Church of Ilmater RP

[Killington]

For most of the evening, a dead body is laid out in the infirmary for proper examination. Several people come and go, attempting to study it and find answers. When not examined, the body is respectfully covered by a blanket. Anyone in the infirmary looking beneath the blanket in the evening would notice it is that of Telia Navra wearing a torn dress and that the death has not been a peaceful one. The holy symbol of Mystra with its eight pointed star and with a star sapphire embedded in the middle of the amulet can be seen resting on her chest.


The body would not stay in the infirmary the whole evening but moved elsewhere in the Temple later in the night or some time before morning.

A tall man in dark garb would enter the temple and observe the body from a distance. He frowns and turns to leave after handing something to Sister Adolina.

[kleomenes]

The priest Ameris attends calmly to the body in the morning. He draws a surgical screen across; when it is drawn back Telia is attired in the vibrant red and grey dress many of those familiar with her from her time in the Temple of Ilmater would recognise. The sorceress has been cleansed and anointed with holy water, and around her wrist a red cord of the Ilmateri is prominently displayed. She seems as if she is asleep, barring the marks of her violent end - those visible are left unconcealed, undisguised.

The priest carries the sorceress through to the chapel to rest in peaceful repose. Ameris no doubt shares some quiet, private words with Revered Father Marcus, after which he kneels by the body, head bowed. After some time passes in silence, tears begin to flow, as he gives quiet vent to his grief.

From now on Ameris would conduct each of the five daily ritual prayers of the Ilmateri while kneeling by Telia's corpse. He would spend time in quiet contemplation afterwards for varying amount of time. He would cry no more, however.

The priest would have marked himself with a black teardrop on one cheek, just above the fading scratch marks there. His movements would seem sluggish and delayed. His expression blank.

When not by the body, Ameris would retire to the private areas of the temple to pore over holy texts in preparation of a ritual. He would refuse visitors.

///edited, as apparently my toon pays as much attention to the attire of his girlfriends as I have over the years.

[Miasmata]

A Dawnknight can be seen often entering and exiting the temple of Ilmater in recent days.

While performing various tasks and duties, Eldarian's usual gentle and smiling features begin to turn strained and solemn.

After a rather long stay in the infirmary the man can be seen placing a note in Sister Adolina's hands and then murmuring to her.

"Make sure this is passed to my brother."

[kleomenes]

Before evening prayers Ameris collects a package, and a letter, from Sister Adolina. He would take them both upstairs, his manner still vague and distant.

When he returns to mount his vigil beside the fallen Telia, he wears grief clearly upon his features. He kneels beside her as before, speaking evening prayers quietly. When done, after some moments silence, he reaches for the wrist around which the red cord is bound and presses his face into the cold back of the hand. And he speaks out loud so that others nearby can hear his words. At first his words are husky, a faltering, pained tone. But by the end, clear and certain.

"Hear me;
Shade of my love;
You asked me for strength;
Your last words of pained courage;
Honoured."

Ameris would then stand, kissing the index and forefinger of his right hand before touching them to Telia's lips, speaking further to the fallen woman.

"You will have your chance to live free of chains. I will not rest until it is so."

With resolve and purpose, Ameris returns to his researches upstairs.

[Hitman Hard]

Dave Counterpunch comes inside the temple, signs his name on the petition against the Thayan's cruel child labor agenda.Then leaves an additional note for Ameris.

I am sorry for your loss. I understand if you are putting your project on hold, but I wouldn't mind helping you investigate the Thayan's business ethics.

Dave pauses to contemplate writing more, then shakes his head, and sighs before leaving.

[kleomenes]

The priest Ameris descends from the private areas of the temple at dawn, attired in his vestments of faith, in order to conduct his morning prayers and vigil. It is apparent that while he has slept, it has not been long or well. The dryness of his lips stands as evidence of the fast of food and water that he has observed since Telia's death. Despite his dishevelled physical appearance, his robes are still immaculate and neat, and the black teardrop on his cheek applied with near pedantic precision.

He kneels before Telia's body, as is his custom, and recites an Ilmateri prayer of grief.

Loss

A beast

With rending claw

It gnaws my soul

Pain


Loss

Hunts me

A ceaseless pursuit

I flee before it

Denial


Loss

I defy

Clad in fire

Burning the helping hand

Anger


Loss

I beg

Caging the anguish

Questions for the past

Desperation


Loss

I stumble

On liquid ground

Realities made of sand

Doubt


Loss

I endure

Never truly alone

He shares my burden

Faith


Loss

I own

Carrying the past

Stronger in the future

Peace

After some quiet moments, he returns upstairs to his researches and the penning of several letters.

[Raven]

A masked man stands over Telia's body, watching it for only a handful of seconds. The time felt endless, but he had only purchased a temporary distraction, and Brother Marcus would return soon.

The masked man did not want to be seen there when he did. The masked man hated this temple. He hated this place. Why was she being kept here?

Gazing briefly towards the door, the man drapes a worn, black cloak over the corpse of the tortured woman. He carefully rearranges her hands on top of the cloak -- those very familiar with Telia might recognize it as the cloak she wore for several tenday when she was publicly Zhentarim -- and then places a large, round diamond into her palms. Before curling her fingers around the gemstone.

"We will speak again," he whispers softly, sparing another glance at the door as he bends to kiss her brow. "In this life, or the next, we will."

The promise spoken, he stands there a moment. Unsure what to do. Before a fit of pique boils up inside of him. Not knowing even where it came from, the man expresses it in a rush of magical energy, threading a single spell through the room over and over and over again until he's hunched over Telia's body and breathing raggedly. By the time he is well and truly finished, the entire chapel thrums with abjuration magic.

And then he is gone, in a wink, in a flash, stolen away by some spell -- like the young woman's life force likely had been as well. Nothing to remain but the old, worn cloak and the priceless stone. And alarm spell after alarm spell, overlapping chaotically, repeatedly.

When Brother Marcus returns, and whenever anyone enters the chapel for the next several hours (or until the magic is dismissed), the room explodes in a cacophony of chimes and bells, shivering and tinkling like a thousand angry wind chimes.

[kleomenes]

Ameris descends for his morning prayers by the sorceress in repose as he has for the past two days. He still wears grief openly, but he greets others in the temple with gentle smiles and meets any offers of condolences with words of hope.

"I am waiting to hear the Broken God's say in the matter."

Upon entering the chapel, the priest would draw up upon seeing the cloak wrapped around Telia. Tension would run through him, and gone would be the humble priest; indeed gone would be the grieving lover. Anger would remain, and he would stalk around the body, eyes fixed on the cloak - on the colour of the cloak.

A hand, rather a claw, would reach out to snatch it away, but then his eyes would rest once more upon Telia's face and his arm would drop to his side. He would step close to the body then, leaning over and murmuring a few quiet words, meant only for him and the shade of the fallen woman. A finger would wrap round a lock of raven hair, a hand would rest on her cheek. Only after long moments of this communion would he kneel. Ameris' prayers are quiet today, private, the anger replaced with grief once more, but a certain peace about his demanour.

When he departed, he would take the diamond to add to the others held for the ritual, but the cloak he would leave in place.

[Layla0340]

*Sani passes through through the temple quickly, purchasing a few bandages and commenting to the staff before she leaves:*

Say hi to Ameris and Telia for me.

*if not interrupted would leave then, apparently clueless as to Telia's condition.*

[Morphix90]

When Mogrant sees the scene in the temple, he would try to express his condolences to Ameris while he's not knowing what to say. Speechless, he'll stay there some time thoughtfully looking at the ground... Sometimes he seem to pray silently. Maybe attended to Telia.

Later, he would sign the petition too.

[kleomenes]

Ameris, on one of his pilgrimages to Telia's body, would receive condolences from Brother Mogrant. He would smile sadly, and thank Mogrant for his words and the thought. Ameris would affirm that he had not given up, saying that he was of the firm belief the Broken God would set things right.

----------------------------

Later, Ameris would be seen placing what would appear to be a small, baguette shaped object next to Telia where she lies in quiet repose - something wrapped in scented cloth. Closer inspection would reveal it to be a small animal.

[Ariella]

when erza hears she makes a pilgrimage to telia's body, offering her condolence to brother ameris she would offer some words to telia's body.

"I pray that sune may guide you back to your love... you have had a hard life and made many wrong choices, but you ended as an inspiration to a great many, correcting your wrongs... if your time is truly done, may you rest in peace in the arms of mystra."

the high priestess pulls an ornate lute from her bag, it appears to be finely crafted. she places it next to telia.
"play the lady of magic some beautiful music for me"
on the way out she signs the petition and offers one further comment to ameris
"if there is anything you need help with let me know... if ilmater cannot aid.. maybe sune can or them both"

[LISA100595]

*Lady Elvina and Sir Seth of the Silver Rose stopped by the Temple of Ilmater this evening. They politely and respectfully asked Sister Adolina to let Mr. Ameris know they were there to offer their condolences and ask if there is anything they can do for him in this difficult time.*

[finneas]

*A long absent figure, well dressed if a bit on the flamboyant side storms in to the Temple of Ilmater. His well trimmed moustache seems almost sinister amidst the cold fury on his face. He walks past the sisters and heads immediately for the stairs, spending several long moments unleashing his rage on the door in an attempt to garner an audience from those within. After several rounds of egregious pounding the copper-haired man turns to leave. As he goes he cocks his head, almost certain he can hear voices speaking quietly as he descends and stalks back out to the street.*

[kleomenes]

A ceremony takes place in the Temple of Ilmater over the body of the fallen actress, Telia Navra. A number of guests were in attendance to observe.

The ritual was conducted by Ameris Santraeger, who had observed a fast, vigil and suffering in the name of the Broken God in the days before. He was assisted by the Dawnknight Eldarian Al'maire, who helped prepare the diamonds that had been donated by friends of Telia.

The ritual involved lengthy prayer and, apparently, a sacrifice from Ameris, although he was stabilised by Eldarian and then further healed by another attendee.

It seems that Telia was disturbed after her return to life, and the attendees to the ritual left shortly afterwards. Ameris and Telia were sequestered in the chapel for several hours, and when they emerged the actress still seemed distraught, and the priest weak and fatigued, until such time as her and Ameris retreated to the private areas of the temple.

Later that night Telia descended alone, wearing a black cloak, and was seen talking to the blue bard Endelyon. After some time Ameris, still weak, joined them, went out on an errand, and returned.

The temple was visited by Berea and Eldarian shortly after, who spoke of an undead threat to the north and asking the priest to send some sendings to gather a band to pursue it. There was an exodus from the temple, Telia apparently being upset.

Neither Telia or Ameris have since returned.