Rei's Introduction

The crystal clear waters of Lake Aldersgate beckoned. Rei rode along the shore, thinking of the city and people she'd just left behind. Though all this land was considered part of the the City of Aldersgate, the difference between where she was going and where she'd been could not have been greater. She was near the city main, in the past a place of greed and intrigue. Things were different now, of course, since some manner of law enforcement had been re-introduced. People of Heron were even infiltrating the city proper and reclaiming the lost within. Noble deeds to be done there.

Her eyes turned to the north. There, the Cathedral of Aldersgate called to her. It was a place few were allowed to enter. It was carefully tended by the most devout, a place of power. She smiled at the sight. Then she squinted. A small figure was entering the Cathedral. Even at this distance, she could tell something was out of place. Without a second thought, she was on her way.

She made her way up the steps and into the Cathedral, noting the chamber door was ajar. Her eyes had not deceived her; something was amiss. In her zeal, however, she had missed the small figure hiding behind the door. She did not miss the sound of steel on leather, however.

Kupita was waiting in the foyer, as Feltan had instructed when she heard the warks of a chocobo. An intruder! She hid behind the door, awaiting the interloper. Someone slid into the room and Kupita grabbed her blade, prepared to strike.

Rei stopped in her tracks, but kept her own hand away from her sword. She addressed the hidden owner of the hand on the sword. "This is a holy place, would you attack a Priest-Knight on holy ground? Place your weapon aside, and stand out where I may see you."

She wore her regular one piece black dress with the black boots today, and her silver cross dangled down her front, shining in the light of the church. She folded her hands out front, and toyed with the cross, waiting for the creator of the sound to make a decision. The sword was sheathed on her left hip, but was harmless so long as she kept it there.

Kupita leapt from behind the door, but kept her sword ready. "Just because you say that you are a priest and you wear priestly garb, does not make you a priest. What proof do I truly have of your identity?"

I turn, and regard the creature with the sword. The...tiny creature with the sword. I smiled. "You are quite right, by all accounts, I could be a simple theif who has taken the guise of a priest to best fool you. However, I assure you I am truly a priest."

Rei spread her hands out, in a peaceful gesture. "Have you ever been to any special ceremony? Have you ever heard the head priest speak in a language you cannot understand?" She continued her sentence, but changed the language in which she spoke to the less common language of Arydolian, the language of priests and clerics. It was the holy language, often heard recited at events such as weddings, funerals, and royal ceremonies.

<<"The light of the soul is bright, and the shadow of the soul is dark. Neither are good, neither are evil, unless held under the sway of an evil mind. My soul is shadow, but it is a shadow that is kin to light.">> She paused, and looked at it. "What of your soul, little one? Do you believe?"

She held out her hand towards the moogle, and looked into her eyes, smile on the woman's lips, and in her eyes.

"What I believe is that Anyone can speak jibberish! Blah blah ickidy pickidy! Goober tango tata! I'll need more proof than that buddy! I'm on guard here and I'm not letting anyone in here with out the proper identification. You have any papers from a high priest? Any proof of your priestly training? I'm not going to get into trouble again. Fake priests come by here all the time. I've stopped three this very morning. Ran one through last week."

She chuckled for a few moments. "That is true, it would seem as jibberish to those who do not know it. I'm afraid the only identification I carry of my stature is the very cross you see borne upon my chest here. It was given to me by Friar Gohiel when he raised me to be Knight-Priest of Heron." Rei looked quizically at the creature. "And what about you, friend? Hiding behind doors is not the job of a guard. How do I know you are truly a guard? Do you have any papers, or proof of it?" She continued smiling at the creature waving the sword at her, content in the fact that she knew she would not be harmed.

Kupita laughed right back at her. "You have no way of knowing either... But I'm out here, not inside raiding the place. And as long as I detain you here you aren't inside either. However, I can get back up." Then she started yelling. "FELTAN!!!! Come here! I've got another 'Priest' here!"

"Ah, yes. Is this Feltan the Friar of the church? I'm sure he can clear this mess up. I would also like to formally apologize to you for not bringing appropriate papers. I was unaware that this sect of the church is so untrusting of individuals. I wonder how you perform mass...there must be so much red tape." She looked around thoughtfully, and waited for Feltan to show up. He would be able to clarify everything.

G6 Chapter Seven

Rei climbed the stairs. At the top of second flight, she had the choice to go left or right. She briefly scouted. The right seemed to lead to a dark hallway with a few doors and the left to two large doors around a corner.

Either path was uncertain, but the left seemed more promising. Going up to the large doors, she knocked loudly to see if anyone is within.

Putting her hand on the door, she shoved. It was very heavy, but when she pushed harder it began to open. She slid inside the room beyond. She was standing in an immense sanctuary, a crimson carpet at her feet and heavenly light falling on her from great windows stained-glass windows several stories above. To her left and right, row after row of gorgeous golden pews and she could see the rows of kneeling benches beyond those. The vaulted ceiling was elaborately decorated, and the floor sloped upward to a magnificent raised dais at the head of the chamber.

Rei dropped to a kneeling position, and lowered her head. Murmering a prayer, she crossed herself, and with a brief touch of the cross to her forehead, stand up and survey the area. "<>" She felt that speaking in Holy tongue would put to rest anyone who had seen her lurk in such as she had, by marking her for what she was. Still, it didn't appear like anyone was even here.

"Hello, is anyone here? I am Rei Sarel, a Knight-Priest. Fear me not, for I come without intent to harm thee." Spreading my hands in an open gesture, she looked around, and then started towards the raised dais. It was always possible that if they believed Isianu as horrible as it appeared, they may have performed a ritual over her belongings to remove the heretic stench, she believed it was once referred to. The dais appeared a suitable place for that.

No one answered her call. She made her way up the sloping carpet to the raised dais. She put her hand on one of the pews, noting it was meticulously cared for and even... recently polished and cleaned. Over her head were three levels of balconies overlooking the worship area. The entire chamber was immaculate.

As she approached the dais, noting the tapestries behind and the altar, her eyes fell on the myriad candelabras. They all had fresh candles in them.

She looked up at the balconies, taking in the view. It truly was a grand sanctuary. There must be stairs up to there...but I doubt her things would be up there. Taking note of the candles, she took one last look around, and headed back down and out of the room. She could always come back when she was done searching.

Exiting the room, Rei was sure to pull the door closed behind her, before heading to the next set of rooms. She returned to the grand staircase. Checking the doors down the right hall, the church-knight found them both locked. She proceeded down the hall to a small staircase, which led to an almost identical hallway. The first door in this hall, however, was open. Inside were a few bookshelves and a desk on the far wall. A short staff lay against the desk and draped over it was a fine robe. She walked into the room, approaching the desk, idly wondering if these were Isianu's missing items. The door closed behind her and she quickly turned. A hook-nosed man with piercing eyes, dressed in the same gray robes like Feltan and Kupita's, was standing with his hand on the doorknob. <> He shook his head, a malicious grin forming at his lips.

She turned to the man, regarding him. <> She realized he was most likely seeking more from her, but was unsure to his motives. Although she could guess that they were of no good. It was unfortunate, although it was quite likely he was not what he seemed to be. Then, he still knows the script. <>

She had a feeling he would. No one grinned at a woman like that without having something else in mind. Matariel would certainly have something to say about absolutely anyone grinning at her like that.

"Such innocence..." he muttered to himself, but the grin never left his face. <> He was coming uncomfortably close, alarming her.

Sullied my family name...perhaps. Lost my virtue? She reached out to push the man back. "Never." Without another thought, she stepped back to the desk, and started to move around, both eyes on him, and one hand on her sword.

<> She wondered, almost doubted herself at the moment. She almost desired to enact a punishment upon him, but without some concrete notion of his true intentions, past and present, she couldn't. Perhaps he was simply drawn to her, for a different reason than Matariel was. Either way, his intentions most certainly did not represent the religion.

The young man's expression hardened. "Beast!" he spat. Her shove did nothing to hold him back. He looked into her eyes, a dangerous glint in his own. Without warning, he backhanded her, the blow knocking her several feet. She fell in a heap in the corner, dazed by the ferocity and speed of the attack. He growled low in his throat.

"Vale!" shouted a new voice. "Stop!" A middle-aged man in the priest's robes was standing at the door, thee younger men dressed likewise pouring in around him. "Control yourself, son." The three surrounded Rei's assailant. He seemed to tense for a fight, but finally lowered his head. He cast one hateful glance at Rei and then was escorted from the room. The new priest approached her. He was a kindly looking man, with deep lines on his face and auburn hair touched with gray. He bent to help Rei to her feet. "He cut your face... I am sorry."

Taking his hand, she stood up, gently touching the wound on her face. "Tis no worry father, was not you who inflicted the wound, although, I must admit, it does sting." She looked into his eyes and chuckled. "I must apologize myself, apparently my sudden presence here brought forth a darker side to Priest Vale." Smoothing her dress, she tried to ignore the small wound on her face, and instead concentrate on the man before me.

"Father, I actually have a request. I am in search of several items of importance. They belonged to a deceased creature recently brought here. Do you know of the items whereabouts, by any chance father?" He seemed a kind enough man, and she couldn't think of any reason as to why she wouldn't be able to acquire the items, if they were indeed here, as she suspected them to be.

After seeing her to her feet, the priest walked over to the desk. He lifted the staff and held it up. "The items here are the ones you seek." He sighed. "Take them and go, Rei Sarel. Your presence here endangers us all." He picked up the robe as well, offering the items to her.

She looked the items over, and then folded the robes carefully and took the staff in her hand. She wanted so much to ask him why her presence endangered them, but was already sure she knew the answer. "I thank you father." She inclined her head to him, and then looked up. "Father, I believe there should also be a medallion of some sort. It was imparted to me that should I collect these items, the medallion was the foremost one to collect. I am sorry to press the matter, but I cannot leave without everything." She looked yearningly at him, hoping to resolve the issue and begone as his request.

He looked over the desk, "Yes, there was." He moved a few papers aside, giving the desk a more thorough search. "It was an arcane looking amulet. I remember it very clearly..." He faced Rei, concerned, "It does not appear to be-- Vale!" Without another word, he strode hurriedly out of the room.

With a note of concern, she trailed respectfully behind the man, hoping that Vale did indeed have the medallion. Although she seemed to have retrieved two of three of Isianu's items, she was sure the werewolf would appreciate them all back.

The priest ran down the hall, as hurriedly as possible in his long robes. One of the young acolytes met him in the hall and they spoke quietly for a short moment. He turned around, passing Rei in the hall and running back the way she had come. "Quickly..." he stressed. She followed as he made his way to the grand staircase. They were on their way back to Isianu's chamber.

The man entered the room ahead of her. Around him, she could see Kupita and Isianu had returned. He stopped short.

Return to G6 -- Chapter 8