Message in a Bottle

Log Info

• Title: Message in a Bottle
• Emitter: Paenitia
• Characters: Paenitia, Serene, Jinks
• Place: A10: Temple District
• Time: Thursday, February 03, 2022, 9:12 PM
• Summary: Paenitia and Serene find Jinks indulging in a new talent at the base of the Temple District's fountain. The two paladins and bard meet and exchange information, careful to skirt topics compromised by an archfiend's lasting influence. Offers of aid are exchanged and Serene departs, leaving the Tarienites to find mischief in Coyote's House.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The air of solemn, heavy divinity in the area is often broken by laughter. The dual presence of the deities Althea and Daeus, man and wife, stand towards the center, with their children and their children's temples positioned around them. The presence of the divine is felt not only by their temples, but also by the actions of their worshipers. The great plaza is as a social center, paved in brilliant, white flagstones and covered in benches and sitting areas. Priests, acolytes, and servicefolk of all stripes roam the plaza, going from one task to the other.

At the front of the temples of Daeus and Althea, at the Plaza's centermost point, rests a great fountain, the cheerful waters reflecting the Sun during the day, and the Moon and Stars at night. The fountain is strategically centered, and is oft a place for wisdom and lesson-giving. It is not uncommon for a priest of some stripe or the other to stand there, surrounded by the curious and faithful, delivering messages of hope or contemplation. At other times, it and the plaza become a landscape of celebration of the holy holidays.

Few vendors are seen in the plaza--the nearby temples provide most food or services. Towards the west, the great Bridge stretches across the river, and towards the east, the Redridge mountains. The plaza rests in the midst of it all, the temples massive and grand on the Alexandrian scale.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

It's a bleak night, a chill mist lies heavy on the Temple district, shrouding all compounds. All that is visible is the ground, covered with ice both black and crunchy. The dark sheen that coats the cobblestones is the deadlier of the two. The air itself is wet and insidious, working its way in through cracks in armour and gaps in clothes. Mana lights illuminate little, being distant orbs of lighter mist, high off the ground.

Through this dark comes a Red Knight astride her Ivory Steed. Paenitia has a cloak of Ramirez's feathers wrapped around her, keeping some warmth in, blending her with his body. The great hippogryph himself is fluffed out, large and carefully picking his way along the slippery streets.

They seem to have no particular destination in mind, although one might suspect the Temple of Tarien to be their destination.

Serene stands near the fountain, arms folded across her breastplate as she gazes up into the night sky.. not that there's a great deal to be seen there now, between the misty shroud and the light pollution from the lamps. SHe stands as though the cold doesn't touch her, and considering her reputation, it probably doesn't. Golem's aren't affected by the chill either.

Jinks sits with his back against the base of the fountain, feet flat and knees half-bent. The song he sings has words most days but they're lost to melody tonight, mingling with the subtle percussive blurble of the centerpiece behind him. The gnome's black eyes are closed and his hair hangs lose around a face made just that subtle bit more handsome for an extra decade or so.

It's a maestro performance, the sort nobles pay disgusting amounts of gold to hear, and he's giving it away for free. His bejeweled fingers grip loosely the neck of a half-drunk bottle and it dangles by his leg amongst the abundant folds of his overlarge, plum-colored coat.

He's smiling faintly and there's a subtle glittering at the corner of his eyes as the notes of the melody shape themselves into words.

"Life is no cabaret. We don't care what you say. We're inviting you anyway. You motherless sons you'll Sing some day..."

He holds the decrescendo for sometime, demonstrating impressive lung capacity as he drums out a cymbol roll with his rings on the glass. The Red Knight's head turns. Her head is the only part of her sticking out of the feather cloak, an enameled helm which incorporates a wide brimmed hat, and a visor which is a mask depicting a smiling man's face. Stylized and masculine, with a wide leering grin and a moustache. The music, of water and gnomes, draws her attention. She notices Serene next, standing like a statue. With a cluck she alters her abulescent steed's path towards the fountain.

"Hola!" She calls out as she approaches, "Much greetings Silverguard. I see you have found my charge." Drawing closer she gets a better look at Jinks, his appearance enough to make her startle and sit taller in her saddle. "The drink have take it's toll? Or there another story to tell?"

Serene lowers her gaze and turns her head, nodding a moment later in recognition to the short in stature, if big in presence, lancer. "With this one?" she queries, gesturing towards Jinks with her chin. "I find that it can be difficult to discern."

Jinks holds the note for... just... a bit... longer... and stays Paenitia with a raised finger. The gnome's open mouth curls up into a smile and he rolls his wrist, bring pointer-finger and thumb together like a conductor silencing an orchestra. The song ends and the Hymn pulses out from the bard, warm and welcoming even as it pushes away the fog in a nova burst. Wounds heal, weariness leaves bone and muscle, stomachs settle, and spirits are lifted.

Solid, onyx-black eyes twinkle when the gnome opens them and he offers an incredulous laugh. "Do you like it?" He curls one leg under himself and stands in a tight twirl, jingle-jangling as he springs up to his feet. "Coyote came to me and we spoke of a game with the Harpist; he taught me a new song..." The little man is quite smug and well into his celebrations.

"Dame Paenitia, Lady Serene," he bows only to stand and sniff, wetting his whistle. "Why do I lack for a title? Is it because 'the Great' seems so... insufficient?"

'Ruawk.' Ramirez squawks as the sensations flow through him. Fluffing and refolding his wings.

Paenitia watches Jinks with the fixed expression of her mask, after which her amused voice sounds behind it. She and the Silverguard could compete as golems, though the little paladina would likely lose due to her lively words. "Ha, the Great invites other words to follow, some which you would not wear so well, but you are a Maestro so I name you that now and hope it stick. I have the great curiosity now, for the tryst you have with the coyote and the Lady Death. There are more details to tell?"

She holds up a guantlet, and a finger, in a similar manner as the gnome just did, an invitation to pause. Her attention and the grinning mask turns towards Serene, "First, I must give the warning. Silverguard, you were with Silvergaurd Seldan, the Archmage Cesran, and the Mourner Verna when the great demon is defeated? Have you been warned about a name? There is one that will destroy your poise, if you have not heard you must take the precautions before you do."

"I have no titles save what those around see fit to give, and not all of them are flattering," Serene advises Jinks. "I would not be so quick to try and lay claim to any, were I you. It is never certain which ones you might receive." She turns back to face Paenitia, icey eyes studying the small woman's mask for a few moments.. though there is nothing of an expression she might discern. "I was, and I have not." If the paladin is concerned, any hint of it is notably absent. "What is this name?"

Jinks grins and nods to Paenitia. Later. He smiles wider at Serene's warning and twirls again, hopping up to take a seat on the edge of the fountain. One heel braces against the outside edge and his other boot braces against his rump so he ends up leaning forward against that thigh. The bottle glurgs as he helps himself to another drink and settles in for the story.

Behind the holes in her mask, Paenitia's eyes are dark and smouldering, with long lashes, a warm contrast to the icey ones she meets. Seated upon her peacock-andalusian, she's way up on her high horse and able to look down on both Serene and Jinks, although she does so only in the physical sense.

She chuckles, and sounds amused, "I am not the one to set the fox in the chicken coop. Before I tell, I have see Silverguard Seldan nearly overtaken by a possessing force. I have the suspicion, that Mourner Verna experience the same, and was overcome. She was follow by a fellow Vardaman that seem ready to interpose, and topics were careful to be avoided around her."

She looks at Jinks, who seems to be on the same page. "You may wish the magic protections against evil, or to strengthen your will, or to hear and think on the name in the Temple. It seem a piece of the demon stay behind in the other two, and maybe is the same for you."

Serene watches Paenitia a moment longer, then nods once, sharply. A little less obvious is the hand that drifts slowly towards one of the swords she bears.. and not the white gripped, silver pommelled one. A movemet that does not complete, turning instead into a fist. "Very well. The warning is appreciated. It sounds very much like something that one would have done."

"The mourner, Verna, was afflicted last I spoke with her. She was... upset when I mentioned the boy. That was after Seldan, she, and I sought prophecies in the Society's forbidden libraries." Jinks offers, looking between the pair of heavily-armored women while he perches in his dandy's coat and garb. He sniffs the lip of the bottle before adding "Aryia put Verna on the ground when her senses were overtaken" and having the most-recent drink.

The gnome narrows his dark eyes at the Silver Guard's grip on her sword and frowns subtly. "Seldan nearly drew his blade on us when he sought the memories," he glances back up at Serene's face. "It's a short walk to Goddess Dreaming's house if we would be safer..."

The little lucht knight nods. She noticed the motion of Serene's hand, then watches Jinks as he elaborates on things she hasn't witnessed. "I can write the note, with the name, the reason it is my quest, the other details that may be of import."

A glance at Serene, back at Jinks again, then once more to the Silverguard, "I have the great concern that too many detail will take your mind to the dangerous place. So, until we in the temple, maybe you try not to think of the giant white peacock horse."

'Ruaaah?' Ramirez cranes his head around, eagle-eyeballing Paenitia before looking owlishly at Serene.

His little mistress pats his neck, "Yes, I am talk about you. You are the prettiest boy." Fortunately, Silver isn't around, or that statement could be challenging. She drops into silence, thinking about things that shouldn't be said.

Serene shakes her head. "If the creature takes hold, it is best I am not around anybody. Knowing the threat exists, now, and leaving myself in a position to hurt anyone because of it would be a lapse in my responsibility. That will make it difficult to seek out the others who are so afflicted.. but missives, or magic will likely suffice."

"That's... ah, what's the word?" Jinks feigns ignorance, standing up on the lip of the fountain one one leg with a dancer's grace. "'Prudent,'" he 'remembers,' laughing at his own little self-deprecating joke. He meanders along the edge of the fountain and produces pen, ink, and tightly-rolled parchment from a hip pouch. They're extended in a loose grip to the dame on peacock-back.

"I have news for you, too, paladina. Of prophecy and Mulria's malicious motivations. Hm," the gnome offers in a close-mouthed, muted laugh. "To do with your well..."

Paenitia takes the pen, parchment and inkwell. Ramirez's saddle is wide and sufficient as a writing desk, if not a very flat one. She has experience with working in rough conditions, and while cold and damp is not one of them, she makes do. The gnome is given a long glance as his sentence trails off, and then she nods.

"Prudent, yes." She starts writing, details which Serene will be able to read later. First, what she knows of 'the possession', as Seldan explained it to her. Opening themselves up so that their souls were vulnerable, contesting wills against Eclavdran, allowed an echo of his memories to attach to all that did so. It is as if the Demon Duke himself rises up and takes over those who defeated them. The key to causing this, is thinking about a boy named 'Hotaru', an innocent which the demon duke's followers captured and spirited away. A boy who is destined to wield a sword which is currently being guarded by a water nymph that lives at the bottom of a well in a village. One who is slowly being corrupted by an influence in the nearby woods. The Paladina has vowed to bring Hotaru to the nymph so she will release the sword, but this quest has been complicated. So far everyone who recognizes the name, does so through Eclavdran's memories.

"That is the wise plan. I have lose my mind to his statues, and try to kill Ramirez to my great dishonour." The Red Knight says, as she writes, "Know that Seldan, he have resist this, and this maybe the thing you do not want to face alone. If you meet the Archmage, he need the warning too, given with great care. I have not find him yet."

She looks it over, then hands the parchment to Jinks, "This the all of it, or there is more the Silvergaurd should know?"

Jinks says, "When is a Ramirez like a writing desk?"

Paenitia says, "What? When?"

"Some, yes," Jinks nods. He holds up a finger to forestall the transfer and makes quick work of draining his bottle. He winces, choking, and has to squint and concentrate to keep from losing the contents of his stomach in the fountain... but he manages. He's swaying now as he takes the items back and he uses the empty bottle as a surface.

The gnome hums as he writes, having committed these things to memory as song, pausing and repeating the simple melody when he needs to dip the pen into the inkwell in between lines. His script is flowing and rushed with no shortage of dramatic and oversized loops.

Two prophecies are separated by a quick, diagonal stroke.

"He laid his hands upon the bloody sword, Pull that sword from your soul, kid. Pull that sword from your soul. It will save your life. Sharpen that sword, on your bloody hand, even the gods know. You gotta pull that sword from your soul. Pull that sword from your soul.' and

"In Taara's maw sits I. The soul of twins now divided. The hand of dark it seeks to take. To tear what was whole asunder. In Taara's maw sits I. Reborn from Gray Halls. King of Prophecy. Hand that Wields the Sword. She seeks to taint the innocent. She seeks to become innocent. Divided now the twins of souls. In Taara's maw waits I."

The gnome makes a second note, duplicating the first, and hands it to Paenitia. The original he rolls tight and drops down the neck of the bottle. The bottle he hands to Serene. "Smash if free when you're ready, Silver Guard." Then he stoppers the inkwell and drops the items back into his pouch.

Serene looks at the bottle for a moment, then nods, reaching forth to take it and then secret it away in her pack. "You both have my gratitude. I will have to seek out Seldan and the others; perhaps they have come upon further insight into this issue. My gratitude also for the warning."

"It is my duty and delight," Paenitia says, her formal sounding words a contrast to her grinning visor, making it seem she's being sarcastic or somehow insincere, despite no hint of such in her voice. She makes a small bow as she does.

The note from Jinks is examined and tucked away. She may have questions, but they are best saved for later. The topic is a dangerous one. "I was have the great distress, when my quest cause the unfortunate reactions, and I want to share that there a hole in the defense. I hope this the thing you can resolve soon, and if there the assistance I can give, ask, it is give freely."

Straightening up, the little knight's attention turns towards Jinks, "It is good you finish the bottle. It should be the last for a while? You will tell now of the tryst that put the lines on your face, or that the thing that should be save for later too?"

"I'm not dead..." Jinks sways subtly, waving off Paenitia's concern. "Well, not at the moment. It's warmer in Coyote's house," he observes, hopping down off the fountain and only stumbling a short distance. A skipping stride follows to play it off. "Come, the both of you, and I'll tell you how I beat the Harpist at a game of Golem..." and he's laughing and making his way towards Taien's temple with the assumption that other two would follow.

Serene does not, in fact, follow to the Tarien temple. Very probably, either she would spontaneously combust or the temple would implode considering her absolute lack of anything resembling a sense of humour. She remains at the fountain, instead, until a short time later when the heavy beat of wings indicate her ride has arrived. Seconds later, the same beating of wings, and then she is gone into the night.

The invitation is accepted by the little Red Knight, and she follows the gnome. The Temple of Tarien may have been her destination all along.

They are simply two riders passing in the mists.

And the Maestro. It's a simile that makes more sense in the abstract.