post-Wisdom clubhouse chat

Voice resonating with choral harmonics, you say, "May darkness be purged by Her Argent Light."
In answer, the stained-glass image of the black koi fish flares with burning, incandescent light;
when the blinding flare recedes, you find yourself standing within the Chantry of the Argent.

You vanish in the chamber's stark glow.
The Chantry of the Argent.
Heavy with gleaming, vaulted architecture, this sacred place is built entirely of formidable,
impassive marble. The solemn stone walls are hung with elaborate tapestries of the Basin of Life,
their gossamer threads charting a map that outlines the places of corruption found within the First
World in preparation for the advent of holy war. Forming an intricate coat of arms, seven luminous
spears grace the otherwise bare foremost wall of the arched sanctum, the sidereal steel of their
blades drawn into the sharp outline of a star lotus, austere in its solitary beauty. Beneath them
lies the chamber's only point of departure from its hardness and severity: a narrow stained-glass
window of sidereal splendour, its constellations forming the likeness of the Empyreal Goddess
rendered as a stark white nova shining down from the heavens, distant and beautiful with avenging
light. Blazing before Her with a wrathful incandescence, an immense brazier of burning starlight
casts an argent glow upon the chamber, purging all shadows in its stark, unforgiving brilliance.
You see a single exit leading down.

The Assembly Hall of the Anointed.
Beautiful stained-glass windows gleam against the walls in homage to the Lady Lantra. Shimmering
beneath the stained-glass windows, an immaculate plaque of starlit marble shines with muted beauty.
You see exits leading north, southeast, and southwest.

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "Should you need anything, merely ask it of
Me."

In the midst of inspecting the spears that grace the wall, with one finger extended
to test the blades for practical application, Avaris jerks away at the abrupt flare of light and
unexpected voice, a hand snapping to his blades before he relaxes. "Lady, you startled me. My
apologies."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "Ah. That could have boded poorly, considering
the sharpness of the weaponry."

Flexing his fingers, Avaris lifts his hand up and examines it with some amusement,
nodding. "Indeed. I doubt it would have cut it off, however, unless the weapons are supernaturally
sharp." He grows silent for a moment, then asks, faintly uncertain, "Is there...Anything that You
require of ~me~, Lady? I confess that I am not accustomed to You returning after You depart, hence
the surprise."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "Only that I wished for you to know that this
is a place that I keep My attentions upon more than most, should you desire clandestine meetings
regarding the Order."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "Should you think of ways in which you could
better utilize this place, or see the Order progress, do inform Me. I find self reliance
refreshing."

A glimmer of mirthful light manifests in Avaris's eyes at this response, the golden
tips of his claws glinting as he turns them aside to indicate the room as a whole. "Clandestine? How
cloak and dagger of Us, my Lady." With an emphatic nod, his voice firm, he says, "I shall. Am I
permitted to work in here, or would You prefer that I largely utilise it to communicate with You in
private?"

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "This place is yours. Use it as you desire,
for that is its purpose."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "Perhaps in time it might even expand, should
the need arise."

Princess Nabithia tells you, "Congratulations, fellow Anointed of Argent Light."

The helm-like wedge of Avaris's head turns slowly as he surveys the room in a
speculative manner, as if visualising potential uses, and imagining future additions. Lifting his
hand absently to his mane, he coils a finger about the pristine white fluff, playing with it idly as
he muses, "There is much potential here, indeed. We shall see what may be useful, then. First, if
You are amenable to it, Lady, I will seek to get the house in order, as it were. The Order has
been...Disappointing."

You tell Princess Nabithia, "Thank you, my friend. I confess to no small degree of surprise."

Princess Nabithia tells you, "Indeed? I am not, for I was the one who told the Lady you were ready."

You tell Princess Nabithia, "Ah. I should have suspected your meddling fingers were involved in some
fashion. Ever the meddler, Nabithia."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "There is much stagnancy, yes. Little progress
forward, little wish to study, or fear of engaging with My tenets incorrectly, so being unwilling to
examine them."

Princess Nabithia tells you, "Hmmmm, perhaps. But I use my powers for good, I assure you."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "It may be prudent to do a meeting of the
Anointed in the coming months to discuss what may be done to remedy this."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "I encourage you to speak among yourselves and
for you to examine the Order with fresh eyes as one of My Anointed, for such perspective is
valuable."

With a brisk nod, Avaris says, "Agreed. They are lazy, and they cower, when they
should be eager and ready to serve You. It is intolerable, for You deserve far, far better. Perhaps
I can inject some vigour, in the role of unforgiving taskmaster." At the suggestion, he nods once
again, his voice firm and sure. "Yes, Lady. It is likely there will be no small resistance to
change, but I shall persevere. Would You be opposed to my writing a news post to the Order,
declaring my general intent, and suchlike?"

You tell Princess Nabithia, "Nabithia, I have seen you cheat for your own vanity with my own eyes."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "Not at all, for it will be helpful for others
to understand the purpose of the Argent and your new role as Anointed. You may wish to begin
without, however, calling the entirety of the Order lazy."

Princess Nabithia tells you, "I will neither confirm nor deny."

With the air of one adopting a most thoughtful air, exaggerated for humourous
effect, Avaris lifts a pointed fingertip to his chin, tapping it in a ponderous manner. "You think
so, Lady? How strange. I suppose I might be a touch less baldly hostile, if You think that would be
received poorly, for some reason."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "If you are this frank with an Elder Goddess,
there is no telling what you may say to shards upon the eve of your Anointing."

You tell Princess Nabithia, "Mhmm.We shall have to celebrate sometime, you and I. Think of something
nice, and I shall treat you - Within reason, Nabithia."

Princess Nabithia tells you, "Reason? Pah. But that does sound delightful. Another time, perhaps -
enjoy your success!"

Dipping his head aside in acknowledgement of a fair point, Avaris lowers his hand
to his side, resting it upon the lacquered curve of his uppermost scabbard. "True enough. I manage
to mortally upset them even when I strive for gentle, who knows how they will react when I dispense
with the effort."

You tell Princess Nabithia, "Yes, Nabithia, hence ~sometime~."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "It is rewarding to see someone else blunder
in their social endeavors."

You sense a quiet, unseen presence watching you here, at once both calming and disquieting.

Princess Nabithia tells you, "So fussy."

A sudden, surprised laugh bursts unbidden from Avaris at this, his head turning to
regard the brazier with antennae curved upwards. "Lady! That is almost uncharitable of You." With an
elegant, courtly bow, he proclaims, "I am full glad that my bumbling is so pleasing to You, my
Lady."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "As We discussed, Avaris, I am not always a
charitable Goddess." There is a lilting humour in the words as they dance through the flames.
"Pleasing, perhaps so. There is a comfort in sharing one's inadequacies with others."

Regarding the burning, sidereal flames with open fondness as he straightens, Avaris
agrees, "There is, at that. I am truly glad to provide some small measure of comfort for You, Lady,
even in such a capacity." Glancing about the room via the constellation of eyes that rest upon his
wings, he comments, "I shall have to ask one of the more creative members of the Order to craft a
desk and chair, I think, else I shall be doing paperwork upon the floor."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "You may find that Wanderer Glacydra can be
amenable to assistance. She has procured a cartel for the Order for that very purpose."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "They have."

A thoughtful hum resonates about the room as Avaris considers the suggestion,
nodding in a contemplative manner. "I shall do just that, Lady, thank You for the suggestion."
Lifting a hand, he turns it aside in a casual manner, inquiring with keen curiosity, "Do You have an
office, of sort, Lady? I have often wondered where exactly it is that You go when You disappear from
our perception."

A startled, resonant laughter ripples throughout the Chantry as the question is received by the
brazier's flames.

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "The Divine Havens is its own solace. I find
many of Us take to quiet places, much like Our creches were of old. I wonder how to explain it in
mortal terms."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "We do have the need to physically manifest,
as mortals do."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "Do not have, rather."

The laughter evokes a rippling wave of pinpricks of light within Avaris's azure
gaze, a simple pleasure at his Goddess's amusement. The answer turns him thoughtful, however, as he
tilts his head aside, considering. "Intriguing. Do You discorporate and exist, then, as a form of
immanidivinus etherea, within a nebulous realm that reflects Your creche?"

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "Hmmm, what a curious question, and yet so
apropos to ask a Hamadhi. Perhaps I will let you sit in suspense, rather than answering."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "Regretfully I must depart, but I look forward
to seeing what unfolds on your new path, My Avaris."

Suffocating white light purges all shadows from an immense brazier of burning starlight as a stark,
feminine voice blazes forth from the blinding flames, "...And do something about your suffix, hm?"

The flames dim, as the voice leaves in a ripple of feminine laughter, and is no more.

Lowering his head in respect, Avaris gives voice to a soft laugh in response to
that which lingers in the wake of his Goddess, before rising in an unhurried, easy manner, and
inspecting the room with a relaxed curiosity.