Baldur's Gate - The Rose Portal - Shrine to Lathander

[mireigi]

// This is an RP thread for the construction of a permanent shrine to Lathander in Baldur's Gate. Anyone who are interested in participating in the project, or just want to RP around the shrine in the coming months, are welcome to post their RP in this thread.

The Rose Portal - Shrine to Lathander
First steps

Gold donations

Total                        139,600

Abrec                          2,500
Drew Latonar                  10,000
Hannah Bradach                 5,000
Henrick Webber                 5,000
Kahanak Habdilif              50,000
Loriah Swift                  25,000
Mercury Dreskia               25,000
Saul Aurora                      100
Talisen                       15,000
Tegan                          1,000
Trent Marnimane                1,000

Other donations

Saul Aurora          Various scrolls

Shrine attendants

Tolan Faeglin
Trent Marnimane

Builders

--- None ---

Dawnpriest Tolan of the Song of the Morning temple in Beregost, arrives by boat on the Baldur's Gate docks a few hours after sunrise on the 7th of Nightal, DR 1350. Once off the boat he immediately sets off into the streets of the busy city, walking at a brisk pace, and offering a smile to those he passes. While moving through the city, Tolan examines nooks and crannys that catch his attention. Whatever he is looking for, he doesn't seem to have any luck in finding it. Eventually he comes to a small patch of grass in the Palace District, located just west of The High Hall of Wonders. His eyes widen and a bright smile form on his lips as he nods to himself a few times, seemingly satisfied with the place he have found.

He paces the length and depth of the grassy spot, taking measurements of the area, which he notes in a small book. Once done with his measurements, Tolan sets off for the East Gate District to visit Maltz and then Aello.

Once at Maltz's shop, Tolan asks for a collection of tools, nails, pieces of wooden boards and posts. After paying for the items, Tolan leaves Maltz's shop and heads over to Aello, while Maltz gets everything ready for Tolan to pick up. Entering Aello's shop, Tolan asks for four pieces of white cloth, paired in length and size. One of the pieces, he explains, should be have the symbol of Lathander, a sunrise over fields of green, stitched to it. When Aello explains that he have no such laying around, Tolan retrieves a piece of linen cloth from his satchel, the cloth already embroidered with the symbol of Lathander.

After paying Aello for the cloth and work required for the embroidery, and adding a request for a rough blanket, Tolan heads back to Maltz to pick up his order, and buying a leanto as well.

With all the items placed in a small cart, Tolan heads back to the grassy spot in the Palace District, pulling the cart behind him. Once there he builds the leanto that he purchased from Maltz, and begin construction of an altar, using the lengths of wooden boards and posts he purchased as well. Not the greatest craftsman, it takes Tolan a few hours to complete the altar, making several mistakes during the construction, but he is able to cope and correct them.

With the initial construction done, Tolan heads back to Aello's shop to pick up his order of white cloths, one of them now with the symbol of Lathander stitched to it. He thanks Aello for his work and heads back to his newly created altar. On the way he stops by a street merchant and purches some pink and yellow flowers. Once back at the altar, Tolan nails the pieces of cloth to the woodwork. When he is done, he steps back to admire his work, nodding to himself once more, satisfied with how it all turned out.

After pulling the leanto over the altar to provide some shelter from the wind and rain, Tolan places a book titled On Lathander and His faithful upon the altar, and uses some string to keep the pages turned to the part that holds Lathander's dogma.

With the last of his materials Tolan crafts a sign to stand beside the shrine. On it he writes Shrine to Lathander, to let passersby know what it is, in case they do not recognize the symbol of Lathander. Nearly done Tolan replants the flowers he purchased, grouping them in two patches on either side of the altar. Finally he lays out the rough blanket in front of the altar, using a few stones to keep it down.

It is near the end of the afternoon before Tolan is done with his work, likely having attracted some attention from the wandering guards and citizens in the immediate area. With one final check to ensure that everything is as it should be, Tolan heads back to Aello and Maltz, thanking them for their help, and asking them to spread the word of a Shrine to Lathander now standing directly west of The High Hall of Wonders in the Palace District.

Finally done with his project, Tolan leaves for the outdoors café at the Elfsong Tavern to get something to eat and drink. "This was the first step," Tolan is heard speaking as he dines that evening.

[mireigi]

Dawnpriest Tolan returns the following day to the temporary shrine and spends some time making adjustments and repairs as wind, or perhaps one of the stray cats or dogs in the city, had torn part of the cloth from the wooden frame. He also takes the time to water the flowers. Once done, he takes position alongside the shrine for some time before leaving, making sure to return every now and then in the hopes that someone would have found their way to the shrine.

[ladyawesome]

A tall red haired woman walkwalks past, with a big potted white flower under her arm. Her soft flowing skirts come to a halt and swish about her, locking her lips she carefully approaches the alter, her steps ever so joyful as the sun glows from her red hair. Running her hands along it, she sits on her knees then places the potted plant on the alter.

"For the love of hope, inspiration and the birth of everything to come" she smiles as she speaks the words. Spending some time there, before she hops up with an energetic flourish and strolls away happily, without a worry in the world.

[mireigi]

Tolan returns to the shrine a while later after running an errand in the city. A bright smile spreads on his lips as he sees the big potted white flower left on the altar, and he sends a kind thought to whomever left it there. He remains still for a while, admiring the flower and pondering who might have left it there, hoping that the person will return another time so he can thank him or her in person.

Some time passes where Tolan stands idly by the altar, reading to himself from a Lathandarite prayerbook. It isn't long before a close friend of his, a woman by the name of Delia, comes to pay him a visit at the shrine. The two sit down on the grass as they talk, and the conversation soon turns towards faith and what the afterlife is like.

Their conversation, carrying on for a long while, is put on hold when Tolan invites a Half-Orc, who introduces himself as Abrec, to come join them at the shrine, after noticing Abrec watching them and the shrine for a few minutes some distance away. Abrec makes a few comments about the shrine not being very large, considering that Lathander is one of the big ones, whom he had guessed would have a temple in the city. Tolan explains that it is something he hope to rectify, starting with a temporary shrine, and then asks if there is anything he can do for Abrec.

Abrec asks if Tolan can help him find a friend, a girl named Noelani, but Tolan doesn't recognize the name and is unable to help, other than to offer a prayer to Lathander to help guide Abrec to Noelani. Abrec leaves soon after, offering his thanks, and a large donation to help fund a more permanent shrine.

Tolan and Delia resume their conversation on faith and the afterlife after Abrec leaves. Nearly an hour later, when it is growing dark outside, Tolan excuses himself, thanking Delia for her company and welcoming her to visit and make use of the shrine as often as she likes. Before slipping into bed, Tolan offers up a prayer to Lathander, asking to shine a light on Abrec's search for his friend Noelani.

Gold donations

Abrec      2,500

[talisen]

A dark dressed figure - whom a few might recognize as the tiefling Talisen - was seen visiting the shrine earlier today. He spoke to his old friend Tolan and was introduced to Delia for the first time, and was seen to leave a sizable donation before cracking a joke and heading off.

[mireigi]

(( In continuation of the post made by talisen ))

Dawnpriest Tolan is once again seen tending to the shrine in the Palace District of Baldur's Gate. Like the previous day he takes care of any minor repairs and spends some time doing general tidying up of the shrine to keep it presentable and pure. Preparations for the day done, he leaves the shrine every now and then to see to other errands, but keeps coming back.

It isn't long before he, like the previous day, is joined by the woman Delia. The two converse pleasantly with one-another for a short while before one of Tolan's friends, a tiefling by the name of Talisen, arrives at the shrine to visit his old friend Tolan, and hear more about the shrine and what Tolan hopes to achieve with it.

After a while, Talisen asks what he can do to aid Tolan's goals with the shrine. Tolan tells him that spreading the word of the shrine being there is all the help he could ask for. Talisen agrees to this and leaves shortly after, but not before donating a substantial amount of gold towards creating a more permanent shrine.

When Talisen leaves, Tolan and Delia resume their pleasant talks, only to be interrupted a few minutes later by a rustling in some nearby bushes. The rustle, it turns out, was made by the woman Shylia Agasa, an aasimar monk of Chauntea, and one of Tolan's close friends. On this day, however, the tension between the two is almost palpable, with Tolan appearing uneasy with the presence of his friend.

The tension quickly fades when Shylia presents Tolan with a golden chalice, similar to the one he previously wore, but had not in the past two tendays. The chalice that Shylia offers is filled with a clear salty liquid, and she explains that the wrongs between them is now mended - the chalice of Lathander containing the teardrops of The Great Mother. Whatever had caused the tension between the two is now no more, and they both appear jubilant.

Delia leaves soon after, feeling a bit out of place, leaving Tolan and Shylia to talk about their respective gods and how to combine their efforts in the future. It is not long before they are joined by a fellow Lathandarite, a man by the name of Trent, recently returned to The Sword Coast.

Trent had heard about the shrine and wanted to see for himself if the rumors were true. He expresses his support for the efforts Tolan was taking towards creating a shrine to Lathander in a city as large as Baldur's Gate, and comments on the appearance of the shrine so far, thinking it quite grand already.

The trio is joined shortly after by a human woman by the name of Tegan, a follower of Sune. Tegan is quite happy that there is a shrine to Lathander, a kindred spirit to Sune she calls him, in Baldur's Gate now. She had visited before, leaving the offering of the big potted white flower on the altar.

The four of them speak on how the shrine might affect the lives of people living in Baldur's Gate, with Trent commenting that it is already succesful in bringing people together. He suggest that signs be placed at various locations in the city to help guide people to the shrine, an idea that Tolan agree would help.

Tegan offer flowers to everyone at the shrine and even lays some out on the altar, forming two hearts of white and red flowers respectively. Trent blesses the two flowery hearts with some holy water while Shylia prays to Chauntea to keep the wind at bay so the flowers do not blow away. Finally, once the others are done, Tolan casts a blessing on the altar and consecrates the ground beneath it.

Nearing the end of the day, Tegan takes out a mandolin and strums a few tunes, with Tolan chiming in with some whistling of his own while Shylia sways on the spot, likely her version of a dance suitable for a monk. When the music abates, Shylia excuses herself, asking to speak more with Tolan later, a request which he grants. Tegan departs as well, but offers a donation to Tolan towards the shrine first, leaving Tolan and Trent alone at the shrine.

Tolan explains that he must retire as well after a long day, but he will return the following day to tend the shrine once more. Trent offers to tend the shrine in Tolan's absence, which Tolan happily accepts. He departs soon after, accepting a dontation towards the shrine from Trent as well. With him he takes the Golden Chalice of Lathander, united with it once again after two tendays with it being in the hands of Shylia for some reason.

Gold donations

Talisen      15,000
Tegan         1,000
Trent         1,000

[mireigi]

Dawnpriest Tolan returns to the shrine the following day near the end of the afternoon, bringing with him a collection of prayer candles, which he places on the altar for viistors to light as they pray at the altar. Tolan takes the time to tend the heart-shaped wrath of flowers on the altar and then takes up his customary position beside the shrine, hoping for visitors to come.

After some time Tolan Selis Vhaire of the White Mask Theatre and publisher of the Baldur's Gate Gazette arrives at the shrine, offering her greetings to Tolan. Having heard rumors of the shrine in the city, Selis arrives asking for permission to write an article about it. With Tolan's consent, she starts an interview on the spot, asking several questions of Tolan.

Near the end of the interview, they are joined by Gaervin, a member of the Raidant Heart. Gaervin asks permission to pray at the shrine, which Tolan is all too happy to allow. While Gaervin says his prayers to Lathander at the shrine, Tolan and Selis continue their interview, with Selis taking the time to draw a rough sketch of Gaervin praying.

Shortly after the interview is over, both Selis and Gaervin head off, going in opposite directions. Tolan is not alone at the shrine for long, however, as Delia comes by for another visit soon after the others leave. She and Tolan engage in pleasant conversation for a while, the topic of a personal nature to Delia.

Just as Delia is about to leave, another figure, known to some as Kitten, arrives at the shrine. Kitten and Tolan greet eachother with a kiss and barely have time to engage eachother in conversation before they are joined by Trent, the other Lathandarite who have been tending the shrine whenver Tolan isn't around. Introductions are made, and the three share a pleasant conservation near the shrine.

The trio is joined by Tegan a while later, arriving to offer chocolate chip cookies that visitors to the shrine can help themselves to. Having a busy day, Tegan only stays for a short while before leaving to tend her other duties, leaving Trent, Kitten, and Tolan alone at the shrine once more. When Trent ask about recent news involving the shrine, Tolan explains about the interview with Selis, which brings a bright smile to Trent's lips.

After an hours time of pleasant conversations between the three of them, Tolan excuses himself to get some much needed rest at the Helm and Cloak. Trent offers to tend the shrine once again as Tolan leave with Kitten, the two of them walking hand in hand to the Helm and Cloak.

[mireigi]

Today saw a delightful buzzing activity at the shrine as several visitors stopped by to see what all the recent fuss was about. The first visitor, whom is quickly becoming a frequent sight at the shrine, was the woman Delia. Although she looked exhausted and about to fall asleep several times during her stay, Delia nonetheless stayed with Tolan at the shrine. They were joined a short while later by Deirde Aventil, a friend to both Delia and Tolan. Deirde asked Tolan several questions regarding recent activities in and around Beregost, in particular asking about any cults or faiths to be wary of.

Some time later another follower of Lathander, Loriah Swift, arrived at the shrine, having heard news of it when visiting the city during a break from her battle against the undead north of the city. Loriah was greatly pleased by what she saw and spent some time praying at the shrine before engaging in conversation with the others. Loriah also donated a substantial amount of coin towards the shrine and, in her own hopeful words, a temple!

Loriah had only been at the shrine for a few minutes, and not even begun her prayers, before the Sunite Tegan arrived, bringing with her new offerings to the shrine. Tegan also donated a substantial amount of gold to the shrine, collected from near the Friendly Arm Inn, with the majority donated by Mercury Dreskia. She delivered her offerings onto the altar, this time in the form of several seedlings to be planted around the shrine.

Following pleasant conversation between Tegan, Loriah, and Tolan, with Delia and Deirde speaking by themselves for a while, the group began to split up. Tegan left first, followed shortly after by Delia and Deirde. Loriah was the last one to leave, though she stayed for a good while to speak on the faith and the efforts for the shrine and the temple she hoped to see one day.

Tolan was not left alone for long after Loriah left. Soon he was approached by a man who introduced himself as Saul Aurora. Saul, it turned out, was also a follower of Lathander, recently arrived in Baldur's Gate when he heard of the shrine and came to see for himself. After introductions were made, Saul spent some time praying at the shrine, leaving a scroll as donation upon the altar. Saul then asked Tolan for aid on his path towards becoming a Morninglord of Lathander. Tolan, himself a Morninglord of Lathander, was happy to offer such aid.

Saul left shortly after, leaving Tolan alone at the shrine. After spending some time to arrange everything neatly on the shrine once more, Tolan looks up at the sky, the sun soon dipping below the horizon. With a pleased sigh, Tolan makes his way to the Helm and Cloak to get some refreshments. He is not seen at the shrine naymore that day.

Gold donations

Loriah Swift         25,000
Mercury Dreskia      25,000

Other donations

Saul Aurora        Scroll

[Hidennka]

When Cecilia finally manages the time to stop by the Shrine, a slight detour from her destination, her blue eyes take in the small display in the dim light of early evening. Gloved fingers pull along the length off her jaw and she sighs, approaching the altar with the quiet clank-clank-clank of metal boots.

"Once again, our efforts are divided. . ." she murmurs seemingly to no one, fingers now brushing over it's stony surface with a small smile and a sigh. Though it was pleasing for her to see the word of the Morninglord reaching so far North, it was by rumor alone that it had reached her ears. A bittersweet moment for the unknowing of the Song of the Morning. "An admirable goal, and yet. . . can we afford to have funds diverted, drawing attention away from both the dire needs of Beregost and our own temple crying out desperately for unfunded renovations?"

Gloved fingers, still stained with blood that seemed resistant to all scrubbing attempts, brush over the holy symbol of Lathander around her neck and she takes an armored knee to seek guidance from the Commander of Creativity for a number of hours before departing.

[mireigi]

Dawnpriest Tolan arrives at the shrine early in the morning to tend the temporary shrine once more. With him he brings the latest issue of the Baldur's Gate Gazette. A warm smile spreads on his features as he reads the spotlight article on Eldarian. His smile widens some when he reads the praise Eldarian is giving the efforts for the shrine, and then even more when he reads the article written on the shrine and his efforts and goals.

Visitors to the shrine while he is there is scarce, with only the occasional guard or noble passing by. Looking at the sun reaching towards the zenith, Tolan casts once last look upon the shrine for the day, and sets out for Nashkel, shortening the trip by flagging down a ship at the docks to take him south of Candlekeep.

Once in Nashkel, Tolan join forces with Brother Ameris of Ilmater and miss Erza of Sune, the three of them representing the Song of the Morning at the Helmite Tournament of Arms. The trio does well for itself, winning the first round against the two dwarves and single human of team Goblinchew. They fare less well losing the grand final against Captain Kalma's team, who had Grimm Oathbreaker of the Kraag Helzak King's Guard.

When everyone was back on their feet again and the prize money had been handed out by Sveta Asperan, the host of the tournament, Tolan stayed around for a while, talking with the competitors and congratulating them on a good show of skill and prowess at the tournament. During the talks, Kahanak Habdilof of the Thayan Enclave in Baldur's Gate surprised Tolan with a donation towards the shrine to Lathander in Baldur's Gate. The donation was in the form of a signed letter of credit for a local quarry, the total value equalling fifty thousand gold.

Tolan left soon after, heading back to the Song of the Morning in Beregost to donate ten thousand gold to the temple, his third of the second place prize money. Miss Erza of Sune had received her third of the prize too, which she would put towards the church of Ilmater in Baldur's Gate. Brother Ameris did not receive his third of the prize money yet, as circumstances rendered him unavailable to collect them.

Gold donations

Kahanak Habdilof     50,000

[mireigi]

Today began as a quiet day at the shrine for Dawnpriest Tolan. It gave him the opportunity to read from one of his books on the faith, while reflecting on the losing battle against Captain Kalma's team at the Helmite Tournament of Arms. He knew, as Erza had suggested herself before the battle, that both Kalma and his First Mate would go for her. What he had not expected was that Grimm Oathbreaker would go for him, nor that the stout dwarf would be so effective at keeping him locked out of the fight.

Tolan's musings and readings was put on hold when he was joined by a man who introduced himself as Corel. Corel was quite pleased by the meager shrine to Lathander, commenting that Lathander's temples were often grand and a little over the top. When Tolan explained that a more elaborate shrine was in the works, Corel nonetheless seemed supportive of the cause. Corel departed shortly after, inquiring on the whereabouts of the temple of Mystra.

With Corel leaving, Tolan had the opportunity to continue reflecting on the battle against Captain Kalma's team. The more he thought about it, the more he was certain that Grimm had been the deciding factor in the battle, not because he locked out Tolan so well, but because he was simply that good.

Tolan had just come to the conclusion that he would have to seek out Grimm soon and possibly learn a few tricks, when he was joined by Drew Latonar, a Helmite recently assigned to the temple of Helm in Baldur's Gate. Drew was pleased to see the efforts for a shrine to Lathander within the city, and offered a large donation towards the efforts in constructing a more permanent shrine.

Both Drew and Tolan expressed a desire to speak again later, with Tolan offering counsel to Drew, should he need feel the need for such, given his new assignment to the local temple to Helm. As Drew had other duties to attend to, he excused himself after a while, leaving Tolan alone at the shrine once more.

Tolan had not been alone at the shrine for long before his friend Delia came to the shrine. She was pleased to hear that visitors and donations were coming in at a steady pace. She even congraulated Tolan on his efforts when he gave a rough estimate of one hundred thousand gold donated so far. Delia left soon after, feeling tired after a long day, but Selis Vhaire arrived almost at the same time, taking her spot at the shrine beside Tolan.

Selis and Tolan spent a good while talking on the efforts for a more permanent shrine, broken off by a detour to discuss the tournament held the day before. Selis explained that she, like most others, had expected Tolan's team to win, and that many bets had been lost when Captain Kalma's team unexpectantly won. Matters soon turned to the situation in Beregost, and Tolan found himself explaining the sadistic ways of Captain Antonio de Coibra of the Beregost Guard. It left Selis with a clearer picture of the situation, and sympaty for Tolan and the other Lathandarites who had to witness such brutality.

As their conversation was drawing to a close, Saul Aurora arrived at the shrine to provide a donation towards the cause, and explain that he had decided to join the Song of the Morning in Beregost as soon as he could make his way there. Tolan gratiously accepted the donation and expressed his joy at Saul's decision. Both Saul and Selis left shortly after, having exchanged pleasantries. It was not until then that Tolan noticed a female figure observing the trio from afar, leaving him wondering as to how long she had been there. He never got the chance to find out, as she left at the same time as Selis and Saul did.

Gold donations

Drew Latonar     10,000
Saul Aurora         100

Other donations

Saul Aurora     Various scrolls

[mireigi]

The past day, and in the days that follow, Dawnpriest Tolan tends to the shrine as much as he can, which, due to his other duties, is only a few hours per day just after sunrise.

(( I am unfortunately down with a sore throat and sinus infection, so I won't be able to tend the shrine IG for a few days.

Please feel free to RP visits to the shrine in this thread, or set it up IG if you don't mind the small cost of the placeables. ))

Hidden: show

Placeables

In store			Renamed                         
Altar (Neutral)			Altar to Lathander
Leanto (Woodland)		Leanto sheltering the shrine
Open Book			On Lathander and His faithful
Picnic Blanket			Rough blanket
Generic Sign			Shrine to Lathander
Three-armed candlabra		Prayer candles
2 x Ammunition items		Freshly planted patch of flowers

[VanillaRose]

Near the end of one day, Selis Vhaire decided to visit the shrine. It was still in the same condition despite Tolan's inability to spend all day tending it, and the young woman spent some time there writing in her well-worn notebook.

She also seems to have formed a bond with the tabby cat that is a constant presence at the shrine. The feline guardian, whom Selis has started calling "Sunshine," occasionally batted at the ragged feather quill that the bard is known to use as she writes.

When evening finally found Baldur's Gate and only the light of the prayer candles was left to illuminate her work, Selis said farewell to Sunshine and departed the shrine.

[mireigi]

Over the course of the past tenday, Dawnpriest Tolan's presence at the shrine have been sporadic at best, with his presence being absent in the latter half of that time. When he finally does return, on the 1st of Hammer DR 1351, Tolan takes the time to make repairs to the shrine and spend some time there once more.

It is not long before Tolan is joined by a young woman, introducing herself as Hannah Bradach. Tolan is overjoyed when Hannah reveals that she too is a follower of Lathander and is studying the faith at the Song of the Morning temple in Beregost. The two converse for a while before Hannah excuses herself for her own duties, promising to spread word of the shrine to those she meet. Hannah also leaves a donation towards the shrine before departing.

Gold donations

Hannah Bradach      5,000

(( I am back from sickness and Christmas / New Year's stuff and will be actively tending the shrine once more. ))

[mireigi]

With the troubles in Beregost over the past month, Dawnpriest Tolan had not been able to tend the shrine as he usually did. With the plague in the city of Baldur's Gate, visitors to the shrine had likely been few as well. Upon his return to the site of the shrine, Tolan spends some time making repairs, restoring it to its previous well-kept state.

Despite the plague in the city, Tolan stands by the shrine for the remainder of the day. When a guard passes by, he lets him know he will aid as many as he can if they come to the shrine, or if they are unable to come there, he will come to them once notified of their plea. He also asks the guard to spread the rumor that he intend to stay at the shrine for several days.