Sisters of Light Hospice

[Brother Zed]

Brother Zed strode quietly through the construction site, observing the progress that Sister Alia had made. Occasionally he paused to peer more intently at a wall, or a feature of the building then gestured to the aide that followed behind him and made a comment to be recorded.

He took his time with the tour, and it was well into evening before he finished. The sun was setting out across the sea to the west, casting brilliant colors into the sky. As the waters swallowed up the light, the brother turned back to his aide.

"Time we return ourselves to the Temple. I must have Sister Naomi review the notes and prepare them for Sister Alia." The acolyte nodded quickly and fell into place behind Brother Zed.

Zed began the journey back to the Temple while composing his thoughts. A pair of guard fell in unobtrusively behind them, keeping a respectful distance, but near enough to come at call. They were vigilant in watching the side streets and alleys for suspicious characters, but their trip was uneventful.

When they arrived back at the Temple, Zed returned to his quarters and dismissed the guards. After instructing the acolyte, he took a place at his table and penned a note for Sister Alia.

Sister Alia,

I am well pleased with the progress you have made with the Hospice's construction. I am confident that the White Lady sees and smiles upon your efforts thus far.

Please continue with the construction with all due haste. I would like to see the Hospice begin caring for the sick and elderly of the city before summer's end.

I request that you begin assembling your thoughts as to how to go about staffing the hospice so as to be ready for that time.

I shall instruct Sister Naomi to provide you with whatever monetary resources will be needed to staff the new facility.

I look forward to my next tour of the grounds, but should the White Lady call me away please escort Sister Naomi in my stead.

May the White Lady protect and guide you,
Brother Zed

[Alia Anor Graham]

The white robed woman watched as Brother Zed did his inspection of her work. She'd waited for this day, all the work she and Dimitri had done to get the Hospice built would be for naught if it did not pass his inspection and gain a favorable report.

It was nearly dark when Brother Zed and the acolyt departed. The sky was lit up in streaks of red and orange as the darkness overtook the light.

Running back to the Temple, she waited for news of the review.

When it came, she read the missive several times before hugging herself with glee. He'd liked it!

She needed to begin staffing the hospice, and she knew right away who she wanted, Seraphina! The woman had been silent for a long while, and she missed her friend.

Walking down toward her room, she knocked, hoping to catch her. They had approval to commence staffing and planning to open the hospice!

[Alia Anor Graham]

After speaking with Seraphina, I continued to make my rounds talking to some of the sisters and brothers that I thought would make the best staff for the Hospice.

Returning to my rooms, I prepared the proposed list for Brother Zed.

Administrator: Alia Anor Graham
Assistant Administrator: Seraphina Corazon and Dimitri Locherin
Secretary: Sister Tanya

Head Nurse: Sister Rosemerta

Maintenance Chief: Brother Terrence

Chef in Residence: Brother Damien

Housekeeping: Sister Grace

Finances required for start up include (Rhydinian silver):

Bedding for the rooms, 2300.00
Food to stock kitchens, 800.00
Cleaning supplies, 430.00
Leaflets to announce opening 176.00
Celebration supplies 1100.00
Misc. consumable goods 540.00
Furniture for lobby 17,000.00
Office supplies 835.00

[Shadow]

It was the night before the Christmas and all through the house...


The shadowy figure chuckled to herself. The grand opening of the hospice was tomorrow, and she was determined to see it failed. The Temple had taken away her best friend, and many other people from her. It was time to make them pay. Pulling out various spray cans she painted obscenities over the front wall. On the sides were crude pictures and on the back door she wrote in bold red letters...

"THE WHITE LADY SHALL PAY"

Throwing an empty spray can up and down the woman wondered what she should do next. Graffiti could be covered; smashed windows would have to be replaced. Chucking the bottle towards the window the shadow grinned when the resounding crash woke up the neighborhood. Almost all the windows were broken, but people had heard. Sisters and Brothers of the temple rushed to find out what could be causing such a commotion. The woman ran away for cover, but mistakenly passed through a light fixture.

Witnesses later claimed the woman to have vibrant red hair, 5'7 in height, and dressed in black leather.

More specifically,

Anne Ellis Xile

[Alia Anor Graham]

The Hospice had been ready for the public grand opening until the night before when chaos broke loos. Someone had come and vandalized the structure, spray painting the stone, breaking windows, and leaving a threatening message.

The woman that had been seen leaving the scene was identified as the same wanted woman identified as Anne Ellis Xile.

When I told Dimitri that the vandal is kown, her name grabbed the attention of Artemus Kurgen. Why he took such an interest I cannot say.

I took the donation from Queen Teleperien to Brother Zed, explaining that she'd made the donation for the clean up of the vandalism.

Dimitri and Vincent came to help with the clean up, and I am grateful to them for their help at this last minute. We would not have been ready for the Grand Opening without both of them.

[Vinny]

He had visited the hospice several times since it's opening, and each time became more sure of the fact that Alia had done a wonderful job. But now, someone audacious enough had desecrated sister Alia's masterpiece. Vincent had serached the surrounding areas once he arrived on the scene after the incident, gathering as much info as he could on the perpetrator.

"So Anne...you too stab me in the back...." he muttered as he put together all the eyewitness reports. He was afraid that she'd put him in this position. On one hand, she was a good friend of his. On the other, she was making herself an enemy of the temple.

He walked back over to the graffiti, waving his hands over it and returning it to its original state. Then he picked up all the shards of glass and one by one reconstructed the windows. After about an hour, it was done, and almost everything was taken care of. He went inside and penned a note for Alia.

Alia, I've cleaned up the mess the vandal caused. Feel free to ask me for anything else I can help with. In the meantime, I'm going to track down whoever did this and bring them back so that they can pay restitutions. Good luck with your work, and the White Lady willing, I'll be back soon.

Brother Vincent

[Alia Anor Graham]

She'd spoken with Dimitri, and he's agreed to help long term with the hospice, so that night, she penned a missive to Brother Zed regarding the staff proposal for the Hospice.:

Please add to the staff as a second assistant administrator Dimitri Locherin, since the Hospice must run 24/7, we will need another assistant administrator.

With Respects,

Alia Anor Graham

[Alia Anor Graham]

The Grand Opening of the Sisters of Divine Light Hospice would go off on time, thanks to Dimitri and Brother Vincent. They were able to remove the graffiti, and repair the broken windows much faster than I had anticipated, and I made arrangements with the catering service to have the food and refreshments delivered. The newspapers have been invited for the ribbon cutting ceremony, as well as all of the politicians and major personages of RhyDin. As well, I have commissioned a painting of the hospice from the new artist in town, Ariel. It will hang above the fireplace in the common room.

We are ready. There are 30 rooms to care for the dying, and a staff well prepared to aid these people along on the journey ahead of them.

[Alia Anor Graham]

It was late by the time I'd finished preparations for the Grand Opening, but I thought I would stop by the arena, perhaps see Dimitri. As I waked through the door, Vanion summoned me for a duel. It was compulsory that I accept his command.

At the conclusion of your duel, he gave me a message for the Temple.

"If your guard captain believes your lives are his to throw away - then I will make sure your deaths are slow and painful for this foolishness."

I gaze up at him from the sand, "Deliver your own message Vanion."

He shrugged, "Consider it delivered. If you deign not to tell your fellow cultists, then they will be all the more surprised when I tear them apart."

I rose to my feet, "you are a coward if you will not deliver it yourself."

"I just delivered it, you mutant." he sneered.

"I am not your messenger!"

He slowly turned, slipped his hood off his shoulderes, and I took a horrified step back. "Look at me girl. My dark elven features, once beautiful and blessed by the sun. My pale eyes, once golden in honor of the Gods. Look at me, and know what the last visage you wil ever see before your death his to be. Make no mistake, I WILL be your murderer before all is said and done. Study this face, and remember it in your dreams."

I backed away to the ropes, reaching for my pendant, "You will not be my death."

"Go, deliver my message, or be responsible for your fellow cultists unwarned deaths. Give them a fighting chance against me."

I left the arena and headed straight for Brother Zed. He needs to know.

[Brother Zed]

"If your guard captain believes your lives are his to throw away - then I will make sure your deaths are slow and painful for this foolishness..."

Brother Zed repeated the words aloud, puzzled as to their meaning.

The elderly priest rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Why does this man think that Brother Osberic wishes to throw away the lives of Her children?" He turned his gaze back to Alia where she stood after giving her report. "Was the man drunk? Deranged perhaps?"

The priest moved to his table and drafted a short note which he handed to Sister Naomi. "Please carry this to Brother Osberic and see that he is made aware of the threat."

Zed considered for a time and then composed another note. This one he handed to Alia. "Sister, please deliver this to Brother Vincent. I do not place undue weight upon this threat to your life, however it would be wise to ask Brother Vincent to assist in ensuring your protection. As Knight-Magus he can provide assistance that the regular guard cannot...as much as Osberic might believe otherwise."

Before Alia could offer any protest, Zed continued. "Please accept this protection as the will of the White Lady. She would be very displeased if harm were to come to one of her Accepted when it was within our power to prevent it."

Zed's gazed at her intently, and then he smiled reassuringly at her. "The White Lady has great plans for you, Sister Alia."

"Go now and see Brother Vincent."

[Alia Anor Graham]

Brother Zed was puzzled by Vanion's threats, but I believe the dark elf would attempt to make good on them. As he handed me the letter for Brother Vincent, with instructions I do not know closed inside, he surprised me, "The White Lady has great plans for you, Sister Alia."

I humbly bowed, for to be chosen by the White Lady for any reason is a great honor. I backed out of Brother Zed's office and turned for Brother Vincents, leaving the missive with him before heading to the Arena.

There, I found Dimitri, engaged in an argument with Vanion. Does that monster never leave him alone? What brought him from whatever hole he's been hiding in back to the streets of RhyDin?

As I walked in the door, Vanion appeared behind the Queen, covering her face with a cloth, and her eyes closed and she went limp in his grasp.

Dimitri ran at him, "Let her go!" He dove at Vanion, but missed and the vile creature disappeared with the Elven Queen despite my containment spell.

Dimitri faded into shadow, passing right through me, and then heading for the bar, where he lowered his head to it, and banged his forehead against the bar several times.

I approached Dimitri, trying to get him to talk to me, but he was lost in his own thoughts, and to my horror, reached for a dagger and stabbed himself several times in the stomach. His blood began to drip onto the floor. He was losing blood fast, and as my efforts to get him to stop failed, I resolved to bring him to the Temple. We would not find the Queen this night, but his actions were making no sense.

I slid the dagger into my robes, wrapped my arms around him, urging himto come with me to the Temple. He protested that he was fine, but he was not, I summoned what healing power I have, my hand warming as I rested it over his own. His blood stained my fingers and the sleeves of my robes as he continued to bleed, and I knew I needed the healers from the Temple to get this stopped. As he leaned against me at last, I rose with him and headed for the Temple. Laying him upon my bed, I sent for the healers....

[Ariel Datrazanov]

The messenger stood at the reception desk of the Hospice, his missive was addressed to the Sisters of Divine Light Hospice, attention Sister Alia Anor, Sister Seraphina, or Dimitri Locherin.

"The painting you commissioned for your grand opening is completed, and I would appreciate your review prior to delivery in case there is anything you would like to see modified.

Shop hours are from 9:00 AM until 6:00PM Monday through Friday. Special hours are by appointment only.

Please advise when you would like to review the work.

Best Regards,

Ariel Datrazanov"

[Alia Anor Graham]

I sat at the desk reviewing the last minute preparations for the Grand Opening. I've arranged with a few locals to bring their dying loved ones here so we would have residents for the guests to speak with, and at this point, we are ready to begin taking in the dying and easing their passing from this world into the next.

The message was brought in, and I smiled. Ariel had come well recommended, and it seems she was ready to show me the painting.

Pulling my hood up, I headed down to her gallery to review it.



She has done a wonderful job, and I am most pleased. I have asked her to deliver it on the morrow, and Sunday we will open to the public. I hope to have the beds filled by the end of the month.

I penned a missive to Brother Zed.....

"Brother Zed,

The Hospice has now obtained 5 dying souls for the open house, it is my intention to have their families here to attest to the quality of care we will provide in their hours of sadness and waiting. We have 25 empty rooms, but I am confident we will have them filled by the end of the month.

Brother Vincent was most helpful in returning the Hospice to it's pre-vandalized state. I am deeply grateful for his assistance.

The painting from Ariel's Emporium is lovely. I do hope you will be able to attend on Sunday as we officially open our doors to serve RhyDin.

Sister Alia Anor"

[Vinny]

Vinny quietly led Michelle into the hospice, looking around for Alia and Seraphina. Not finding them, he led Michelle to an empty bed and sat her down, being as gentle as possible. "I know that you would like to join us, but first we need to fix whatever's wrong with you. The best people in all of Rhydin are here. I'm sure someone will be able to help you. Besides, I'll be around."

He smiled and stepped back. "I just need to find Sister Alia or Sister Seraphina to let them know that you're here."

He walked through the hospice, taking the time to visit with some of the people who were already there. A helping hand and a smiling face were always appreciated. Still not running into them, he penned a note and gave it to one of this sisters to be given to Alia when she should be seen.

"Sister Alia, I've brought here a young lady who seems to have some undiagnosed malady that no doctor can seem to figure out. I'm afraid that she may not last too much longer if a cure is not found. I make myself available to you and your staff whenever you should need me while I work with her. I just hope that the White Lady guides my way to what I hope to accomplish. If it is at all possible to give to those in their final hours a chance to live again, I swear to find it.

Sincerely,
Brother Vincent

[Alia Anor Graham]

I returned to hear that Vincent had brought a young woman to the hospice. Her name was Michelle, and he felt she would perish if her malady could not be remedied.

I sent the Nursing manager to meet with the lass, but diagnosis is not the function of our hospice. Our hospice is for those who are confirmed to be dying. Michelle would need a place of healing rather than a place of dying, especially if Brother Vincent could find a way to give her a chance to live again.

The Open House was a success, and I will take 2 days to spend in the Temple. I have neglected my duties there, and must make amends to the White Lady for my absence.