Location [Syliras Location] The Temple of All Gods

[Leviathan]

Morian Devan The entire room was silent, yet Jonathon was not the only one there. There had been several others around the room, doing precisely what it was that Jon was. Praying, who which gods or goddess was hard to say. There was, however, a silence in the room that was almost eerie, as if there should be something, footsteps, faint breathing, some religious chant echoing from somewhere else in the temple, but there was none. Something about that place was absurdly quiet when one truly wanted to speak, alone, with their chosen gods. It wasn't until Jonathon stood up that the presence of another was made known. There was the faint scratching of straw on the floor as a man in a poor sackcloth robe swept. His motions were slow, his progress seemed extinct, yet his tenacity to sweep, to clean the temple, felt unbreakable. Without stopping his sweeping, the young priest spoke. He didn't even bother to lower his hood or face Jonathon, as if his purpose was more to clean the property, which by the way already looked spotless, than to help guide those less preoccupied with the philosophies of the world. "Surely the goddess Caiyha is pleased with your words." Morian spoke, his voice was only a whisper so as not to disturb the elderly lady a few rows behind them. "But you seem uncertain your goddess will continue to hold you in her favor." Morian paused his moving, the broom frozen to the floor as if it had been petrified into a statue by that simple contact of straw bristles and wood flooring. Morian then shifted his head so that the two of them could see eye to eye. Morian's gaze felt cold, those eerie dull green hues looked hardened as rock, yet not nearly as beautiful as an emerald. The man himself had a scruff appearance, like he didn't do much to take care of his appearance, and in reality he probably didn't give two shykes about it. He spoke, and Morian's words felt almost chillingly sadistic. "Would it not be an honor to complete the cycle of nature? Caiyha takes life, and renews life with it. Perhaps that is what is in store, Hunter." Morian nodded to himself as he once again returned his attention to the floor, sweeping slowly and without progress, yet he lingered in that same spot, not moving away from Jonathon. "What is it you want from your goddess? What is it she wants from you?"

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon turned towards the man. Obviously some sort of priest or church volunteer... He seemed like a part of this place, just another bench or window. Quite, peaceful, but authoritative. "Surely the goddess Caiyha is pleased with your words." Jonathon gave slight dip of the head and an even smaller smile. "But you seem uncertain your goddess will continue to hold you in her favor."

Jonathon shrugged, and spoke as softly as the priest. "I am not uncertain... well, maybe a bit. She is an immortal, untouchable being, I am but a speck of matter to her. I can only hope my words and actions please her..." Jonathon shuddered ever so slightly at his next words; he didn't quite understand them, but he could guess. "Would it not be an honor to complete the cycle of nature? Caiyha takes life, and renews life with it. Perhaps that is what is in store, hunter."

"What is it you want from your goddess? What is it she wants from you?" Jonathon had to think about the question for a while before answering. "...Caiyha has much to offer me. Safety, peace, and plenty among them. I make my trade in her kingdom; I take but I rarely give back... What she wants from me, I don't know. I don't know if she wants anything from me, or if the things that have happened out there in the forest are anything but coincidences and average events. I can only hope she is pleased with me and my actions."

[Leviathan]

Morian nodded slowly and there almost seemed to be a feeling of sorrow hovering over him as he stood there. "We are all uncertain, Hunter. Caiyha is no more resistant to death than you or I. She does not age, but we can also become ageless. What then separates us from the divine?" Morian gave Jonathon another look, no smile was there, but his dark green eyes almost looked pleased at Jonathon's uncertainty. "The gods are not gods without lesser beings. If we define the gods by what we aren't, and what they are, then how can we be of no value?" Morian's hands diligently swept the temple floor, as if there was some taint in that one spot that he, and only he, could find and exorcise from this place of worship. "Safety, peace..." Morian moaned for a moment as he thought that through, then shook his head, he disagreed, and obviously so. "Safety is an illusion. Even within this building, danger is upon you. There is nothing but air and time keeping me from piercing your chest with a knife. Caiyha cannot stop me here, Wysar himself is no even present to defeat me, though easily he could." Morian nodded again as he turned his gaze back to the floor. "The gods cannot guarentee protection. Sagillius himself showed Mizahar that gods could fall by the hands of mortals. Myri too has conquered the immortal. If they cannot guarentee their own lives, how can they guarentee ours? And what of Caiyha? Would she not be pleased with your taking of life in the forests and rivers, Hunter? Would she not be pleased to find you an honorable man, and not a poacher or killer for entertainment? Perhaps it is more than just words of yours that please her." Perhaps, questions. There was little Morian said that was stated in fact or with concrete certainty. He almost, most of the time, seemed to even question himself rather than Jonathon, as if the Inarta only provoked questions he should have long considered." "Even the prisoner god, Ivak, loved a mortal woman. Could Caiyha love you as a lover? A brother? A friend?"

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon gazed at the man in astonishment. Jonathon had never really thought of his old lessons from Father about the gods... He had been young then, he hadn't listened, he though he could forge his own path. And he probably still could, but Jonathon had forgotten how mortal the gods could be, and how human-like they could be. Perhaps they wanted something else other than worship? What did Caiyha want from him? Did she want anything from Jonathon?

Jonathon swallowed. "You're right. Caiyha can't protect me from everything, even if she wanted to. But the forest... that is her domain. The wild. I am sure that my chances of survival out in the wild will be greater with Caiyha... protecting me..." Is that all he wanted from Caiyha? Her protection? Was he a beggar? Why couldn't he love without gain...?

"...I don't know what she would be pleased with. I don't know her well. I've never met her. The only proof I have of her existence is the word of mouth... I believe in her, but I don't know if she would like what I am and what I do. That's why I'm here. I want to know more of this divine being that may be influencing my life."

Jonathon blinked in surprise at the man's last words. The gods weren't as untouchable as it seemed. They would eventually suffer the icy grip of death; they felt love and hate, towards even mortals. As he learned this, he felt true gratitude in his soul to Caiyha. Before, he thought his gratitude was real; but this feeling was more homely, when you thank your father for a gift, true gratitude. Jonathon looked away, and said quietly: "I have some answers, and they weren't the ones I was hoping for. But I am still steadfast in my line of faith." Jonathon eyed the priest. "Although, I presume that toppling my faith was not your mission; rather, to strengthen it."

[Leviathan]

Morian grinned from underneath that worn brown hood of his. For a moment he stopped sweeping, even set the broom to lean against the pew as the pulled his hood down, revealing little more than a head that was not bald, but buzzed very short, dark brown hair. He pondered a moment, though his hesitation seemed fake, as if he knew long ago what he was planning to say. "Being in a god's favor always has its benefits. Why are you any safer in the forests of Sylira if Caiyha supports you and Rhysol does not? Caiyha's domain is nature, it is life, but that does not exclude the other gods from holding strength there. Syna herself offers the land to drink from her presennce everyday. Without her, the forest will perish. Does that make Syna more deserving of your praise? Leth, he guides the travelers by night so that they may not be blinded in darkness. Should he be anymore deserving? Caiyha, yes, she deserves praise and dedication if you are to work so closely with her, but it is dangerous to assume that she doesn't desire you to be alive. Perhaps, just perhaps, you are asking of her, which she already offers you? If you are a seasoned hunter, and still alive, then I must say you are blessed by Caiyha. If a blessing is nothing but being despised and your death sought after." Morian chuckled lightly as he replaced the hood on his head. "No person can be certain what pleases their favored deity. Perhaps, only, those who are privileged to meet their god or goddess, and to be marked by them. I cannot tell you if she is pleased. Only Caiyha can." He nodded his head again as he picked up his broom and returned the that methodical useless sweeping.

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon sighed, sitting down on one of the benches. Jonathon wasn't a philosopher, and much of this conversation opened up huge ideas Jonathon had never even thought about thinking about. "I wouldn't say 'seasoned'... but you are right. It would seem to me that, as she has allowed me to live and work in her forests, I am already blessed. That's why I'm here. I wanted to thank her, but most of all, I wanted to understand if and what she sought of me."

Jonathon leaned back against the bench, staring at the man intently. "Whatever will happen, will happen. If I cannot know what Caiyha wants, I can only infer. So far, it would seem she has blessed me; I am alive and well. I would guess, then, that what I am doing with my life is Caiyha's will. I hope I am right, but as you said, I can't know." Jonathon stood up.

"Unless, of course, I meet her myself, an unlikely event. I have much to ponder... but I believe I will be back, with more questions." Jonathon grinned slightly, inclining his head. "Good bye, and I hope your cleaning goes well." Jonathon gave him one last moment, to say what he will, then left out the front door, pondering what had occurred.

[Crypt]

28th of Fall, 512 AV

“Stay here, Maras, alright? I need some time alone.” Crypt whispered, stroking the elegant mane of his Strider. The noble steed licked him once; that was his cue to enter the Temple of All Gods.

Head bowed, he slowly stepped into the Temple, making his way to one of the pews illuminated with blue-tinged light; a stained glass window was its cause.

Crypt sat down slowly onto the pew, taking care not to disturb any other people. It was a time for reflection and silence, and he would have to make the most of it before his control slipped.

Head bowed, hands clasped together, he began his whispered prayer.

“Dear... God or goddess, forgive me for not knowing your name. I pray for the healing of my broken self, of the malady of the mind that has afflicted me for years. I know not who can help me with this. I have suffered much from this illness, and I hope you are able to provide some form of help. I do not expect you to cure me completely or provide a means of curing. I require guidance, for I am lost in this world. I wander everywhere, aimlessly and with no end in sight. Perhaps this prayer was made in vain. But nevertheless, I pray all the more.”

Crypt continued to sit in the pew, contemplating his life and needs. Silent he was for many a chime of the bell.

[Alexander Faircroft]

10th Winter 515AV - Early morning (5:30 Am) Restless nights, and harried dreams had wrecked Alex's mind. Sleep did not come easily and the light of the dawn had crested the window before he could find it. The soft morning glow of syna alerted him to another night without rest. He's slumped to the pews of the temple and sat heavily in one of the back rows. A heavy yawn crawling through his body and his mind. Gritting his teeth he held it back. Around his neck he unfastened the loop of godly symbols, as another yawn hit him his jaw viced like iron. He rolled the bundle of symbols in his hands and looked down at them. rolling each one between his fingers in silent prayer. Prayers to all who would listen and guide my path. Nysel you have denied me dreams once again. Would that I had leth's guidance on how to put me back into your favour. And let the dreams come once again. I follow your guidance on these matters and seek to find a balance of order and chaos within the malady and maelstrom of my mind. Would that I had a clearer path. The beatings of the lack of sleep hit him once again. A heavy lethargy washed over him as he sat there, the band of icons grew ten times their weight in an instant. The low candle light in the corner gradually snuffed out by the priests who followed their practices. Men and women accepted by their gods. Alex couldn't help but feel as though, through trying to reach so many like his mother had he was distancing himself from all of them. He whispered softly into the air. "I joined the knights in order to serve a cause. I want to see if I can reach something. Do something. I don't know what. But something." The cool morning air now slipped into the temple from behind him, sending a chill across his spine. He held himself steady before offering a small prayer to each icon on the loop before heading off to leave. A small part of his mind was telling him he needed to get better but...He couldn't shake a feeling he'd never have any fate outside of being just a simple soldier.