Shrine to the Aetherians

[Nimh]

On the edges of the city, near the shores, was a vast garden filled with shade trees, flowers, insects, animals of tame sorts. Well-kept dirt paths made their way through the sanctuary, and one could wander through and forget Vers's colors and music and bustle. In fact, any entertainers who wandered onto these grounds were promptly shown the way out by Ioannes's men, albeit in a rather unpriestly fashion. This was one of the city's few places of absolute solemnity.

In the depths of this forest of sorts was a small round white structure, with a dome and elegant gold inlay. There were scents of wood and incense wafting outward. Upon entry between the fluted pillars that encircled half the shrine, one immediately encountered an orange licking flame that happily crackled in a pit in the building's exact center. Around the half of the shrine that pillars did not hold up, there were four fine white stone statues in alcoves set into the walls, and they were studded with the church's gold and silver. There was a gentle Carmelya with a cornucopia in her hands and flowers at her feet. To her left was Aslan, bearing his sword and shield and wearing a fine helmet. Ioannes stood in the middle, tall and haloed and strict. Next came Diana, winged and placid. There were foodstuffs, coins, and ashes strewn about the alcoves, from recent offerings. Looking around the scene it was possible to see a strange disbalance in the whole scene. There was demand for the fifth figure and there was an alcove present for that. Yet, it stood empty and dust and stone crumbs were signs that a statue present there was removed not so long time ago. A short man dressed in the cloth of simple mason with an apron full of measuring instruments was busy making notes on the size of the niche.

A man stood with his arms folding, standing between the alcoves that housed Ioannes and Diana, and his eyes seemed to light up at anyone's entrance. An exotic Arakmatian girl sat crosslegged by the fire, her face smudged gray with ashes, her chin in her hands. They both wore white robes and sacred amulets, but clearly neither of then had even a hint of Daitternian blood in them.

The man stepped forward and raised his chin as he spoke. "Serale, and Ioannes save you. I am Daniel, this is Alma, and welcome to the Versian Shrine to the Aetherians. For what purpose are you here, traveler?" There was a certain hint of desperation in his voice, like that of a salesman peddling goods and fearing that his customers would turn their backs.

Original idea and description is by GM Kenaz