Obscurity Faith Sect Meeting/Discussion

Log session starting at 16:05:52 on Saturday, 22 February 2020.
An Abandoned Building
    The entire room is empty, save for thick dust and stringy
cobwebs adorning the room like ornaments. Rusted nails
have jut forth from the floorboards creating dangerous
walking hazards. The bases of the walls have smaller holes
used by rats for easy access from room to room.

 *This area is illuminated and you are in inside terrain. It is night.

[Exits: none]
        A splintered door is here.
Astra enters from a splintered door.
Elspeth enters from a splintered door.
Sergan enters from a splintered door.

Elspeth locks a splintered door.

You say, "I would have brought tea but... I did not plan well."

Cedany opens her hands wide and gestures at the trio.

Elspeth claps.

You say, "I have mentioned that the Church is being built and bothered some of you with my plans and
thoughts on it. More important though, is the question of the faith..."

Elspeth asks, "The question?"

Cedany continues speaking while she pulls out one of her many journals.

Elspeth gasps.

You say, "The question of what we, as a group, desire the sect to be like. As you should all know,
many sects are controlled by councils, some are barely led at all. I have considered many
possibilities, but I think we would likely work best as a less... hierarchical group. You are all
strong in your own right... stronger than I am."

Cedany glances at the trio as she catches a breath, and asks, "Do you have any initial thoughts?"

Sergan ponders for a moment.

Astra says, "I don't think the strongest leaders make the best ones personally."

You smile.

Sergan says, "While it is true that all of us have great temporal strength, I am inclined to agree
with Astra.  On matters of the faith, I do not intend to arm-wrestle."

Elspeth nods.

You glance at Sergan.

Cedany stares intently at Sergan's arms, weighing her odds.

Elspeth says, "My sect back home was like a little tea party or book club."

You grin.

Elspeth says, "It is what I am used to, and what I like best."


Astra nods briskly, "It's important that we cede authority to someone we trust to be impartial in
matters regarding it then? While remaining equal with each other, it's how the Arcane Order
operates."

Elspeth peers at Astra.

Elspeth says, "We are not equal to the Archmage."

Astra says, "Which is why he has the ceded authority.."

You say to Elspeth, "I had hoped for something similar. Maybe a common aim or goal would bind us...
but generally we would enrich each other and pursue topics of interest to us all."

Astra says, "I meant everyone else."

Elspeth exclaims, "Ah!  Yes."

Astra says, "I do like tea, and book clubs.."

You say, "If we were to work towards a more methodical gathering of secrets, as a side objective..."

You say, "I had thought of proposing something with a bit more of a human touch. Our strength in the
city relies on that which we know about those in power... but it is a dangerous road to walk."

You say, "When the temple does open, I do not want the secret room to be empty."


Astra asks, "Would that be too predictable if it was?"

Astra peers at something.

Cedany rifles through her journal, flipping through pages rapidly, searching for one in particular.

You say to Astra, "Well, I spent the majority of my funds to bury it under ground... if it is that
easily found, we will have more issues to contend with. Namely, who thought it would be good to let
me lead a building project."

Elspeth gasps.

You point at Elspeth.

Elspeth points at you.

Elspeth exclaims, "Tunnel temple!"

Cedany stage whispers, "If we all jointly blame the arcanist, she'll be outvoted."

Elspeth gasps.

You grin.

Elspeth says, "Don't you dare..."

Sergan chuckles.

You say, "The room is small, but it serves a few purposes, a hiding place, an area for us to store
our most precious secrets... and a bunker"

You say, "I have outfitted with with running water and food stores."

Astra says, "I assume it'll have a secret exit.."

You nod.

You say, "Are there any..."

Cedany ponders.

You ask, "Projects that you would seek us to work on together that we would be unable to accomplish
alone? Or an area of particular study? I know certain sects focus on history or arcane secrets..."

Elspeth ponders for a moment.

Sergan asks, "That is a bit of a rub, isn't it?  Finding projects that are secretive enough to
entice a congregation of Obscurity but not so damning as to embarass the member suggesting it."

Elspeth says, "Beetles, that cave-hole..."

You say, "I am fine if we do not have one, of course."

Elspeth says, "BEETLES..."

You glance at Sergan.

Cedany glances worriedly at Elspeth.

You say, "Elsepth, Your beetle obsession seems to be growing."

Elspeth glances.

Elspeth frowns.

You grin.

You exclaim, "It's great!"

Elspeth ponders for a moment.

You say to Sergan, "I would agree. It is not necessary, but I know that there is power in a group of
people finding pieces of a puzzle and seeing a body of work flourish and grow."

Sergan ponders for a moment.

Elspeth says to Sergan, "You know."

Elspeth says, "There is the wretch cave, too."

Elspeth asks, "It formed when... Erius sucked up too much evil Derium goo, yes?"

Sergan blinks.

Elspeth exclaims, "Oh, the woods!  Yes, that too."

You nod.

Sergan says to Elspeth, "Ah, I think 'Derius goo' is not the technical definition but roughly
something to that extent yes."

You gasp.

Elspeth says, "Our Archmage first arrived to study the woods, I believe..."

Sergan says, "The Silent Wood.  That *is* a conundrum."

Astra asks, "Then never published anything on his findings, if I'm correct?"

Elspeth says, "So we shall have to pry a tale from him."

Astra nods at Elspeth.

Elspeth nods at Astra.

Astra exclaims, "Interesting!"

You say, "The woods seem like a fine place to focus our energies... we could serve as record keepers
and secret hunters."

Sergan says, "I have it on... reasonable authority that Mages have gone missing out there, sometimes
permanently."

Astra squints her eyes.

Elspeth ponders for a moment.

Cedany holds her journal aloft in front of Astra, as a mock shield.

You say to Astra, "Not that you can't defend yourself, of course."

Sergan says, "So, I will admit a lesser sin as a test of our trustworthiness as a group."

Astra says, "Oh no.."

Sergan says, "I have had the brief opportunity to rifle through some of Erius' paperwork."

Cedany raises an eyebrow and sets her journal down.

Astra gasps at Sergan.

Sergan says, "And it did mention the Silent Wood to some minor detail."

You ask, "Was the connotation positive?"

You grimace.

Astra shifts her posture up in interest!

Sergan says, "Erius' statements about it matches what little I saw written down.  It is bad, people
go missing for weeks at a time if they show up again at all."

You frown.

Elspeth ponders for a moment.

Astra says, "Interesting."


You ask, "Would it be unwise for us to pursue such a path? At the least, we should never search it
alone."

You glance at Elspeth.

Elspeth says, "It does seem highly cursed..."

Sergan says, "I do not know, but I heard there is some renewed interest among other parties to
investigate it as well."

Astra says, "It's infected me  as well, to be honest."

You nod.

You say, "I have heard little about it, but it seems like the kind of secret that would honor
Obscurity."

You say, "Though I do not intend to see you all go missing. At least until after the grand opening."

Elspeth exclaims, "The silent wood seems like a good thing to investigate, then!  If we are all in
agreement."

Cedany sniffs.

Elspeth sniffs the air.

You say, "I had one other matter on my mind"
H: 1819/1819 S: 1042/1042 Favors: 53/53
Sergan says, "I do not fear it so much.  As long as we go into it with our heads about us and a
distinct lack of scholarly hubris we should be fine."

You blink.

You say, "I can handle the distinct lack of scholarly hubris. No promises on the former."

You grin.

Elspeth snickers.

Astra says, "Hmf."

Elspeth exclaims, "My wits are always about!  But sometimes, the scholarly hubris is too."

Astra says, "Yes, similarly guilty.."

You say, "I know that other sects and faiths place a large emphasis on recruiting others to the
faith. You do not need me to explain that we lack other priests, other than Oba... who has been
missing."

Cedany grins.

You say, "Ooh, I can be the anti-scholarly hubris monitor. Get too hubrisy and I..."

You blink.

You say, "Do something unpleasant."

You exclaim, "Like reminding us of the chance that we would never return to Tralisia!"

You ask, "Anyways... I wondered how you all felt. Should I aim to recruit and bring more to the
faith or simply strengthen our smaller group? What ideals are most important to you?"

Cedany grabs her journal and begins taking notes.

Elspeth peers at you.

Elspeth says, "I am happy with a small, tight-knit affair."

You nod.

Elspeth says, "And I would hope new members are vetted by all of us..."

You say, "Less people to chastise if they don't read this month's book..."

Elspeth gasps.

Cedany scribbles a note.

Elspeth exclaims, "Animals!"

Elspeth says, "It is not that I don't like other people..."

Elspeth says, "But they do not necessarily share my beliefs."

Cedany nods in agreement with Elspeth, and says, "Yes, I do not intend to allow access to the
sanctum of the temple to just anyone, even if they are marked"

Elspeth nods.

Sergan says, "Hrm."

Cedany murmurs something about sane people not liking math.

Astra says, "I have trouble most unless vetted by someone I trust."

Astra says, "Trusting most.."

You nod.

Elspeth asks, "... Could you restate that whole sentence please?"

Astra says to Elspeth, "I have trouble TRUSTING MOST unless vetted by someone I trust."

Elspeth squints at Astra.

Sergan says, "I would be cautious that we not over-burden ourselves with paranoia, particularly
amongst other faithful of Obscurity.  I see the value in vetting others, but I do think there's
value in seeing this core group grow a little."

Elspeth asks, "Are you yourself in that category...?"

Elspeth nods at Sergan.

You nod.

Elspeth exclaims, "I concur!"

Astra says, "I trust myself.."

You say to Sergan, "I think your opinion is balanced and wise. We cannot achieve the greatest of
things if we remain small, nor can we achieve anything if we are paranoid. It is nasty trait of mine
that I hope you all will keep in check."

Elspeth says to Astra, "Yes, but when you say it like that it sounds like you don't trust anyone
unless someone you trust tells you it is fine..."

Astra says to Elspeth, "It's not mutually exclusive with how I normally gain trust."

Astra says, "Duh.."

Elspeth sniffs the air.

You say, "Lastly..."

Cedany grabs a parchment from her cloak and places it in the center of the room.

H: 1819/1819 S: 1042/1042 Favors: 53/53
Your character has been saved.

You say, "If you are at all interested, I made the first of a few ciphers I wish to develop. Secrets
are hardly safe if written in plain words."

You say, "This is far beyond a simple substitution cipher, and one of the lessons I am most proud to
have retained."

Elspeth exclaims, "Oh, ciphers!"

Elspeth gasps.

Cedany points out the 26 columns of alphabets.

Astra says, "Oh no.."

You grimace.

Elspeth exclaims, "I love these things!"

Elspeth cackles.

You say to Astra, "I was worried that might be your reaction. It is not something you have to use,
if you do not like it."

You say, "I could always scribe for you."

Astra exclaims to you, "I'm sure I'll figure it out!"

Sergan says, "Ciphers are a proud tradition in laboratory magic.  I'm curious."

You say, "It is a polyalphabetic cipher. If you have the keyword... in this case, alleyway, the
array is valuable. Without it, it is nearly impossible to break the code."

You say, "I can explain the technicalities of it at a later point, but I wanted to gauge the
interest in it before I painstakingly made copies."

Cedany frowns at her ink stained hands.

Astra says, "I like puzzles at least."

You grin.

You say to Astra, "I think you will like this, then."

say Well, I think that covers my points. I just wanted to mention that you are all dearly important
to me, and I am fiercely proud of you, as I have mentioned before. If there is anything I can do to
help you, or any ideas you have for the church, please tell me. And if I ever do become a power mad
priest, feel free to chuck me into the pit.
You say, "Well, I think that covers my points. I just wanted to mention that you are all dearly
important to me, and I am fiercely proud of you, as I have mentioned before. If there is anything I
can do to help you, or any ideas you have for the church, please tell me. And if I ever do become a
power mad priest, feel free to chuck me into the pit."

Sergan asks you, "You will have a special pit constructed for this, or must we use the High
Judge's?"

You say, "The High Judges, obviously. I know how to escape that one"

You grin.
Elspeth snickers.
You stand up.