Rissada - Session 51.5

Arriving at the cathedral, the group arrives to see Priestess Mia watching over the group of followers. The townsfolk, despite mostly keeping to themselves, notice the party, and begin to murmur amongst themselves when they see the distinguishing flower under Na'nabi's cloak.

Engir palms his forehead.
Nalzij glances at Na'nabi uncertainly.
Na'nabi keeps her hood firmly over her head and remains silent for the time being.
Engir: "(It's alright, no-one will do anything here.)"
Na'nabi: "(If you say so...)"
Priestess Mia bows to the party upon their approach, keeping an eye on Na'nabi in caution.
Engir bows to Mia.
Priestess Mia: "What brings you to the cathedral this day, sir gnome?"
Engir holds back a distressed expression as he replies.
Engir: "A couple of matters regarding current affairs, I suppose. Personally, I'd like do discuss a few things as one user of divine magic to another."
Priestess Mia: "Ah, yes. We can retire to the library, if you would prefer; that seems a more ideal location to discuss this."
Engir: "Yes, it would."
Priestess Mia nods, and motions for Engir and the others to follow, moving towards the library.
Engir: "Right... Priestess Mia, I have no doubt you know about the events at the end of the week."
Na'nabi takes a seat at the table.
Priestess Mia: "Of course. I have been doing my part here, as well; this is a moment when the townsfolk need prayer the most."
Engir nods in agreement.
Na'nabi: "I imagine everyone needs something like that in this most difficult time."
Nalzij: "Right..."
Priestess Mia: "Indeed. Though from your expressions, I take it this is not the reason you came this day."
Engir: "Not exactly. Though I am interested in studying how better to speak with my benefactors."
"Actually, I wanted to discuss city defense with you."
"Naturally, we will be holding this ground, so we have an opportunity to place magical defenses. Be it wards, or traps."
Priestess Mia: "It sounds like what you are requesting is of an order far greater than warding a region from demons."
Engir: "Yes, and no."
"While I don't think we could reinforce our walls in near the time we have, a few well-placed traps might disrupt their ranks. With a full army formation, even getting a few groups will buy a lot of time as it shakes up their entire formation."
Priestess Mia shakes her head sadly.
Priestess Mia: "I'm afraid that I don't know any prayers that can assist in this endeavor; I am a healer, not a combat tactician."
Engir: "Hmm, very well."
Nalzij: "Don't worry about it, Mia. That's enough. Healers will be plenty needed."
Na'nabi: "Are you capable of creating scrolls that can provide a large group of people with more power?"
Priestess Mia: "I may have to enlist one of our scribes with the task, but I may be able to assist in that endeavor, at least."
Engir: "That's good to hear."
Na'nabi: "Some sort of empowering spell, to affect many of our units, could provide us with enough edge. It is indeed good news."
Arastalia looks around the library curiously, while Engir and the others hold their discussion.
Engir turns to Ara periodically, before returning to the conversation.
Nalzij: "Thanks. That should help a lot."
Engir: "Hm, we really must preserve the teachings of the Star here from the doctrine Valesia presents."
Priestess Mia: "It disheartens me to say that, despite the atrocities they champion, the Star still heeds their prayers."
"It makes it difficult to believe in our cause when our divine protector is neutral in the matter."
Engir: "At the end of the day, it is up to us to fight for what we believe in."
"In that sense, perhaps it is right."
"That was the way of King Aritus, after all."
Priestess Mia nods.
Engir: "Now there's a story that needs telling to the soldiers and citizens."
Arastalia muses to herself a bit, as she picks up and looks at a book.
Nalzij: "Neither does the Star side against us, as they seem to expect."
Arastalia: "(King Aritus... hm.)"
Na'nabi: "At least we have what they can have too."
Nalzij: "There are a lot of those stories."
Engir: "Yes, there are."
Na'nabi: "I don't believe I've heard many stories about King Artius."
Engir: "But I do think the story of King Aritus right now is a source of inspiration every man could use, when fighting this battle."
Priestess Mia: "It was said he was a kind benevolent ruler, and after he freed the races from the yoke of the Tyrant-King, he helped found and maintain a prosperous kingdom."
Nalzij: "But little more. That's the problem."
Engir: "Indeed. The man stood up against the most overpowering, malicious force, and conquered them. Because he had to."
Priestess Mia: "It was truly inspiring, a true sign that all men are capable of justice."
Na'nabi: "And that's what we have to do now."
Engir: "Exactly."
Nalzij: "...Aldin may still know more of the Tyrantslayer's story than we do."
Arastalia: "(I wonder if...)"
Engir: "Interesting."
Engir keeps an eye on Arastalia.
Arastalia: "Miss Mia, do you actually have any books on that war? Or perhaps what came before it?"
Na'nabi: "(Maybe we should talk to him about it, have a storytime with him...)"
Priestess Mia: "We should have most of what's available on the war and what followed here, and what isn't here is likely at the castle."
"Before the war... most of the tomes were kept by humanity's captors, and were taken away when they fled."
Engir: "Broken-Top's were stolen in a raid. Though I think we might be able to find the perpetrator."
Nalzij: "I thought the books she stole were all other things than history."
Engir: "Not all of them, apparently."
"It's likely she took whatever she could get then checked afterwards."
"I pray she hasn't discarded the history books..."
Na'nabi: "It'd be a tragic loss if she did..."
Priestess Mia: "It would be tragic if such history was lost. Rewriting divine manuscripts is one thing, but there is no way to recapture history in the same way."
Engir: "If we make it through this war, I seek to repair as much lost knowledge as I can."
Priestess Mia: "That would be wonderful. I've heard you have quite the knack for uncovering knowledge."
Nalzij: "He does."
Engir: "Much of it I owe in thanks to my teacher, Arastalia."
Arastalia hides her face in a book, attempting to conceal a blush.
Na'nabi: "Arastalia is a pretty incredible historian."
Arastalia: "I'm... not a historian. Nowhere close."
Engir: "She's quite incredible in general."
Engir: "But, ah, I think we're getting sidetracked."
Priestess Mia: "Yes... I can put in the requests for blessings for the soldiers, and hopefully will have something to present you within a few days."
Na'nabi: "That's reassuring, thank you."
Engir: "Yes. Thank you, Mia."
Priestess Mia: "As always, any offerings you can make towards the cathedral or the Star would be more than appreciated. Our resources have been stretched thin as of late, due to so many people fearing for themselves in this time."
Nalzij: "Of course. Engir?"
Arastalia: "(Anything on... her...?)"
Engir: "I think we have a few things we can donate."
Na'nabi: "Hmm."
Na'nabi pulls out a small pouch of gold pieces, numbered at four hundred and fifty.
Na'nabi: "Have this as a donation from myself."
Na'nabi puts it on the table, not really being able to reach to Mia.
Priestess Mia bows her head in gratitude to Na'nabi, retrieving the gold.
Engir: "Well, for one, I should return to you what we didn't use from our foray into the Armaneus household."
"We do have an enchanted pillow that might be of particular value to those having difficulty resting in these dire times."
Priestess Mia: "Anything to soothe weary bodies and hearts is appreciated. Though... I pray these scrolls prove more of use to you than the potions did."
Engir: "The scrolls you provided last time were exceptionally helpful. I was under the impression that Na'nabi's suggestion was to bolster your own troops, however."
Nalzij: "I'm just as glad we didn't end up needing the potions."
Priestess Mia: "Yes, but many of our clerics are not able to endanger ourselves in war, especially not at the short range the spells can provide."
Engir: "Hmm, fair."
Nalzij: "Focus on helping Captain Latissier. He'll be able to put any resources to good use. Engir's right, though - your scrolls were useful. And we'd be glad for whatever you could offer."
Engir: "I suppose I don't have much more to say on my part. Mia, would you be interested if I did find a spell to enchant the battlefield with?"
Priestess Mia: "Sharing knowledge benefits us all."
Engir: "Very well, then. Does anyone else have anything to ask. Ara?"
Arastalia: "Hm..."
"This place is still warded? Against outsiders and demons and the like?"
Priestess Mia: "Of course, we maintain the sanctity of the cathedral at all times."
Na'nabi: "Oh, interesting."
Arastalia: "That's what I thought, thank you."
Engir fails to conceal a smile.
Na'nabi smiles under her hood.
Nalzij looks at Ara, confused.
Engir: "I suppose we should visit the castle, then."
"Nalzij, is there anyone you would prefer to speak to?"
Arastalia: "I suppose so. Maybe they have more information..."
Na'nabi: "Yeah, we should. We can meet your friend there."
Arastalia: "It makes sense for them to keep information on past kings and queens, at least."
Nalzij: "Prefer to speak to? No, it's fine."
Engir: "Right. I guess we'll just have to see who we can get an audience with, I suppose."
After returning books and giving their surplus supplies to Priestess Mia, the group leaves the cathedral in hopeful spirits, heading to see what they can learn in the castle itself.