The Song of the Morning Temple RP Thread

[kleomenes]

A letter winds its way south to the Song of Morning Temple, bearing the Bloody Rack symbol of the Ilmatari. It is an open letter to the church.

[TarnishedSoul]

Another small folded note addressed to "Knight-Commander Eldarian Al'maire" is left for him at the Song of the Morning.

(( PM sent. ))

[TarnishedSoul]

A sealed collection of documents addressed to "Knight-Commander Eldarian Al'maire" is delivered to the Song of the Morning. A return address is listed as "Acolytes' Quarters, Candlekeep."

[Boddynock]

A small and eloquently embossed written calling card has been left with one of the temple's other acolytes, indicating that a "Liam the Golden" came calling for one "Alesea Abbot" while she was out.

[finneas]

*A plainly dressed young man enters the church of Lathander in Beregost at dawn and after offering morning prayers to the Lord of the Morning he begins to speak with the high priest. Whilst doing so the High Dawnknight Eldarian Al'maire enters and bade the pilgrim to speak with him rather than troubling the priest. The newcomer tentatively introduces himself as Kellan and explains his origin and pilgrimage from Waterdeep to the High Dawnknight. The Dawnknight graciously offers Kellan a place at the inn until the two can have a more detailed conversation regarding Kellan's background and intentions. The bald and bearded young aspirant leaves post haste not wanting to take up any more of the Dawnknight's undoubtedly overtaxed free time.*

[finneas]

*After a long night within the Temple of Tyr at Baldur's Gate, Kellan returns to the Church of Lathander bearing grim tidings. The young supplicant leaves this account for the high clergy.*

Last evening as I explored the strrets of the Gate I was beckoned by a young fellow to the farmlands. This man was frantically searching for a healer and, though my skills are rudimentary I could not refuse his pleas. He led me north to the watchtower where a group had gathered around a trio of women. The three were suffering some sort of parasitic affliction as best I could determine. As I looked on to decide how best to proceed a paladin of Tyr named Loggain arrived and set about purifying the three. I accompanied the Tyrran to his temple and kept vigil over the two subjects there. The third was taken to the temple of ilmater. I tended to the pair whilst milord Loghain went between the temples administering his divine healing. I remained at his side through the night as he worked, leaving and returning here onlu after he bade me do so.

During my ministerings one of the victims spoke of a plague of ash in some region called the troll claws. She claimed that this was to the north though i have no way of confirming this as truth. Rin as she named herself, spoke of trolls infected by some malady as well. Finally two flamboyantly dressed men wearing brimmed hats entered the church speaking of dwarves raised from the dead that they were forced to destroy and then bury. I have traveled without stop to bring this news to your attention. I only hope that I have not come too late.

[finneas]

*Kellan seems perhaps overly thoughtful and penitent of late. He can be seen spending most of his free time sitting, as his custom, cross legged on the floor, carefully scribing on a rather large stack of parchment. After several days of this behavior he collects the sheafs and requests audience with the High Dawnknight.*

"The penance you set, milord. It has been completed as instructed."

*The young supplicant stands before the paladin, head bowed, arms extended underneath the stack of papers.*

[finneas]

*The young monkish priest Kellan offers, perhaps a bit too eagerly, to help tend the church during the absence of the senior clergy attending the Sunite charity auction. His relief is plain when he is not instructed to attend the social affair. He changes into his more formal vestments and remains in chapel to assist the high priest as needed.*

[Miasmata]

*Kellan seems perhaps overly thoughtful and penitent of late. He can be seen spending most of his free time sitting, as his custom, cross legged on the floor, carefully scribing on a rather large stack of parchment. After several days of this behavior he collects the sheafs and requests audience with the High Dawnknight.*

"The penance you set, milord. It has been completed as instructed."

*The young supplicant stands before the paladin, head bowed, arms extended underneath the stack of papers.*

"The Light of our Lord upon you," the paladin bids in a neutral tone as he bends to regard the writing upon the stacks of parchment. Gloved fingers reach out to leaf through them in short bursts, making sure each page he checks has the correct amount of sentences the correct amount of times.

Once satisfied, a gentle smile breaks over his lips and he places his hand in a splayed manner to hover over the supplicant’s bald head as he still bears his burdens. He speaks in a reverent tone as his head bows with his next words.

"Lathander: I have heard the sound, a song in silence and stillness; the echo of your voice, calling creation and warmth from its slumber. How can I know you: In the turning of the seasons? In life and death? Or perhaps I best know you in the empty space where our hearts hunger for a forgotten face or memory, where hope presents itself. You have walked beside me down the paths where a thousand arrows sought my flesh and have stood with me when all others have forsaken. . ."

His gloved fingers then fall to the stack of heavy parchments and he moves to take them into his own care as his words slowly turn to silence. "Your penance has been completed, Brother Armstong. It is my hope wisdom has been granted in the time and actions placed before you."

[Miasmata]

Eldarian's golden-flecked eyes pulled over the three weapons poised on the table before him and he took a quick inhale of breath. Each of them had served a purpose previously and would do so again in the near future.

He planted gloved fingertips to the first blade. It was a rare hue of iron and tempered with odd oils for uncanny abilities. The hilt burst of reds and golds and a tiny sun had been engraved into the metal along with small embedded cuts of Jacinth. "In Lathander We Trust" boasted plainly on its side. The curve of the weapon was gentle and it hummed with a soft but holy power. If they would bend knee in supplication, he would grant gentle mercy.

His attention shifted to the second blade in front of him. One blonde brow pinched on his forehead but he made a move to place gloved fingertips across this weapon as well. The pure blade had a wicked curve to it and it was sharper than the rest that sat upon the table. The bite of magical fire licked at the silvery hue of the blade and it seemed boisterous in its power to inflict a type of righteous fury. His jaw tightened briefly. If they would refuse, he would burn them like the sun.

The third blade, broad in nature, caught his eye at the last moment. It seemed to be in pristine condition and bore the mark of his Lord. Decorations of the sun shining down upon a knight holding up a child are seen across the hilt. The words “From Death, Life” are scribed along the blade in a gentle golden radiance. If they battled, death would be hope for new life.

In the blink of an eye the paladin swiped the blades off of the table and planted them in secure locations upon his person. A holy mace quivered upon a belt loop as he twisted and turned and burdened himself with the divine weapons. He heaved a large travel pack upon his back, covered in rope and other various utensils.

His golden-flecked eyes traveled about his room one last time in steady determination before he reached out for the folded note upon the table. His other hand moved to extinguish the light from a single candle left burning.

- - - - - -

“Milord--Yer Grace. Knight Commander Al’maire!” Came a bellowing shout from the temple’s sanctuary and the quick clicking of booted footfalls as a young templar followed the Dawnknight near the exit.


Eldarian flicked a hand in dismissal to the brunette man that began to spout off a diligent and well executed report. “Save your breath,” he stated with a crinkled brow as he shut the door behind of him.

Once into the fully fledged night air, the paladin slowly raised his golden hood to conceal his sun-kissed features further. He casually held out a note between two gloved fingers for Ross to take.

“Let Dawnpriest Abbot know that she is to take my responsibilities while I am away—a tenday. Maybe more if things turn sour. The order is written upon the note with my signature. Make her aware that I will not willingly give my location away and have prepared so do not waste time Scrying. Tell her I will refuse any Sendings directed toward me as well. I am, for all intents and purposes, to be considered dead until I return.”

A silent knock of a hand hitting a helmet in acknowledgment was heard as Ross saluted the Knight-Commander. “Yessir. But. Sir?”

Eldarian’s head slowly turned in the burning illumination of the temple to regard Ross, planting half of his features in light while half of them still lingered within the darkness of the hood.

“The people of the Coast, Sir?” Ross breathed through his helmet as he glanced over in Eldarian’s direction.

No reply was given to such a thing as Eldarian stepped forward and into the cobbled streets of Beregost. He lingered within the shadows and moonlight for a moment before beginning a reverent prayer. Gloved fingers traveled over the holy symbol hidden in his pocket.

“I have faced armies with You as my shield. And though I bear scars beyond counting, nothing can break me except Your absence. When I have lost all else, when my eyes fail me and the taste of blood fills my mouth, then in the pounding of my heart I hear the glory of creation and warmth. Do not grieve for me, Morninglord. Your name is etched into my every step. I will not forsake You, even if I forget myself. . .”

The Dawnknight turned to look at the temple for a final time before he began the first step on his journey, golden cloak floating softly in his wake.

[finneas]

*Kellan enters the Song of the Morning the on the following day, in the predawn hours. The young cleric is staggering under a great weight of what appear to be animal hides. Coyote perhaps...wolf? It is difficult to tell. As he struggles inside he asks after the High Dawnknight and his whereabouts. His eyes go a touch wide as the clergy inform him that the Dawnknight will be absent for a tenday or more. He looks at the stack of hides, then at the clergyman, then at the stack of hides again and the corners of his mouth tighten ever so slightly. Nodding to the priest Kellan manages to stagger down the stairs to store the hides where it is cooler.*

[finneas]

*The novitiate cleric, Kellan, continues to serve as directed in the Dawnknight's absence. He steers clear of dawnpriestess Abbot as much as he can, not wishing to become the present focus for her current curt temperment. At times he can be heard speaking with the senior clergy regarding fishing of all things, including locations, methods and equipment needed. He notes all of the information down in his journal for later use."

[Silver_Lining]

Desrah would smile to those inside as she entered the temple, a large box, mop and broom in hand.. simple blue attire upon her form. Making her way inside she'd sweep, mop and scrub down the main sanctuary, then simply take her leave.

If asked why she was doing so, she'd explain that she was looking to begin to give back as best she could to those who had done so much for her.

[Nomster]

Shadows Cower Away From the Sun

A few days after Telia has spoken to Amanda, she speaks with Ameris and then visits Priestess Alesea in the Song of the Morning Temple in Beregost. It is decided then that Amanda will be brought to the Temple. While the Priestess looked tired and overwhelmed by some events, she understood the plight and the fears of the child - even offering up her own holy symbol, for it to comfort Amanda.

Telia would have prepared a wooden box for Amanda, where the girl could put all her belongings inside. The sorceress would herself add to it a book about different cultures in Faerun. It would not be a children's book but perhaps the sorceress thinks Amanda would enjoy reading it anyway. There are numerous exaggerations in it and the sketched images do not really depict reality accurately. In it, would also be a brush for Silvyr and some hairbands, either used for Amanda's own hair or for ribbons to tie around Silvyr's neck.

When Amanda is ready and any necessary farewells have been said, Telia would lead the girl and the cat to her bedroom, meaning to Teleport from there. Ameris would already be present. She sets the box down and reaches into a pouch at her belt, "Dawnpriest Alesea wanted you to have her own holy symbol, so that Lathander can watch over you better." Telia smiles reassuringly as she places the holy symbol made of rose gold with a mosaic of a rising sun around Amanda's neck, if the girl does not refuse it.

A light, shy smile shows on Amanda's face, she nods accepting the gift, looking it over curiously then glancing back and forth between the red ilmatari cord and the lathanderite symbol. Her eyes finally settle on the box and things packed. "Thank you, Mrs. Stantraeger," girl says quietly.

"Now... I would like you to hold on to Silvyr and take a deep breath as you hear me chant. It might be scary but we will be safe." Telia would ask Ameris to pick up the box and reaches for the scroll of Greater Teleport she has tucked into her belt. She would direct Ameris to place a hand on Amanda's shoulder, then she would place her own free hand on Amanda's other shoulder. The scroll is read in a chanting voice.

The girl holds onto Silvyr, small hands buried in the beast's fur, shaking a little as the anxiety makes its way through child's body.

The bedroom would fade away and in its place would be cobbled ground and a large stone building with wooden doors. Two Templars would stand guard outside the door, having been prepared for the arrival, with a Sending spell being sent to Priestess Alesea prior.

Amanda would gasp softly, hugging Silvyr a bit tighter, but after the initial shock wears off, she puts the cat down.

They head into the Temple. The sorceress would stay for a while then Teleport away, somewhere else.

[kleomenes]

Having hurried back to from the temple - apparently quite rushed off his feet after speaking with Alexandra there and sending off a long letter - and with a large back over his shoulder, Ameris does as he is bid, obediently taking up the box. Resembling something like a packmule, at this point!

The teleportation would lead him to stagger and near overbalance, given how loaded up he is.

He would trail after Telia as she approached the Song of Morning Temple. A small smirk would be on his lips as he did so, as if such trailing had some amusing significance to him.

Alesea seems to be waiting for the arrival of a certain dark-haired woman, a child, and a feline companion. She turns her gentle smile upon them when they enter the temple, which warms considerably as she sees the rose-gold holy symbol around Amanda's neck. She offers them all a little curtsy and extends a hand carefully toward Amanda to shake, if she will. The priestess would squeeze it gently.

"Glad greetings, Miss Amanda." The compassionate priestess murmurs with warmth. "We've so been waiting to meet you."

Ameris would smile to Alesea from under his burdens. "Priestess, is there a place I can set these burdens down? Things for Amanda, and then some of my own things." He would then move off, where instructed.