oh there is still so much to do."

[rokranon]

Jonas whirls on the tiny Ilmateri, his hawk-like glare glancing about the orphanage.

"After what I said to the Dukes, they could likely have me hanged, my sister. The Sea Wing sets sail on the morrow, and I want out of this gods-forsaken city. We'll go somewhere we can make a difference and not get slapped in the face for it."

[LeslieMS]

[Meri blinks... several times... before nodding mutely. Tessian arches a brow and takes to whistling as he carts boxes out of the orphanage. The majority of the married couple's personal effects packed up. The majority of the Rokranon's things also packed.

Sister Juna and Meri hasten to make final arrangements for those orphans who will remain behind, as Sister Juna will be taking over the orphanage. Brother Marcus will, once again be leading the Ilmatari shrine... for now... in the least it seems the pregnant Saint is off on a trip with her family... and precious little time to make ready.]

"Don't look at me so, Sister."

[Meri smiles at her long-time friend, and fellow priestess.]

"I promise to visit. And of course I will remain in touch."

[She looks after Jonas, as he begins to help Sister Rachel see to things. Sighing heavily as she returns to packing.]

[LeslieMS]

[With a fair bit of hurried work, things are settled, the children are situated. Sister Juna now had full control of the orphanage while Meri is gone... and when she is meant to return is uncertain.

Meri stepped down from her role as head priestess of Baldur's Gate's Ilmatari Shrine, once again leaving it in the capable hands of the other Ilmatari.

Sister Adolina was left with most of Meri's recipes, and full charge of the temple and orphanage kitchens... All food donations now go through Sister Adolina, including the shipments that come from as far away as Damara.

Sister Rachel now acts as the predominant healer. Donations of healing supplies now go to Sister Rachel. Many of the herbs and such needed for tonics and poltuces, everything from remedies to tea, are grown in the gardens around the orphanage, which will now be tended under her direction.

Brother Marcus resumes leading the temple and the small flock of Ilmatari, with a decidedly heavy heart. The temple, however, is in capable hands.

Meri leaves behind her extra healing supplies and what little gold she has no use of. As she offers tearful prayers on the Alter, those dearest to her among her faith looking over her all wonder the same thing. It was young Rachel who asked where the others would not. When asked why she even had to go at all, Meri looked long and hard at the tome detailing the Bhaalist Siege.]

"Because they have forgotten. They have forgotten that it was Thay who nearly cost us everything at the Siege. They forget how cruel the Red Wizards are. They forget so much... Much that I cannot.

I will visit when my health allows, but right now I cannot risk more enemies... I cannot risk the baby. Mercy will smile on you all. Let this not be a time of sad good byes, but of fond remembrances. When they look to you, I want them to remember the mercy we stand for. When they look on Thay, I want them to remember the sacrifices we all made...

If they think of either, and I too am not forgotten... I hope they Remember not what I stood for, not who I was or what I did. I hope they remember those who fell for our sake, for my sake... to keep me standing. Even if they forget all else... May they never forget those who we lost at the Siege. Though they would forget the hands that delivered him to death... may they never forget Billy."

[There were more hugs and murmured farewells. Once everything was settled, and all the good byes said... a very tired Meri sets out to say as many farewells as she can.

She returns late that night, the most important of her things packed, everything ready, except for climbing aboard the Sea Wing and watching the Gate's port fade from view.

She is far too tired, once it is all said and done, to notice the missing bed, and just as content to drag a cot out and sleep. In fact she was certain that it got packed away with the rest of her effects.

That night the orphanage is still in heavy anticipation. While there would be many children who remain, many more who would arrive in the future, and Meri would visit again in the future... by morning, the place would be emptier, and by the end of the tenday, many of the children would have set off on their own paths.]

[Kaden Asen]

Thedran silently followed, and assisted with the packing and arrangments. His sharp eyes ever watchful, though his normally spirit isn't present as he conducts his duty. As he packs the last, The Living Saint's, and Sir Rokranon's belongings on the ship.. . .his face was covered in what he claimed to be -sweat-

After his attempts at a brief good bye, and the first last and only hug offered to Inara, he takes his leave and makes his way back to the dock. With his hood pulled low over his eyes, and his face hidden to the world he stood watch until the ship vanished from his sight. . .and then a while more.

Though rumors talk of the small fortune he paid to a begger, and the cloak he folded neatly over his arm as he left the city.

[LeslieMS]

///sorry for being hideously behind on writing, but real life is not helping.///

[The morning began, oddly still just before dawn. She sat on her cot and simply watched the children sleep quietly. She considered the last several days, and in doing so her expression shifted from one emotion to another. Her eyes darted to the forearm she rubbed absently. She stood, and silently made her way to the kitchen.

Her shoulders slumped as she looked about the neat, and surprisingly tidy orphanage, despite it's use and recent activity. As she waited mutely for the teapot to near boiling, she readied breakfast as normal. She murmured a soft prayer, one of many that went barely heard through the place she had called home for so long.

Finally she sat there, just as the morning sun touched the sky, and looked out the window. The tea went forgotten on the table as muffins cooled on shelves. Slowly, the children woke and the orphanage took on its normal life. There was cheery conversation and serious conversation alike as the children ate breakfast, subjects dancing from When they would visit again to whether or not Sister Juna would let them keep frogs...

As Sister Juna arrived, it was assured that nothing was left behind, though no one could account for the missing bed. The attic room would now be Sister Juna's as would the duty of caring for the children, until someone willing and able could do so. The place looked largely unchanged. Only the personal effects were gone. Many of Meri's paintings remained on the walls, and various signs that this place had long been called home, and would still be home, if even from a distance.

Some time later, there was a multitude of goodbyes, heartfelt and difficult as goodbyes go, eased only by the promise of a future visit. She watched Thedran quietly, finally whispering her own good byes to the man whose loyalty had never wavered, before stealing the briefest of hugs.

It wasn't until she was at last on the ship, looking over Baldur's Gate in a solemn farewell. When her eyes landed on the distant rooftop of the Istari tower, her expression twisted into a glower. As the city faded from view, she looked down to her arm, slowly raising her sleeve before re wrapping the bands of cloth that covered not only her scars of the past, but the glaring brand that marked her as a Thayan slave.]

"Mercy be with them all... Triad keep them safe... They shall need both with wolves lurking about. May they at least be watchful of the enemy they invite in now..."

[g1megatron]

From the top of the Istari tower stands a woman in crimson. She watches the boats depart, knowing well one of them carries aloft a Saint of Ilmater.

Goodbye Meri, may your mercy temper your emotions that the past horrors of one do not accuse us all.

As the winds rise, she turns back through the balcony door, braided hair billowing in the breeze.

[Krazy]

Word eventually reaches Sister Arabella of the Saint's departure. That night whilst praying she remembers the Living Saint, and above all friend, and prays to Ilmater to watch over her.

As she goes to bed, there is a small smile on her face as she relives the fond memories of her brief stay at the Gate, and makes a mental note to herself to visit Mercy Orphanage when she is next in the area.