Before you stands the Tower of the High Clerist. This is one of the most hallowed places in all of Ansalon as it is here that the Order of the Sword is headquartered but also where almost 25 years ago, Sturm Brightblade, of the Order of the Crown, gave his life to keep the Dragonarmies of the Dark Lady from breaking through and capturing the City of Palanathas. He is buried in the crypt below and according to legend is incorrupt.
The fortress has a one hundred foot tall, eight-sided wall around it with towers at each of the meeting points of these walls. There is one gate on each one of these walls that are made of ironwood, banded with steel, and strengthened by magic, and from those gates it leads you into the courtyard surrounding the actual tower. The five gates that face the Plains of Solamnia were part of the old dragontraps, but are no longer operational.
Today there are knights milling around as throngs of people of all races head to the Tower of the High Clerist. Priests of the gods of Good are present as are the kender that are often seen in their wonderlust. As you approach the gate you are stopped by a young Knight of the Crown. "Name and purpose please" he states.
Jakun bristles with impatience, "We seek entrance, why else would we come here from half way across the world young human? I am Jakun Stormhoof, though you did not know my name before soon enough it shall be known to all, imagine your delight you will experience when you will tell your fellow hairless apes that you met me in the flesh..."
Red Horn walks behind Jakun pacing back and forth trying to control himself in the midst of all these lower races. He grinds his teeth as a knight demands their names and what they want. He turns and stands in front of the man, inches away. "I am Red-Horn Es-Nordmir and my business is my own. Know that I have not come here for blood but do not tolerate others encroaching upon my freedom...if you do not wish harm upon me or those with me, then I shall not bring harm upon you." he said as he stared the man down, daring him to show weakness or balk him.
The young knight looks the minotaurs straight in the face, No one wished harm on any way, but with your hostile natures I will not allow your passage into these hallowed halls. Now perhaps, the rest of your august group would like entrance.
A noble by passes the line, [b] I am Kendros, Kendros of Solanthus, come to visit on "holy" pilgrimage to the Tower of the High Clerist on my way to the city of Palanthus. Looking at the motley crew behind him he states, Perhaps those two motioning to the minotaurs Might prefer to graze in the fields or even plow a field here or there? as he enters into the gates.
The knight looks are Tallen with a surprised look. Since when does KIRI-Jolith find worshippers among the minotaur? They prefer the Condor. What proof have you that you serve the Bison of Heaven? he asks.
A medallion of faith? How came you by it? Perhaps I should ask a Clerist to come and see what is going on. says the stunned Crown Knight,
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"do what you must sir knight, but let it be known that i am not patient and i feel the call of my god."
places his hands on his hips waiting
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The knight will walk over to a page and the page runs off.
Marantis stops and looks at the knight with a reproachful look, "Marantis Everoak, my travels are my own, but they take me close enough, and I thought I would see how humans pay respect to their honored dead." The word human is said with an air like the elf just ate something not altogether ripe.
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Aminah Mikku, noble of the Mikku tribe and cleric of the holy Paladine had traveled far from the lands of Khur to arrive at the Tower of the High Clerist tower. Such a journey had not been taken by someone of the Khur lands before. Indeed, if it was her choice she would have remained among her people teaching the will of Paladine. But in her dreams she saw a vision of a tower and heard the voice of her god beckoning her to take a pilgrimage to one of the Holiest sites in all of Anasalon.
She traveled for months across the continent, crossing mountains and water and travelling through dangerous lands to arrive at the tower that appeared in her dreams. The land she arrived in was foreign to her. It was beautiful green and fertile while her land was a vast and unforgiving desert. But she had little time to marvel in the ways of Solamnia before completing her journey to the tower.
As for Aminah Mikku, she is a 5'8 woman with light brown skin, black hair and brown eyes and bearing some tribal tattoos of her people. She dresses in Khurish clothing that seems out of sorts compared to the styles of the land she is in (Think Arabic clothing). She wears scale armor, carries a shield with the Triangle Symbol of Paladine and wears a medallion of faith she wears proudly and openly bearing the same symbol.
She gives a respectful bow to the guard and says in common, "Greetings oh guardian of the High Clerist tower. I am Aminah of the Mikku tribe, holy priestess of the divine Paladine. I have traveled long and far from my homeland of Khur to take part in a Pilgrimage to this most holy tower. May I as a devoted priestess of the Draco Paladin gain entry to this place blessed by the Gods?"
By all means Revered Daughter of Paladine, you may enter.
Marantis raises an eyebrow imperiously as the cleric is let through, and fixes a withering stare on the knight he was talking to, awaiting his answer.
A cleric wearing the robes of a Cleric of Paladine and the holy symbol with the Platinum Dragon arrives on scene after being summoned by the page.
Greetings Revered Son the Knight of the Crown says and bows/
Now Sir Ethan, there is no need to stand on formalities. The Knights Clerist are now at their prayers. I was asked if I could help to handle the situation. Tell me, what is the matter.
"Knight. I understood that this was a place free to all who did not have ill intent to enter. This guard allowed a Human with poorer manners than mine entrance. Cutting the line and paying no coin as is customary when visiting a holy site. Explain this behavior!? Jakun Stormhoof will not enter where he is not welcome!"
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She gives a respectful nod to the guard and takes a look at the minotaurs. Ak-Khurman often had Minotaurs visit the port so she was not as startled as others might be of them. However for them to be this far inland was indeed unusual. She looks back to the guard and says, "I thank you for your hospitality. Could you please tell me where the cathedral is in the tower? It is the first time I have come here and I do not know the layout of this structure. As my first task I must pay homage to the holy Paladine in a place of worship."
Seeing that the knights have their hands full with the minotaurs and have yet to give him an answer at all, or acknowledge that he is even there, Marantis moves to follow the cleric into the tower.
Red Horn moved from the one that he had been standing in front of and stepped up to the new man. "This...'man' will not allow our entrance, I spoke that we will abide by the rules of this place and will make no attempt at harm unless it is attempted upon us. I was under the impression that all were welcome here. IS THIS NOT TRUE? " he said standing perhaps a bit to close to the knight, his voice was still angry and booming as before.
The cleric will hold his finger out to the minotaur to say one moment as he finishes listening to the Crown knight. After he finishes with the conversation he approaches the group.
I apologize for Sir Ethan but he was simply doing his duty especially when threatened with violence if certain beings did not get their way. Please, enter into the Tower of the High Clerist especially our visitors from Silvanesti and our brother worshipper of Kiri-Jolith. [b] Seeing his fellow cleric of Paladine he will sign the triangle of Paladine, [b] And greetings to you dear Revered Daughter.From Khur by your cut of robe I can tell I am Revered Son Talinthal Uth Mondor, my father and brother are knights, of the Rose and Crown actually, so I have spent a lot of time here away from my duties at the Temple of Paladine in Palanthus. The Lady Crysania often sends me here with information for the Knights and visa-versa.
Tell me, what brings you to the Tower of the High Clerist he inquires as he walks with you.
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She gives a respectful nod to Talinthal Uth Monder, "It is good to meet with another of the faithful of the Draco Paladin. Lady Crysania you say? I have heard that name even from the distance of my homeland. The chosen of Paladine herself has you under her direct employ? Quite a position you have achieved thus far Talinthal."
She has many Revered Sons and Daughters who work to bring the message of the Gods of Light to all. Tell me, Silvanesti, how fare things with the last remnants of Speaker Lorac's Dream?
Jakun replies, "Threaten? No threats, we are beings of action. No threat was leveled at all, perhaps we are too forward for your human sensibilities. We thank you all the same for allowing us entry. Tell me, followers of the Gods, have your chosen Deities provided insight to this bizarre weather pattern?"
The cleric will state When in human lands it is most prudent to accustom yourself to the ways of humans just as we would be expected to comport ourselves in a minotaurian way were we present in Mithas or Kothas. he says as he continues the tour.
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Aninah in the question of her visit says to Talinthal, "I am here on a pilgrimage to visit one of the holy sites of the Gods of Light. In my dreams Paladine sent onto me a vision of this tower and thus by his will I travelled far across the land to arrive here in this grand and sacred place. To see this tower for the first time in all its splendour is worth the journey itself."
Jakun shrugs, "How can I be a Human? I am Minotaur, That is all I know, I would not be true to myself were I to be something else". Jakun grins, "I think you would fine your delicate Human body a hard thing to maintain should you comport yourself in the ways of my people".
Jakun turns to Aminah, "Does the Dragonlord also tell you why this weather has turned so foul? The Destroyer has been silent on this, at least according to the Priests among my people".
The cleric will respond to Aminah Yes, Revered Daughter, this place is beautiful but not nearly as beautiful as the Temple of Paladine in the LordCity of Palanthus. Perhaps your journey will take you there?
Addressing the question of the minotaur. The Platinum Dragon, I am sure would discuss anything of such import with the Revered Daughter of Paladine, the Lady Crysania of the House of Tarinius
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Aminah looks to Jakun and says, "The Draco Paladin does not reveal all secrets of the world onto me Minotaur. But we among the Khur are a faithful people and know that in dreams the Gods can give guidance on a suggested path to follow. As for the destroyer, are you referring to Torghan, the god of Vengeance and Retribution? Why would he reveal visions that would aid the people of this world? He is a God of Evil."
Jakun cocks his head, "Is it possible to visit this Revered Daughter you speak of? While I am here on a separate quest of my own, this strange weather vexes me and I see it as an ill omen and would know how it would effect my ultimate goal".
Jakun scowls at Aminah's slight of the Destroyer, "The Destroyer is a force of Nature. It is he who freed our people from the grasp of the Ogres who enslaved my people in our time of weakness. A force of Nature is not good nor evil, it simply is. Of course he would alert us to danger, we are His Chosen!"
Red Horn kept silent scowling for the most part as they walked along the way. Jakun seemed to know what he was talking about, though he didn't keep much interest in the gods and what they may or may not be speaking about. His interests lay in the domain of mortals and even if he faced one, he doubted he would ever have the power to slay a god.
Still, he looked about and watched carefully all that they passed, learning about ways of his enemies.
Marantis follows along, far enough to the side to be included in the group if the Knight is truly leading a tour, and far enough away to strike out on his own if the Knight is not. Beasts and a human. Must I truly be subjected to the lesser races to this degree? He looks around for anything indicating where the tombs would be.
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mittens follows the others as he stares at his surroundings with childlike awe "mittens likes the pretty building"
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The Lady Crysania is in Palanthus at the Temple of Paladine. I am not sure if your journies will take you there but she is not above meeting with people.
After taking you up for a bit, on the stairs, he shows you one of the most sacred places at the Tower of the High Clerist, the place were Knight of the Crown, Sturm Brightblade, laid down his life in defense of the Tower.
"I am not familiar with this story Sir Knight, can you tell us that tale?"
I am no knight but a Revered Son of Paladine. I will recount the story of Sturm Brightblade. During the War of the Lance Sturm traveled with the Qualanesti Princess Lauranathanlasa, Flint Fireforge, the Neidar, and Tasslehoff Burrfoot, the kender to the High Clerist’s Tower. They set up a hasty defense against the dragonarmies, but Lord Derek Crownguard severely hindered their work when he led most of the army out of the tower on an ill-advised charge. Derek died from wounds received in the charge, and the tower was left with Laurana, Flint, Tas, and Sturm and his small contingent of Knights of the Crown. Tas located another dragon orb beneath the tower, and Sturm bought Laurana the time she needed to properly use the orb. He distracted the blue dragons long enough for the Blue Lady to deal with him personally. Though Sturm fought the Blue Lady and her mount Skie valiantly, he was slain by the Blue Lady’s spear. Kitiara was later revealed as the Blue Lady. Though he died his sacrifice united a knighthood. My father was one of the knights present at this battle and we grew up with a great respect for Sturm Brightblade who though only a knight for a few short days embodied what is the best of the Knights of Solamnia
"This Human, Sturm, battled a Dragon and it's Master on foot?"
Yes. responds the cleric. He knew in doing so his life would be forfeit but he did it to give the Princess and later Golden General the time that was needed to master the dragon orb that was once here.
Jakun salutes the fallen Knight, "A act of great courage worthy of even my people. Tell me Revered Son, is all of this security necessary? Is the War against Lady Chaos and her minions not over."
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Aminah says to Talinthal, "I have heard some things of the tale of the battle of the High Clerist tower but I appreciate hearing the story of Sturm Brightblade's final stand at the tower. His sacrifice was what made the victory possible and changed the very course of the war. I do regret that my people were on the wrong side of the War of the Lance. The treacherous Salah-Khan brought our people to heel and forced our warriors to aid the Dragon-armies. Such is the shame we must bear now even to this day."
Marantis muses and his hand idly brushes the Green Mask lashed to his pack. The same Sturm Brightblade who sought to besmirch the name Starbreeze by tricking Alhanna into a dalliance. With an annoyed sigh, Marantis moves about the tomb with reverence for the dead. Still one can hardly blame a mere human for finding themselves attracted. At least he did some good before his demise. Paladine watch over you, knight.
Red Horn snorted as he listened in. These humans with their embellished tales of glories and epic battles. Of course they paint themselves with words instead of blood...
He looked around to the company he had, Jakun was pretty with his words placating the human. Bah, he is most likely trying to sooth them into a false sense of comradery. Silly apes, this should be a no brainer that we are superior. The fact that you worried so and still let us in is proof of this. he thought as he continued to scan.
His lip curled a bit as he looked at the other Minotaur...Mittens Ugh...this is the unfortunate soul who brings those beneath us to believe they could be our equals or better. I wonder how many times growing up he lost his fights to being knocked out, must be the reason he is so addled...yes, unless his tribe is a weak one who don't make sure the tribe stays strong and pure he thought. He shook his head at the idea of him being in his tribe.
He gaze finally came unto the elf, a easily broken species who think their ability with a bow makes them true warriors. He narrowed his eyes a bit at him. This was the one he would probably have to worry about, shifty elves and their arrows...always somehow finding their way into the backs of their enemies when they least expect it.
Tallen, you do feel the presence of Kiri-Jolith here at the Tower of the High Clerist is a very strong way as well as two other divine presences.