Church of Ilmater RP

[LeslieMS]

A brief letter arrives at the temple of Ilmater. It is addressed simply to the Ilmatari and the Radiant Heart. The contents of which are equally simple, and written in neat script. The handwriting may be familiar to many. The letter is brief and largely informal. The most formal aspect is perhaps the Ilmatari symbol that seals it.

Brothers and Sisters:

I am writing ahead to let you know I should be arriving soon. By the time you get this, weather and the Triad permitting... I should be less than a tenday away. I am unsure how long of a visit I will have before the need to return to Tethyr, but I will stay as long as I am able. I pray this finds you well, and hope that the visit can be both productive and enjoyable. Mercy be with you all, and I will see you soon.

Most humbly,
Sister Meri

[Kaelaen]

After working another long day in the kitchens with Adolina, the night eventually brings some small respite to the overworked Ilmatari. Eventually Louise hears the gossip from between the sisters, and she herself eventually reads the letter as well. She stares at it wide-eyed, her body a statue for several long moments as she tries to gather the thoughts in her head.

Some time later she would retire to a spot on the floor where she could sleep, but not before pulling out her diary. She stares at the thirty-second entry for a very long time, wondering if the darned thing was a genie. Despite the stress a given to one who would be called a painbearer, a small smile on her expression follows her all the way to her dreams. Clutching her diary against herself, Louise's final conscious thought was a "Thank you," a prayer sent to the Heavens she would dream of.

[Lampir]

Honored Sirs and Madams,

It has come to my attention that Ilmater's church, a beacon of healing, food and mercy in Balder's Gate, has come under substantial duress due to the current economic hardships. No one is immune to these times, however I am in a position where I feel it is my duty to help in any way I can.

What I would offer is three-fold.

1) Coin to help purchase the heavily priced and deminishing supply of food.

2) Ten paid positions for families you feel most in need performing some basic tasks for coin to keep afloat in this troubled time. Anyone with a strong pair of hands and a desire to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps will qualify for these tasks.

3) The creation of a counsel to discuss and develop ways of recovering our land's economy through new specialized business, innovative farming techniques and other un-considered revival options.

If you are interested in one or any of these offers, I would be happy to meet to answer questions, deliver needed supplies and so forth.

Your humble servant,
James White the Second

[LeslieMS]

Having luckily caught Sister Meri, she asks the messenger who delivered it to please wait a moment. She reaches for a quill and pens a neat reply to send back with the messenger, hoping to waste as little time as she is able.

Mister White:

Your willingness to help is indeed a boon in these times, and I believe the timing of such things should not be ignored. I am presently in the city, and should be for a time. Do feel free to seek me out at the Ilmatari temple. There is much that can be discussed, and perhaps the sooner the better. If meeting this day is not to your convenience please send word when and where would be most suitable for you, and I will work to accommodate. May Mercy smile on your kindness.

Humbly,

Sister Merielle Silene

//I can be IG now and for several hours this evening, or PM me for a time that works better and I am sure I can make it work.//

[LeslieMS]

Meri, who had been suddenly away left a note with Sister Juna promising that she would return in a few days... Finally did just that. She could be heard grumbling about wizards as she hurried back to the orphanage. However, she seems in good spirits, and ever the optimist. Whatever had kept her was pressing, but obviously not dire or bearing more bad news.

[VinnytheSquid]

A messenger from the Nashkel Trade Emporium arrives at the Church of Ilmater with a letter for the living saint. When approached by any of the priests, he politely asks "Please see this letter to the Living Saint, Merielle Silene. Head Master Delphinn Veil would have delivered the message personally, but he honors his word to the Gate's bulldog - Thedran."

He waits patiently for the priest or priestess to take the letter, and when (if) taken, he gives a deep bow of respect and begins a journey south.

[LeslieMS]

Meri herself steps from the kitchen, looking for all intents and purposes like an over worked baker. Though it is unquestionably Merielle, even under the flour. She smiles kindly, with only the faintest arch of a brow at mention of the 'bulldog'.

"I am present. If it saves poor Sister Adolina more work, and allows Brother Marcus a moment's peace, I can take the message first hand?"

Her smile remains kind, but also patient as she reaches out a hand.

"I shall divide my time as equally as I am able between my duties. If I cannot for some reason be reached personally, further correspondence can be left with Sister Juna, or at the Orphanage with a treasure named Anne."

She sends the messenger on with blessings, and tries in vain to wipe flour from her hands before opening the letter.

[LeslieMS]

Merielle is seldom seen and when she is, she is quite busy. The marked moment where the Sisters chased her from the temple to rest seems distant now. Most of her time is spent in the temple kitchen or sick room, what remains is spent at the orphanage tending her duties there. She seldom sleeps as much as everyone thinks she should... and aside from yawning and being in more need of tea, she seems no worse for wear. Sometime later, she seems to be making arrangements for another trip.

She waits until Louise and James are present, and pulls them both aside.

"All this talk of Bhaalists, I need to get Matty back to Tethyr. Hopefully I will return with more food. I'm leaving you in charge of temple Finances, Mister White, since you seem to have a knack for it. So long as the temple does not run out of bandages or food, and the children of the orphanage remain fed, donations to the temple can go toward the relief fund if the benefactors are alright with such.

Louise, my dear. I'm leaving you to run the temple and Orphanage in my absence. Don't look so worried. You will do fine. The others will be able to help you. Sister Juna can pretty much handle most things at the Orphanage unless she needs sleep."

((I will be without internet from this Tuesday, the 12th until the following Monday 18th. Refer temple/Orphanage matters to Louise De La'Valliere/Kaelaen and all matters of Donations to James White/Lampir.

I'll still be available on the forums until sometime Monday. =D Don't burn the place down while I am gone, folks! =P))

[Lampir]

James begins a second ledger, or takes over one if the temple already has it, for distributing and tallying the temple funds. He is very strict about the books being kept separate for the two funds.

He looks a little stressed out at times, and it's clear the efforts of his project are getting to him in the occasional snap or irritated tick on his face, but he seems to be trying his hardest.

[Kaelaen]

The entire time Louise took to walk from the Friendly Arm Inn to Baldur's Gate, there always seemed to be something on the back of her mind. By the time she reached the sanctuary and received the news that she was now to be in charge, she looked confused for a moment. But, perhaps thanks to her current mood Louise did not seem to give her usual wide-eyed shocked response when people randomly trust upon her with something important.

"Have a safe trip, Saint Merielle. Mercy be with you. We will do our best, worry not," she would reply, and would smile softly before she'd add another sentence in response. "Tell Matty I said hi . . . and don't worry about the kitchen. Addy and I can handle the heat."

After settling a blonde bardess in, Louise would begin to perform her duties she'd missed during the entire time she was gone, perhaps with a bit more fervor than usual. Whether it was because she was trying to make up for lost time or merely trying to occupy her head with something other than her thoughts, she would not have been able to stay. But Gods help her, the couple of days she would be at the temple, it would be as if Merielle herself had not yet left. The floors would always be something one would be tempted to walk barefoot on - though try it and risk a very hot scolding! - and she would do her best to help Adolina in the kitchen after expending all her Create Food and Water spells.

At nights she would attend prayer with Brother Marcus and the sisters, though if the blonde bardess was at the temple she would ask the girl to join her. She would do this for three days, until she seems to have finally come to a decision weighing on her mind and would apologize for having to leave the sanctuary again after not even being there for awhile.

"There are things I have to take care of south . . . I'm sorry. I promise I will return within the tenday."

She would then look for James White, and if she would find the man, she would offer him a small embrace and a thank you, for the work he would be doing for the temple.

[Considerate_]

The young bardess seems more than a little familiar with the older brothers and sisters in the Sanctuary. Quickly enough she gets herself comfortably settled in one of the many make-shifts beds that’s been prepared, during one late evening after a particular hard day the Sanctuary is filled with a melancholic tune that subtly changes throughout the song to one inspiring hope and better days to come.

~This I wonder when I lay in bed,~
~why it is we all can't be fed~
~Poverty stricken, Mercy’s Sisters and Brothers~
~makes life easier for fathers and mothers~

~If we all came together as one~
~I believe that famine would be undone~
~If well all came together universal~
~this problem would be put in reversal~

~Struggling to strive~
~Being unable to thrive~
~Suffering from hunger and frost~
~But never let your hope be lost~

~For we can all extend a helping hand~
~To the Ilmatarian Sanctuary in our land~

As the tunes finally drifted away and made way for silence, she'd turn her lips into a broad smile - eagerly awaiting Louise to spirit her away for another prayer session.

[Lampir]

James finds more excuses to linger at the temple on days when Tamara is playing. It's surely coincidence that he happens to have more free time to clean dishes. James' cooking skills are frighteningly bad and his bed manner leaves much to be desired. Instead he spends his visits at the temple mostly working on the books, delivering purchases, divvying donations and checking on supplies.

As Louise embraces him with a fond farewell he seems slightly uncertain of the gesture, but gives her hand the signature kiss of a gentlemen, bidding her safe travels.

"It looks as if the temple once again could use a few more hands." The businessman shakes his head. "What say you to pulling in some volunteers who are here for assistance, Sister? Helping others who need help does a world of good for one's soul."

Tamara's presence, more than any other, has a calming effect on James.

[Kaelaen]

The air was dry, crisp, and though the occasional bark of a stray dog and other such noises broke through silence - though what city is ever silent, even at this hour? - a sleepy calm was what was felt that one Kythorn night. The air was beginning to lose its comforting bedtime cool, more a sign indicating the summer solstice having come and gone. With the moon barely beginning to make her descent, Louise finally arrived at the sanctuary.

She would exhale a small sigh before opening the door. After closing it discreetly behind her, she would look upon the no doubt empty reception, taking a moment to appreciate the rare scene in front of her. No Adolina . . . no Sister Juna . . . just a humble little place, though no doubt Adolina would awaken soon to begin preparing the morning meals. Louise took her time regardless, doing nothing but admire the fleeting silence.

--

Louise would be found later that morning sweeping her broom in the little courtyard in front of the temple before turning to bed herself. Whatever had been on her mind before seems to have been taken care of.

[blackdove]

Althea, sent on a pilgrimage by the living saint, returns to Baldurs gate. Her hair is longer, an he stance s a but more confident. She goes to the temple first off, snd hands a leaves a letter to the living saint.
Saint Merielle;
I have returned alive and well, though the journey has been long , and dangerous. It is by Ilmaters grace I survive. I am excited about resuming duties here. I do have some very bad news however.
First, there was a fanine that was the result of a early frost that destroyed the harvest, combined with a creature that killed many miners, hus crippling the economy. This was followed by first the occupation of bloodstone pass, and an invasion by a lich king. Many in Damara starve, and many have been massacred, and narfell and Impiltur are unable to offer aid in the conflict, as they are in dire straits of their own. I have returned with knowledge to grow useful myself, but also, more importantly, to alert you to this need. I know we recently had a war also. I hope t see you soon. i miss your wise talks.
Althea

She then sets out to train in the new ways she has been taught, and also, to do as she loves to do, to heal.

[LeslieMS]

Meri returns to the temple that afternoon. She reads Althea's note, pleased the Ilmatari has returned... but as she reads she frowns, and draws from her pocket a letter addressed to the temple in Damara.

"This will be of little use I fear. Mercy be with them all, they may well need it more than we might."

The letter gets tucked back away, and prayers get offered. She spends a great deal of time in prayer, then she catches up with the Sisters at the temple, and Brother Marcus. She then makes her way to Mercy Orphanage, stating that there is much to do.

Once things are tended to there, she heads to the Order of the Radiant Heart chapterhouse, leaving a note for Thiago, and then heading out to find the rest of the Ilmatari, and other allies she is in need of speaking to.