Completed [The Temple of All Gods] Learning & Reflection (Dahlia)

[Kayelin Mannering]

513 AV, 90th Day of Spring Brightly colored light slanted down her bench, stopping halfway across her lap. The sunset filtered strong and sure through the stained glass windows on the west side of the temple in a mixture of hues. It was beautiful and relaxing, yet entertaining at the same time to see how the windows caught the sunlight. Kayelin's diligently polished oak bench shined in the evening glow, nary a piece of dust in sight. She could practically see her reflection in the wood's sheen, not that it was much to look at. Robed priests and temple workers brushed by along the aisleway to her left, quiet except for the whisper of cloth and shoes on the stone floor. Voices seemed to never rise above a respectful murmur, except for the occasional protest of a fussing child. It had been a good choice on her part to come here to think, leaving her Falivan at the dormitories. Kayelin leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and clasping her rough hands between them. She massaged her fingers absently, feeling the new callouses she was forming and even a few that seemed to be going away. The Knights were training her in a more precise form of a swordplay, different from the one she'd threw together in Sunberth. There was less brute strength involved. Far more timed attacks, and watching for an opening in your opponent's defenses instead of mercilessly hammering away until you created one in the desperate frenzy. She was being taught to bide her time and observe, using her strength to the best of its capabilities. Kayelin was learning that she could do more damage over a long period of time than if she would try to overpower an opponent from the start. The skin between her thumb and index finger of the right hand had toughened considerably from sword practice. It had been raw for days, but finally healed over with a new thickness. She flexed her fists open and closed, noting that her hands still seemed to always be dirty even though she now had access to clean bath waters on a daily basis. Kayelin then tried not to wonder how her family was getting along without her, and failed miserably. After leaving on the 16th, there had been no contact between herself and her loved ones in Sunberth. Anything could have happened since then, but she tried not to imagine the worst. She knew it was very likely that it was easier for them to get along without her limitless appetite to sate, and her mother could sleep better at night knowing her daughter wasn't making her bed by the hearth on the floor. Kayelin was even glad for that much. Having a warm bed and three meals a day was payment enough for her. She'd be happy breaking her back as a laborer for the rest of her life if that much was provided. But instead, her childhood dreams of becoming a Knight were coming true. Kayelin definitely didn't have anything to complain about in her life now. How often did life take such a wonderful turn, even if at first she didn't want to leave home? She'd gone from a poor girl in Sunberth out of work for an entire season to a well fed ward of the shining capital city of Sylira. If only her family were here to see it, instead of still eeking by in that apartment in Sunberth. Kayelin shook herself mentally, trying to push away all the thoughts of her far away kin. It only made her regret what she now had, comparing it to what they didn't. She sat up and leaned against the hard back of the bench, tipping her head to look up at the soaring stone ceilings illuminated by dying sunlight. Priests were moving to-and-fro amongst the temple, lighting torches and braziers as the natural light waned.

[Dahlia Arundel]

There was no denying the beauty of this day, perfectly caught in the serenity of the Temple. Dahlia was never the religious type, hardly caring to know more about the many deities that surrounded Mizahar, but even she was not ignorant of the alluring mystery that shrouds the Temple of all Gods. With her charcoal poised and ready, and a determination that would've moved mountains, Dahlia was ready to capture even a sliver of that mystery. But even she was not immune to the feelings of vulnerability. Sitting in the polished pew of the Temple with murmurs of strangers and the pleasant sunlight trickling through the windows, it was hard not to feel sombre. More precisely, it was hard to avoid not feeling sombre. The hold of the charcoal loosened, a sigh escaped her lips and her eyelids, feeling decidedly heavy, closed. It was a mistake to enter here, she realised. Though her visits to the Temple were rare, in her girlhood, its presence was too closely tied to her grandpa to not effect her. Already, scenes of the old man played in her mind- his tendency to murmur when he prayed to the goddess Priskil, his constance insistence to sit in the third pew to the front. She'd always sit next to him, charcoal and book at hand, ready to draw the wizened profile of her beloved grandfather. Gods, this place was depressing. Getting sick of her mood, the young girl began to pack her stuff back, standing after she did so. When she turned to look back at the medley of people at congregation, she thanked the gods that she chose the front pew that day. There was a warrior at the temple. Scarred faced, crooked nosed and... messy, he... stood out from the immaculate environs of temple. Dahlia wasn't even sure if the warrior was a man or a woman. Her features were too hard and her body too brawny for a woman, yet there was an underlying ambiguity of the stranger's person that would not let the eyes rest. Dahlia, unabashedly, stared. "You-!" She slapped a hand over her mouth, blushing. A priest had given her a Look. Embarrassed, she collapsed back to her seat, her heart racing. Either from embarrassment or excitement, she really couldn't tell. Feeling the confused stare of the priests and some members of the parishioners, the young girl tried to shrink from their view. The adrenaline of such attention made her feel dizzy. While she was used to being watched (her looks really didn't permit much anonymity), never was it caused from making a fool of herself. By the time a priest had tried to coax a reasonable explanation why there was a crazy person at the temple, the young girl was almost lying on the pew. "No, no I'm fine, honestly!" Dahlia persuaded, recovering from her near-foetal position. She given another Look. "I'm fine. I was just.. praying. Very devotionally." Even her excuse sounded lame even to herself. It worked though, for the priest was impatient to get on with his duties. Waiting until the attention from her waned, Dahlia tried to communicate again. Tearing out a page from her leather bound book, she scrawled a few hurried words, turned from her seat and held the paper to her chest. It read, "Hello! Can I sit with you?". The girl stared intensely at the stranger, waiting for any response.

[Kayelin Mannering]

A moth was fluttering dangerously close to the fire crackling in a nearby brazier, and she couldn't seem to look away. It fascinated her that the insect couldn't tell that the flames would kill it. Or maybe it just didn't care. The soft murmur of voices in the temple swelled and receded constantly, forming a low hum of background noise. She probably should be joining the others in some form of prayer, but Kayelin couldn't seem to focus, and the words wouldn't come. Maybe it counted just being in the temple, and she'd get some points for that with the Gods. The moth fluttered up toward the ceiling and out of sight, forcing her to seek out some other entertainment. She looked back toward the front rows just as a pair of voices rose above the others, loud enough to be noticed. It was impossible to hear them, but it seemed rather important. Kayelin didn't have to crane her neck to see the priest and young girl whispering animatedly with each other, since her head stuck up further than most of the people seated in the surrounding pews. The priest didn't have any real distinguishing features. They all tended to look alike with the expressions they wore and the way they carried themselves. The girl, she was the complete opposite of Kayelin. Small and delicate looking, with pale blonde hair that shone like the temple's polished pews. Her little face was like a flower illuminated in the dying daylight, and she looked like someone that would be holed up being doted on all day. Nothing like herself, with her rough appearance and hard body. The jaunt and rugged features that were impossible to soften with makeup or any feminine beauty tricks. Kayelin instantly envied her and her petite little frame. The girl seemed severely flustered and embarrassed by the way she moved her hands when she spoke, and the pitch of her voice. But she had no way of knowing what was going on, and only the people in their surrounding area seemed to be taking interest, so Kayelin looked back down at her open hands. Grimy lines crisscrossed her palms every which way like a miniature maze. The priest from a moment ago brushed past along the aisleway, nary making a sound. It unnerved her how quietly everyone seemed to move in this place. It made her feel like a horse with shod feet trying to tiptoe on the stone floor. Absently she glanced back up toward the girl, now sitting again on her pew, though twisted in the wrong direction. It took a double take to notice the piece of paper she was holding up. Hello! Can I sit with you? She sat back up and looked around, seeing if anyone else was the target. But the blonde was staring straight at Kayelin for sure. She frowned and pointed to herself, a question on her face, but then nodded and silently scooched down the pew. She beckoned with a hand, feeling more than a little confused. She definitely didn't know this girl, but she'd be civil. They were on sacred ground after all, and how many weirdos could there be stuffed into a temple dedicated to the Gods? Probably more than she realized.

[Daelyn Caliban]

The Temple of All Gods. Daelyn found himself coming more and more often the longer his sister stayed missing. Sometimes he prayed for her return. Other times he just sat in the pews and allowed himself to be lost in the reverent silence of the Temple. He wasn't sure which of those today would be.

The air in the temple was warm and still, with the constant, reliable murmur of worshipers in the background. It was comforting. He stood at the entrance for a moment, letting the Temple's atmosphere envelope him. He took a deep breath, looked around at the myriad of colors shimmering in from the windows, and made his way down the central aisle.

The sound of his boots disrupted the silence slightly, echoing off the vaulted ceiling as he walked. He found an aisle that was empty enough, just one broad shouldered woman, dressed in simple clothing with a longsword at her hip. Maybe had Selene known how to use one...

Stop that.

You know I should've taught her.

Stop it!

He sighed and rubbed his eyes, shuffling down the aisle and dropping down a few feet away from the woman. His eyes briefly flickered to the girl in the front, making a scene of some sort. He chuckled to himself and bowed his head, clasping his hands together and whispering to himself.

"Well Ivak...I'm here. Who in the petch else do I have to talk to eh? Who else understands me like you do? You know what loss feels like. What guilt and sorrow feel like. I know you won't answer, but petch me if talking doesn't make me feel a bit better..."

He sighed and leaned back on the pew, reaching into his pocket and feeling around for the picture of Selene he always had with him. He held it in his lap and looked down on it, running his free hand through his hair. He sighed again, heavier this time, and let his eyes drift to the ceiling.

"Bloody hell. No petchin' point to this," he said under his breath, his whisper carrying through the silence. Gods but he missed Selene.

[Kayelin Mannering]

OOCObviously Dahlia isn't coming back, so we'll just continue. Better late than never, but lacking in creative juices as well. Only so much to do with this post. It seemed the girl was talking to someone else, because she sat back down instead of joining Kayelin. Her face grew hot with embarrassment, and she hoped that no one had seen the exchange. Talk about getting left hanging. Another voice made her look around, before she realized it was from the only other person on the pew with her. A young man, who looked more than a little distraught. Surely he knew he'd spoken aloud so... loudly. That was the thing about temples. They were quiet. If you didn't want to interrupt anything to draw attention to yourself, you kept your voice hushed. At least the girl who'd left her high and dry understood that, and didn't stand in front of the entire congregation shouting for whoever's attention she was trying to get. But this man, of course, didn't shout. Kayelin still heard him though. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, as he stared up the ceiling. She braced her elbows on her knees, knotting her fingers together and absently rubbing her knuckles. Her curiosity would probably get the best of her one day, but she was just too inquisitive to stop herself when she turned, leaned over, and ask, "Are you alright?" Her voice was gruff with the effort of trying to keep it at a respectful whisper. She didn't feel like having unwanted attention. A pair of women in the pew in front of them looked particularly into their prayers. Almost comically so, swaying back and forth and clasping hands. Just a little over the top, and definitely not something to interrupt. She was starting to think she was wrong second guessing the crazy populous of the temple. People mumbling to themselves, bobbing around praying like drunks, and girls waving signs around. Maybe I should just... scoot on out of here, she wondered uncomfortably.

[Radiant]

Kayelin :

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+2 XP
Socialization	+1 XP

Lores

Lore Earned

Missing My Family

A Cute Girl In The Temple

A Loud Man In The Temple

Loots

Dahlia :

I see you haven't updated your ledger with the previous season living expenses yet, please do so and PM me, I will give you your grades.

Daelyn :

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+1 XP
Socialization	+1 XP

Lores

Lore Earned

Praying to Ivak

Missing Selene

Loots

Notes :

Not much to reward here, but I gave what I could.

My radiance is not bright enough?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, beam me a PM and we can work it out.