Two Deausites and a Elunan

The cleanup of the Temple District after yesterday's adventurer-wrought mishap has begun, and those injured have been seen to by either the Hearthguards or the Mourners, as appropriate. However, work was stopped in the middle of the day when the skies positively -opened up-, drenching workers and residents alike and sending everyone scurrying for cover. Dusk was less a sunset than a darkening of the sky from gray to black. Still, the rain has not let up, a howling wind coming down out of the mountains only making matters worse and sweeping the icy chill down onto the city.

The air around the Temple District suddenly shimmers. Twists a little, and a pair of figures pop into being. It's the ginger-blonde man in armor, and the blue sith-makar Sunguard from yesterday evening.

"Agh!" the ginger-blonde man cries out as howling wind and icy rain lash him square in the face. "A storm!"

So much for relaxation.

Zeke huddles against the stormy weather initially, as surprised by it as Seldan is. The blue-scaled sith-makar glances around and huffs a little laugh. "It ssseemsss that the laughing god isss having at usss Ssseldan." He seems in good cheer in spite of the weather and recent events, or at least somewhat relaxed. He pats the other man on the shoulder and unhunches himself.

The sudden storm fit Gaerth's mood. He had been part of the misadventure last night. A man had died; not necessarily because Gaeerth had failed, but because he wasn't ready. Even though he was ganing a reputation among the Dawnblades for a certain level of Stoicism, the young paladin seemed to carry an especially heavy weight today as he assisted in the clean-up efforts. He performed his work in silence, unless spoken to directly. And when the skies opened up and the downpour began, Gaerth stayed to the last, helping secure and cover stalls an work material, before joining others in finding shelter.

"So he is." Once the initial shock of being lashed in the face with a wall of icy rain is past, Seldan, too, seems to find the humor in it, pulling the hood of his traveler's cloak up over his head. In this weather, though, it does not seem to do much good, promptly blowing off and leaving him exposed once more. "Would that I could even claim that an unusual circumstance, no?" Ice-blue eyes hold rueful laughter. "Come, let us seek shelter." The voice has a definite Myrrish lilt to it, and the astute ear could place the accent as that of the Kingdom of the Lion.

Zeke nods to that, no more eager to stay in the cold, unpleasant weather than is Seldan. He motions toward the temple of Eluna rather than try to talk over the dull roar of wind, and takes off at his slow ambling pace toward the building. He might not move quickly, but he moves relentlessly. Even in the darkness his crystal limbs are quite notable, his left leg and arm being both made of the shimmering material. They stand out against his dark blue scales.

It's he that notices Gaerth taking shelter, nodding politely to the man. "Peassce on your nessst." He offers, words arched to speak over the gusting, but not quite yelling. He has no desire to be heard inside the temple itself and disturb its occupants within.

At the sound of the Myrrish accent, Gaerth turns to face Seldan, actually allowing himself to smile at hearing a bit of familiarity from home. Then, the Sith greets him, and the youth bows to the blue-scaled follower of Daeus. "Peace upon your nest, brother," he replies; his own white tabard and symbol of Daeus marking him as a Dawnblade. He approaches the pair, still smiling a bit."A fellow immigrant from the Lion Kingdom, unless my ears deceive me." He gives Seldan a bow before introducing himself to both men. "Gaerth Colwynn, Dawnblade. Formally of Bryn Myridorn." Those familiar with the capital city of the High Kingdom might recognize the familial name.

"Even so?" The familiar accent visibly brightens Seldan's expression, and he turns more fully to face the newcomer. "Colwynn? You must be acquainted with the Skyguard, then. Seldan Padaryn, also of Bryn Myridorn, and servant of the Dreamer. Come, let us seek shelter. The back way, I think, for the Seers will not thank us to get the marble wet." He refers to the Myrrish name for Eluna in his speech, with a smile.

Padaryn. For a resident of Bryn Myridorn, a Padaryn in service to any deity other than Daeus is a weird thing, and yet this one seems to think nothing of it. He gestures towards one of the side entrances to the Temple of Eluna, starting in that direction.

If that is acceptable to all, they will shortly find themselves in a side alcove, blessedly out of the weather. Seldan's touch appears to open the door readily enough, and he ushers the others inside, slicking drenched hair out of his eyes. "I ... saw you yestereven amid the chaos caused by the dragon, did I not?" he asks suddenly.

Zeke follows in the wake of everyone, and seems glad enough of the shelter once they are inside. He knows little of the softskin lands or their ways, but that Seldan recognizes the other mans name means something to him and he gives Gaerth a second look-over with interest. Particularly when the man is identified as someone having something to do with the commotion that happened just the other night. "Isss thisss sso?" He murmurs, quietly so as to not interrupt, but still loudly enough to be heard. "Thisss one issss called Zeke, thisss one wassss the one that asssked for the man who died to be brought to the temple of the Dragonfather."

Gaerth join the others in seeking shelter. "Well, we both hail from good families," Gaerth says with a chuckle. "Yes, I was actually training to join the Skyguard when I was brought into the service of Daeus." He smiles warmly. "But I hear that my sister is performing admirably as a Skyguard, in my stead."

The smile disappears as Zeke brings up the events of last night, the weight partially returning to his posture. "I was part of the group that was to escort the man," he says quietly. Gaerth hugs himself to ward off a chill that has nothing to do with the storm outside. "There was nothing we could do," he says flatly. "Daeus granted me vision to detect the demon, but it struck so quickly...." He sighs, shaking his head. "We never had a chance. Daechir went straight for the mul'nessa that was being possessed. He was dead before we could even begin the trek to the temple." He lowers he head to Zeke.

Seldan's eyes lower at that, but he nods his understanding. "No blame attaches to you for that, Sunblade," he explains, setting aside a drenched knapsack and slicking his hair back again. "The mul'niessa had given herself to the demon, and is far beyond you, especially as a demon. I had hoped that in bringing the mul to the Temple, we might have been able to protect him, but that is clear that it was not to be." He speaks gently. "I guess you new-come to Alexandria?"

Similarly Zeke looks not only saddened by Gaerth's words, but perhaps guilty as well. "Thisss one had thought that ssshe would attack the temple, or when he was handed over to the temple..." He shakes his head at his own words. Obviously he had been wrong, and that had led to a man's death. He falls to silence as Seldan asks Gaerth about how long he's been in Alexandria, his expression thoughtful, but it's clear that his thoughts are not of a pleasant, happy sort.

Gaerth is surprised that the other, more experienced men, are feeling much the same guilt and remorse as he. "The blame rests on none of us," he says. "Aside from us underestimating the perfidious nature of Evil and the creatures of the Void. The real failure would be to not learn from what happened. And I am re-focusing my effort into gaining experience and training, so that I might be better equipped to face such Evil in the future."

At this, a hint if a smile tugs at Seldan's lips, and he straightens. "Your willingness does you credit. This foe is known to me, for I have crossed swords with him, and defied him, before. The demon that owns Mistress Aya is an arch demon, a Duke of the Hells, and is not to be taken lightly. Instead, he must be thwarted, stymied, defied, and ultimately defeated, and to do so is not so simple as raising arms against him. Although you may yet be green, do you prove yourself disciplined and caring for others, you may yet be of great aid."

"Your wordsss are wisssdom Gaerth." Zeke says gently, nodding to himself. It does them little good to linger in guilt in the aftermath. What needs doing is action. "Ssseldan here, hass bid thisss one asssk that thossse who might, ssseek out the demonssss sservantsss. Ssspecifically thossse that might ssummon the demon and bring him forth from the hellss. For in their defeat he might be ssstopped from reappearing onsce and for all."

Zeke flashes his teeth. Not a smile, but a bearing of arms against their common foe. "Thisss one knowsss that all thossse who might be able and willing are needed in thisss fight, but it iss good to have one that caresss for othersss amongssst thosse number." Zeke glances toward Seldan somewhat circumspectly.

Gaerth nods to Zeke. "I am pledged to oppose Evil, however I may," he states simply. "If that is to be protecting others and seeing them to safety while more capable hands fight directly, I can accept Daeus' plan for me. However and whenever these servants of an Archdemon are to be found and purged, I will be happy to join and lend whatever aid I may. You need only ask me." He also nods to Seldan. "Either of you."

"Indeed is that most appreciated," Seldan agrees, returning the look shot his way. "You may know them by the symbol they carry. A headless pregnant woman is their symbol, a reference to this demon's consort. The demon cannot summon himself to this plane. There are people doing it for him. It is they that we must stop."

"It isss time for your eveningsssong Ssseldan." Reminds Zeke gently, not wishing his kin to miss out on the ritual that he hardly ever misses. Zeke turns his attention on Gaerth. "Thisss one mussst be returning to the temple of Daeussss, you are welcome to join thisss one for prayerssss there if you like. Thisss one hass much work there to attend to and would appreciate a helping hand."

Gaerth nods and gives Zeke a slight bow. "The life of a Dawnblade is a life in service to others," he replies with a smile. "Have a good evening, Seldan," he says, turning to the fellow Myrdian. "I looks forward to our next meeting." And to Zeke, Gaeerth begins to follow the Sith. "Lead the way..."

-End