Call for Corona
Log Info
- Title: Call for Corona
- GM: Andelena
- Place: Temple of Daeus
Temple of Daeus, afternoon.
It's a damp day in Alexandria. Fog and chill, but without the audacity on the weather's behalf to become rain and wind. It's just that sort of damp cold that haunts the shoulders and persists long after one runs for the door of someplace with a nice furnace and curls up with a bowl of soup and a cup of cider.
But the Temple of Daeus is open for business--well, worship--despite the awful and dark day where the sunlight doesn't seem to seem to mean much. The Sunguard known as Andelena Donnelly is walking beside her husband through the halls. "Sorry about the shoulder, babe," she says, "but I'm hoping you're feeling a bit better soon now the healer's looked at you. I'll make something hot tonight to try and help kick the cold out of the bones."
Despite the magic of the Temple that chases away the chill, leaving a warm, temperate interior behind, Dolan's still dressed in full cold-weather gear, from wool shirt to sheepskin jacket and leather-and-wool cloak over all. Most of his left arm is under the cloak itself, but the right reaches to snake around the taller Sunguard's waist, laughter in his eyes despite a tight jaw. "Nothing to be done about it, baby," he counters. "I just live with it. It helps a little, I just wanted to make sure it was just the weather and not too much fun last night." A wide, cheeky grin follows the words and the laughter. "You know, we could always go to the Fernwood instead of making you cook," he offers. "S'posin' I've got the coin for that. Let's stay a bit longer. I've done devotions for the morning, but I ain't ready to go back out in that yet."
The temple of Daeus was one those places that were the last one would ever think to find Schara, but stranger things have happened. Last time Schara had been loitering on the front steps to the temple for some time, but today, the elf was entering the doors on their own volition.
Schara had taken the fur lined cloak they normally wore with their armor, and a purple knit hat with a white pom-pom was pushed far down their head. Old habits died hard though, and the artificer was left standing inside the main hall, one wooden arm pulling the cloak closed as they scanned the room rather than flagging down any daeusites for assistance.
Andelena laughs hard with Dolan, who has absolutely no objection to her husband pulling her closer. "Yeah, I would have felt fucking awful if it was because we got too frisky last night, but hey. Maybe we oughta go to the Fernwood later. We can afford it."
Any other thoughts she might have had on stew, booze, and the activities of the night before slow to a crawl as she looks at Schara in the main hall, on the knit hat and the cloak.
GAME: Dolan rolls perception+3: (16)+19+3: 38
"As long as you enjoyed yourself, baby." Warm, easy affection suffuses Dolan's demeanor, as much as his words, as he pulls Andelena closer. He stops, though, when she slows to a crawl, and neither natural nor artificial eyes take long to find the figure standing in the main hall, so obviously thoroughly out of place. "Who's - Sunlord's holy shield, what is Schara doing inside any temple, let alone this one?" he mutters. "Come on. Schara ain't do temples. Let's go see what she needs." He starts again, tugging at Andelena to get her to come with him.
Schara was still loitering around at the main hall entrance, and the elf was continuing to glance at a few of the people passing by. One priest stops by at some point, but the elf shakes her head and the priest is soon back on their day to see to their duties.
She does eventually spy who she is looking for, and Schara blinks a few times, before walking over more than a bit hurriedly. "Miss Andelena and mister Dolan, hello, and um, his light on your path, unless that's not right anymore." The elf greets quietly and awkwardly, and already starting to ramble. "Could I talk to you about something today since it's really important and I could probably use your advice and help on things."
"Missus Andelena," the Sunguard replies with a big grin as she walks with her husband up to where the artificer's approaching. "Got married, did the dirty, have the trophies to prove it--including the husband." A light laugh leaves her as she leans over and gives a little peck onto Dolan's cheek.
She looks back to Schara. "My shit jokes aside--anything to help, so don't worry and breathe a bit for me, yeah? What's the problem you're having?" she asks casually, yet with an obvious measure of concern in her voice--looking to placate and empathize at the same time.
"You've been doing the dirty since you were seventeen, baby." More easy, cheeky laughter from Dolan, and he returns the peck, but almost at once, he turns his entire harlequin gaze back to Schara. "You ain't come here for small stuff," he counters. "Let's hear it. We either find a room to talk in, or we go get a pint someplace where I can get warm, yeah?"
Schara comes to a stop, and the elf has to glance a bit upwards to the two in front of her, and the artificer tilts her head to one side, before she nods. "I guess you do a lot of dirty work in the city, and if you weren't married last time I saw you then I should offer my congratulations on that matter and it means you probably trust mister Dolan implicitly so talking with him around should be no problem at all since you're a good judge of character." She answers, nodding once to her, and then to Dolan, as she stops to take a breath. "No, I tend to avoid the temples whenever possible for various personal reasons, but I really needed to speak to Andelena and you as well if you're willing to listen. As much as I would like to get something to drink since alcohol is known to help with emotional trauma, I know that it can not be relied upon as a solution for problems long term and I need to have as clear a head as possible at the moment." She continues, pausing for another breath. "A room to talk in or somewhere to drink or eat if you need to would be welcome either way."
Andelena just patiently nods as Schara rattles off what the artificer needs to rattle off, grinning a little when Schara seems to miss the innuendo. Maybe it's a mom-in-training thing. "I'm certainly willing to listen," she answers after a moment. "Let's go duck into a room; there's plenty we can pop into and get chatting about the problem at hand. Booze can wait for later for Bry and I anyway." Plus stew.
Mmm. The Fernwood's sounding better with every minute. Andelena gestures off in the direction of one such room. "Let's go."
Dolan, however, looks for just a moment uncertain. "If it's just Andie you want -" He shakes his head. "Nah. I'm happy to try and help if you'll have me. I'll get the kitchens to send tea and something light up, and be right in." He takes note of the door that Andelena selected, then turns away from the pair to sidetrack to the kitchens, trotting off down the hall.
Schara keeps looking at Dolan, and the elf shakes her head again. "No mister Dolan, it's alright, I appreciate any help and insight and you seem like a good follower of Daeus so having another perspective is welcome and appreciated. And thank you for being willing to listen as well missus Andelena, a room here would work just fine. I'm sorry if I'm interrupting any plans you two were having for drinking or hugging each other."
Schara takes another glance around the main hall, and heads off in the direction Andelena gestured to, still looking more than a bit uneasy.
"See ya in a bit, babe," Andelena cheerfully tells Dolan as she goes with Schara into the room. It's a small thing intended for situations like these--conversations held in private about sensitive matters, typically with a Daeusite particularly keen on compassion. Which, Andelena is--just in a more earthy tone than some might expect.
She takes a seat at the small table that's in the room. "Yeah. Hugging each other." Andelena can't help but swallow a snort and a laugh at that. "Don't worry. We hug all the time. Anyway, just take a deep brief for me, Schara. Promise it's gonna be okay. Take a seat."
Schara enters the room after Andelena, and after a moment of lightly kicking one of the chairs at the table to get it into place, the elf drops down into it quickly. She nods, and takes a long breath and equally long pause to exhale. "Yes, breathing regulation is a good way to manage excessive stress, you're right." She answers finally. "I do not know if things are going to be okay but I will remain as hopeful as possible. It has been three days since I received what I am almost completely certain is my mother's arm to my room at the artificer's hall Andelena, and I don't know what to do." They continue, burying theirself more into their cloak.
Well. That's a sentence that Andelena hadn't quite been expecting from Schara's mouth, but now it suddenly makes sense why the artificer's so nervous. She nods gently at Schara, steel-gray eyes looking empathetically at her.
"I'm really, really sorry to hear that," she says gently. "Have you contacted anyone else yet? The Guard? Or am I the first to hear about it?" It's the first question, but it's an important one.
"I appreciate the empathy, Andelena, it's really overwhelming and I'm trying to be as relaxed as possible, but I'm still overwhelmed by everything going on and it's more than a bit hard to talk about." The artificer answers quietly. "I haven't told the guard yet, unless you count my friend Warrick and they agreed I should probably talk with you since if it's who I believe is behind it, having input from people who follow Daeus is a good idea. And I did speak to Harkashan and missus Verna, in order to go and make sure that the limb might still be in good enough shape since I'm hoping she's still alright and she might be able to have it healed back afterwards."
Andelena nods gently at the answers given to her. "Yeah," she says softly. "I remember our talk about that rat-bastard. I was actually going to ask if you thought maybe he had something to do with it."
She hums gently for a moment. "Well let me tell you something. Right here and right now. If it is him, and especially if he's claiming that he has the right to do so because he's granted power by the Knight--that ain't fucking right. But we better wait for Bry to get back here, because this is exactly his sort of shit. Investigating and rooting out's part of what he does best."
The door opens after a swift tapping, and Dolan enters, followed by a girl in acolyte's robes of about fourteen or so with a tray that includes a plate of cheese, bread, and fruit, and a tea service. At his direction, she sets the tray down on the table, and with a small wave scurries out the door. He lets out a heavy breath, almost a sigh, and closes the door behind her, then ambles over to a seat that puts Andelena immediately on his right side. "Sorry. They wouldn't let me carry it. So what's going on?"
"It's the only person who really makes sense to have done something like this, since my family lives nowhere near here and most people don't even know my family since I don't even use my last name or anything in town." Schara answers, half freezing up as the door opens, but seeing it was dolan and another working at the temple, they relax slightly and nod. "Thank you very much for the tea and food." She offers before they're off. "It's alright, but you're very strong, why were you not allowed to carry it?" She wonders out loud. "I'm sorry, but would you be able to pour me a glass of tea Andelena?" She asks before returning her attention back to the inquisitor. "I was telling missus Andelena about how someone had my mother's arm and sent it out to me where I live in Alexandria, mister Dolan."
"It's okay, baby, we'll catch you up," Andelena says to Dolan as she pours Schara some tea. "Poor Schara here's dealing with--well, what she said. She's told a few folks about it, and she suspects a cleric of Daeus back home in Llyranost who refused to heal her on account of..."
Her face turns sour, like she's tasted milk that's gone bad. "I'll let Schara explain." She's not about to tell what she knows and risk explaining it poorly.
"Cold and rain and me ain't friends," Dolan explains easily enough. leaning back in his seat and unclasping the cloak at his neck. It falls away from his shoulders, draping over the back of the chair to reveal that his left shoulder is encased in a sheepskin-padded leather cuff. His ease, though, is short-lived when Andie and Schara explain, and he leans forward, the flesh-and-blood brown eye narrowing dangerously.
"Is that so," he drawls slowly, a hard edge under the words. "Let's hear the story. Tell me everything you can think of." She definitely has his undivided attention, and he sets out cups for Andelena to pour.
Schara ducks their head down into their cloak, and after a moment they come back up with a long metal sraw that they stick into their cup of tea. "I understand, my clavicle is much more painful than usual often on cold days, I hope you feel better and it passes soon." The elf offers to Dolan with a small frown. "You want to know everything I can think of about this? Alright." Schara continues, pausing to take a long sip of tea through the straw. They exhale, and settle their gaze somewhere between the two daeusites. "Thraven Elsdew is the head cleric at the temple of Daeus in my hometown in Llyranost. They were the head cleric for ten years, 4 months and twelve days after they were recognized to take over after the old cleric finally passed away. I'm still not entirely certain, but after my arms were crushed in an accident at the farm, when I went with my family to try and get help, he refused to do anything to help me, and I believe it was due to saying that I did not want to sleep with him two and a half weeks before."
Schara pauses, and takes another sip of tea and a long breath. "Three days ago I had a parcel left outside the door to my workshop at the artificer's guild, since I usually sleep there since it's easier to have access to tools and equipment for maintaining my armor and limbs, and a parcel was left outside my door. Inside of it was a bloody arm, which based upon the markings I recognized, as well as the engagement ring on it is almost certainly my mothers. That's when I went over to make sure that it was preserved since I know that the temple of Vardama does that a lot with bodies and I really hope it's not a body but I want to make sure that the arm is in good condition so it can be reattached with magic since I know how awful it is living missing limbs."
Yup. There it is. The story that'd made Andelena rage the first time she'd heard it. A man of Daeus (supposedly) who refused to heal a woman because she'd refused to sleep with him not long before. She has to refrain from sucking in a breath, because if she does, she just might call the man who might be responsible for a woman missing her arm the filthiest word that she knows.
She finishes pouring tea for everyone and takes a seat at the table, looking knowingly at Dolan that this is exactly what the man's about. This is what he trained to do. Root out corruption. Purge evil.
Dolan makes no attempt to hurry Schara, and she has both halves of the harlequin stare, the expressionless amber gem in its bronze-and-steel ring, set into a mess of scars that cover most of the right side of his face, and the focused sympathy of the flesh-and-blood brown eye. "Thank you for trusting me with this," he tells the woman, seriously, picking up his teacup. "And for letting me hear your story." The words are deadly serious. "You see, Schara, what your cleric pulled on you - yeah, there's some shitheads out there wearing His symbols. I'm in, if you'll have me. You ain't troubling me."
"Y'see -" He takes a sip of his tea, then sets it down and reaches for a piece of cheese. Interestingly, he's not using or moving that cuffed shoulder at all - only the other arm. "The Knight knows that we're mortal, and ain't all of us as good at living up to His word as we like to talk about. There's plenty of us as do - and a few as don't. Part of my job - what I do in His service - is to hunt out the fuckers as do shit like this." Munch, munch. "You ever hear of a title in the Knight's church called Corona?"
The artificer takes the time after telling her story to take a few more steps, and fidget with something under her cloak. when one of her wooden arms is finally raised out of it, the end at the wrist is replaced with a bronze fork, which spears some of the cheese. "I'm sorry, I'm just really hungry since I haven't eaten much these last few days due to forgetting to do so with everything else on my mind, other than the lunch I had with Warrick today." They apologize. "Thank you for listening and being understanding and not shunning me or my family as a result of it. I think they were threatening me because they didn't want me talking about this to people. I'm just worried that's what this threat was a result of, and if it's my fault then I feel like I failed my parents again."
"I let my past experiences make me think that most clergy were either just as bad as they were, or they were bad for not doing anything to punish someone like that." They admit after a pause. "I'm glad there are people with a job like that even if it shouldn't be necessary, I don't think I've heard of a Corona title but I have been actively avoiding information about the churches for numerous years so that might be why."
"That's what my husband here is," Andelena answers gently. "A Corona. Someone called upon to shine light onto the darkness that happens in the world--including the Knight's temples. Plenty of fuckers who don't deserve what was given to them--the trust that was given to them--and it's Bry's job to flush it out. To get it out into the open, so that it can be judged."
Andelena takes up her own teacup now. "People like the piece of shit who's threatening you--if that's him, and you've established that you don't know anyone else who could know you and your mom who could be here in Alexandria... They gotta answer for their crimes. They gotta answer to justice. I'm in, too. Bry and I like working as a pair."
Dolan sits up straight and flashes one of those warm, cheeky grins at Andelena. "Exactly, baby." He picks up his tea again, and takes another pull from it, turning his attention back to Schara. "Eat all you need. Where's your mama now? Llyranost, you said? Thinking we ought to be payin' her a visit, yeah? Let's start with making sure she's all right. I know who might be able to reattach that arm. If he can't, it ain't possible. I ain't seen him in a bit here, but pretty sure he's still around the temple somewhere. Let's start by helping her out, and if it ain't hers, I'll see about finding out whose it is."
Schara takes another piece of cheese, and another sip of tea, finishing off the cup. "Even if it is not him, though I believe that it is I can't be certain without more evidence, I need to find out who is behind this. And, even if it is not him, I think that they do deserve to at least have their actions judged properly and fairly."
"I used to really like the temples, so it's good to see that there are people that are willing to help with this still." They add, wiping their eyes against part of the cloak. "I'll do whatever is needed to make sure my mom is okay. She should still be back home in Llyranost, and Thraven should be, too since they run the temple there. I was planning on heading out as soon as I have supplies to travel, but thank you both for this."
"Sounds like we ought to be on that trip too," Andelena says, looking at Dolan. "Y'reckon we might want to do some recon about the Temples there first, Bry? Maybe see if Telamon knows anything about 'em? I know his folks live in the Mythwood, not in Llyranost, but I figure he's a diplomat's son and all."
It never hurts to be prepared. She looks back to Schara. "Just know we're not bailing on ya. This is important to both of us." It got personal the moment she learned it was a man of Daeus involved.
"Yeah. Definitely let's make sure it's him, and if it ain't him, let's find out who it is." Dolan agrees readily, picking up a piece of bread and a couple of pieces of cheese, laying the cheese atop the bread and setting his tea down to pick up the assembly and take a bite. "We've got to make sure Aura and Verna are back," he points out. "Can't leave the girls with Hunter alone. Once they're back, then we can both go, otherwise one of us'll have to stay."
He chews thoughtfully, and frowns. "Let's start by finding out where your mama is and whether she's all right. If it's hers, we'll want to talk to her. If it ain't, we'll need to find out whose it is."
"I don't know exactly what the temples are like there anymore otherwise I'd help, but my knowledge is several decades out of date in regards to that." Schara sighs. "But, yes, I'm not going to be unprepared, Warrick made a good point, that whoever is doing this likely was expecting me to head off immediately and likely on my own since I'm bad at asking for help since I don't like being a burden to people."
"No, I remember back in am'shere what you did for everyone, you're determined and reliable." She points out, leaving her seat and stretching, making sure the wooden hand didn't fall out of her lap. "I should probably go and get some sleep after I go and get some more supplies for any trips. If either of you need me to pick up anything, it is the least I can do with all the help you are offering."
"Go get some rest," Andelena says gently. For now, she looks at Dolan and nods. "If it's gotta be just one of us to go--you go. This is what you're meant to do. Gods know I ain't about to stop a Corona from doing what he was called here to do." She grins cheekily at her husband.
She looks to Schara. "I think I'm good," she says. "I don't need much, and Bry keeps us pretty well stocked up on everything we'd need for Guild work or otherwise."
"Take the rest of that with you," Dolan adds, gesturing to the half-eaten plate of bread, fruit, and cheese. "Eat something, get some rest. We keep our supplies fresh, we get things short-notice now and then. Leave word here at the Temple when you're ready to go, yeah? And - do me just one favor? I ain't gonna be obvious about who I am or what I do when I go. Keep my title to yourself, yeah? Lot of these corrupt bastards'll go to ground if they find out there's one of the Coronae around. They know what it means. Let's not tip our hand."
He stands up, carefully flexing that shoulder for the first time. "Hopefully Aura and Verna'll be back before you go."
"Alright, thank you, I'll make sure that none of it goes to waste." Schara says as she crouches down, using her arm to sweep the food into a bag she had underneath her cloak. "No matter what I appreciate everything you've said and done already. I would give you both a hug, but I can't really give hugs well and I wouldn't want to risk injuring Dolan's shoulder further."
"I promise I won't say anything about you or your title either." The elf nods, turning to the door. "I hope my mom is okay, I hope you liked that pie from last time Andelena, my mom is even better at baking them, and I could make one with fruit fresh from the orchard. They should have gotten the last of the late fall harvest in by now."