[Temple] To Surpass her Hero

[Sarai DeLano]

5th Brightening in the Month of Cryxatum, Spring
Era 1 of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum

Ever since the passing of her dearest father, Sarai had promised herself she would surpass him in his healing abilities. So far would she go, that Sarai decided the only way to do so would learn the Holy Magic; Thaumaturgy. This was one of the reasons she returned to Natura, even if it wasn’t the top reason. Of course the young lady returned to an old home, full of memories and beautiful places. The other, more important reason; was her mother. But that was a story for another brightening. With a goal in mind, in this wonderful season of spring, Sarai headed for The Temple of the Blessed Hands.

Having read upon a bit information on the training the Blessed Hands had to offer, she was slightly disappointed. To learn as much as she would like from the great teachers there, she would have to be a paladin. This was not to her liking. Being an eager learner, she wanted to learn all she could. But she didn’t want to tie herself down to a faction of sorts. The only thing she would tie herself down to would be her Goddess, Diana or her God, Aslan. Carmelya also wasn’t far behind in that deduction, having grown up in Natura. She was really an equal opportunist when it came to Aetherian Gods and Goddesses. With the thought in mind that she might not learn all she wanted to, Sarai went anyways hoping to convince her teacher otherwise.

Sarai left her house wearing her usual get up, slate blue skirt and tunic, with her money pouch tucked away in one of the skirts pockets. Owning nothing else, but a cheap dagger and some other clothing, she carried nothing else. Sarai passed many buildings before reaching the outskirts of the main city, walking on a path that leads to The Henges. If she hadn’t lived in Natura before, she might have gotten lost easily, but for her it wasn’t too difficult to find the Temple.

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Soon enough, Sarai was at the big doors of the fortress like Temple. With a bit of a struggle, she managed to get one open and entered the gorgeous Cathedral. Having only seen the inside of the Temple once as a child, the beauty of it still astonished her. From the architecture, to the pews, to the beautiful stained glass, Sarai was taken aback. One pane caught her attention right away, Diana. Without bothering to see if someone was in the Temple to help her, she strode over to the beautiful window and looked at in awe. Here was one of the Goddesses she worshipped, her Patron Goddess, in all her glory.

Should anyone see her there, it might seem that she didn’t need the help, but a welcoming air was felt around the young lady. Even in her trance, she looked around for a clergyman, healer, or anyone for that matter that could help in her goal.

[Fox]

The Temple was always busy, in a quiet sort of way. It was a rare brightening, anyhow, when there weren't one or two people there and this brightening was no exception, there were people around and about and nearby. No one stopped Sarai in her consideration of the window, rather they moved around her, doing their own thing.

Still, as she looked, a man approached her. He was a human man, tall and thick bodied, with a shaved head. His head, though shaved, appeared to need another shave as it was matted with stubble.

He came and stood next to her, looking up at the window. When it seemed that she was ready to talk, he spoke to her

"Beautiful, isn't She?" he asked, looking at the window with reverence in his expression. "She watches over us all here at the Temple... how may I help you?"

Should Sarai look, she would see that the man speaking to her was dressed as a priest, and so was likely to be able to answer any question she had. He smiled encourageingly, as he waited for her reply, obviously wondering what it was that had brought this young woman here to the temple.

[Sarai DeLano]

OOCSorry it took me so long to reply.

As she continued to look at her Goddess, one of the clergyman of the temple approached her. Sarai didn't notice him in her trance of wonder, and jumped a bit when he spoke. "Beautiful indeed." She replied back and then turned to the man, finding a priest before her and smiled back at him.

"I came here today to learn more about Thaumaturgy, and did not expect to find such a gorgeous display of the Gods and Goddesses. Anyways, I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction?" She wished to continue to ask about why only a Paladin can learn the sphere of Thaumaturgy to its fullest, and if there was some loophole she could find or quest of sorts to rectify the fact she wasn't. Sarai believed that to help heal this world, not only will she need to learn the healing powers, but also a way to smite evil and protect herself. Sarai also was a very independent person and did not wish to attach herself to the Naturan Paladins.

But, Sarai did not ask these things, figuring it would be better to ask another time, or the person who taught her why these regulations were put in place. She would be more than willing to give some sort of compensation if that was needed, or her time, she truly just wanted to learn as much as she could.

[Venn Drega]

"Ah," the large man said, his eyes studying the young woman's face carefully, as if looking for something beyond the surface. "I am sure we can find you someone well versed in that field to guide you." One of his eyes seemed to wander a moment while the other remained fixed on Sarai, making difficult to ascertain whether he was looking at her or elsewhere; perhaps both.

He looked up at the image of Diana for a moment. He himself had stood exactly where Sarai was to study and reflect upon the deity many times and he smiled to find that the goddess did have her worshipers despite the fact that Carmelya garnered more attention from the Naturan populace. He said nothing of this but made a mental note for his own sake.

"Please follow me," he nodded before leading the young woman from the sanctum to a long stone corridor that echoed slightly at their footfall. The took several turns before stepping outside. They crossed through a large square courtyard with a circular fountain and proceeded back indoors into another section of the large temple complex, descended a spiral staircase.

"I am Father Kerwal, by the way," the priest introduced himself. He paused to allow the woman he guided to respond in kind. "What, pray tell is your interest in thaumaturgy?" He laid his hand on an old oak door at the base of the stairs that opened into a vast well tended garden. One of many on the temple grounds. He stopped at the edge of a perfectly manicured lawn not only to hear the reply to his question, but to scan the location for a particular person.

[Fox]

Peer Moderation ~ Natura. This Thread has been approved for Peer Moderation, assigned to Peermod Venn Drega under the authority of Game Master Fox , as per the accepted Modplan . Participants are advised that conditions and circumstances may be adjusted to ensure fairness and balance.

[Sarai DeLano]

OOCSorry this has taken me so long to reply!

Sarai watched as the mans eyes seemed to wander oddly, as though he had some sort of lazy eye that could not stay fixed at an object for too long. It was odd, and she difficulty telling if he was looking at her or not. The priest than looked back at Diana, and Sarai was glad to find someone else in Natura who respected the goddess as much as she. She looked up at her patron goddess along with the priest, but before she could go back into her trance she was interrupted by the prieist's words to follow him. She did, and took in the sights as she followed him to another area of the Temple.

They went through a long hallway where their footsteps echoed off the stone walls, and Sarai admired the soft noise and architecture. The priest opened a door to the outside and continued onward through a beautiful courtyard, only to go back inside into another part of the fortress like temple. After entering the new building they descended a spiral staircase. Upon finishing there descent he introduced himself as Father Kerwal. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Father. I am Sarai DeLano." As soon as she spoke they came upon yet another door that led to the outside, this time to a garden.

As Father Kerwal opened the door he asked her, "What, pray tell is your interest in thaumaturgy?". She didn't need to think too long on an answer and soon as they reached the lawn she began to answer. "My father was a healer of sorts, an herbalist. He never delved into magic though, and I though what better to surpass my hero than to learn the healing magics?" She said with a shrug, continuing, "I've seen those unable to be healed by herbs alone and believe that if I want to help others Thaumaturgy is the way to do it. But not only do I want to learn how to heal, but to protect myself as well." Sarai finished, and looked out at the garden and lawn, admiring how well taken care of they were.

[Venn Drega]

Kerwal had become accustomed to the way others would look intently at him, especially his eyes. Few ever questioned him about it and most usually learned to ignore his particular quirk in time. It was one of those things that had become a natural way of life. It was an opportunity for grace through a singular weakness. As a young man he had been awkward and embittered but time and many lessons among those who were compassionate and understanding softened his perspective and even developed an unexpected thankfulness.

He listened to Sarai’s reply with practised attentiveness and a slight smile. He wondered what the gods had in store for her, where the skills she sought now would lead her to in life. These were mysteries woven into the loom of the many lives that passed through the temple gates, some that remained while others travelled to regions well beyond in the ebb and flow of destiny and choice.
“Very well,” he said in soft tones to his temporary charge.

He moved further into the garden to a small clearing inhabited butterflies. The person Father Kerwal sought had detected the arrival of the priest and young woman the moment they entered the garden. It was a residual racial trait borne by sea elves that gave them remarkable hearing to make up for limited eyesight. And yet the figure that moved slowly through a flowing series of positions with sword in hand was not entirely Elvish. Kerwal stood patiently as the half-elf finished the pattern of martial discipline. When the half sea-elf came a cessation of motion he held his form perfectly still as if he had become a statue. This ended as he turned his head slowly to regard Sarai and Kerwal, his blade slipping inconspicuously into its scabbard.

“Venn, I have brought a student to you today,” Kerwal began indicating with his hands toward the woman with him. “Sarai, this is Venn Drega of the Silver Stars.” Venn drew himself up to his full height of nearly six and a half feet and bowed courteously. He was dressed in a simple tunic and brown trousers. The only accoutrement he had was his sheathed sword. “She has come to learn thaumaturgy and perhaps a few others things,” the priest explained. Venn took on a casual stance and allowed his oddly colored eyes to examine his prospective pupil for a moment. “Well, then, I’ll be one my way,” Kerwal smiled. He shook Sarai’s hands as he moved past her and said, “You’re in good hands,” he winked, his stray eye seeming to fix upon her for once.

“Tell me something about yourself, Sarai,” the temple commander requested gently. “And ask anything of me you wish to know,” he added.

[Sarai DeLano]

Sarai obediently followed Father Kerwal into the garden and found herself distracted by the butterflies, almost bumping into the priest in front of her. Luckily, she stopped herself just in time and looked up to find an elvish man going through forms with a sword. She admired his gracefulness with the sword, despite the fact she doubted she would ever pick one up and actually learn how to use it. Sarai stood slightly behind Kerwal, off of his shoulder, watching the somewhat Elvish man in front of her. Soon enough, the swordsman finished going through the motions of a form, and turned to Farther Kerwal and Sarai.

Father Kerwal introduced herself to Venn Drega of the Silver Stars. He was a paladin then, who better to teach someone the arts of Thaumaturgy? Sarai then noticed how tall he was, and she felt extremely small. He had to be at least a foot taller then her, and the fact that he was more learned than her as well, it made her feel inadequate next to him. Venn bowed to her, at which point Sarai gathered some of her skirt and curtsied in his direction. Father Kerwal then turned to her with a smile and shook her hands. "Thank you Father Kerwal, I hope to see you again." She said and smiled, watching him go.

Venn spoke to her then, and Sarai turned to him to listen. He asked her to tell something about herself and ask anything in return. At that moment, she noticed his oddly colored eyes, and all ready had a line of questions before she even answered his. "Well, where to start? I was born here in Natura, though due to some unfortunate events I moved with my brother to Primus Gaudeo to spend some time with my Aunt. I returned this past winter to study and to begin anew." She then shrugged, not really sure what the Silver Star really wanted to hear. Sarai was outgoing, but without any direct incentive, didn't usually divulge everything about herself. "And I do have a question for you, two in fact. I notice that you seem to be of elvish decent, and yet I have never seen eyes like that before. Not sound rude or anything, and since I have a lack in a way to ask this... What are you?" She said and flushed from embarrassment. It was a very blunt way to ask someone about their heritage, but she truly didn't know a different way to ask about it. "Another thing, out of curiousity, how long have you been a Silver Star? Oh and, if there is anything else you'd like to know more about me, ask away. I don't mind."

[Venn Drega]

Sarai answered the question well enough. Venn was not merely looking for the bits of information provided but also the manner with which she delivered them. It looked as if she was unsure as to how to respond exactly but she did so nonetheless. Then she asked a question of her own.

The paladin responded with a quick smile that showed his eye-teeth. He had noticed her color slightly with her inquiry, showing her sensitivity to etiquette but also the courage to assuage her curiosity. “Well, lady Delano, my mother was a human and my father a tёleris. A sea-elf,” he clarified. “The Thёlyri live in the warm currents of the Bellenic Sea far to the south off the eastern shore of Trelore.” He was unsure whether or not she knew enough geography to know the places he named but trusted her education in basic schola would suffice. He was, however, willing to further elaborate if needed. “Our eyes are designed to see in the depths and we have gills to breathe under water,” he said indicating the three slits along each side of his neck. “A full sea-elf also has webbed hands,” he further commented holding out his own webless hands. “But as you can see, I do not.”

Venn paused and cocked his head to one side, considering any further question he might have. “I heard you say that you wanted to be a healer like your father,” he stated, looking directly into her eyes. “Oh, I have excellent hearing, it’s a sea-elf thing,” he explained quickly. “Tell me about him. Does he still practice his craft?”

[Sarai DeLano]

Lady DeLano? Now that was something to laugh it. Her, a lady? Surely not. While she might know social etiquette, that hardly meant she held a title. And if Venn had seen her on one of her more 'wild' days, wandering the surrounding forests of Natura, he might have thought otherwise. She would not interrupt him to correct his formality, for Sarai was deeply interested in the answer he gave. But that didn't mean she wouldn't try to afterwards.

Venn declared to her that he was half Thelyri, and her eyes widened in amazement. Sarai had met numerous amounts of elves in Natura, but most of them were Medonian with a few Syl'rosyan elves thrown into the mix. Never before had she met a Sea-Elf, or even part Sea-Elf, so Sarai was slightly taken aback. She knew of them only in stories of mer-peoples and the like, so it was quite the surprise and pleasure to finally meet one, even though Venn was only half. He gave her a short summary of the characteristics of a pure-blooded Thelyri, eyes for seeing underwater, gills for breathing, and webbed hands. Venn explained that he only had the eyes and gills, and Sarai looked when he pointed at them, intrigued by them. How wonderful it would be to be able swim and breath underwater! She was quite jealous of his abilities, considering she was nothing but a normal woman of the human race. But she tried not to think about it, for if she felt inferior to the elves of Natura, it would only prove their prejudices.

After explaining his ancestry, Venn said something that bewildered Sarai. How could he have heard her? When she had answered Father Kerwal they were all the way back at the door and just entering the grounds where Venn and Sarai stood now. He looked into her eyes at that moment, and she did not feel uncomfortable. Sarai held her own, but a look of confusion was on her face. Her eyes widened once again and she opened her mouth to ask the obvious question, but Venn answered it before she could even ask it. He explained that another characteristic of Sea-Elves was great hearing. Awesome… She thought to herself.

“Tell me about him. Does he still practice his craft?” Venn asked her, and immediately her happy demeanor faltered. Sarai’s eyes looked sad at this moment but she did not frown. “No, he no longer practices I’m afraid. He passed away when I was around 9 ordinations old, that was the unfortunate event I spoke of earlier.” Sarai swallowed her sadness down with a loud gulp, and forced a smile on her face. Her eyes remained the same as she continued to answer his question. “Of what I remember my father was a happy man, and well immersed in the knowledge of healing with herbs and medicines. He rose me and my brother by himself, and worked in his shop most his days. He did the best he could without any knowledge of Arcana, and was able to heal many people. But of all the herbs and potions in his shop, nothing seemed to help him when he became sick. This was the reason I wanted to surpass him and learn Thaumaturgy, so that I could overcome the restrictions of only using herbalism and alchemy.”

[Venn Drega]

“Oh,” was all he said sympathetically. What more could he say? He was sorry to have awoken the memory of her loss but could tell by the way Sarai spoke that she did indeed love her father deeply even now. He remembered well the death of his own mother and remembered again what he so often allowed himself to forget. Humans simply didn’t live all that long. Sea-elves had a life-expectancy that was ten times that of humans and such relationships were bound to inevitable grief. It was a reality he tried not to think about, especially since his wife was a human about the same age as Sarai.

“That certainly explains a lot,” he murmured. “Healing is a noble pursuit and thaumaturgy the logical field to pursue.” Venn turned slightly, shifting his feet before asking, “Umm, do you mind if I asked how old you are now? I still have some trouble gauging the age of humans.” After she answered he would pursue a new line of thought.

“If you wish to begin training in thaumaturgy, we must first see that you are unbound. Not everyone is able to be unbound, Sarai. Only one among a thousand or so can be so released." Venn did not want the aspiring healer be disappointed in the end. "At the same time, the procedure is mostly harmless but there are the very few who never wake from the process, you need to know the risks." The half-teleris circled the woman, studying the pattern of her vis. "My role is to unlock the blocks to your mind that keeps you from being able to perceive the energy that exists within you and around you. Often times the releasing of these barriers are a bit of a shock to your psyche and will likely cause you to lose consciousness. Many report of having very vivid dreams as their mind reorients itself to a new awareness of things. This may render you unconscious for several candlemarks but the reaction varies from person to person."

[Sarai DeLano]

Most women would be extremely offended if one asked about their age, but Sarai was not like most women. Despite the fact she followed social etiquette quite nicely, Sarai had a carefree personality and didn't follow the norms of the way a 'lady' should act. She gladly spoke her mind and was more than happy to run around and get dirty. Some say this is because she hasn't really 'grown up' yet, but Sarai believes that no matter her age she will always enjoy the outdoors. So when Venn asked Sarai how old she was, she was not offended in the slightest. Her demeanor and stance did not change to show she was agitated by the question, and answered truthfully.

"I'm nineteen ordinations old, and my birth-brightening is next month." She said matter-of-factly before Venn changed the subject to the reason why she was here; Thaumaturgy. He informed the young maiden that he would first try to unbound her, a process she all ready understood was needed to make it so that one can interact with the different planes. She also knew that it was possible she couldn't be unbound, in fact, it was rare to become unbound. Venn reminded her anyways, and the worry she wouldn't be able to follow her aspirations briefly entered her mind. Sarai soon pushed it away, being superstitious, she believed that if she felt that way the unbinding process wouldn't work.

Venn began circling her, and even though she wanted to follow him, she stood in place, and followed him with her head as best she could. He explained his role in the matter, how it was his job to pull down the barriers that surrounded her. Venn also explained that she might experience dreams during the process. This caused Sarai to perk up a bit, that was new and interesting information. Sarai wondered what kind of dreams she would have, if she had any. I can't remember the last time I even had a dream... she thought to herself. He then finished his short speech on the unbinding process, and wherever Venn had ended up after circling her, she turned to him.

"I understand the risks involved, and the possibility the unbinding process might not work. Despite this, I still wish to try. How could I live with myself if I didn't?" Sarai said, and smiled in jest after her rhetorical question. She had a few questions running through her mind about the details of the ritual. One of them included; Will she be lying down? Sarai assumed so, considering the fact she would become unconscious. But Sarai didn't voice them and assumed Venn would lead her in the right direction.

[Venn Drega]

There was a fire in her eye that was undeniable. He admired the courage of this young woman and understood now what drove her to pursue her unbinding that would open a new world of sense to her. Venn stopped walking around Sarai having examined the common patterns that were invisible to the visible eye but evident to a mage. The young woman had a knot in her arcanic pattern that interfered with Venn’s initial probe and would require a deeper engagement to unravel. There were some in whom the knot was so convoluted that they could not be unbound without being severely damage. Venn could not yet tell the state of Sarai’s pattern until he began to delve deeper. "So, if you are ready, we will begin. Just hold still."

He did not ask her to sit or to lie down but rather had her continue to stand. Venn raised a hand with his fingers spread out in front of the woman's face. There he began to look beyond the surface and into the more intricate tapestry of her energy. Sarai felt a tingling sensation in the back of his head although there was nothing there. That sensation oscillated between hot and cold along her spine and an odd metallic taste touched the tip of her tongue. The sensation began to shift and encompass her head, just under the scalp until it was no longer and oscillation of temperature but a solid feeling of warmth that began to spread all through her body. Venn's concentration did not flag but it seemed that he was manipulating something as his eyes darted to and fro as if he were watching something happen. The heat grew from uncomfortable to unbearable as Sarai’s body felt pricked by a million tiny needles. Her vision too began to blur and fade into an unfamiliar white glow. That glow grew brighter and more intense. Even closing her eyes did not shut out the light. All of a sudden there was a searing sensation and her head felt as it was exploding.

Sarai’s legs buckled beneath her and Venn caught her as she slumped forward. The paladin lay the woman on the soft grass of the garden. She was breathing a little faster than normal but had lost consciousness or rather, her consciousness was locked in an invisible struggle.

"Hmmm, Kerwal had mentioned you had someone who might be unbound," said a telera who had emerged to observe from the shadows of the doorway.

"Her name is Sarai DeLano," Venn replied. "Her father was a healer. You may have known of him?"

"DeLano," the priestess murmured. “Yes, I recall the name.” There was something more in her voice but she remained silent.

“And so we wait,” Venn said, sitting down next to Sarai’s form. He had little idea as to how long it might take for Sarai’s mind to adjust to its new awareness or if she would be able to adjust at all. The experience of unbinding was different for every individual.

Within Sarai’s mind, everything had faded. The fire that had filled her was gone and she had a sense of serenity fall over her. She found herself next to a shimmering pond of water within a small circle of grass. Beyond the pool and circle was... nothing. She felt her gaze being draw towards the pool and although she thought the pond to be bottomless at first, images began to appear. Images from her past that unsettled her...