Church of Ilmater RP

[LeslieMS]

[Meri returns from her honeymoon, albeit earlier than expected, and gets straight to work. Her time is quickly divided among returning correspondence, attending those who need it, the temple duties she still upholds and her time spent at the orphanage. The woman still manages to find time for friends and faimily, and of course... Tea. Fortunately... she has plenty of help from a vast number of friends and good folk.]

[LeslieMS]

[Things run smoothly thanks to the help from several individuals, both at the temple and the orphanage. Meri can be seen about, often wearing a pleased smile and thanking several people that come and go. To name them all would take hours, but her husband, brother, sisters, and friends and strangers alike are seen helping in one or both places frequently.]

[LeslieMS]

[The Sister's bid Jonas a kind path when he stops off at the temple to find Meri. They send him off to the orphanage.

There he finds Meri and speaks with her briefly before tucking a few bottles into a pack and heading off. Amid the children groaning over the loss of the Paladin's stories for a time, Meri sends a prayer after the man as he steps out the door:]

'Mercy keep you, dear brother... Guide you safely there, and safely back. May Mercy keep you well, and mend the ills you face.'

[She turns from the door with a hopeful smile, before working to regain neat order and calm children.]

[MercTroop]

A small brown box is delivered to Illmater temple. Note is nailed to the box with Abby name on it.

OOC: I'll give the contents to person who opens it.


Second box is sent to the temple with a note that has Jonas name nailed onto it. When opened this box is rigged to detonate sending choking powder into the air.

[LeslieMS]

[On her next visit to the temple, Meri places both boxes in the back of the temple, where they await Jonas' or Abby's eventual return.]

[Wildelf]

Tessian and Merielle have quite suddenly vanished. Adolina and Juna have taken charge of the orphanage. When asked where the two have gone, Adolina gives a giggle and wink and simply says: "Secret."

[rokranon]

With the absence of Meri and Tessian, there is another red-headed woman spending quite a bit of time at the orphanage helping out Sister Juna. Introducing herself as 'Alistaria', this short and slender young woman with startling light blue eyes but otherwise plain features gives the impression that she is very comfortable around children. She moves about in an organized flurry very similarly to Saint Merielle as she does what is needed to care for the thirty-three orphans. Upon one of her hands is a mithral signet ring bearing the phoenix crest of House Rokranon, but otherwise she wears simple clothing and is unadorned except for an intricate holy symbol of Ilmater.

Also at the orphanage at this time is the same little girl of about two years of age who has been seen there previously from time to time when Sir Rokranon would be there. Visitors to the orphanage would notice that she has the exact same hair color and eyes as the young woman named Alistaria currently helping out. Considering the rest of the child's features resemble Jonas so closely, there is little left to the imagination as to who the child's parents are.


(( I got this approved by Pentralia [Alistaria's player] before posting. ))

[LeslieMS]

[After a long absence, the couple return to the orphanage, and Meri resumes her duties both there and at the temple. However it is evident that she is not resting well. Frequently distracted and absent-minded, she looks more tired than normal. Questions about the path of her thoughts are met with an absent smile, and she quickly resumes her work. She disappears frequently to rest. So far the only thing that seems to suffer is her ability to carry on a conversation...

She was very greatful for the help both at the temple and orphanage, and in her present state, has humbly asked that help be close at hand. Often, her murmured prayers ask for strength of mind.]

[Blu C Fox]

A letter arrives at the temple requesting that one of the faithful meet with Laura Reynolds.

\\Someone send me a PM so we can try to set up a meeting.

[LeslieMS]

[It was a normal, quiet night at the orphanage. Tessian sound asleep, the children tucked safely in bed, Sister Juna watching over their rest.

As usual of late, Meri's restless sleep and sudden waking from less than kind dreams, did not disturb the man next to her. She pulled on her robes and made her way down the stairs. Little more than her own light, no need to waste candles after all... She shuffles about in the kitchen, drowsy and distracted, she drops the teapot once, before Sister Juna comes in.]

'Sister Meri... You are as quiet as a frightened horse in a glass barn.'

'Sorry Sister.'

[The two chat idly as Meri finishes making tea. Sister Juna turns down tea, not wishing to be up all night. Meri of course downs the first cup of tea in her usual quick fashion. The conversation on anything but sleep continues.

Unsettlingly lightheaded, and her thoughts still on the nightmares that had chased her from bed, she shrugs off the ill feeling as she sips at a second cup of tea. Thinking it nerves, she finishes the second cup rather quickly. Instead of the usual calming effect of the warm liquid... ... ...]

'Meri?!'

[She wakes some time later to a panicked Sister Juna, who explains that she became very ill, that it took several prayers to get Meri back on her feet again. After retracing her steps, the culprit is discovered and all the tea is discarded, just to be safe. A fine powder on the chamomile Tea, mostly unnoticeable]

She sits, well enough recovered some time later and studies the powder discovered on her tea supply.

'Ouabain...'

[She murmurs absently as she pens a quick note to Jonas.]

'... Stops the heart... grows common enough about... Chult I think... Fire Lilly...

[She frowns, and lays her quill aside. She looks at Juna, who is still regarding Meri worriedly, and has yet to leave her side in the hours since.]

'Sister, I am fine now. Irritated, but well.'

'With -all-respect, someone tried to poison you... or you and those you usually share tea with! Imagine if one of the children thought to try some of your tea, or if you had guests... Mercy forgive it if I were not here...'

'Juna. It wasn't your fault. And perhaps it was not directed at me but--'

[The older woman quickly cuts off further argument from the younger woman.]

'It was in -your- tea. The one -you- drink when you can't sleep! We should have been more watchful.'

'We will be now. No doubt it was someone who came in to make a donation. Thank all that is Mercy no one I know of has had the chamomile tea since I returned... Go back to the temple dear, please? And tell the others. I need to send word to Jonas. And no doubt the Fist should be informed. We will have to be more watchful of those we have as guests.'

[The older woman nods, and makes her way back to the temple with an escort. Meri finishes her note to Jonas, and pens a few more before getting up and inspecting the rest of the kitchen. Finally satisfied, she prepares breakfast for the children. An uncharacteristic frown on her face as she does so.]

[rokranon]

A tall man clad in a billowing gray cloak and otherwise nondescript dark clothing leaves the city and makes his way slowly to the Mercy Orphanage in the late evening. On this particular night, a late one in Eleint very near the Autumn Equinox, there was rumored far and wide to be a party at the White Mask celebrating the grand reopening of the theater. His face hidden in the darkness of his hood, the tall man walked around back of the orphanage and rapped a particular pattern out on the kitchen door before letting himself in. Sister Juna's expression of surprise at the late visit quickly gave way to a friendly smile as she noticed who the man was. The two spoke for a short time before the tall fellow pulled a rolled up note from his vest and handled it to Juna. She gave one nod before hugging the man, and he flashed a calm and easy smile before turning back to the door and departing, his lavender eyes glowing faintly in the darkness outside.

[LeslieMS]

[Well before the sun has barely crept over the horizon, weary and wary, murmuring prayers as she walks from the orphanage to the temple, Meri watches the light and shadow dance as she walks.]

... Shadows pass...

[Her steps hasten as she steps from the city gates and into the oft traveled alley to the temple.]

... in the end there is Only Mercy...

[She takes a breath and scans the area around the temple]

...I will endure...

[She steps into the temple relieved that nothing seems out of place. There she busies herself with her duties, finishing as the sun finally clears the horizon completely. When she is done, she spends hours in prayer.

Her prayers pause as a gentle and familiar sound reaches her ears, she turns to see a flurry of feather and color as the loyal bird drops a bundle of roses into her arms.]

Find Meri. Meribird.

[She smiles at the flowers and pats the parrot on the head. She finishes her prayers, and spends the day at the temple tending what she is able to.

As the day closes, she makes her way swiftly back to the orphanage, feathered friend on one arm and the vase of roses in the other. Still she regards the shadows distrustfully, still she prays, but as the scent of roses touch the air... She smiles.]

[HollowedHeart]

A large box full of children clothes is left at the Orphanage Door.

Elsewhere, John sits down on a log and stuffs his lip with chew, smiling as he imagined how happy the orphans would be.

[LeslieMS]

[Meri readies to make her normal rounds between the orphanage and the temple, spotting the box of clothes, she takes them in.

She spends some time dividing clothes among smiling children.]

'Sister Juna, if the one who left these does pass by again, do extend my most sincere thanks. While this is a glad duty, running this orphanage... It is the kindness of others that makes it possible.'

[The older woman smiles and Meri makes her way into the city.]

[Cort Thundershot]

Entering the orphanage just past the children's bedtime, the mage does his best to be quiet. Once inside the man's grin does not dissipate as he finds Sister Juna resting quietly at the kitchen table. He sits down across from her and produces an oddly shaped jar.

Elias grins even more widely at the Sister's curious expression as he sits the jar on the table in front of her.

"If you would do the honors of peeking inside I would be most appreciative."

Sister Juna slowly opens the jar to peer inside. A small smile spreads on her face when she sees the contents.

"Are these chocolate chip cookies Mr. Goodmane?"

Elias stands and readies himself to leave as he speaks."They are indeed ma'am, I thought the children would enjoy a treat on occasion."

"Well, we are thankful for all those who think of our children. This will certainly put some smiles on their faces." Sister Juna walks with Elias to the door.

After bidding her farewell, Elias replaces his hat and steps out into the rain. His smile does not diminish as he looks up at the sky and shakes his head.

The next day, after a round of cookies is given to the children, Sister Juna calls to Merielle.

"I've given every child a cookie,and the jar is full again! What mage spends their time working such magics?"