[Icemule Temple, Meeting Hall]
The Temple Meeting Hall is an expansive space, although its ceiling barely clears six feet.  Its mithril doors open inward, swinging back to frame a promenade down the center of two banks of hand-carved benches.  Leather cushions on the benches provide a more comfortable seat atop the hard oak, and footrests add additional ease.  At the room's far wall, a raised dais holds a podium and a few imposing oak chairs with wide arms and tall backs.  You also see an ice blue taper and a pair of wide mithril doors.
Also here: Zenevieva who is sitting, Aydan who is sitting
Obvious exits: none

You say, "Allright, let's get started.  Since this is informal, folks can wander in as they will."

You smile.

You ask, "Who has a tale would like to share tonight?"

Zenevieva hesitantly says, "I was more hoping to.. listen.  At least at first."

Zenevieva smiles.

You say, "Well, I can tell a bit of tale about this."

You tap a white pearl-studded cotehardie emblazoned with the image of a golden scroll conjoined by seven circles.

Aydan says, "I suppose I could tell mine, though it is not one I'd say is very exciting or noteworthy."

You nod to Aydan.

You say, "Please tell it."

You smile at Aydan.

Aydan chuckles.

Aydan nods.

Aydan stands up.

Aydan clears his throat.

You lean forward and rest your chin in your hand, a thoughtful expression on your face.

Aydan says, "For me to say what exactly led me toward Lumnis, I'd have to go back to my grandfather."

Aydan says, "Because it is with him that the family line, at least on his side, finally diverted away from what was normal for the family."

You nod to Aydan.

Aydan says, "My grandfather and his family before him lived in the city of Idolone, which is very far to the south of here."

Aydan says, "It is a port city, and my grandfather's family made a living by sailing."

Aydan says, "His father was a sailor, his father's father was a sailor... for as long as the family's history could be recalled, the men were sailors."

You say, "Hmmm.."

You nod.

Aydan says, "My grandfather too was a sailor, but after he married, he decided to give up sailing and take up a different means of work."

Aydan says, "He led trade caravans overland instead of by sailing the seas."

Aydan says, "One day, my grandfather returned from one such run to find another male in the house that hadn't been there when he left."

You lean forward.

Zenevieva turns an inquisitive ear towards Aydan.

Aydan says, "Of course, it was something he had expected, as his wife, my grandmother, told him months before that she was with child."

Aydan says, "My grandfather did the best that he could to raise his son, my father, while still earning money from the trade caravans to support the family."

You say, "Difficult to do, I imagine."

You nod.

Aydan says, "As my father grew older, he, of course, took an interest in what my grandfather did for a living, and would always beg to go on one of the shorter trade runs."

Aydan says, "When my father was finally thirteen years of age, my grandfather gave his consent and allowed him to go with the caravan to the city of Elstreth, which is a ways east of Idolone."

Aydan says, "They were only away for a month, but they returned home afterward to discover tragedy had struck soon after they left."

Aydan says, "My grandmother had been growing ill for some time now, but had hidden this from them."

Aydan says, "My grandfather, upon hearing this, decided there was nothing left in Idolone for them to return to, so he took my father northward to the city of Phannus."

Aydan says, "From there, he was hired by a trade organization to arrange for caravans that travelled into the nearby Sea of Fire to trade with the Tehir."

Aydan says, "Although he did join a caravan every now and then after moving to Phannus, it was a rare occurance and he was content to merely arrange them instead of lead them."

You lean forward and rest your chin in your hand, a thoughtful expression on your face.

Aydan says, "Meanwhile, my father was constantly around many of the caravan guards, and they took him under his wing."

Aydan says, "They taught him the ways of survival in harsh conditions, how to hunt for food, how to preserve the pelts of animals, and most of all, earn money while doing it."

Aydan chuckles.

You grin.

Aydan says, "It wasn't long before my father was as skilled a huntsman as many of the caravan leaders."

Aydan says, "Though, instead of leading caravans, he chose to turn his skills toward trapping."

You nod.

Aydan says, "By the age of seventeen he was making six hunting expeditions to the northeast a year and was returning with quite a profit each time."

Aydan says, "Many were taking notice of this, though there was one woman who knew nothing of him."

Aydan says, "While I won't go into the specifics of how they first met, as it was a bit.. embarrassing for them, he fell in love with that woman and later married her."

You nod.

Aydan says, "After a few years, they had two sons."

Aydan says, "They managed to live comfortably, as my father was always able to bring in enough money to support the family, but one year a series of events happened that cut things asunder."

Aydan says, "A late snowfall and freeze during the spring, a rockslide that blocked a river, and an overall poor yield during the hunting expeditions left my father with little money."

Aydan says, "The family was able to get by, though, as long as nothing worse happened... though there was trouble."

Aydan says, "Trouble being another mouth to feed."

Aydan chuckles.

Aydan says, "A third child was born, me."

The powerful look leaves Zenevieva.

Aydan says, "After a couple of months it was clear that the family could not live on the meager amount of money that they were receiving."

Aydan says, "A few priests took notice of this, though, and made an offer to my parents."

Aydan says, "Upon being weaned from my mother, the temple would raise me in their custody, educate me, and also provide support for my family."

Aydan says, "Desperate, my parents agreed, and when I was old enough, gave me into the care of the temple."

Aydan says, "I was originally going to be raised as a priest dedicated to Ronan, but after a few years the priests were realizing I was too rebellious, for some reason, to take such a course."

Aydan says, "I didn't want to follow their teachings. I wanted to stay in the libraries, reading and studying."

Aydan chuckles.

Aydan says, "I especially liked reading stories about knights and heroes that performed great deeds."

Aydan says, "The priests took notice of that too, and in my teenage years turned me toward Lumnis."

You smile at Aydan.

Aydan says, "That direction seemed to fit me much more than following the ways of Ronan, but the priests were not finished."

Valicar just came through a pair of wide mithril doors.

Valicar asks, "Pardon me. May I listen?"

Valicar smiles at you.

Aydan says, "They could tell that I wished I were like those knights that I read about. Of course, in the Empire, it's not very likely for the common folk to reach knighthood unless under extreme circumstances."

You nod to Valicar.

Valicar nods.

You say, "Surely."

Valicar sits down.

Valicar says, "Thank you."

You say, "Have a seat."

Aydan says, "Especially for a temple boy."

You quietly whisper to Valicar, "Aydan has been telling the story of how he was guided to Lumnis."

Aydan says, "But there was another way. They asked me, one day, if I had any wish to dedicate myself to follow the path of a paladin."

Aydan exclaims, "I don't think I thought about it for a second before I blurted out my answer of YES!"

Zenevieva smiles.

Aydan says, "That was seven years ago."

Aydan says, "It was expected to take me ten to twelve years to reach the point where the title of paladin was bestowed on me."

Aydan says, "That is, while slightly more than abridged, the story of how I found myself to be in Lumnis' grace as one of her paladins."

You applaud Aydan.

You exclaim, "Thank ye for sharing it!"

You smile at Aydan.

You remove an ora anklet incised with images of opposing crescent moons from in your gossamer cloak.
You offer your ora anklet to Aydan, who has 30 seconds to accept the offer.  Click CANCEL to prematurely cancel the offer.

Speaking to Aydan, you say, "For sharing."

Aydan has accepted your offer and is now holding an ora anklet incised with images of opposing crescent moons.

Zenevieva applauds Aydan.

You ask, "Who else has a story would like to share tonight?"

You smile.

Aydan walks over to the oak bench and settles down for a few minutes rest.

You exclaim, "Come now, don't be shy!"

Valicar stands up.

You smile at Valicar.

Zenevieva beams happily at Valicar!

Valicar says, "I will present a story tomorrow night if that is ok."

Zenevieva hesitantly says, "After him, perhaps.."

You nod.

You turn to face Zenevieva.

Valicar says, "I will tell you of Berr."

Valicar says, "Till then."

Valicar waves.

Valicar just left.

Zenevieva nods.

Zenevieva stands up.

You smile at Zenevieva.

Zenevieva smiles.

Zenevieva gulps.

You listen carefully to Zenevieva.

Zenevieva says, "I grew up in Mestanir, the daughter of two wizards.  Our home was respectable, our lives happy, as my mother and father wer well-known for their wisdom of their arts and generosity.  I trained in their path when I came of age, and studied the arcane arts quite arduously, using bits of their experience, and gleaning much information from the travelers to Koar's holy sites; from my parents I learned what it is to manipulate power, from the pilgrims I learned the power of surrendering to Koar's guidance.  Thus life continued for four years, and I was content."

Zenevieva says, "Trouble came soon with the introduction of the Jantalarian witch hunters.  My parents, being well-known, were sought after.  They sent me to live in the tents among the pilgrims, dressed in the white robes of an acolyte."

Aydan mutters something about witchhunters.

You bite your lip.

You nod to Aydan.

You say, "Scary folk."

Zenevieva says, "Sick with worry.. one night, I escaped past my kindly guardian, a priestess of Koar, and ran into town, clutching a prayer book to my chest, out of breath.. hearing the gory sounds of battle and seeing the occasional weak flash of a magical bolt in the sky."

Zenevieva sadly says, "The street was strewn with the dead, and as I paused for breath, my heart stopped.  My worries were confirmed - there lay my parents' bodies, distorted and dead.  I could see the charred hand of my mother lying outside her robes, the soul deserted from the eyes of my father."

You shiver.

Zenevieva says, "I ran back to the tents, weeping, and fell into the arms of the priestess.  Her gentle words guided me, gave me strength in her belief of a higher purpose.. it was then that the acolyte robe replaced my wizard's robes, and I dedicated my life to Koar, in the hopes of breathing life back into those who have died, harming no living thing, and teaching Koar's kindness to those who would learn."

Ichiko just came through a pair of wide mithril doors.

You nod to Zenevieva.

Ichiko sits down.

Zenevieva says, "I remained in Mestanir but a few months longer, and decided that the unhappy memories were too prevalent."

You wave to Ichiko.

Ichiko smiles and nods in greeting to you.

Zenevieva says, "And thus I made my way here."

Zenevieva smiles.

You smile at Zenevieva.

Zenevieva sits down.

You applaud Zenevieva.

You say, "A fine tale."

You remove an ora anklet incised with images of opposing crescent moons from in your gossamer cloak.
You offer your ora anklet to Zenevieva, who has 30 seconds to accept the offer.  Click CANCEL to prematurely cancel the offer.

Zenevieva blushes a delicate shade of pale pink.

You say, "For sharing."

You smile at Zenevieva.

Zenevieva says, "I am no story-teller.. but thank you."

Zenevieva has accepted your offer and is now holding an ora anklet incised with images of opposing crescent moons.

Zenevieva says, "It is beautiful."

Zenevieva attaches an ora anklet incised with images of opposing crescent moons to her ankle.

Aydan asks, "Mestanir has a lot of monuments dedicated to Koar, doesn't it?"

Zenevieva nods to Aydan.

You grin.

You turn to face Ichiko.

Sinocence slowly fades into view with a gasp of breath and a slightly disoriented look.

Speaking to Ichiko, you ask, "Have ye another tale to share today?"

You smile at Sinocence.

Speaking to Sinocence, you ask, "Or perhaps ye?"

Sinocence nods to you in greeting.

You nod to Sinocence.

You beam!

You exclaim, "Please share it with us!"

You smile at Sinocence.

Sinocence says, "Ah no, no tales."

Sinocence chuckles.

You shake your head.

You ask, "No?"

You chuckle.

You turn to face Ichiko.

You ask, "Ye, Ichiko?"

Aydan says, "One of these days when I'm actually able to travel through the Empire as I wish I could, Mestanir is one of the places I'd like to visit... along with Tamzyrr, Nydds, Elstreth, and Idolone of course."

Ichiko ponders.

You chuckle at Aydan.

Speaking hesitantly to Aydan, Zenevieva says, "They are beautiful.  It is well worth seeing."

You ask, "Or perhaps folks would like to hear the tale of this?"

Aydan nods to Zenevieva.

You tap a white pearl-studded cotehardie emblazoned with the image of a golden scroll conjoined by seven circles.

Zenevieva nods to you.

Ichiko says, "I could go a bit more into my personal history, but it seems a bit outside what we're discussing."

You say, "Well, the tale of this cotehardie is short."

You say, "But I'll share it with ye all."

You place your arms akimbo and look about as if waiting for something.

Zenevieva turns an inquisitive ear towards you.

Aydan smiles at you.

You say, "Now, back when I first met the man who became my husband, he become a convert to the teachings of Lumnis."

You say, "In the end, he didn't stay so... but he did find his way to them for a while."

You nod.

You say, "One day we heard tell of a merchant from a foreign land who had come to add the symbols of the deities in stitchery and such to various garments."

You say, "The crowd was massive and we did not expect to even see what work was being done."

You say, "So I didn't even bring something with me to have fitted out with Lumnis' five rings."

You say, "My husband however went into the crowd to look about."

You say, "And then he came back to me and asked for my cotehardie, which I was wearing."

You say, "I bundled my cloak about me, and gave it to him."

Your cheeks flush with a soft shade of apricot.

Zenevieva chuckles.

You say, "He went back to the merchant and apparently had already struck a bargain with him."

You say, "And the merchant stitched this symbol on the garment."

You tap a white pearl-studded cotehardie emblazoned with the image of a golden scroll conjoined by seven circles.

You say, "I blinked when I saw it."

You say, "I mean Lumnis' symbol is FIVE circles."

Aydan chuckles.

You say, "Not seven."

You shake your head.

Aydan says, "That's why I questioned the two extra circles when I saw it."

You say, "I told my husband I thought there was a mistake, and merchant heard us speaking."

You say, "No mistake, ma'am, he said."

You say, "Yer husband said the five conjoined circles of Lumnis and two more -- one to represent you and one to represent him."

Your cheeks flush with a soft shade of apricot.

Zenevieva beams happily at you!

You say, "You'll notice," the merchant continued, "the last two are grey, in the background."

You say, "But still there."

You smile.

You say, "And I have treasured this cotehardie from that day."

Aydan smiles.

You say, "Though many look at it and scratch their heads."

You grin.

Speaking softly to you, Zenevieva says, "That is incredibly sweet."

You nod to Zenevieva.

You say, "I thought so."

You flash a wide grin.

You say, "Ichiko, if ye would like to share a bit of yer life story, we have another quarter hour or so to do so."

You smile at Ichiko.

You ask, "Would ye like to share it?"

Speaking to Ichiko, Zenevieva exclaims, "Yes, do!"

Ichiko nods.

You nod to Ichiko.

Ichiko says, "It's kind of convoluted.."

Ichiko says, "Perhaps the best place to start is with Niima.."

As Ichiko rubs her silver dolphin symbol it glows momentarily with a soft golden light.

Ichiko says, "While I think of her as a patron, along with many others, she's not the entire story."

You nod to Ichiko.

Ichiko asks, "Who here listened to Kateerina's talk last night?"

Zenevieva shakes her head.

Aydan says, "I did."

You say, "Well, I did of course."

You chuckle.

Ichiko says, "Well, in any case..legend goes that it was Niima who initially passed knowledge of seafaring to those elves that became the Ashrim."

Ichiko says, "Later on, of course, she watched the Ashrim slaughtered by the Faendryl."

Ichiko says, "From that, an order of elves arose, again with Niima's guidance."

You nod to Ichiko.

Ichiko says, "An order dedicated to maintaining and upholding what the Ashrim represented."

Great Lord Moswell just came through a pair of wide mithril doors.

Ichiko gazes heavenward.

Moswell sits down.

Ichiko says, "Through dedication to that cause, those who undertake it..as I have..gain much."

Moswell removes a mug of hot buttered rum from in his black cloak.

Ichiko says, "Strength, which is the ability to bear the burdens life brings us."

Ichiko taps some golvern-edged chainmail.

You nod to Ichiko.

Ichiko says, "Will, which is the ability to keep standing despite weakness and fatigue."

Ichiko taps something inside a veniom threaded harness.

Ichiko just opened a diamond kitten-clasped satchel.

You cock your head at Ichiko.

Ichiko says, "Courage, which is the ability to face danger and fear, no matter how great."

Ichiko taps something inside a diamond kitten-clasped satchel.

Ichiko smiles.

You nod.

Ichiko says, "These things are bequeathed to the spiritual heirs of the Ashrim..and then.."

Ichiko says, "So long as those who take up their mantle keep the Ashrim alive in their hearts and minds.."

Ichiko says, "..their memories and knowledge stay with us too."

Ichiko glances at you.

You cock your head at Ichiko.

Ichiko says, "You've seen Ta'Ashrim, as it once was."

Missoni's group just came through a pair of wide mithril doors.

You nod to Ichiko.

Ichiko taps herself on the chest.

You say, "Aye, the mystic took us there."

You nod to Ichiko.

Ichiko says, "I have too, in my heart and mind."

Missoni smiles.

Ichiko smiles at Missoni.

You smile at Missoni.

Aydan returns to normal color.

Missoni exclaims, "Evening!"

You quietly whisper to Missoni, "Ichiko is finishing up her story in the storytelling."

You say, "Evening."

You say, "Have a seat."

Ichiko says, "Recently, the dark priest Morvule, awoke those demons that laid the city to waste."

You tap a hand-carved oak bench.

Ichiko sighs.

Missoni whispers, "Oooh, sorry.  Did not realize I was interrupting."

Missoni walks over to the oak bench and settles down for a few minutes rest.

Missoni folds her hands in her lap.

Ichiko says, "The Ashrim cried out in my mind, angry and frightened over the resurgence."

Ichiko says, "And in many others like mine, no doubt."

Ichiko says, "Many times, I'm called 'sleepy' because I lose track of my surroundings..but it is those voices that distract me."

You quietly whisper to Missoni, "No worries.  The storytellings are very informal."

Ichiko says, "They are guides, advisors, and friends in times of need."

Kessek just came through a pair of wide mithril doors.

Ichiko says, "For once, I was the one who reached out to them, fighting back against the threat they thought had been done away with."

Ichiko coughs.

Kessek leans against a pair of wide mithril doors.

Ichiko whispers, "Sorry, I'm done..tend to get carried away."

Ichiko blushes a nice shade of off-pink.

You applaud Ichiko.

You exclaim, "Nicely told!"

Ichiko says, "There is a downside to all this, but that's another tale..it can wait."

You ask, "I know ye already have an anklet from the other day...  Do ye want another for yer other ankle?"

You chuckle at Ichiko.

Zenevieva applauds Ichiko.

Ichiko grins at you.

Aydan applauds.