Searching For Light in the Darkness (all welcome) - Page 2

Aerienne Sarista · October 1, 2007, 04:33 PM

Aeri blinked and then hugged Z'kron tightly. "Z'kron! It's been ages! How have you been, dear?" She tilted her head, sensing something she couldn't quite place in him at this close a range. "Is everything okay? You seem a little, well, a little different then before."

She suddenly blushed, especially when Iraeafay chimed in. "Thank you for the compliment, but really, I'm just one woman. I just try to do the will of the Gods and I try to help people as best I can." She looked at Iraeafay and beamed brilliantly. "And I'm here on a mix of both business and pleasure. It's always a pleasure to meet new people, and if I'm lucky, I can find someone to manage the affairs of the Church after I go." She extended her hand. "I'm Aerienne, but just call me Aeri. What's your name?"

Iraeafay Arabneld · October 1, 2007, 07:56 PM

She was quiet taken back, the woman had not replied like she had expected. There was something off here. People in Vortex did not happily share their affairs with people on the street. Not if they wanted to finish them without problems. She would have an awkening of sorts if she were to stay in this town much longer. Not that it was any of her concern rather or not anything happened to this undoubtly strange woman. She took her hand briefly and let it go.

"My name? Iraeafay. But I'm afraid your looking in the wrong place for your church leader. It is not the kind of place your find goodness and light I'm afraid."

Aerienne Sarista · October 1, 2007, 11:54 PM

"I believe that goodness and light exist everywhere, even in the darkest of places. I refuse to believe that there is no hope. I've seen great evil done in my lifetime, but always, after the damage is done, good people come together to rebuild. Life is like that." She nodded, her eyes shining with fervent belief. "No matter how bad or dark things seem, light, life, always finds a way to grow."

She tilted her head slightly, smiling. "And who knows? I may have already found the next Church leader. You could be the one. Or Obalym here. Or Z'kron." She gestured out to the crowd on the street, the sweep of her arm taking in everyone within view. "There's no telling. I myself was just a flower girl on the streets on Aelyria Prime before I was chosen. You don't have to be great and powerful to do good things. Just a kind thought and a willingness to help those in need is enough."

Z'kron · October 6, 2007, 07:27 AM

"Well, of late I've been attempting to help with the rebuilding of Paxia. The empire seems to have neglected it somewhat; and most of the population is still living in tents; though the hardship has seemed to bring out the best in them. Even the criminal underground seem to want to help with the reconstruction. That said, conditions are still rough, and there's always the risk of an epidemic. And investment in the city to help has left me quite paupered, I'm afraid." A shrug of his shoulders. His expenditure seem to be bothering him overmuch. A quiet smile as he brushed a stray strand of green-grey hair away. It seemed to be fading whiter even as they spoke.
"Your assistance there would be invaluable. A days blessing by one such as you could lighten the load of the city for months. As for the appearance... well, time brings changes to us all. And sometimes, they are simply necessary to survive." A great deal was left unsaid, but it was clear this was not from distrust or fear; and merely because of a desire to not make the others around feel unwelcome. Battles of necromancy and matters of state could wait for a later time.
Instead, the druid turned towards Iraefay, appraising the girl with his old, old eyes. "She speaks truly enough. Even our current regent had humble beginnings. When I was born, I was too insignificant to even be given a name; one of thousands only expected to battle. And by the grace of the gods, here I still stand."

Aerienne Sarista · October 28, 2007, 09:43 PM

Aeri rested a hand on Z'kron's shoulder and gave him a warm, concerned look, but she understood his wish for privacy and didn't press him at the moment. "I would be happy to visit Paxia and help as I can." One of the guards came over and lightly cleared her throat and she nodded.

She looked at Obalym and Iraeafay, then at the others on the street. "I am very happy to have met you all, and if you would like to talk further, I can be found at the Temple here or contacted by message. I would be happy to speak more to any or all of you." She smiled at Z'kron. "And you know that includes you too, old friend. I have to go in before the midday meal, but I'll be around the city." She skipped back and waved. "Serale everyone! Have a blessed day!" She turned and skipped off towards the temple, whistling a cheerful tune.

Dimitri Wladisyaw · November 17, 2007, 08:31 AM

Travel in the dark city was easy, especially for her. The people moved aside with slight bows of their heads and even the worst parts of town seemed for a moment to glow and flourish in her presence. However sometimes even in the greatest light the darkness could be whole and horrible, it could swallow any trace of it and suffocate goodness with its weed like determination. In a small street members of the city guard entrapped the small party moving before them and behind them hemming them in between great forboding buildings. From behind them stood a man, she may have noticed him earlier standing and staring, as though caught in a dream. Now his eyes were alight with fervour and his mouth twitched as though caught between a smile and a laugh.

Suddenly they all bowed, each guard and the man himself before his guards, they moved so far forward that they could place their heads on the paving before them. From his position the man spoke, "Oh great and wnderful, bastion of light, seeker of eternal flame and arbitor of greatness, I before you am naught but a footnote t eternity." A pause and then a continuing stream of words, "I am Dimitri Wladisyaw, Barbari Duke of this place, crusader of your church." A hand slid out showing a signet of the Church of the Faith, "I could not allow you to leave without beholding and speaking with you, will you allow me and my retinue to accompany you to the Temple?"

Aerienne Sarista · November 20, 2007, 10:47 AM

Aerienne blinked. The Archprelatines had immediately settled into a defensive position around her like the trained soldiers they were, hands going to weapons. Aeri blushed when all of the guards that had hemmed them in bowed to her, and when Dimitri knelt before her. She reached out a hand.

"Please, there is no need to bow to me. I'm just one woman, no more and no less than any of you. You are welcome to come with me to the Temple. I am always interested in meeting new people, especially crusaders of the faith." She waved lightly and the Archprelatines slightly relaxed, though they continued to look at the Duke and his guards with professional wariness.

Dimitri Wladisyaw · November 24, 2007, 08:58 AM

Dimitri's men stood and turned and began to lead the way to the Temple. Dimitri meanwhile slipped carefully next to the Archprelatess feeling drawn to her somehow, he felt he was too close to the sun now, the wickedness in his heart would be burnt out by this exposure.

"I apologise if our greeting embarassed you, this city embarasses me. Long have my family been Duke of this place and yet we have moved away from the light have we not." He smiled gently, "I myself was trained in the holy province of Carmelya and in the Ecclesiastical Cathederals, the Prelates sent me here to try to recover the people, without great success sadly." He smiled and continued, it was a risky move but he had to ask, "My Lady there is something I must know. Does the Lady Diana blessed be her name and her realm speak with you? She spoke to me once I am sure of it, I have been unable to remove the voice from my head ever since." He was sure it had been her and yet he did not know if he was a madman.

Aerienne Sarista · November 26, 2007, 10:58 PM

Aeri smiled. "We can only continue to try our best, Dimitri. Bringing the Light into the Darkness is not easy, but we must keep trying." A shadow seemed to briefly cross Aeri's face at the mention of Diana. There was both joy and sadness in her eyes for a moment, then it vanished and she nodded. "And yes, Diana has spoken with me several times over the years." She smiled then. "Trust me, if She spoke with you, you know it. There's a Divine presence to her that cannot be mistaken." She looked at him curiosly. "What did She say to you, if you don't mind me asking?"

Dimitri Wladisyaw · November 27, 2007, 11:26 AM

Dimitri smiled, "Oh I know it, but I doubt myself sometimes, do we not all? I felt myself move for a moment when I heard it." He paused, "I used to pray so much, when I was in training, praying for my city, for my father, for the world entire, brightenings I woul pray on and on into the night watched only by the stars." Dimitri continued walking through his eyes were not focused on where he was, as though recalling a time long forgotten.

"One pitch black night my candle went out and I snapped out of meditation, and then a voice dripping with emotion arrived into my head, it dominated me for a moment, ir professed love, a personal love that no-one ever feels, at that moment she did not love all her people, she focused on me alone and it was themost perfect moment of my life." Dimitri smiled, "Archprelatess since that moment on top of the mountains I have always tried to return but cannot, life seems blander than it did before."

"Did she speak to me or do I merely speak the ravings of a madman?"

Aerienne Sarista · December 11, 2007, 11:28 PM

Aeri listened intently, then nodded slowly. "I believe that you were contacted by a Goddess, yes. That type of personal connection, that sense of being the focus of divine attention, that's not something that just happens for no reason. It may have been Diana, or perhaps Carmelya. Did she say anything to you? Did she give you instructions or advice, for instance? Or was it just that feeling of divinity about and within you?"

Dimitri Wladisyaw · December 13, 2007, 11:44 PM

Dimitri bit his lip gently, it embarassed him slightly before he spoke, "She told me she loved me Archprelatess, I know she loves all her servants, but this was so personal and so pure." Dimitri smiled at the memory, "I told others about this and they told me I was delirious from prayer but I always knew it was true." He grinned gently, "I always knew Archprelatess, but tell me what you think I need to do now." He smiled, "She has only spoken to me once, I need her to talk to me again, I need to know if it was real. It is why I came to speak to you, you are her voice, can you speak for her?"

Dimitri Wladisyaw · December 13, 2007, 11:46 PM

double post, sorries

Aerienne Sarista · December 18, 2007, 05:22 PM

"I cannot speak for Her." She shook her head. "I would not presume to, as She has not spoken to me of you. What I can tell you is that if you feel that you were touched by the Divine then you are not delusional." She smiled. "I would advise you to go to a place of solitude, pray, and fast to clear the mind of all distractions and material concerns. Try to open your mind to Aetheria and ask for guidance and communication from the Gods. Try to get rid of preconceived notions and let your mind be free and open." She reached over and patted his hand.

"I hope that is of some help to you and that you find the answers you seek. I believe in your vision and I'm sure you'll find your path." She smiled warmly.

Dimitri Wladisyaw · December 27, 2007, 10:42 PM

"I have spent a lifetime being told by my betters in the church to pray Lady Archprelatess, you will forgive me if I place more stck in action these days." He smiled softly and resumed, "Often a man will think better of the church if the priest speaks with him, he does not care if his soul is prayed for behind closed doors." Dimitri paused and turned speaking words that were not in his heart but in his head.

"Why did you come to my families city Lady Archprelatess, even you could not shine a light in this nest of evil, your motives must be strange indeed to desire spending time in this nest of the damned?" He paused and waited, hoping for an answer, he was genuinely intrigued.