Closed A Visit to the Temple (Vanari)

[Valerius Nitrozian]

Valerius was of course not fidgetting at all. He sat with his back completely straight, almost as if he had swallowed a stick, and his face was nearly expressionless. This was a very serious occasion, a very important occasion, and he absolutely didn’t want to make the wrong impression or have people question his dedication. If Vanari had told him how different worshipping Morwen was, he would likely have been shocked or simply refused to believe her. To Valerius religion had always been a very serious matter and had little to do with happiness.

While Vanari was watching the people around her, Valerius only had eyes for the acolyte that had appeared. He listened to every word that he said and watched every gesture that he made.

Neither the acolyte nor the man that followed him spoke of joy, of love or similar feelings.

Rhysol was not a merciful god.

The sermon was about how dedication to Rhysol was of the utmost importance. Rhysol, the people in the temple were told, tolerated no other gods besides him and would punish those that strayed from the true path. One day, they were told, the chaos of Rhysol would rule everything.

Those that helped Rhysol achieve his goals would be rewarded in the end. Rhysol offered those that remained faithful a safe haven and protection from the things that troubled large parts of Mizahar.

As long as the people of Ravok worshipped Rhysol, their city would prosper.

Of course the threat of the Rising Dawn and Syliras itself was also mentioned.

Some of the people in the temple looked towards the altar with utter adoration on their faces. They really loved their chaotic, evil god. Valerius wasn‘t in love with everything Rhysol stood for though. He was dedicated to his god, of course and sometimes wished he could give himself to his god completely, but in the end such extreme devotion seemed strange to him, like some form of madness, like a loss of control. He couldn’t help it even though part of him felt that those very thoughts were heretical.

As the sermon ended, Valerius finally allowed himself to look at the woman that sat next to him again.

What was she thinking now?

[Vanari]

The more she listened and watched, the harder the Vantha struggled to maintain her composure. It wasn't just that the sermon was long and the general atmosphere demanding in both mental and physical discipline. It was also because of the sermon itself, and of what it revealed of the god these people so reverently worshipped. Rhysol, it seemed, was not simply jealous like Yahal was sometimes said to be, or all encompassing within his domain as Morwen was. No, he was much, much more demanding and prevalent than both god and goddess combined. He was the one and the only. And, as far as both he and his worshippers were concerned, it ought to be that way. Throughout all of Mizahar. The last time the gods and goddesses had been moved to great action, the world was reshaped, forever changed as a mere bit of aftermath. Vanari resisted a shudder as she tried to imagine what might happen if such a thing occurred a second time. Except, the god responsible would be working with intent, cunning, and years of preparation. Was it truly possible, she wondered? For Rhysol to one day rule everyone and everything? And if it was, what would the world look like then? Presently, there were options to those who dwelled within these lands. Most, assuming one wasn't a slave or devoted follower, could leave one city and find sanctuary in the next. And, if a person shared no love for any of the higher powers, then they could throw their lot in with the lawless, godless Sunberthians. But, if Rhysol were to become ultimate and supreme ruler...well, it was rather terrifying, to say the least. The very loss of balance between powers would likely send the world spinning off its axis. It was difficult, however, to truly grasp the magnitude of such a possibility, to even begin wondering how one god would defeat or otherwise overcome all others. Vanari shifted a little in her seat, trying to will away the growing ache in her lower back and the nagging, answerless questions that had burrowed into her mind. It would do her no good to dwell on them now. More light needed to be shed, and if she couldn't get it from the sermon, she would have to ask Valerius afterwards. When the sermon finally ended, it was all the Vantha could do not to leap to her feet and run ten laps around the altar to get the blood flowing back into her legs. She imagined it would be a rather socially horrific thing to do, however, and resisted. Fortunately they were allowed a small recess in between the sermon and closing mass, so she walked by her host's side as they filed neatly and orderly out to take a breather outside. All around them people took to their usual circles and chatted politely, everyone speaking in an almost uniform volume. Finding this to be as good an opportunity as ever, Vanari turned to Valerius and smiled. "Well, that was certainly very enlightening," she noted with a few mild stretches. "And it got me wondering, if you don't mind me asking..." It was a little difficult, trying to phrase a question she wasn't sure to be offensive or completely normal. At last, she settled with, "That is, what do you imagine the world would be like if Rhysol ruled it alone? How do you think he would achieve this?"

[Valerius Nitrozian]

Valerius joined the other people as they went outside, eager to get a bit of fresh air. As Vanari approached him and called what she had just witnessed „enlightening“, he arched an eyebrow. „In which way did you find the mass enlightening, Miss Ari?“ he wanted to know. Had she enjoyed it? Had the things she had heard made sense to her? Was she one step closer to becoming a follower of Rhysol now or further from his god than ever before?

The Vantha’s opinion mattered to him. He had enjoyed learning about her language and culture, and he wanted her to appreciate the world he had grown up in as well. He didn’t want her to turn into another one of those Rhysol hating idiots that thought that everything that was associated with him had to be destroyed. For that reason he inclined his head, a sign that he wanted her to go ahead, as she let him know that she had a question.

„I’m not entirely sure“, he replied honestly. „I think the world would be a better place at least for those that helped achieve Rhysol his goals. Maybe all the people that prayed to him would live like we do in Ravok then. I don’t think Rhysol would kill all of his enemies either. He would show some mercy. Without an opposing side, there would be stagnation, and Rhysol’s followers would inevitably turn against each other.“

„As for how he would achieve this, I don’t presume to know the will of a god.“ He had an idea what it would involve though. There would be murder and betrayal, Rhysol would sow the seed of corruption everywhere, but he didn’t think that Vanari would like such things, and thus he didn’t mention anything about it. He also wasn’t sure if he would like such an amount of chaos. Valerius Nitrozian loved Rhysol – or thought he did – but he also wanted to be in control of himself and the world around him.

[Vanari]

As always, the Vantha marveled at how Valerius approached almost everything with the same calm, cool rationality. Were it not for the somber atmosphere of mass and its serious faced participants, she might have proffered the question with far more flare and intrigue. For, what could be more dramatic than one god rising to challenge all others? Vanari found it amusing as the Nitrozian observed in full honesty how the world would be a better place for those who had aided Rhysol in his ascension and dominion. His line of thinking was perfectly linear and uncomplicated, though she assumed this was as much a result of her being an outsider as it was a state of mind. Given that Rhysol was very much a god shrouded in mystery and darkness, she was sure there were things even his closest followers did not know. Life in Ravok was certainly not terrible. In fact, the more she reflected on it, the more she came to see that both Syliras and Ravok were not all that different in terms of living standards. And where they did differ, something else always offered a counter balance. While Syliras was safe and relatively peaceful, it was also dreadfully dull. And while Ravok was a bit more shady, especially when Syna left the sky, it was infinitely more interesting. Neither, in her mind, was necessarily better than the other. Just different. But, something told her that such thoughts, for now, would be better kept to herself. After all, she was standing in the midst of devout worshippers of Rhysol, in what might very well be the heart of the city itself. A single mention of Syliras and her knights and the Stryfe would have her back in their sights within a tick. And that was just about the last thing Ari wanted. The idea of Rhysol showing mercy, however, was interesting, so she chose to comment on that instead. "So it would be correct to assume," she contemplated, "that Rhysol is a merciful god, in his own way?" Vanari stretched her neck a little, taking the opportunity to look up at the afternoon sky. It was an ambiguous color, a bit like her mind at the moment. "Indeed, mass has been enlightening, as have your opinions. From what little I knew before I met you, Mister Nitrozian, your god was very much one dimensional. And now that I have heard words from his own worshippers, I'm beginning to get a better picture." As if summoned by some invisible bell, the mass goers suddenly began moving again, their subtle chattering dying to a reverent, uniform silence again as they re-entered the building. The Vantha took her cues once more from Valerius, following with curious, amber eyes and averting them if they glimpsed a Stryfe.