The Temple of Divine Light

[Xenograg]

There are no coincidences. Xenograg, Amaltea, Teleperien, and Alais have not been together since the night Shakira was destroyed. Alais interrupted her long period of seclusion to aid Xenograg then but returned immediately after. That period is over now, and she is reopening I'Taurn House and dueling again. Dojo Darelir is partially open again, and Xenograg is out of retirement. The meeting this night is not planned; it is seized upon all the more. Four friends and allies enjoying these days of peace.

That peace is about to be disturbed. A young woman hesitantly approaches the table and moves as if to touch Xenograg.

"I am sorry. I never would have thought to see you in here..."

"Indeed? I am an active Baron, out of retirement." He smiles at the woman to ease her mind.

"I would have thought you to be vanquishing other evils. Of course, that's what most people say you do."

"My reputation has grown in the telling, lady."

"Excuse me," interrupts Amaltea. "But you are...?" The woman glances at Amaltea and completely ignores her question.

"Yes, but you are Xenograg The Liberator! There is a giant painting of you in the temple!" The smile fades from Xenograg's face.

"Painting?" mutters Amaltea.

"What temple?" asks Xenograg.

"The Temple of Divine Light. You are praised and looked up to for ridding this city of Shakira. Did you not know that?" Alais returns to the table after a duel just in time to hear this. Her shock now matches that of the other three.

"I...do now," is all he can say. He takes a drink from his goblet solely to collect his thoughts. Xenograg now looks and recognizes the robes the woman wears. He has seen them before on another woman. That fact sends a chill down the sorcerer's spine. Setting is goblet down again, he rebuts the woman's statement.

"I did not do it for praise or admiration."

"But you still receive such. Rhydin would not be standing if it weren't for you." She then glances at the clock. "I'm afraid I must be off."

"No need to apologize. I will not keep you." Xenograg is silently glad he does not have to fabricate a reason to end this awkward conversation. The woman has not left yet, though.

"You should see the Temple. You would be treated well there. Your presence would be a blessing to us all. The White Lady would be pleased."

"Who is the White Lady?" asks Amaltea. The woman's reply is to Xenograg, though.

"She guides us. She is the Protector, just as you are the Liberator. It is late. I will see you there?"

"Perhaps," is all he gives. The woman accepts that with a bow of her head and withdraws. Xenograg looks to his friends.

"Just when everything was going perfectly," he bemoans.

"They have a painting of you!" blurts Amaltea.

"Did you recognize the robes?" Amaltea ponders the question for a moment before realizing she has, and where.

This fortuitous get-together has become a planning session. Xenograg explains to Alais that the robes worn by the woman match that previously worn by Lily, Shakira's 'daughter'. They all agree someone needs to visit this Temple of Divine Light to gather more information. Xenograg cannot go for obvious reasons. It is now late and the decision need not be tonight. The four depart the Arena.

[Slothy]

One hears all sorts of things from a comfortable rafter.

Murmured conversations float clearly up in the otherwise smoke-heavy air, and private whispers echo with amazing precision in a room where they would otherwise remain secret. I don't really listen in, especially when it's my friends having a quiet drink below, but supressing a chuckle at the look on Xenogargle's face after the young lady left was difficult. I snickered to myself, all the way back to the office.

Waving to the elderly lawyer behind the counter at Woo, Fong and Wohjahowitcz on the way in, I was still in mid chuckle. >>WHAM<< >>>SNAP<< >>Someone call ConEd!<< a lightbulb lit up over my head. I had to see this painitng for myself. Any loonie cult that actually had Xeno as part of their daily worship should be viewed with extreme caution, but maybe I could let him know what he's missing, just for kicks. I've *seen* Big Trouble in Little China a gazillion times. I knew I'd have to be cautious on this one.

I headed downstairs to get a few supplies before heading out. I have to admit, I was still chuckling maniacally.


Grandma Fong went back to reading her betting forms.

[Alais d Nitesong]

The conversation had been very strange.

"Temple 'o d'vine light.... Ah haff neffer 'eard o' such...."

The woman was clearly besotted with this new temple's teachings. There were too many questions about this sudden rise of a temple that nearly deified Xeno.

[QueenTeleperien]

"The Great Liberator? Of the Divine Temple of Light?"

Teleperien asks with a little suprise in her voice. She has to fight to keep from smiling.

"I though you were Eldicor's Liberator." She gently teases.

So plans were laid by Alais, Amaltea and Tele for the erection of a tower for Xenograg.

"Big windows." Tele tells Amaltea as she scribbles ideas down while Xenograg sits and watchs this with a bit of a smirk on his face.

The bantering continues as the tower becomes more elaborate. Tele would not say it then, but she was concerned.. very concerned.

[Alais d Nitesong]

The trio had joked about Xeno's tower, making all sorts of extravagant plans for the erection of such a monument to his reputation, and enjoyed the pained expressions they received for their teasing.

But, the concept that someone has already begun to hold him in high enough regard to have his portrait enshrined in a temple remained a worrying thought. One that was going to need investigation.

[Seraphina Corazon]

Seraphina had been disturbed by the interest many people seemed to have taken in her as of late. It seemed she just couldn't understand the issue with being openly grateful. And her little run in with the one they called Anubis certainly didn't comfort her at all.

Crestfallen that she missed her friend Alia at the Temple, she made it a point to make it up to the woman. She was happy that Alia enjoyed her visit and was hopeful that it might soon lead to a new member. Maybe she would be able to convince the woman into further consideration with a gift...

[Alia Anor Graham]

Twilight Isle is a wonderful place for a sorceress. The perfect place to practice casting against others with magical powers was a strong enticement, and Alia Anor vowed to spend more time there among other magic users. The additional benefit was that she'd run into her friend Seraphina again. That had been a most fortuitous event. They'd had fun talking again, and making arrangements for Alia Anor to get a better, more thorough introductions to the Temple of Light.

Seraphina had surprised Alia Anor with the gift of a necklace that suspended a pendant with the "Eye" from the Temple. The symbol worn also on the sleeves over her friend's robes.

Alia Anor was pleased with this beautiful gift, and Seraphina helped her don the necklace. It settled around Alia Anor's neck like it belonged there.

Alia Anor had also been very surprised to meet an old friend of her mother's - Brigath. She had lost her match to the older Mage, but it had been a lot of fun to meet someone who actually knew her mother.

She'd also met a man named Sylus, whom she'd seen and dueled with previously, but he shocked her the most when he told her he'd actually BEEN to I' Taurn.

"But, mother hasn't taken or invited anyone to the house since father's death!"

Sylus simply smiled an enigmatic smile. But there was no denying he'd been there, as he'd met the dogs, and spoke of the extensive library at the house. This was very strange, and Alia Anor decided it was time to return to her hotel room at the Golden Ivy to ponder Sylus' place in the scheme of things.

[Sylus Kurgen]

When visiting the Isle of Twilight and even dueling there, suprises are always aplenty. Sylus had gone the the Isle in hopes of spending a quiet evening among his friends and peers......how he was suprised at the nights events.

The first suprise came from the man called Gork, before Sylus even sat down he was called out by Gork to duel. Never one to decline a challenge Sy accepted. He lost of course but wether from lack of will of dueling a skilled opponent he still does not know.

The second suprise came from young Dimitri, who decided to start a snowball fight in the middle of the Isle. Many of the duelist actually participated, Sylus included. The snowball free-for-all was short-lived though when the caller was knocked off of his chair by an errant snowball.

The final suprise of the night came in the form of a young woman..Alia Anor was her name. Sylus had met her before and even dueled her a few times, but was still slightly shocked when he learned that she was the daughter of Lady Alais.

While talking with the young woman and a newly made friend, Brigath, he learned that she had visited the Temple of Light. He knew that such knowledge would not sit well with The Lady Alais, as she did not trust the priestess Seraphina Corazon nor her alleged gratefulness towards General Xenograg.....Sylus still reserves his judgement towards the priestess.

After an unusually tough duel against Seraphina, which ended in a tie, which he did not mind so much, a tie is better than a loss by his thinking, he returned to the small group he had been talking with to find Alia had left. He knew she was intrigued and wary of how he fit into the growing drama of wether or not the Temple of Light could be trusted. He let her be for now, knowing that if he had to speak with her he could always encounter her in the arena or if he could not wait his network of eyes and ears all over Rhydin could locate her in record time.

Lady Alais made an appearance on the Isle that night as well. The assasin spent several hours conversing with Alais, sitting beside the fair elf maiden. The subject of their talks seemd to always circulate back to Seraphina. Sylus knew of her misgivingss but told her to just relax for now

"Just let her be, Alais, she means nothing........She means nobody any harm."

Never one to overstep his bounds he let Alais have her judgements but feeling a situation was developeing he suggested they leave for the night. Getting to his feet and taking Lady Alais's hand he led her to a nearby shadow and escorted her home, using the pathways of darkness.
They both had many things to ponder that night. Pinnacle of which was wether or not Seraphina Corazon had ill will and intent towards the queen and Xenograg.

[Dimitri]

Dimitri walked straight ahead his head bent down looking at small card. He looks up and looks at the Temple. "Ahh The Temple of Divine Light." He looks around walks toward the Temple.

He walks in the Temple and looks a Priests and Priestess mulling about. "uhh can" he tries to ask one of the Priest. He tries again "Uh where is the library?" a passing Priestess just points. He heads in the Direction that she pointed in and opens the door.

He walks in and looks at all the Shelves of books. Starts to mumble to himself. "So where do I start here" He walks toward a shelf and grabs a few books and brings them to a vacant table. He pulls a scroll and a pencil out and sits down. He cracks open a book and begins to read. Every few seconds he jots down some notes.

He rubs his eyes and looks at the book again. He looks at all his notes over three pages. He looks at one of the Priest "Sir how long have you been here?" The priest doesn't turn around but answers, "Since the Beginning" the priest leaves after that. He stands up puts his notes away. Puts the book away and walks out. He dissappears in the distance.

[Alia Anor Graham]

Alia Anor had been escorted into Eldicor, she'd been taken to see Xenograg. Their meeting had been all business, and he'd admonished her regarding the risks they may all be taking by poking around this new Temple. It was the unknown factor that they needed to assure precautions were in place to prevent unneccessary losses.

The necklace Seraphina had given her had never come off, and she wore it still during this meeting beneath her tunic. Xeno's words seemed overly harsh, and she wondered if he was being unfair to the Temple and it's converts. After all, she'd been there three times, and no ill had befallen her!

[Alia Anor Graham]

Xenograg had come to the Annex the night after my meeting in his office in Eldicor. Where he'd been rather gruff during our meeting there, tonight he was congenial, and even apologized for being what I have always known and expected him to be.... gruff, unyielding. But, here he was tonight, very accomodating, and we sat together watching the matches in play.

We spoke in low tones about the Temple. Xeno was surprised to learn that I had been there a total of three times already. I had seen the painting of "Xenograg the Liberator", and been in the public portion of the Temple's libraries. He asked about writings, symbols or sacramental accoutrements in the room devoted to his painting. He asked me to go again and look closely for any details surrounding his addulation. But, he further cautioned me that if I kept showing up at the Temple, sooner or later I would be invited to become an initiate, and learn more about the deeper mysteries associated with the Temple. While Xenograg seemed concerned by this possibility, I felt his words were overly cautious. The Temple members have been naught but unfailingly kind to me thusfar.

I did try to talk to Xeno about mother's friend Sylus, but he was reluctant to discuss the man. It almost seemed as though Xeno thought it was a good thing that my mother have friends, and maybe something more. Quite frankly, I do not like it at all. My mother would live for centuries, and Sylus probably would not. It would be just like father; more heart break and pain when he dies all over again. Elves should not live in such pain.

A voice inside me keeps telling me how wrong this is for mother to see someone not of our own kind. Someone of the Eldarie should be at her side.

It seemed the night for voices in her thoughts as a telepathic challenge came from a woman who overheard her objections to Xenograg about Sylus and her mother. The woman was slightly haughty and most definitely arrogant, but there did not seem to be any threat, and so we verbally sparred about the idea of maintaining a pure blood line as opposed to the taking of shorter lived creatures as consorts.

The evening was interupted when a blond man, who looked awfully familiar made his way over to speak with Xeno. I could not place him, but it nags me still that he looked so strikingly familiar. He had made a point of talking quietly and what ever he'd said definately upset Xenograg. Xeno handed him a card with the location and number for the Dojo Darelir and invited Artemus to come there to discuss whatever had upset the General. What ever it was, it did NOT sit well with Xeno.

It grew late, and Eldicor called, but so did the Temple. I bid Xeno a good night and set off toward the Temple for a late night visit. A nagging voice kept telling me how wrong a non-Eldarie was for mother followed me all the way to the Temple doors.

[Legendazona]

It's wrong you know. Eldarie consorting with lesser beings.

Heartbreak.


Pain.


Suffering.


That is all that can come from it.

It's wrong. It must be stopped at all costs. For the good of everyone.

[Alia Anor Graham]

Seraphina and I had spoken at length as we watched the duels on Twilight Isle. She'd been surprised to learn that I knew Xenograg The Liberator, so I explained to her that Xeno had been the administrator after father's death while mother was away in Riverbend with Morrin. Xeno has taught both my brother and I how to fight, as well as how to administer Nitesong.

She said she'd wished for that kind of luck, but I told her it would have been better to have had mother there. Perhaps Telemachus and I are better fighters, or more independent this way, but having a real parent would have been better, well, maybe nicer is more to the point.

Seraphina then asked me if I could introduce her more formally to Xeno. She felt a lot of the problems people around RhyDin were having with her were due to her inauspicious introductions in the Arena several weeks ago. I found that amusing since I'm certain I have done far worse to Xeno than Seraphina could have done, and I relayed the time I'd thrown horse feed all over him rather than using magic or a blade in self defense during a lesson in combat skills. We made arrangements to go together to the Dojo the next morning. I had offered to set up the introduction, and let her know when we could meet him, but she wanted to come along on the chance that we might catch Xeno at the Dojo.

I had stopped at the temple the evening before on the way home to look again at the room where Xeno's portrait hung, but it was closed during my late night foray. I would go back during the daylight hours when I picked up Seraphina for our trip to the Dojo.

While we were watching some of the matches, a new duelist showed up. Now, I have met some pretty rude and crude folk in my life, but this guy was unlike anything I'd yet run into . Vanion Shadowcast he called himself. He was the meanest entity I've met. Somehow he has Dimitri in stark terror of him, and there is a tie of some form to Vanion by means of a flute. When Vanion pulled the flute from his garments, Dimitri became docile and in abject terror of the man and his threats.

Vanion didn't like the fact that I was cheering for Dimitri, and so I cheered more, but then he began to abuse Dimitri even further. I could not stand to see such cruelty!

The big surprise of the evening came when the familiar blond man showed up again. The one who'd spoken to Xeno earlier, and whose words had upset the General. The surprise being that he's the twin brother of Sylus Kurgen! That explains why he looked so familiar! Artemus joined me in harassing Vanion, and even dueled with Vanion. The cur demanded that I get into the ring with him, but I could not see foresaking a pleasant discussion with Seraphina in favor of a match with that odious creature Vanion. His disregard for others may warrant a match in the future however.

I did not return to Eldicor, but rather went back to the Golden Ivy. Artemus kindly saw me to the lobby, and I checked into the hotel once more. This has become the most centralized place for my time in RhyDin.

[Artemus Kurgen]

I often wonder, how can it be that the gods have allowed a whelp like Vanion Shadowcast to live and gain any semblance to power? He gained control over young, Dimitri through the treachery of a Gais, linking the spell to Dimitri's prized flute.

By all the things holy and good in this world, it felt great to pound that pompous windbag into submission at the Isle of Twilight. Then I and Alia Anor...who I was shocked to learn was the daughter of Sylus's lady love....small nexus huh?.. spent the night in pleasant conversation. As the night wore on, the young priestess...Sarephena Corazon made an appearace upon the isle. I sat through her talk with Alia in quiet contemplation. Sy had warned me not to trust the priestess too much, but something was nagging at me that I could....I will trust my brothers' intuition for now....Gods help me later.

Being the young woman that she is, Alia allowed herself to become drunk. Serves her right for downing a whole bottle of tequila by herself. The laps in judgement caused me to have to excort her to her current place of residence, The Golden Ivy. I knew where it was, since I walked by it every morning on my way to the Adventurer's Guild.

The night went as any other, besides the small matter of his link with Sy awakening. Artemus knew that his brother had been contacted by that spirit, Legendazona. THis didn't bother him so much...what DID bother him was the fact that everyone thought Sy andhimself were twins. He was willing to admit the resemblance was striking but the fact remained that Sylus was two years older than himself.

[Alia Anor Graham]

After Seraphina and I had made arrangements to meet and stop by the Dojo, I decided to return to the Golden Ivy. The walk to the Inn was uneventful, but the more I think about it, the more it seems to me that mother is making the same mistake she'd made with father. Elves should be with Elves. Our lives are longer, and thus longer happiness can be found. It's so logical, I don't understand why mother cannot see this reality.

That creature Vanion is causing all sorts of trouble, and tonight I succumbed to his taunting and entered the ring with him. I can't imagine why I thought he'd give me a fair fight! He used images of horrific torment, torture, and deaths of hundreds of people he'd slain to beat my mind and soul. He showed me his plans for Dimitri, torment and pain the only goal in his mind as he plans to kill Dimitri as slowly and as painfully as he possibly can. The visions were graphic and brutal beyond imagining, and Vanion thrust them into my brain during an unprotected moment. Once he had succeeded in getting into my head, I could not force him out. From there, I could not focus on my spells, and he handily came back from deficit to beat me. If Artemus and Dimitri had not been there to pull me from the arctic blast, I would have frozen to death. Vanion deliberately kept feeding power into the spell to cause agony and paralysis. He is an abomination.

I feel great sympathies for Dimitri, though I cannot tell him so. He risked himself to rescue me, even though he's been tormented and even bitten by that loathsome creature Vanion. I vow to try to keep Vanion from hurting Dimitri any further!

Artemus was also there, and if he is anything like his brother, I understand why mother likes Sylus. Artemus took great care to see me revivied and warmed, going so far as to see me once again safely to the Golden Ivy Inn. But, nice as Artemus is, his brother should not be seeing mother as anything more than a friend. It's not right.

::a frown appears as she studies her reflection in the mirror::