In the Name of the Fathers (All PC's - Its a suprise)

[Thoth]

Fifth Brightening of Immanis, Spring in Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum, Era II of the Regency of Milo

Spring had come at last to the City of Faith after autumn and winter. The city of Faith was normally bursting with joy and activity as the dawning of new life settled upon the empire and above all, the marble-clad City of Faith. Something seemed to be hanging in the air above Diana as spring settled in. For over two seasons now the schism had been declared over, but the city still felt the tension that was in the air. The regent could declare all he wished, and could negotiate as much as he wanted, but the feeling was still there. Half of Diana had followed and given strength to the Church of the Sacred Three. Another portion had declared neutrality, while the remaining members had followed behind the Church of Faith. The feeling of tension still lay heavy in the air threatening to consume the people, penitents, pilgrims, and parishioners of Diana.

As with each spring, Diana had been scrubbed clean once again. The cobbled streets had been cleared of the leaves and trash that had built up over the winter.

The Temples to the Gods gleamed in the sun light as the brightening reached its zenith. The Basilica was scrubbed spotless once again to greet the visiting priests. It was here around the sacred places of the city that the tension could be felt the strongest. It was almost as if the parents of Diana had finally stopped fighting and the children moved around quietly to prevent the conflict from starting again.

Despite the tension life continued in the city of Faith. The Draco, burnt so long ago, was finally cleared of all the rubble and building had once again settled over the city. The faithful came to the city to make pilgrimages. Life continued...

...or so it seemed.

Shots rose briefly from the glorious Basilica, as the suns of the world passed their zenith and were on their stately way down towards the horizon It was followed as a number of priests exited the building. Normally carrying papers, parchments and books, they all appeared to be empty-handed. Expressions of concern filled their faces as they vanished into the crowds. Many appeared shaken. Others were speechless and appeared drained of energy. It was all they could do to keep walking. The last were angry and large swathes in the crowd moved to allow them through.

It didn’t take long for rumor to spread. Before the suns had even touched the horizon again the word had made the rounds: The Tithes of the church were gone. It appeared that during the schism some entrepreneur had begun to skim off the tithes until eventually nothing was left. The bottomless vaults did have a bottom, and the church was scraping along the very edges of that. The Church of Faith had to face it. They needed to recover the Tithes of the Faithful, but until then the Sacred Church of the Gods was without purse or scrip, it was broke.

Word spread, and for all the children’s good behavior it had done little to prevent future fighting. It didn’t start with the holy priests, but among the divided faithful (and unfaithful). Panic began to spread among them. Once already had they watched as the church lay upon the knife's edge. Again it teetered, but already the blade was slicing the church, and laying it in ruin. Starting once again from the Holy Plaza it wasn’t long before riots spread to encircle all of the temples, and the sacred places.

In a place where all was sacrosanct, it seemed nothing was holy, not anymore, not in this city that had lost its faith, in more ways than one.


OOC: This will affect all pc's in diana at least all of the ones in Diana during the Time Stamp. Have fun.

[Dante Asunder]

When Dante heard the news he was struck speechless. His editor wanted him to head over to the Basilica immediatly and get the real story about what was going on, but Dante didn't hear him. Dante rushed out the door of the Divine News and Gossip and ran full out to the Tower of Serenity. Hatoriana was there and his concern was only for her. Whether she knew it or not he escorted her to work every day. On the days that she wasn't aware of it, it was because he was practicing his stealth behind her.

He knew the route between where he worked and she worked by heart. As quick as he could he weaved between the back alleys to find her and make sure she was okay. As he ran his mind raced, what would the mobs do? Would the faithful blame the church of faith would the followers of the church of the sacred three be blamed? Could the rumors be true? With the church bankrupt the soldiers would have no pay, the temples could fall into disrepair, they wouldn't have the means to direct the province. He stopped short. "Oh Diana! This is going to be chaos! This could significantly weaken the empire." Dante resumed his running.

He started sweating and wiped it away as he ran. Dante tried to keep his wings tucked to decrease wind resistance and wished that he had learned to glide so as to make the trip faster.

[Leyon Juddah]

For the first time, the Benedictus Hospitalitus Motherhouse felt a sense of threat. For so long as it has served Diana, it was sure it would never be under siege. The Motherhouse served all, had tried her best to remain neutral on all religious and political issues, existing only to provide help to those in need. In return, it hoped that the citizens of Diana would treat it with deference and respect, a sanctuary that is to be held sacrosanct.

But now everywhere mobs grew and riots erupted. The Motherhouse did not feel so safe anymore. Will she keep her doors open? Or will it bar them locked, in instinctive self-protection? It was a difficult decision, and all the Servants waited for Mother Superiour's word.

If the Motherhouse closes its doors, it will be like closing her eyes on all children of Diana. It is tantamount to turning her back on her mission to help the needy and sick without discrimination. Fighting results in the wounded. And whether innocent or guilty, the Motherhouse is committed to nurse wounded bodies, wounded souls.

But now? What if the mobs attack them? What about those still sick and bedridden among them? The defenseless?

That is the problem. The Motherhouse is utterly defenseless. It never thought that a day like this would come, where the invisible walls of benevolence that surrounded it is threatened. Now what?

"We must pray," Leyon Juddah said. "We must pray that the Goddess Diana give Mother Superiour wisdom and steer her to the right direction. We pray at the chapel."

All Servants headed towards the chapel. The spring wind blew the main doors open. All at once they caught a glimpse of the city outside, the pending chaos, the mounting fear.

Will they keep the doors open? Or will a Servant lift a hand and close them shut?

[Thoth]

Dante

Dante had to fight his way through the crowds that were gathering in the squares. The cities normally quiet volume level was suddenly ear shattering loud as people screamed, and the sounds of battle filled the streets. The Tower of Serentiy was relatively quiet in comparison to the crowds that was found around the temples. The tower did have a crowd outside of it thought, but it appeared that many of them were students who were trying to get into the school. Dante was eventually able to get past and into the school, but even ones he was in the foyer he was confronted by the entire faculity of the Tower. They were to busy watching and help to shuffle students to safty to really notices Dante arrive. The young woman Dante was looking for was sitting farther back in the room motioning for students to head if certian directions.

Leyon

The Mother Superiour looked about the enterances trying to see what was going on. The chaos beyond was growing more intense. She looked around. "I want some of the Servants to go to the wounded. Please the rest of you return to the chapel and pray that Diana will be with us." She said motioning for the door to be closed. The crowded outside didn't seem to have acutally noticed the building. Its neutrality and good works did provided it with a unique invisibility. Little did they know that invisibility to one made you very visible to another.

One of the paticents had already slipped out of his bed and out of his ile as he bandges. The man gave a half smile as he slipped pasted the a sleeping paticent. He slipped into a side passge to avoid attaracting attention.

[Dante Asunder]

Dante sighed in relief. Tension visibly leaving his body. He ran over to where Hatoriana stood directing students. "Are you okay my dear? Is there anything I can do to help?" He waited patiently for her to respond realizing the stress of the day would be mounting and that she was busy.

As he waited for her to get a moment he scanned the crowd for any sign of threat to his beloved he had his dagger in his palm, concealed as best he could so as not to draw attention, and waited. He occasionally stretched his wings using them to try to intimidate anyone who looked up to no good and was standing too close to Hitoriana.

[Thoth]

OOC: I need to progress this thread.

IC:

Dante

The elven maiden nodded towards Dante before motioning for a crowded to move out of the chamber and into one of the farther parts of the Tower of Serenity. "I am fine." The room was loud, and it was particularly crowded as students and teachers swarmed the room. "The riots don't seemed to have spread this far yet."

City Wide

The riots had encompased the whole of the Holy Plaza. The crowds seemed to be pushing towards the enterances of the temples of Ioannese and Diana. The priest inside the temples tried to hold them back but it was no good. One of the elderly priest was swarmed under by presure. Emmotions were running high and out of control as the brightening wore on.

Noise began to rise as the Legions began to push their way past the crowds rioting around the Basilica. The soldiers were surronding either side of a group of priest and priestess who were dressed in simple white robes. The guards around the Basilica looked at the legions with gratitude. It lasted for only a moment as the head legions walked forward and stabbed the guards in the stomach. Parts of the legion began to take up position around the goverment sections of the building. The remaining priest slipped into the Basilica.

Soon shots began to emerge from the interior of the Basilica. But what could be happening.

Iris the acting Lt. governor looked up from her window over looking the newest arrival. She missed the murder of the guards, but could see the number of priests. She wounder who they could be. Grabbing her cloack she followed walked from the room flanked by either side of her guards. At times like this it was the militaries job. She had already sent messangers to the Paladins, and Church Mages. The Church soilders were already on their way. Or so she had been told. She walked down the halls heading to meet with these legions.

[Kiana]

Kiana had lived in Diana all her life, had seen such a lot of the growth of the city. These riots, though, were something that was different to the young woman's eyes. She kept out of sight as far as was possible and certainly did her best to avoid being pulled into any riotous situation.

However, to cower in the shadows was not her way. To hide was not something that came naturally to Kiana. So, she watched and waited and when she saw that there were some priests nearby, or some city guards or someone ~anyone~ who was in a position of authority, be they Paladin, Mage or Guard, Kiana would step forward and offer her services, her help.

But until that time, she watched, moving towards the Basillica and to the source of the trouble. To find out what was going on and where she could help.

[Dante Asunder]

Dante sighed relief, "Is the tower affiliated with the Temples? If so we should get you out of Diana, it might be dangerous." Dante set his jaw. He was determined to see Hitoriana safe, even if it was against her will.

As Dante waited for her answer, he began to scan the gates and the walls, looking for any sign of trouble. He heard faint shots coming from somewhere and realized that the mobs were turning violent. What would he do if they came here and endangered his love? He wasn't sure, but he would be dead before he would allow them to hurt her.

[Thoth]

Dante

She looked at him "It's the city school which means its has connection to the church and the temples. Weather someone would actually view it as part of the temples is anyone guess." She said moving more people along. The walls seemed to be holding against the crowded for now.

Kiana

The crowds swayed like a every changing storm. It flowed one way and flowed the other. The crowd seemed to be spending most of its motion away from Basilica now though. It forced Kiana to push her self away towards the walls and her movements were slowed to an slow pace. In the mayhem she was forced into the arms of a man who was wearing a cloak and also trying to work his way forward towards Basilica. As she ran into him his cloack was thrown open showing him as one of the Vigiles or guards of the city. He raised a hand to his lips.

City Wide.

Iris walked towards the central areas of the Basilica. She was suprised when two guards came up to her. "Your Excellency the Basilica is being attacked." The picked her up and moved her towards one of the emergency exits. "The guards were quickly taken out or have joined their sides. White robed men and woman are killing every priest in the Basilica."

"We need to get to the mages and the paladins." She said nodding her head. "You get as much of the provincial goverment out of this building head towards the Paladins enclave."

The guard nodded and moved towards what the upper floors of the goverment area.

[Kiana]

Thoth

Kiana looked up at the man whose arms she found herself in and her eyes widened in surprise. Finally, she had found someone who was one of the "good-guys" in her head and she nodded her assent at his finger raised to his lips. It was important that she was quiet, she knew that, she understood. For the man who was of the Vigiles said so. So, she quietly looked at him, not speaking, not at all and her hands, hopefully, did the talking.

She pointed to herself. That was the easy bit, she considered. How does one motion the word "help". She decided quickly, decisively and firmly that she could not do that and so she instead mouthed it. "HELP" and then she pointed to him. One hand on his chest. "I" "HELP" and "YOU".

She hoped that was enough.

[Dante Asunder]

With things seemingly secure, Dante decided something. "Do you want me to stay here with you?" Dante looked her squarely in the eyes to detect any falsehood. If she didn't want him around he had other things he could be doing.

[Thoth]

Kiana

The guard looked at her and then nodded his head. With a wave of his hand he motionded for her to follow him. He pulled his cloack closed again and moved closer towards the wall. Once arriving at the walls around the basilica he motioned for her to follow closer behind him as they moved away from the main entrances to the Basilica. Instead they walked towards the side of the large building.

As they slipped around a corner in the wall they were stopped by two people. Both of them appearing to be woman. Both pulled out a dagger and one of them appraoched the guard and the other Kiana. "Your money." was all they said.

Dante

"I don't mind if you stay, but I feel fairly safe within these walls." She did pause. "Why this place is safe were are you going?"

[Dante Asunder]

Dante looked at Hatoriana. "I have to go find out what is going on. My boss wanted me to go there first, but I had to make sure you were okay." Dante took her hands and looked her in the eyes. "Don't worry my dear I'll be extra careful. In fact if you want, I'll change my seeming so as to blend in more." Dante tilted his head to the side. He didn't think too much would be going on right now, but hey you never know. Besides as is obviously apparent, he is more concerned about Hatoriana anyway.

[Gye'ron Val Oriden]

Gye'ron had returned to Diana in order to reunite with his love, Ryiana, and inform her that his efforts in Tearsfall had failed, in part because his heart was not behind his doings. He had to let her know that despite his deep and undying love for her, he could not be with her. His path would lead him to dark and dangerous places, and he couldn't take anyone with him, couldn't allow himself to be vulnerable though attachments to others. He had to be alone, completely alone.

Quite contrary to his expectations he had arrived in a torn Diana. In all the time that he had spent in the city, the time as an inquisitor for the Church of the Sacred Three, he had never once seen anything approximating violence - besides that stemming from the work of the secret inquisition - within the confines of the city walls. He was shocked, even flabbergasted, by the events which he witnessed take place in the courtyard. He had to know what was happening.

Why were the legions taking charge by killing the city guards, just exactly who had taken the church money, which of the two united factions truly held power within the church itself or at least had held power? There were so many questions, and he needed to find a way to answer them - now.

Gye'ron pushed through the crowd, not hesitating to elbow or knee those pushing back against him where necessary. He would not be stopped, he had to get to the Basilica no matter what, even if that meant killing a few imperial soldiers - it wouldn't matter if he did, as far as the Imperial government was concerned he was officially dead, Gye'ron Val Oriden didn't exist, he didn't exist. How can you charge a dead man with any crimes? Besides, he didn't intend to be caught if he did do anything untoward.

The holy warrior made no attempt to try and hide his armaments under his forest green cloak which was clasped together by a silver wolf brooch. His broadsword was shown plainly in it's black sheath at his side, it's ruby encrusted cross guard glinting under the light of the suns. On his other side was his dagger, it's silver pommel gleaming. His weapons and their decoration could not have stood out more against his black leather attire. He looked like a man bred for combat, the weathered appearance of his tanned face only helped to enhance this visage.

[Bythius]

A tiny spot of blood began to well from the tip of Bythius' index finger. Hands shaking, the pale-haired elf dropped his knife and distractedly put the finger to his mouth. Uneasily, the elf's eyes again darted in the direction of the simple wooden door that was the only entrance to his home. Locked. Good. The unending noise of the milling throngs in the street outside invaded from all angles. Sitting back on his heels, Bythius stared blankly at his beloved garden.

Taking up roughly a third of his floor space, the young elf had planted a ring of flowers and herbs of varying heights and colors that rose up around a carefully hedged weeping willow. Once every few brightenings, he trimmed its branches, careful to not let it gain more then few feet in height. Usually the elf took great joy in his plants, however, the tension that crowded from all around made that impossible.

For what felt the hundredth time, Bythius took mental stock of each item of the room. Each piece of plain furniture was familiar, the unadorned walls comforting; even the solitary window that framed his well maintained yard was unchanged. And yet, everything felt like it was on hold, waiting for some cataclysmic event.

Rising from he'd dropped his knife, Bythius moved to the corner where he had hung his hammock. Busying himself with the redundant task of straightening the sheets, the elf tried desperately to find peace of mind. I have been gone such a short time, how can it be that I've come home to such chaos? Every eye I see is afraid, each mouth taunt with stress.

Abruptly, Bythius found that he had no sheets to fold, no creases to pull straight. Sucking one corner of his mouth, he moved from hammock to doorway, hesitant to actually look outwards. Reaching for the handle, Bythius again saw the spot of blood on his finger. Please, gentle Diana, do not let that spot be a sign of more blood to come.

Opening the door slowly, the day's sun shone brightly down into his face. As full and glaring as the light was, it did nothing to ease the chill that ran across his skin. The few people that walked the street did so aimlessly; equal amounts of fear and barely restrained violence showing in each slow, cautious movement.

The burning in his stomach spoke of his heart's desire to stay home where it was safe. But with each passing person, and each forlorn face, Bythius could not deny the growing pull of compassion. Something, somewhere, was desperately wrong. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Bythius retrieved his knife from where he'd left it lying beside his flowers, stepped outside, and locked his home. Turning, he headed towards the temple district, towards answers, and more strongly, towards where he felt his help may be most needed.