Temple of Auri -- Bluhen, Arina

## Transcript

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PANDOR.

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Exploration commenced.

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Blühen

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The crinkling of grass underneath alerted all to his presence as Blühen stepped through the curtains into Auri's temple once more. The area almost felt like a second home to him with how often he frequented it, though nothing would truly replace Elrios... nonetheless, he always came here for strictly serious reasons. The temple was not to be messed around in, and he knew as much; thus, he had never spent his time actually wandering the area. It felt rather disrespectful. Instead, he looked around, searching around, seeing if he could spot Aditeya somewhere. He came here for a reason, after all, and he'd be damned if he let it slip away from him as he indulged in the beauty of this sacred land. With a shake of his head and a subtle sigh, Blühen looked over his shoulder, smiling at Arina as he addressed them. "Beautiful, isn't it? It never ceases to surprise me, no matter how often I come here. Truly worthy of Her Lady the Dreamer, though I cannot speak for Her, haha. So perhaps I'm wrong. ~"

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Arina

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Still being new to the city, there was quite a lot Arina had still been unable to see, this forest and temple being added to that ever growing list. They wandered a few steps behind Blühen, taking the time to take in the setting around them, but not too much to get lost without the other as if one could really lose Blü anyhow. Upon reaching the temple, Arina was instantly immersed, studying every detail in the architecture around them, thank goodness they brought a notepad. They heard Blühen, looking up and nodding towards him. "It truly is something, it's unlike anything I've been able to see." Arina smiles, looking up above them. They almost looked like a child, though they always seemed to get caught in a wave of curious exploration at New areas. "You said this was to Auri, yes?" Ari began to try and clarify, looking over a small statue nearby.

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PANDOR.

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The exterior of the temple is simple, but as you walk in towards Auri's shrine, you enter what can really only be described as a sanctuary. It is undeniable that reality seems a little less important here. You feel as though you're walking on air, even with the marble solidly beneath your feet. A waking dream, indeed.

The shrine itself is simple in a striking way. Vines tumble over the white, round walls that encase it, twist around pillars, and weave through an aqueduct, all in between gauzy curtains that blow and float in non-existent wind. The ground is entirely water, save for some large, round stepping stones that lead to the center of the room, where larger dais sits. A statue rises from the middle, of a thin, ethereal woman with a flowing gown and tumbling hair. A veil bordered with cogs sits atop her head and falls over her face, but you can still see a concerned look on her face. In front of the statue, a short woman is humming to herself, arranging flowers around the base of the statue when she notices you.

"Oh-- Hey there!!" Aditeya scrambles to set her flowers down and turn to face you, tripping slightly in the process. "Ah... haha! Great timing, I was just finishing up here!!

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Blühen

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A peaceful tranquillity nestled itself on Blühen's face as he approached the lake. The unreality of the temple worked wonders when it came to making him feel as ethereal as he used to be. "This is the temple to Auri, yes! From what I've been able to gather, the eternally silent pond is one of the things that strike people the most. Sometimes, a leaf falls from the trees into the pond, and then...!" He snaps his fingers. "This silence being broken arises many, many different feelings and emotions in people. I wouldn't be able to explain to you what it does to me, but perhaps you can find out what it does to yourself~!" When a certain someone noticed him, he smiled in greeting at Aditeya before looking over at the statue of Auri. To see Her depicted... for whatever reason it may be - respect, reverence - Blühen pushed his hands together and closed his eyes for a moment, before eventually looking back over at Aditeya. "Oh, I'm glad, I'm glad! Good to know we did not interrupt! Be careful, though. It would do no good if you tripped over your own feet." He hummed to himself for a moment, looking over his shoulder to make sure a certain someone was still there. Well, no matter. He's pretty convinced they'll be fine in here. "It's great to see you again, ms. Coreopsis. Have you been doing alright~?"

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Arina

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Arina could hardly wrap their head around the layout of the shrine as they ventured towards the center. The water reminded them of clear, still crystal. Or a mirror, freshly cleaned with no speck of dust remaining. If one wasn't careful or knew it was a pond, they could end up walking right in, thinking it was solid. Liatening to Blühen speak, they gave gentle "Oo..."s in responce, Ari felt almost bad if they were to speak even a little too loudly here. It was only when another woman towards the statue of what Arina could only assume as Auri herself spoke that Arina was broken out of their trance. They shyed away just slightly from her but still gave a sheepish grin before turning their attention to the statue, giving it a gentle bow at the same Blü's hands came together. Arina wished they had their materials they always used for times like these: candles, inscence, even an offering. But they had nothing for the goddess, at least for today. Their yellow eyes opened as Blühen began to speak again, tilting their head ever so slightly "You two have met?" Arina finally speaks up, coming just a little closer to the others side.

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PANDOR.

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Aditeya chuckles a little, adjusting the half veil that sits over her left eye. "Oh you know... It's been a bit different since all the newcomers started appearing..." Her voice begins to trail off, but she is quick to snap back to her usually, energetic self. "But don't take that the wrong way!! I'm glad you all are here, it's been so great meeting so many new kinds of people! Just... taking some adjusting, I guess!"

She seems to take a quick beat to breathe before tilting her head towards Arina hands clasping behind her back. "Of course! Blu here has had all sorts of questions about Auri -- he's even decided to become an apprentice priest!! We're real well-acquainted at this point." She notices the way your eyes linger around the edges of the shrine, and it seems to soften her smile and make her, in general, quite happy. "...Is this your first time visiting the shrine?"

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Blühen

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"Haha, probably. It must be quite alarming to be thrown out of your daily rhythm with all of us starting to show up... but, don't worry, don't worry! We won't! I won't. ~ I know you mean well!" Blühen looked over his shoulder at Arina, giving them a reassuring smile - at least, that was the intent, with how his face softened and a chuckle passed from his lips - before gazing upon the statue of Auri again. "Indeed, indeed. ~ I come here quite often. Helping out in the temple is the best way for me to spend all this time I have! I do hope it helps lighten the increased workload just a little... ~"

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Arina

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Ah, Arina was beginning to put things together at their responses. Blühen was an apprentice priest...so this woman must be the priestess. They remembered someone in the chatroom vaguely mentioning priestesses existing around here. They nodded, seeming to relax a little when they understand who the lady before them is, turning to her with a small smile at her question. "It is. To be fair I've only bee a couple places outside the city. All of this is new to me." Arina chuckles softly "I guess I'll have to get Blü to catch me up with what he's learned so you don't need to answer any repeat questions, because I can assure you, I have many" Their nails fidget against the notebook in their hands "I certainly is a beautiful place, I can understand why he would come here often. And it's safe to say you may have another regular visitor now, if you're willing to welcome me along too?" "I was a traveling acolyte back in my world. I found answers to the unanswered and speak with deities of every alignment and meaning." Their fidgeting stops as they rub the back of their neck "Of course now I don't seem to have that ability here, but I guess it is still comforting there's at least something familiar here." Arina's hand lowers again as they relax once more "How long have you been here?"

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PANDOR.

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Her laugh is clear and bright and echoes in an airy sort of way around the walls of the shrine. "Oh, don't worry, you're hardly the only one with many, many questions. But no need to fear -- you are always welcome here at the Temple if you need a moment to breathe... or if you have any questions!"

Aditeya listens intently, her grin remaining one of approval as she hears of Arina's previous endeavors to speak with and understand deities. For a second, her eyes flicker to Bluhen, sharing the grin with him as well -- the two had gotten along quite well in their discussions of Auri and the city at large, and she seems pleased that he'd brought another soul genuinely curious about their religion and the deity she serves.

"Here? In Epoche?" Her head tilts somewhat inquisitively. "Well, I've lived here my whole life! Wouldn't change a thing about that either, I know there's a whole world of possibilities out there to explore but... I like it here! And there are infinite possibilities even here, too."

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Blühen

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Well, there wasn't much for him to do as of right now... but that's quite alright with him. His eyes stayed locked on the statue as he listened along to what was being asked and the answers Aditeya gave. Though he did break his focus for a moment to return her grin with an elated smile of his own, metaphorical sparkles beaming from his expression, as soon as he returned to staring at the statue, he grew more serious once again. His smile never dropped, though. It's a defining feature. "Infinite possibilities... some may lead to only small differences, but others could possibly even change the fate of the entire future..." Blühen quietly mused to himself as the others were having their little conversation. He'll let them have their fun for now - as long as he doesn't forget, it can wait. There's no rush when the hands don't move.

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Arina

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"Your whole life? I guess this place does have some of its own citizens. It seemed to me like everyone was taken here from a different universe." They sighed, smiling. "I guess I haven't quite gotten to see the infinite ability this city holds yet. Honestly I feel a little more like a fish stuck in a bowl." Arina turned, saying this, skipping lightly over a few of the stepping stones in the pond. Their motions are swift, the crystal clear water never leaving its settled, mirror state from the elf's motions. "The bowl seems vast and endless in my eyes, but, eventually-" They stopped abruptly, their coat settling back over their form as they wave their hands in front of them at a mimed wall "Something will stop me. It seems as if I am free at first, but always. always, something keeps me from going further." Arina turns back to the other two, pointing up to the sky "Meanwhile, whoever it was that brought everyone here is watching, and they control how big or small the bowl can be. What the decorations look like. How many and what kinds of fish can enter....and which ones to take out." Their arm lowers again. "I may not have hit any invisible walls yet, and perhaps I'm looking too deep into everything, but I honestly feel more trapped than anything. "

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PANDOR.

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As Bluhen watches the statue, concentrates on the gentle folds of the veil, the extreme detail in her subdued, yet concerned expression, the gold trim on the cogs lining the fabric and the way it catches the light, a leaf falls from one of the vines, careening through the air, flipping and dancing on invisible wind and then calming right before it hits the surface of the water. The crystal clear surface breaks in a rippling pattern of concentric circles pushing outward from where the leaf struck the surface, and though he knows a leaf hitting water makes no sound, this one seemed to... but only in his mind. It's quiet, subtle, easily missed if he was distracted by something else... but a melodic voice like a thousand wind chimes, like wind colored in every imaginable shade, like seeing music or hearing color resonates in the back of his mind, like a memory from a dream. It's just a hum of approval, tinted with a song of a laugh.

Aditeya and Arina do not seem to hear it, do not seem to notice the leaf falling. They continue with their conversation. "That just means you have to think a little more creatively, yeah?" The priestess toes her way to the edge of the dias where the statue stands, placing her hands on her hips and laughing in kind as Arina dances across the stones. "It's not the size of the bowl that matters, or what fish are in it, or even the decorations. It's what you make of it. A fishbowl can be an ocean or a drop of water, a plant can be a tree or a bit of seaweed, the stones can be mountains or just those sharp little pebbles that get stuck in your shoe. Maybe all of them at once!"

A wistful look crosses her face, and she chances a look back over her shoulder at Auri's statue. "I know it's not ideal... I can only assume the gods have their reasons for what's happening, even if they haven't told us in such certain terms yet." Her soft glance turns to a playful smirk as she returns her attention to Arina. "But I have faith. And Auri has inspired me in every step of my life... She's the sort who will see an invisible wall and tell you to paint the world on it."

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Blühen

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Though the leaf itself, being so focused on the statue, was not enough to pull his attention, the melodic hum that silently resonated through the reaches of his thoughts definitely did. He quickly turned away, gazed at the leaf on the water's surface, watched as the ripples slowly faded back out and the pond became entirely still once more... his eyes closed and his smile shined with a gentle, humble reverence as hushed replies were whispered, careful not to disturb the others' conversation: whispered in a sing-song language, in the abstract tongue of the gods he was created to serve... and though currently he had only a single voice, it all harmonized perfectly, much like a beatific choir. Even if it is not the tongue of this world, it was more familiar, felt more truthful for him to speak: it channelled the warmth of the noble oaths, however far they were, and if anything, always allowed him to express all that he normally could not. The song was the wellspring of a wave of admiration and appreciation, and truly, he felt there was no way better way to express his gratitude than through his own. He meets it with a melodic - though not nearly as beautiful as the song that graced him - hymn-like hum, and after playing his part in this little duet, finally parts with his words, graceful but to the point: they are busy, and he has no wishes to waste their time. Thank you, My Lady. And after all was said and done, he finally turned to face Aditeya. "Haha, speaking of reasons... forgive me for interrupting your conversation, but there is something that I have been meaning to ask of you, ms. Coreopsis. You see... Her Lady Auri offers Her guidance to those who ask for it, does She not? I hope I am not sounding too... self-centred, but there has been a question on my mind, something I desperately yearn to know, something I wish to ask Her... if hopefully She considers me worthy enough, at least."

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Arina

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Tightly clasping their hands behind their back at her response, Arina noded quietly but turned away to hide a troubled frown, pretending to turn their attention to a different part of the shrine. 'It's what you make of it.' echoed in their head. A fish cannot make out more of a fishbowl than what is given. Even if the perspective is different, in the end, their own point still stands, they're still trapped. Arina had stopped going to deities for answers a very long time ago, they've only spoken to them for advice and lessons in their viewpoints of history as of the past few years, but if they had the ability to speak to their own, they would be hammering out question upon question of what could be done. They didn't understand it. Even if you paint the world on a wall in the most vast detail imaginable, it is still a wall.

Ari had started scribbling questions to ponder over later in their notebook, still not having turned back towards the other two, but keeping an ear on the conversation none-the-less.

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PANDOR.

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Aditeya seems a little dismayed at the lack of response to her message of encouragement, but before she can dwell too long on it, Bluhen catches her attention again.

"Oh... Well, yes, she does, though not quite as consistently as one might hope." She crosses her arms over her chest and takes a deep breath. "Gods work in mysterious ways, and no one knows exactly how they decide which prayers they decide to answer and which are met with silence. Auri tends to visit in dreams, through sparks of inspiration or whispers on the wind. Not to say she doesn't listen when you pray, she just prefers a... subtler approach."

Her calm face slowly but surely falls into something a great deal more concerned, verdant eyes falling to the marble beneath her feet and arms drawing tighter around her.

"...I should warn you that she has been... mostly quiet lately."

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Blühen

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Noticing her dismay, Blühen sends her another bright smile. Blindingly radiant this snow poff is! "Haha! ~ Don't worry. If there's anyone who would know that they do, it's me. ~ And, well, if She doesn't answer me now, maybe She will tell me when the time is right. All that I wish for is but a moment of Her time to hear my words. ~ Anything more would be quite greedy of me, don't you think? Already, asking for Her time, is quite bold of..." His sentence trails off as Aditeya's expression sours, and he takes a moment to look her over before taking a few steps closer, gazing down at the marble at her feet. Not that there's probably much there. He raises a hand to his mouth and supports his elbow with his other hand. "... quiet? Has She stopped speaking to you, ms. Coreopsis? That is most concerning..." He then closes his eyes. "Gods do not stop speaking to someone for no reason. Either it is something you have done, or if She has stopped speaking to anyone at all..."

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Arina

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"Maybe it's not the fault of either her or the people speaking to her." Arina chimes in, tapping their pen on their chin "There's no way to be certain if the prayers are even reaching whomever a person is praying to." Their notebook closes again in their hand as Ari turned back, yellow eyes looking over the two from the distant stepping stone before they skipped back over, the heels of their boots clicking gently against the marble. "I wouldn't start blaming anyone, and certainly not yourself, or thinking the worst until we figure out exactly why she's gone silent." A hand almost entirely covered by sleeve waves nonchalantly near Aditeya "You as the priestess should keep strong the best you can. " Arina continued "If people can't hear from Auri, then they're going to be looking to you. You have to hold hope in your hands, for Auri's people are also yours in a way. What are they supposed to do if you fall into despair, too?"

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PANDOR.

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She seems to rally, stuffing whatever negative emotions she had been about to let free back into the recesses of her mind, and putting on a polite -- if a little uncharacteristic -- expression. "It's fine, she's been quiet before. I wouldn't want you to worry about it. I am sure the gods still have their hands full with all the newcomers. I just..."
She shakes her head, once again fighting back the urge to talk more on Auri's silence and shooting a shaky grin towards Arina. "A-Anyway! It's not like she's silent entirely, just... quiet! No big deal. I'm not gonna let it bother me, or anything. But um..." She glances back towards the statue, stepping aside and hopping to another stepping stone. "You can give it a shot, Blu. That's her shrine right there, so just... go ahead!"

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Blühen

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Blühen crosses his arms, his smile faltering just a little at Aditeya's words. "Are you quite sure? I'm not one to meddle in other people's affairs," he lets out a sigh, "but it's no good to hide how you're feeling. Especially considering the position you are in. They'll appreciate candour more than you trying to hide it all, even if there may be an initial uproar. Mortals are never satisfied, after all..." After some quiet contemplation, he breaks into a short chuckle again. "Well, if you say so. I'm sure we'll figure out soon enough... though, are you sure that is alright? Is there nothing that needs to be done first? Truly She would appreciate an offering before Her attention is..." His elated expression quickly fades away into an almost uncharacteristically serious frown. "... demanded? Her Lady Auri is not my patron goddess, after all. I have no right to walk on in and beseech Her for Her answer - especially without paying proper respects, ms. Coreopsis."

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PANDOR.

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Aditeya shrugs jovially. "She may not be your patron goddess, but she has chosen you as one she believes fits the ideals She embodies. Deities may work differently where you come from, but here? Well... The Gods like to play an active role in peoples' lives, reach out to them and inspire them, teach them, help them to grow. You don't need to demand anything when it's willingly given, right?"

Another leaf falls from a vine and pirouettes into the water as Aditeya speaks. When it strikes the pond, the air feels a little warmer, a little more comforting. This time, Aditeya seems to notice, face lighting up in response.

"...All you have to do is open your mind to Her, and She'll be there ready with countless possibilities."

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Blühen

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"I see, I see. Then, I will." He walks over closer to the shrine, looks over his shoulder to smile at Aditeya, then turns back to face the shrine again. "You are right. It does not feel right to me to consult a deity without leaving an offering of gratitude at the very least. But that may just be because of where I came from. The goddesses I serve, well..." He chuckles, before cutting himself off with a sigh, "are of quite high stature, you can say. Nonetheless." He promptly kneels down, clasps his hands together, closes his eyes, takes a completely submissive stance, exudes an aura of tranquillity - a drastic change from the excited and confident person he normally is. He cannot change his form - no matter how much he wishes to try, he cannot bare his true self to the Goddess. It disconcerts him. He hopes she does not mind. The melodic hymn of a celestial language greets his mind - from outside, he is completely silent. But to Her, he reveals all of his thoughts.(edited)

My Lady, the Dreamer, Auri... whether or not my call will reach You, I thank You for Your time. For choosing me. For considering me worthy of You. God's wish is my existence - whether it is the wish of the Goddess of Light, Elria, my true patron goddess, or whether it is Yours, the wish of the Dreamer, the wish that has brought me here.

Forgive me for my insolence. For not being able to discern Your will. But it is to You I have to turn to aid. There is a pressing matter on my mind, one that I cannot shake, one that I require an answer to in order to faithfully and dutifully carry out Your will.

If I may...

I wish to know what it is that made You bring me here. What it is that made You call upon me. I wish to know Your will. Anything. Anything that will make my pursuit of Your mission clearer.

I promise to You, as long as I am here, as long as I am given the chance to represent You and embody Your ideals, that, as conductor of emotions, as the representative of the communion between Gods and mortals, that I shall strive to accomplish whatever it is You desire of me.

I am deeply ashamed that I cannot pursue Your will on my own. Thus, I beseech You. Please, set me on the right path.

Thank you. Amen.

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PANDOR.

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EXPLORATION ENDED.