Matters of the Soul

Temple District, a vaguely time near lunch hour

There was peace and serenity in the Temple District. No proselytizing, polemizing or prophetizing happening in the square. It was just a quiet affair.

None of that seemed to reach Aelwyn, the slightly torched ruddy sith-makar who looked near ready to shake the place up. Claw tips clacked at the floor. He was wearing a white shirt and a black loincloth-slash-apron, of all things; though his glaive remained by him.

"One of these temples?" He asks, turning his head towards the ribbony and feathered companion of his. Who may have been slightly taller. "This one always rather avoided this place, it is not good for one's health." Orange eyes go back to scanning the area.

Only slightly taller. Slix glances down at Aelwyn before shaking her head with a snicker. "Depends on wha' ya define as health, hon," she croons, amused. "'sides, ya ain' gonna find 'er super easy here. She's a Vardamite, they temple is up in the mountains."

Bundled in a several robes, the egalrin raises a feathered brow. "Why avoid it? It's a right nice place ta go 'round tho'. Cernan- err, Gilead's temple is really pretty. Tarien's seems right up ya alley too."

The temple on and of the mountain is perhaps one less visited, or less joyously visited, than the others. Yet the mountain path is well worn and not vacant. In fact, at least one individual descends the path to the temple district. Aside from a gray cloak to ward against the growing wind and chill, Verna bears no Mourner-adjacent garb at present. Instead, she is attired in a traveller's dress with long sleeves, multiple skirts, and panels of bright pink. A small basket is hooked in one elbow.

"Because there is usually lot of pain involved when this one visits." Aelwyn flashes his teeth at Slixvah. "And besides, this one does not need to find a god." At the mention of the Vardamites being up in the mountains, the waiter-Dragoon tilts his head. "Tch, yet the wind up there?" There's a flash of his teeth, and he bumps his hip against Slixvah's. "Unless Ribbon is offering to shelter this one from the storm."

The orange eyes look around the square again, and they narrow repeatedly. Then his eyes turn back towards the egalrin. "Mourner, is that her? In the... pink?"

"You can go when you're not in pain," Slixvah retorts, clicking her beak her at him playfully. "And ya ain' gotta go ta find a god. Ya can jus' go. Li', Temple of Althea? They have cooking classes! Temple of Tarien's got loads on plays and pranks!"

She's bumped, and she returns it with one of her own. "Oh puh-lease. It ain't that bad! Well- granted, I gots loads of feathers. Here, ya can just get in a wing and you'll be all goo-"

Pink? Slix casts her gaze out, scanning around before finding the bright pink. "Hrm? No, Missus Verna ain' wear tha' kinda thing." Pause. "... wait, no. Tha's her. Damn, pink looks good on 'er." She tugs Aelwyn along before she calls out, "Ey yo Missus Verna! How goes it! Lookin' bright!"

Verna continues her way into the temple square, apparently not focused on any specific passersby. That is until she hears her name called. Her head turns towards the voice, and notes the colorful and ribboned avian and adjacent Makari. Her course alters, acknowledging the call, though she does not respond verbally until having reduced the intervening distance to a more conversational measure. "Good day to you both. All is well, I trust?"

Aelwyn gives Slixvah a strange stare, before leaning forward. "This one supposes he knows all about those plays by now." He flickers his tongue. "And tch, if Ribbon weren't-" Aelwyn is interrupted and tugged along, and he subtly adjusts the collar of his strangely buttoned shirt. Well, except for the top one. Have to keep appearances, even in the cold.

Coming to a pause besides Slixvah, he bows his head. "Mourner." He greets, before flicking his hand up to adjust the few ribbons on his horns. "This one has an..." He raises his head, and clicks his teeth annoyedly. "... a proposition, this one must ask."

Slixvah smiles, eyes squinting. "Bless your heart," she croons before stopping in front of the Mourner with Aelwyn. She adjusts her robes before standing with her hands on her hips. "Hiya! For me, I'm grand!"

She glances to Aelwyn, letting him take the fore.

Verna dips her head to Slixvah in acknowledgement before turning her full attention to Aelwyn. Some curiosity is present in her features as she gestures lightly with her free hand. "Intriguing. Please, continue."

Aelwyn looks towards Slixvah - notes the glance - then towards Verna - also notes the stare. He twists his lips and clicks his teeth. "This one needs Mourner to look at someone." He crosses his arms across his chest, then tilts his head slightly forward.

Moment passes, before he lifts his gaze up again. His lips are spread in a wide grin. "Someone who is currently in the bottom of the Arcanist's Guild."

Slixvah quirks a brow at Aelwyn. The bottom of the Arcanist's Guild is magicless. She doesn't add anything, as she was a tinge out of the loop on the specifics and opts to listen instead.

Verna's brows lift as the basic request and location are noted, then they lower as her brow furrows mildly. "What is the context or manner that you wish the individual examined? Are they living? Deceased? Deceased and re-animated?" After a pause, she continues, "Does the location refer to the holding cells, implying they are a threatening user of magic? Or are they a nascent alcolyte who recently joined The Scoiety for Progressive Arcanists? I may be able to offer the aid you seek, but some details and clarification are required."

"They tried to summon a devil." Aelwyn abruptly says, before he lets his hand lower down, leaning against his glaive. The blade had a fire on. "... this one was told a cleric should look at them." He tilts his head towards Slixvah, then back towards Verna.

"This one is not versed in the matters of soul." The draconian bows his head deeply. "This one shall be in debt for any help Mourner can provide."

Slixvah rests a hand on Aelwyn's arm, supporting him through this ask. "I dunno if ya heard 'bout that fiasco wit' a circus in town, but it relates ta tha'," she supplies.

"Ah," the word is a soft sound from Verna as she nods. "I heard only passing mention," she admits before considering. "I can speak to this individual, if they permit and are permitted such. Fiends are no simple matter, and many who conjure them seek to do so with benign intentions."

A brief pause there before she inquires, "Is the matter of great urgency? I depart the city for Am'shere shortly, but will be available again in a week, perhaps less."

Aelwyn looks towards Slixvah. His lip curls sideways. "Fiasco." He lifts Slixvah's hand up in the air and attempts to fold it over her. "But a great show." That's what he was told, anyway - and why let all the bad ruin the good? Even if there was a lot of it. Overwhelming amount of it.

The Dragoon turns towards Verna and he bows his head once more. "There is..." His toe claws scrape at the ground. The anxiousness was there. "... there is no great urgency, Mourner."

The ruddy sith-makar lets out a growl in his throat and steps closer towards Verna. "When she returns from Am'shere, this one must insist on the topic of returning the favor."

Slix giggles quietly as her hand is returned to her own shoulder. "Me thinks fiasco is an unda'statement," she opines before looking to the two of them. "Am'shere? Das a trek. But don' worr' Aelwyn, like I said, tha' place is prolly th' safest place fo' folks. They'll still be good in a week," she attempts to assuage her friend, sensing his anxiety.

"Thus there is likewise no urgency concerning any return of favor," Verna notes to Aelwyn. "As well, I owe some duty to the living, and certainly in regards to mortal souls." She then considers and adds, lips turning downward towards a frown, "Unless you refer to Am'shere, in which case I am quite obligated to assist."

Aelwyn turns his head towards Slixvah, flash of his orange eyes looking quite desperate. "This one... time flows different, down there." He then suffices to tell her. When there is nothing; a week is a long time. A grin returns to his lips. "Ribbon is true though; this one is certain nothing shall happen down there." Yet the world moves on.

The ruddy sith-makar clicks his teeth, then looks towards Slixvah. "This city is strange; this one keeps asking for much, yet none is asked to be given in return." He hms, sliding a hand down on his hip. "In some places, that is when one knows they promised a lot."

With that aside, the draconian turns his attention back towards Verna. "This one is also headed for Am'shere. What is she looking for there?"

Slix's gaze softens. "I know, hon. I know. But me thinks bein' insanely bored is way better than alternatives, yes?" An amused expression crosses her. "Sometimes its betta ta enrich th' community through goodwill rather than debts and checks. Aeries are like tha', lotta Makari nests. You're the strange one, silly." She elbows him in the side.

She looks between the Mourner and the Dragoon, head quirked to the side. "... two people goin' ta Am'shere outta th' blue is bit mo' than coincidence," she comments.

"There is a threat to The People," Verna explains, "and a need for aid, if not a formal request. Thus I go to render aid. It is less spontaneous," she now adds to Slixvah, "and more that it is a recent realization concerning ongoing troubes."

Aelwyn snaps his teeth at Slixvah playfully. "Perhaps she should come across the sea; and see truly what is strange." He keeps his teeth showing, while he taps the other's ankles. Eyes turn back towards Verna, and he bows his head. "It is as she says; this one shall venture to do the same. And find Hotstone." The last one gets a grin.

The draconian gives the egalrin a look. "She did hear of the Charn, did she not?"

Slix's brows furrow. "Problem with th' People? Hrm. That is... concernin'. D'ya need a hand wit' anythin'? My schedule's pretty open."

She chuckles at Aelwyn, her foot lightly thunking Aelwyn's tail in return. "Sure! I love travelin'."

She raises a brow. "Uh. No? Wha' th' hell they doin' this time?"

Verna's frown deepens. "They seek to take from others what can benefit themselves," she offers to the avian, "as too many Charneth are disposed to do. This one, in particular, seems a machination most foul and most organized, from what information is known to me. All the more reason it must be countered."

A pause for a sequence of breath before she acknowledges Aelwyn's bit of levity. "Afterwards, perhaps Auranar and I can enjoy the pleasantness of the company and lands. I have not yet had the opportunity to visit the jungles of Am'shere."

Aelwyn clicks his teeth. "These Charneth are turning the kin into murderous beasts using poison of some sort." He explains, before he bows his head. "Perhaps Lava or Twin have a need," The draconian leans towards the egalrin. "For a woman of her many talents." A teasing rumble.

"Tch, she should have seen the festival of flowers. One time Ribbon would have been invisible." Verna gets a grin. "There is plenty to be pleasant of. Heat, food, hotstones - and sometimes the jungle does not try to kill one."

Slixvah grinds her beak. "They..." She clenches her fist. "... can they jus' not stick they nose in every thin' and stop screwin' it up?"

A breath. She relaxes her hands. "... for Ruru and Lavaboy? Yuh. I'll gladly lend a hand fo' them, and anyone else. Jus' say th' word and I'll swoop on in," she grins, smacking a fist into a hand.

A giggle escapes her. "Festival of flowers? Shoo', wish I didn' miss tha'. But yeah! It's great, really good food! Been there befo' a handful of times!"

Aelwyn's turn to put his hand on Slixvah's arm. "They will be stopped." He reassures her with a pat. "And it is not this one's word one has to wait for. This one is not sure if there is any word to be waiten for." He clicks his teeth, and a tilt of his head.

"The food is great - yet this one is not certain if they quite match the one at TarRaCe..." Speaking of which, the Dragoon slowly realizes. "... this one should return to his duties." Finger goes up to his collar. "... how come Sharkie has so sharp teeth...?" He rumbles.

Slixvah's expression warms at the hand on her, she herself reaching up to hol dit. "Very well. I'll make m'way ova there, see what I can do. I'll catch up wit' tha' biz soon. Gotta let my fam know where I'm goin'."

She shakes her head. "Naw, It's totes different. Reaaaally spicy!" she grins before blinking at Aelwyn. "... oh. Shoot. We on tonight, aren't we? Crap. It was a pleasure ta talk wit' ya, Missus Verna!"

She grabs Aelwyn's hand. "C'mon! We gotta get back befo' she shows us how sharp them teefs are!"

-End Scene-