"Yes, yes! You're my guests, Gwen, would you be so kind as to gather their things? Please, come with me. I'm so happy to have you here," the young man, who can't possibly be older than Audria, says with obvious glee.
"Y-your Holiness! I must–" the female inquisitor begins to say before being cut off.
"Oh, there's no need to worry. If they are with Audria, how bad can they be? Now, may I please entertain my guests," Fidelias interrupts, his tone becoming more wheedling.
"Your Holiness?" Dr Munroe says, more than a little surprised. With a grin he admits, "You're not quite what I expected a 'your Holiness' to look like! Sounds like you've had an interesting life!"
'Some of them are just as diabolical as the Asmodeans, and even craftier...' Fidelias appeared so guileless, was he really like that, or was this just a ploy?
He's being honest. He is excited to see you and wants to be a good host.
Zendara gets her weapons back and happily proceeds to follow the young man, pleased that things are looking a lot more hopeful.
Sannah inclines her head to Fidelias, "Your graciousness is a pleasant surprise, your Holiness, given your Inquisitor's...how shall I say...fervor."
"Food, show me food" Drausk says keeping quiet until he gets there. He could care less about the journey, he knew, in the end, he would be able to defend himself from whatever these so called holy men could throw at him. He had the blood of his people and the spirit of the dragon with him. He did not retaliate as he was worried about Audria and Red.
Egryzon had been silent during the trip to Vigil, keeping a close watch on his escort's actions. Even when the group arrived at their destination and were greeted by those resplendent Albians, the kobold remained vigilant, eschewing conversation to better react to whatever threat to Audria's safety he might encounter. However, when he hears the female inquisitor's protest, Egryzon is surprised enough to break his silence.
"You are a priest? A high priest?", he asks Fidelias, a look of skepticism on his face. "How? You appear to be a youth."
"My life isn't half so interesting as yours, Dr. Xavier Monroe. I've read all the books about your adventures! As for how I became the High Priest of Albia, I was blessed by our most gracious goddess. Please, come this way. I promise there will be food enough for all," Fidelias says as Albian guards in gleaming armor take over for the Akiheton guards. As this happens, one of them can't quite cover a soft snicker and another gives all of you a smile and a wink.
As you're lead away from the gate, the inquisitors make one last attempt to reign in the cheerful young man, but are only meet with a "Oh posh, I'm sure that everything will be fine!"
Vigil's gleaming marble and alabaster contrasts with the deep green of the trees that grow on the island and in the green spaces between the buildings. The religious motifs of Albia are everywhere to be seen in gold, silver, and sapphire blue. Your trek winds up a spire of rock that is off from the island's main peak. Your host, the young Fidelias, chatters on and on, asking questions of each of you. What's your name? Where are you from? What did you do before all of the excitement?
Strangely, he asks Audria and Dr. Monroe nothing.
Finally, you arrive at an elaborate home that has a breathtaking view of the eastern horizon and the islands that float nearby. When the doors close, Fidelias lets out a sigh and turns to address all of you.
"Well, I'm glad that's over with. Keeping up that act is tiresome," he chuckles ruefully as he gives you a more subdued smile. "There is food and drink in the dining hall. I hope that the ostentatiousness of my gilded cage doesn't put you off, or intimidate you. If you don't mind, we can talk over dinner and perhaps we can help each other. If you choose not to, you're of course free to go with the promise that you will not breath a word about the Grail of the Phoenix or Audria," he tells you as he turns and leads you down the magnificently frescoed hall. Pillars of white and blue marble line the passages and the ceilings are tiled with intricate mosaics depicting a beautiful, silver-haired woman performing miracles and defending the weak from evil.
The room he leads you to is open on three sides, looking out over the sea and the islands floating in the air. A lavishly set table with enough chairs for all sits in the middle of the room. The smells are enticing and there is enough for a feast of thrice your number.
"Please, make yourselves at home and eat as much as you like. You are my guests here in Vigil, and have nothing to fear from over-zealous and hypocritical inquisitors," he says, his tone at the last just a little more biting than had yet been heard from him.
Zendara is interested in hearing what he has to say, and thinks that he is sincere. He gave them their weapons back, and seems to treat Audria with respect rather than as an object, both of which go a long way with her. She sits down at the table and starts eating, waiting to hear the plan.
Not waiting, Drausk goes to the table and begins eating, his hands grabbing food as he puts it in his mouth. He is speedy as his hunger drives him. Food and salvia drip crom his mouth, before he looks about and grabs a drink to wash alot of stuff down.
Dr Munroe was at once surprised, embarrassed yet strangely flattered that Fidelias had heard of him. "I er take it you've read the field reports your Holiness? There's a kernel of truth in them of course, but the department writing pool has a penchant for melodrama. Helps with recruitment or so I'm told." Field archeology was largely painstaking work interspersed with moments of terror, like when you realize the tomb you've spent the past month excavating is one giant trap.
Later once the guards had been dismissed, Dr Munroe marveled at the rather lovely surroundings. Still it all felt rather awkward, like there was an elephant in the room. Hoping this was the right thing to do, he asked, "Your Holiness, or would you prefer Fidelias? Forgive me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you're not entirely happy with your situation... I don't suppose any of us are for that matter."
Staying quiet as they enter Vigil and meet the young priest, Zaknador takes his time to look around the area. When they request for items to be return is brought up and the Inquisitor begins to object, Zaknador waste no time in poking at the woman. His smile is big and genuine. He approaches the Inquisitor with his hands out.
I believe the words you are looking for are "Yes your holiness". After retrieving his gear, he turns around to catch up with the others.
As they walk he is quiet and listens to what is being said.
hypocritical inquisitors?
Zak lets his eyebrow rise a bit at those words
I did not trust you to begin with but now I have reason to not trust you. To openly degrade one of your own in front of outsiders, that is a huge breach of religious etiquette. What are you up to...holiness...
Sannah takes in the grandeur of his Holiness' abode and the man...youth...himself.
"Pardon my bluntness, your Holiness " she states plainly, "But I...we...would have your intentions. I've recently been wooed by a Lord, now dead, with promises of riches and influence, who lived in such a place as this and spoke as you do. While not quite jaded, I must, for all our sakes, insist on your forthrightness in this matter."
She crosses her arms, and regards his Holiness, one eyebrow cockes inquiringly.
"No pardons needed. I could bore you with the politics of the Albian church, but I shall be brief. I have precious few allies among the high clergy. I am in need of allies, of capable and honorable people that can help me clean up the mess the high clergy of my faith and my predecessors have made. In short, I need your help. I need your help to save those taken from the temple we had hidden the Grail, and I need your help to recover the Grail of the Phoenix," he says with a pleading note in his voice.
"I wish I could blame you for not trusting me, but the actions of those that claim to be the representatives of my faith and of Audria's faith have shown otherwise. The Archbishops and the bishops selected me to be a pawn, a figurehead that they can control as they see fit," he adds as he sinks into the chair at the head of the table. Even as young as he is, he looks beaten down and weary.
"I will not force you to trust me, but will you help me? Help Audria," he asks.
I will says Zendara, and then returns to her meal.
Drausk perks up as he pauses.
" I got no problem helping the little Rabbit. She seems to need it as you seem to coddle your young, as for this other business why us and whats in it for me?" hs asks following up his query wiith a loud crunch through bone and meat.
Drausk was not here in the land of the softies for fun, he was bere to forge a new life. To do that he needed capitol. So he hoped these so called "priests" would pay him for his services.
"Of course I'll help!" grinned Dr Munroe, "But I'd like to understand the situation a bit more. Everyone's heard of the Grail of course. Buuuut, if you'd asked me about it this morning I would have smiled and told you it's a fairy tail. I'm still processing the fact it's real... I guess my first question is, what happened? How the heck did this 'Order' manage to steal it anyway? And please don't blame Audria's 'sisters', clearly the problem runs deeper than that. My second question is, suppose we get it back, how do we stop that from happening again?!"
Upon reaching the dining room, Egryzon had refrained from taking a seat, instead standing close to and behind Audria Though his attention had been captured by the luxurious surroundings of Fidelias's home, a feeling of unease still lurked in the back of his mind, and he wished to be ready if something went wrong.
Egryzon chuckles to himself when he hears Fidelias's request.
You think I have a choice.
"I am here to help Audria," he says. "You're lucky, though. Your problems overlap with hers."
Sannah takes a bite from a piece of fruit as the others speak, then adds her own voice, "The good Doctor raises some good questions. However, the most pressing issue I see...is yourself, Holiness. By your own admission , you were selected to be a pawn, a figurehead with few allies within the Church. You as for our help, but really we should be asking ...how can you help us. "
She pauses for a moment, looking up at one of the beautiful murals, "I have not doubt that from the moment you took us in, those that oppose our aim within your own Church have begun the process to remove you from office. " she says, turning to look at the Head of the Albian Religion, "Your time is waning, your Holiness. Again I ask...how can you help us?"
Help? Oh this is not good. I am not getting involved in..... Then he sees the other just fall into place like good rothe. What the f@%~ is wrong with these people. They blindly follow whatever a stranger says to them. Gee I got a huge bridge to sell you, want a buy it...sure why not you look like a trustworthy and sensible bloke....None of them would last an hour in a Drow city. Well maybe Sannah, a day..two tops. What the hell have I gotten myself involved in and how am I going to survive a religious war when it breaks out. The sides are all ready lining up and which side will we be associated with...the winner or the loser...well it does not matter now.
Alea iacta est
Zaknador sighs a bit and steps forward.
You would like our help in recovering the Grail and saving those that were taken prisoner....that is all?
After a brief pause but before Fidelias could respond to his question he continues in a tone that is blunt and to the point.
It would appear that we are at your disposal. Now I will not sugar coat this at all....What we need is information. Is this grail actually real or is it just a lie created to keep a religion in check? Someone has the Grail, so why take prisoners..why do the need the women and of what importance are they to the grail if any? Do you have any leads on who these people were that took the grail and the women? How splintered is your faith right now? We have just met but already I can see the cracks and breaks that spell the implosion of a religion? Who are your allies and who can we trust? Who are the players that are involved in this game? What is your power base, your numbers and your contacts. What influences do you have and how far can they reach...other cities?...other religions? What aid can you give us to further your own agenda within the ranks of your faith.