What is Wor-ship?

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "Plus there's less than a month before the Treehearth election ends. Once it does, I might be in a dangerous spot with being able to run wild with recipes again."

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "So sooner would definitely be ideal."

Green eyes glowing with ambient light, Lanni Ahonen stalks in from the west.

You grin mischievously at Jolanthe.

A leafy alcove.
Superimposed over this location, an ethereal forest reaches up to the sky. Silver inlays shaped like the phases of the moon decorate the arched back of a dark chair here. A great mahogany writing desk set with a white star rests here. Bony and slender, Lanni Ahonen stands perched on the balls of his feet. Jolanthe Mzithrei is here. She wields a crystalline chrysalis lute in her left hand and a glowing powerstone in her right.
You see a single exit leading west (open door).

Lanni Ahonen lifts a hand and wiggles his slender fingers. "Hal-lo."

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "Greetings! Love the tunic, by the way."

You have emoted: Lief bobs near Jolanthe, hugging a gilded peach blossom prayer book to herself. "I'm so glad the cooking cartel will be resolved, too--oh!" She spins and flits to Lanni Ahonen. "Hello, Lanni Ahonen!"

Glancing between the two of you brightly, you ask, "Have you both met?"

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "Oh, no. I'm just fond of muku in patterns. There's a rather nice pack design utilising them."

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "It caught my eye quite immediately."

Lanni Ahonen says to Jolanthe, "You see muku?"

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to Lanni Ahonen, "Not for a long while now, but there's some familiarity."

You have emoted: Lief gestures toward Jolanthe for Lanni Ahonen's benefit. "This is Jolanthe," she beams.

With a flourish of her arm, Jolanthe bows deeply.

Lanni Ahonen takes a muku ball out from his tunic and waves it before Jolanthe's face. "Hal-lo Jolanthe. This is muku."

Jolanthe nods solemnly.

Jolanthe Mzithrei asks, "Greetings. What brings you here, Lanni?"

Lanni Ahonen slinks towards Jolanthe and points at you with a long, slender finger. "I ask Leaf question."

Comprehension flashes across Jolanthe's face.

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "Very well, shall I leave you in private? I think we're done with our book matters."

You have emoted: Lief's ears twitch to the sound of her name. She peers outside the office, searching, then faces Lanni Ahonen more properly.

Tilting his head, Lanni Ahonen says, "What is pri-vate?"

You have emoted: Lief opens her mouth, but widens her eyes, considering the question. "Goodness," she says to Jolanthe. "How to explain 'private'..."

Jolanthe Mzithrei looks thoughtful and says, "Ah, that would be - without my presence, so that you may speak otherwise without my hearing."

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to you, "Would be rather difficult relative to putting it into other terms."

You smile and say to Lanni Ahonen, "Can Jolanthe stay or should Jolanthe leave?"

You nod your head at Jolanthe, showing your acceptance.

Lanni Ahonen glances at Jolanthe with large, green eyes. "She stay," he concludes, before slinking closer to you.

Jolanthe takes a single step back, watching curiously as she does.

You have emoted: Lief beams at Lanni Ahonen, clasping her hands together over a gilded peach blossom prayer book.

Lanni Ahonen points a long, slender finger at the prayer book in your hands. "What is?"

You have emoted: "Ah!" Lief holds it out and opens it for Lanni Ahonen to see. "It's a book," she explains. "Some people will write thoughts into them. Other people can read them."

You have emoted: Lief's fingers dart over some letters as she shows Lanni Ahonen the book, saying helpfully, "These are words."

Lanni Ahonen's eyes widen. "Yes, book." He nods and reaches out to touch it. "Kaelye have books."

Stout and square, this book is small enough to balance easily in an average sized hand when opened and held. The outer covers are a soft, dappled shade of peach flower, mimicking the many shades of one caught in sunlight and shaded by leaves. The front's upper right corner bears an intricate outline of the blossom itself, gleaming with golden lines, and below that, centred, the title likewise shines out in glittering aureate letters. Inside, the parchment is ivory, slightly yellowed to a pleasing off-white colour. Its edges seem gilded as well, but hidden within is a fore-edge painting, revealing a lush garden of heavy fruits and fragrant flora when the pages are fanned.
It is entitled "On Serenity" and the author is listed as being Awanydd Lief Myeras-Silvermoon and
the editor as Jolanthe. It is written in the common tongue.
It weighs about 5 pounds.
It bears the distinctive mark of Awanydd Lief Myeras-Silvermoon.
It has been stamped with the seal of Serene Impressions.
It has the following aliases: book.

Tilting his head curiously, Lanni Ahonen says to Jolanthe, "You make book?"

You have emoted: Lief flashes Lanni Ahonen a grin, and closes the book, gentle, careful to avoid nipping Lanni Ahonen's finger. She pulls the cover back, and fans the pages -- still closed, but an  image appears in their glossy edges, revealing a painting of a lush garden filled with fruits and flowers.

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to Lanni Ahonen, "Ah, no. I was simply reviewing it - helping with gleaning for potential errors."

Looking up from the image, eyes twinkling with mirth, you say, "Jolanthe *should* make books, though."

Jolanthe snickers softly to herself.

Lanni Ahonen looks confused and gazes back and forth between Jolanthe and you. "Book is good," he finally says.

You nod your head at Lanni Ahonen, showing your acceptance.

You ask Lanni Ahonen, "Have you been to Serenwilde's library? With very many books?"

Tilting his head the other way, Lanni Ahonen says, "Very many books? Where?"

You smile broadly and say to Lanni Ahonen, "I can show you if you follow."

Jolanthe begins to follow you.

Lanni Ahonen slinks towards you, looking ready to go where you goes.

Lanni Ahonen begins to follow you.

You flit about happily.
[Movement]

An expansive library of silver and ironwood.
Superimposed over this location, an ethereal forest reaches up to the sky. A library catalogue rests here on a pedestal. You may use the LIBRARY commands here.
You see exits leading east, southwest, northwest, and in.

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "It's pretty easy to get lost in here, at first."

You have emoted: After climbing several flights of stairs, Lief sweeps into the expansive library and gestures about herself.

You beam broadly at Jolanthe.

You say to Lanni Ahonen, "This is a 'library'"

"Library," Lanni Ahonen repeats as he reaches out to touch a nearby bookshelf. "Many, many trees."

You have emoted: Lief's smile turns softer as she likewise turns her attention to the shelves and their tomes. "Many," she agrees.

Lanni Ahonen pulls out a nearby volume and flips through the pages. "Words?" He points at the text within.

You have emoted: Lief nods her head happily. "Words," she agrees, then gestures first to Jolanthe. "Librarian." Then herself. "Librarian, too. We work here with the books."

Showing that he understands, Lanni Ahonen nods his head slowly.

A wooden songbird flits in happily.

A wooden songbird raises its voice in song at you.

A wooden songbird chirps joyously before flying away.

You giggle happily.

You have emoted: Lief pulls out her own wooden songbird, whispering to it before giving it a squeeze.

You squeeze a wooden songbird gently and watch it take flight in search of Kaiel amidst joyous chirping.

Lanni Ahonen suddenly reaches forward and points at the book in your hands. "Flower."

You have emoted: Lief lowers a gilded peach blossom prayer book again, curiously inspecting it. "It is similar to a flower?" she asks, her ears twitching.

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to you, "Well, it is quickly reaching that point of unfurling completely, and revealing itself to all the world."

You flash Jolanthe a joyous smile.

"On Serenity", By Awanydd Lief Myeras-Silvermoon (Page 5)

INNER TRUTH

On occasion, you might hear someone who worships Lady Maylea reference the "innermost Truth".

By its very nature, one's innermost Truth is a nebulous thing to define. When you clear away the dross of law, religion, expectations, and labels, what would you find within your own self? What dwells within, what darkness and what light?

Resist the impulse to quantify your Truth with value -- deny the urge to reject what you dislike and embrace only what you find appealing. Accept what you might find in earnest, for all of your struggles and strengths are born from something vital.

Do you love somebody and feel bitter jealousy, for they love another? Where does this come from: what essential piece of you manifests in this way? Is it a need to be loved, or an absence of love for your own self? Is it something else?

Do you glory in battle, and often stand victorious after every bout of combat? Do you seek out the fight? Why? Do you feel pride in being the strongest, and what value do you place in strength? What is strength? Is it fear of being forgotten, fear of being hurt, or something else? Why do you delight in the struggle?

Do you think these examples paint both qualities in negative lights? That only one is negative? Why? Resist that impulse.

You cannot tame your Inner Self, but you can know yourself. In knowing yourself, you can control how you affect the world. Approach others with forethought and intention, and consider that they, too, are individuals with their own shadows and light. Remember, though Lady Maylea and Kaenalye fit together so well that Lady Maylea once thought They were all but identical, the truth was far from what She perceived.

Complicating this, know that your Inner Truth is also ever changing. Just as a seed takes root, then grows into a flower, then bears fruit, so too do your own experiences transform you and cause you to grow. Even the sorrow you might experience; even bitterness and heartbreak and loss. Every experience is fertiliser which feeds your soul, and everything you become is growth from what you were before.

There is no going back; there is no way to return. Do not hold too tightly to the present you; embrace her, but be willing to let her go when you realise something within you has changed.

Lanni Ahonen points insistently again to the peach blossom at the top right corner of the book. "Flower," he says. "Leaf write flower?"

The corners of Jolanthe's mouth turn up as she grins mischievously.

You have emoted: Lief's eyes brighten, and she nods her antlered head excitedly. "I drew the flower," she says. "I like to draw them. Mine are not as good as Lady Maylea's paintings, though."

The sound of footsteps echoes through the halls, slowly fading away.

You have emoted: Lief considers the book again, then glances at Lanni Ahonen. "Do you write books?"

Ani waves a leafy branch in greeting.

You flash Ani a joyous smile.

Lanni Ahonen exclaims to Ani, "Hal-lo!"

With a flourish of her arm, Jolanthe bows deeply.

Ani smiles brightly at Lanni Ahonen, "Hello again!"

Ani waves goodbye.

Ani leaves to the east.
She is followed by a perky-eared corgi puppy, an ivory-furred pompom puppy with a fanned tail, and a tiny pug puppy.

Lanni Ahonen says to you, "No, no books. Lanni works with... p-plant? Plants?"

You nod your head emphatically.

Lanni Ahonen nods his head emphatically.

You ask Lanni Ahonen, "Kavindra and Daiua let you work with the plants in the Temple, right?"

The sound of voices can be heard drifting through the halls.

Lanni Ahonen nods his head enthusiastically.

You have emoted: Lief beams, swaying thoughtfully in the air. "Lady Maylea has told me She has been painting fruits," she says to Lanni Ahonen. "That maybe She will have an orchard -- maybe we will get to enjoy it, too."

You say, "An orchard...is many trees, with many fruits."

Lanni Ahonen throws his arms out wide, looking very much like a scarecrow with stringy, silvery hair. "I like plants."

You beam broadly at Lanni Ahonen.

You have emoted: Lief flits about the bookshelves happily. "I do, too! Did you know my name sounds like the part of a plant?"

Lanni Ahonen says, "Leaf?"

You nod your head enthusiastically.

Jolanthe nods solemnly.

Lanni Ahonen says, "Leaf is plant?"

Lanni Ahonen gives you the once-over, eyeing you suspiciously.

You have emoted: Lief looks about herself thoughtfully, then pulls a few books off a shelf until she finds one with a picture of a tree. She points out the leaves on it. "Leaf," she explains, then motions toward the whole tree. "Tree."

Comprehension flashes across Lanni Ahonen's face.

Lanni Ahonen points one finger at you and one finger at the book's image of a leaf. "Leaf!"

You have emoted: Lief giggles and nods.

"This is good." Lanni Ahonen flashes a brief and rare smile. He thumps his palm on the book. "Good!"

A few scattered leaves skitter across the floor on an errant draught.

You have emoted: "I think so, too!" Lief agrees with a nod toward Lanni Ahonen, her eyes bright. "Does 'Lanni' refer to something in your language? Or sound like something else, too?"

Lanni Ahonen scratches his head looking for an idea.

You ponder the situation.

You have emoted: Shelving the book with the picture of the tree, Lief looks to Jolanthe for ideas.

The sound of footsteps echoes through the halls, slowly fading away.

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to you, "Depending on the specificity of the thing, if there is one, it could be difficult to explain."

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

Lanni Ahonen squats down and presses both hands against the floor. "Lanni is..."

You have emoted: Lief's ears twitch, and she watches Lanni Ahonen attentively.

The light of Mother Moon drifts through the windows to cast long beams across the hallways.

Lanni Ahonen thumps his hands a few times on the floor once again. "Lanni is... Land? Land? Is word?"

You have emoted: Lief nods her head eagerly. "Land, yes!"

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "Aha, certainly."

You clap your hands together merrily.

Looking pleased with himself, Lanni Ahonen stands up again. "Yes, Lanni. Land." He nods at you and Jolanthe.

Jolanthe rubs her chin thoughtfully, raises her eyebrow and says, "I see..."

Lanni Ahonen pats himself on the head. "Small land," he elaborates. "Like... small child. Land."

Flitting about thoughtfully, you say, "What a name...it feels deep. Like it has roots. Even small land supports life."

You flash Lanni Ahonen a joyous smile.

Clasping her hands together, you say to Lanni Ahonen, "I think it suits you."

Suddenly serious again, Lanni Ahonen says to you, "My question, Leaf." He pauses, trying to formulate carefully. "Can I..."

You have emoted: Lief tilts her antlered head, hovering at eye level with Lanni Ahonen, listening.

Lanni Ahonen points at you, then points to his chest. "You make colours. You, Daiua, Kavindra. I can not." He tilts his head, "Why?"

Lanni Ahonen rests his hand over his heart, blinking.

Meeting Lanni Ahonen's eyes, you rest your hand over your heart in greeting, sensing the link between your kindred spirits as a prismatic array of colour shimmers through your vision.

Lanni Ahonen exclaims, "Yes!"

You have emoted: Lief lowers her hand from her heart and smiles with warmth. "We worship Lady Maylea," she explains. "Everybody has many colours inside -- you, too, Lanni -- but we are blessed by Her to show them when we like to." Her antlered head tilts again, watching Lanni Ahonen carefully. Possibly for understanding or confusion.

Lanni Ahonen says, "What is wor-ship?"

You have emoted: Lief bites her bottom lip as she considers. "That question is very big," she says after a moment, a note of self-deprecating laughter entering her words. "It means different things if you ask it to different people." She lifts a hand to her heart again. "For me, it means to follow Lady Maylea, because She knows a lot and has so much wisdom to impart. It means to do my very best for Her, and for myself. For us both. It means...a lot of things."

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to you, "Depending on the nature of clarity in the language, one might say a - a relation of communion between mortal and Elder."

With a slight raise of the eyebrows, you perk up your ears and turn your attention towards Jolanthe.

Jolanthe Mzithrei asks you, "Seems to fit, right about?"

You nod your head enthusiastically at Jolanthe.

His voice made matter-of-face by lack of words, Lanni Ahonen says to you, "You like Lady Maylea. Daiua likes Lady Maylea. This is worship?"

You nod your head affirmatively at Lanni Ahonen.

You say to Lanni Ahonen, "We like Lady Maylea most of all the Gods."

Nodding, Lanni Ahonen says, "Many many Elders, Taimi says."

You nod your head at Lanni Ahonen, showing your acceptance.

Curiously, you ask Lanni Ahonen, "Do you want to worship Her, too?"

Rising thick upon the air is the mustiness of ancient tomes and the crisp smell of new vellum.

The sound of the wind battering the windows echoes through the building.

Lanni Ahonen considers this for a moment, not entirely answering the question, but he cups his hands together and says, "I see Lady Maylea, I tell Her, I like Her. She makes muku flower."

You have emoted: Lief nods as she listens, her eyes bright. She wings about Lanni Ahonen slowly, then considers. "She likes you, too, Lanni. If you want to be closer to Her always, like Daiua, like me, I think this would make Her very, very happy."

Lanni Ahonen presses a hand to his chest, his green oval eyes glinting. "I see Her again soon, maybe."

You have emoted: Lief nods toward Lanni Ahonen. "Do you know what it means to 'pray'?"

Lanni Ahonen shakes his head.

Holding her hands out, you say, "It is...what we did when you first talked to Daiua. Daiua said some things, and asked Lady Maylea to come, and Lady Maylea came."

Comprehension flashes across Lanni Ahonen's face.

Lanni Ahonen looks around suspiciously at the air. "She hears?" he asks.

You nod your head enthusiastically.

Lanni Ahonen nods his head emphatically.

You say to Lanni Ahonen, "Her attention isn't always right here, right now, but when we pray, She hears."

After a moment of consideration, fingertips brushing her own forehead where her bindi sits, you ask, "Do you know what a 'shrine' is?"

Lanni Ahonen shakes his head.

You have emoted: Lief lowers her hand and gestures vaguely as she searches for words. "It is...a place with power. It is dedicated to an Elder. If you go to a shrine to Lady Maylea, which have a lot of flowers or colours by them, you can always pray to Her." She flashes Lanni Ahonen a broad, beaming smile. "Or we can pray together, if you like."

Comprehension flashes across Lanni Ahonen's face.

Lanni Ahonen says, "Like, hauta?"

Curious, echoing the word, you ask, "Hauta?"

Lanni Ahonen finds a dusty nearby shelf and makes a crude drawing upon it with his slender fingers. He points at it and then looks at you and Jolanthe. "Hauta." You see the picture of a tall pole, or perhaps a tree, and what looks like a head perched at the top.

A few scattered leaves skitter across the floor on an errant draught.

Jolanthe scratches her head looking for an idea.

You have emoted: Lief touches her fingertips to her cheeks, thoughtfully studying the image. Her eyes cut sidelong to Jolanthe, curiosity reflected in her own.

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to you, "I want to say beacon, perhaps? But that doesn't feel quite right to the situation."

Lanni Ahonen explains more. "When kaelye die, when animal die. We make hauta. Then they go home. They live, speak to kaelye. Have power."

Comprehension flashes across your face.

Lanni Ahonen slinks around Jolanthe, suddenly offering her a buttery shortbread cookie topped in lavender sugar. "Cookie?"

You have emoted: Lief tilts her antlered head. "We have cairns, which are different from shrines. Maybe hauta are like cairns?" She rummages about her things, pulling out a different book along with a bit of charcoal. She sketches out a cairn, stones piled atop one another, flowers left beside them.

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to Lanni Ahonen, "Ooh, that looks lovely, if you are indeed inclined to share."

You smile impishly and say to Jolanthe, "Lanni has had quite the harvest of cookies."

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to you, "Oh, I think I see now."

Finishing up her drawing, you say to Lanni Ahonen, "Jolanthe makes cookies."

Lanni Ahonen hands Jolanthe the cookie and gives her a brief smile.

Jolanthe puts her nose over a buttery shortbread cookie topped in lavender sugar and inhales.

Jolanthe tentatively sticks out her tongue and licks a buttery shortbread cookie topped in lavender sugar.

Jolanthe consumes a buttery shortbread cookie topped in lavender sugar leisurely, seeming to enjoy every bite.

Lanni Ahonen says to you, "I go talk to Daiua, and I talk to Lady Maylea."

You nod your head enthusiastically at Lanni Ahonen.

Lanni Ahonen touches two fingers to his forehead, "Keetos, Leaf!"

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to Lanni Ahonen, "Lavender is always appreciable. Thank you most kindly."

Brightly, you say to Lanni Ahonen, "I'm very excited for you to find your colours."

You have emoted: Lief touches two fingers to her forehead, smiling at Lanni Ahonen. "Ole hyva, Lanni."

Lanni Ahonen says to Jolanthe, "Ole hyva."

You flit about happily.

You tell Jolanthe Mzithrei, "'Keetos' means 'thank you', while 'ole hyva' means 'you're welcome'."

Lanni Ahonen slinks in a slow circle around you and Jolanthe before disappearing, his tail showing a last flash of blue as he departs.

Her eyes twinkling as she watches Lanni Ahonen depart, you say, "I wonder if he comes to the Serenwilde so often to enjoy the plants here."

Jolanthe tells you, "Aha! Sorry, was getting caught up in a little side conversation too."

You say, "Our Lady's temple is beautiful, and it does have life, of course, but it isn't *overrun* like the Serenwilde is."

Jolanthe Mzithrei says to you, "Does he live in Her Temple, then? I didn't know any of the Kaelye lingered in the Basin still."

You nod your head enthusiastically at Jolanthe.

Comprehension flashes across Jolanthe's face.

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "That's right about what I thought."

You say to Jolanthe, "He has come here on his own. He was hoping that Lady Maylea might paint a flower from the muku ball, but the muku ball is a seed."

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "Ah, I do recall them being a bit like that."

You smile broadly and say to Jolanthe, "Lady Maylea is meditating on it, and waiting to see what it will become, and how it grows. Maybe She will be able to paint a new flower."

Jolanthe Mzithrei says, "Once they anchor and such."

You nod your head enthusiastically.