SIsay and Elsa at the Cathedral

[Andreea Batatorescu <Chaos.Kitty@k.ro>]

Main Chambers -- Imperial Cathedral (Kaitain)

        The nave and altar of the Imperial Cathedral soar above and before
in sweeping, archaic architecture, its rich onamentation speaking of
millennia of patronage from the Lion Throne itself. Arched ceilings rise in
intricate engravings and porphyry columns to meet ceilings frescoed by the
masters of the Early 18th Century AG Neo-Terran school. More than fifteen
thousand seats rise in elaborately-carved mahogany lofts, many reserved for
specific Houses and these denoted by their banners flapping above, on
either side of the black and white marble-chequered floors, interspersed
amongst tombs and reliquaries flashing with hints of gold in the subdued
lighting of bronze chandeliers. All of this draws the gaze forward, towards
the pristine white marble dais upon which is set the Altar of the Host, its
triptych depiction of the founding of the Church carved from a single,
immense rectangular slab of Hagal Quartz. The blue-green shards of the
altar are ablaze with the light which shines in from the magnificent
stained glass windows which comprise the wall behind it, its more than five
million shards in varying shades of red, orange, and yellow, a roiling
conflagration of glass breathtaking to behold, even to the unbeliever who
may not understand the holy significance of that stylized fire.

        The normally austere chamber is alight with intricate decorations
for the day's ceremony -- ribbons and banners and flowers everywhere.

                (OOC NOTE: Places are in effect here! Type '+places/help')

Exits:
 Open Arch <SE> leads to Vestry -- Imperial Cathedral (Kaitain) 
 Dwarfed Arch <NE> leads to Slype -- Imperial Cathedral (Kaitain) 
 Wooden Arch <W> leads to Vestibule -- Imperial Cathedral (Kaitain)


Elsa
Lithe and athletic, Elsa strides silently and gracefully as her soft, black
leather shoes only occasionally show their tips from beneath the line of
her dark purple dress. She wears an amethyst silk scarf around her bare
shoulders, holding and adjusting it now and then with a black-gloved hand.
Her slender neck is adorned with a rather large, silver pendant of
intricate design resembling a swirling vortex, the same design her silver
earrings seem to be. She has long, chestnut brown hair neatly kept in a
knot on the back of her head, with a tress falling before her delicate
face. A face that some find most striking, due to her piercing, amber eyes
outlined by her high cheekbones.
Carrying:
Silver pendant



In the vast Cathedral, even though it is daytime, there are relatively few
people inside. Some sit in the benches, some pray at the dozens of statues
aligned near the walls. One silhouette is clearly standing out to of noble
birth. Draped in a long flowing dark blue cloak, with her curly hair
flowing gently about her shoulders, the Lady Ginaz is kneeling below the
old and dusty statue of Saint Patrick in the far southeastern corner of the
Cathedral.

The Ginaz dress the Sister Morante wears at this occasion seems to be a
statement of itself. Obviously, she refrains from wearing her black aba
robes here. Her soft boots make no sound when she enters and crosses the
vast holy space silently, making the proper greeting to that Being so
fervently woshipped here. She notices the figure of her pupil kneeling and
approaches her silently, not interrupting her prayers, and seats herself in
the frontmost row, waiting for the young lady to finish her prayers.

In her kneeling position, an expression of piousness and deep faith on her
expression, the Lady recites her prayer with her eyes closed, holding a
white, thin candle in her hands. A priest, which was busy with something at
the altar a few moments ago, approaches the Lady and stops at three steps
distance, at a mere hand's reach from where the tutor is sitting. He seems
to have something in his hand, a silvery band falling a couple of
centimeters down. He has a candid smile on his face as he watches the Lady
pray.

Elsa remains seated, observing the priest. When she decides he poses no
direct threat, she closes her eyes and starts mumbling a prayer herself in
ancient Latin.

The priest tilts his head towards Elsa, an astonished look on his face as
he does so. In a glimpse of intuition, or was it divine intervention, he
realizes the nature of the woman near him and turns his head embarrased to
wait for the Ginaz Lady. Only for a trained and careful ear the faint
murmuring of SIsay can be heard: "... as you drove away the snakes from the
green isle of Erin, so watch over your humble follower, guide and protect
me and my family. " She pauses and continues with her own words: "I need
your help, Saint Paddy... I'm scared... I wish all go flawless and neat, I
wish my doubts dissapear... In the name of the Lord, Amen." Then she raises
and dips her fingertips into a bowl of holy water near the wall and makes
the sign of the Holy Cross and turns to the priest with a smile. They
chatter for a while and the mysterious object passes from one hand to the
other. The Lady's happy giggle can be heard. The priest says, with a louder
voice: "Bless you, child." and turns to walk away, heading for the altar.

Elsa finishes her prayer, a standard but ancient prayer with no personal
word, and makes the sign of the Holy Cross herself before opening her eyes,
trailing the priest for a moment before looking up with a fainst smile at
her pupil and inclines her head in greeting. She remains seated, however,
and does not speak.

Sisay still has a delighted smile on her face when she notices her tutor.
She expresses her surprise with a light "Ooh" and curtseys gracefully and
approaches, seating herself near the sister and massages her knees through
the cloak's fabric. "My dear Lady Elsa... this is a sight... A sister, in a
church... You followed me here, didn't you." she says in a merry tone.

Elsa smiles and nods. "We too pay tribute, dear Lady Sisay." she says. "I
did not follow you. I knew you would be here this morning. It is not often
that you have a morning off from our lessons." she smiles and inclines her
head at your knees. "They have pillows you can use, you know."

Sisay smiles shyly as she stretches her feet a bit. She says: "Yes, but the
purpose of a prayer is to be profound, not comfortable, as I gathered from
your wisdom." In fact, it was not her lessons she learned this, but an old
tradition of her family from her mother's ascendency to pray on the bare
ground or in more straining conditions. 'The body must suffer for the
spirit to be raised' they said.


Elsa smiles and nods slowly. "When you manage not to be distracted by the
hurt in your knees, that is true indeed." She lokks you in the eyes and
continues "You have learned much of late. I remember the day when you still
thought those words you just used were plain nonsense."

Sisay looks at you with her black eyes, glimmering sofly in a myriad of
colours from the reflected light. She crosses her hand through her hair and
sighs deeply. "I was reckless... Maybe I still am... But how was that? One
must prove his human condition in ways of acting and thinking in order to
be accepted by society as a human being... Figuring your way into the big
puzzle of the universe is not an easy task..." She says and giggles,
remembering her childhood.

Elsa seems to appreicate those words. Still looking into your eyes, you may
even notice that, somehow unnoticed so far, there seems to be a fainst
shimmer of blue in the whites of her eyes. With a warm voice she asks "And
have you found the place in that puzzle now? "

Sisay smiles again, softly, and says, looking upwards briefly: "Only the
good Lord knows... but I'm walking on his path, guided by your wisdom and
my uncle's..." She looks at you and pauses for moment, noticing the blue
haze of spice dependency with sligh sigh. The magic spice which she has
always warded off and hopefully will always do. "I am seriously considering
to become a planetologist... In writing the book, my eyes have opened for
this field which I find so very fascinating..." she adds.

Elsa nods slowly, but raises a brow after your sigh. Guessing
your..disappointment, she says "You know this is part of my training and my
future. You knew that all along." With that, she gestures at her eyes with
two gloves fingers. Then, she replies "I am glad to see you know that you
are not there yet. And I'm pleased to hear you speak of desisions. I am
sure you would make a fine planetologist. Is this purely related to those
stories you told me of Marcinko, or would you study any planet with that
same interest ?"

Sisay nods. "Each planet has its own stories and spirit. I was born on
Marcinko and Nature embraced me there. But any planet is as as beautiful as
the other, for they are all part of the Creation. I'd love to study the
laws which govern them to bring together humans with their environment... A
diffcult task at best, but very enjoyable..." She beams a cute smile as she
looks into herself, trying to figure out of she will manage in an academic
life.

Elsa nods slowly. "Have you met the Reverend Mother Bordayne already ? She
has just recently arrived here oin Kaitain. I think she might like to see
you one day." she says. Something is on her mind, apparently. There's more
to this.

Sisay replies: "No, I havent..." Her mind is briefly clouded by the shadows
of doubt. Actions within actions, motives within motives, endless invisible
wheels ticking and turning mysteriously in the mystical chain of causality.
What is good and what is wrong, what is the answer to the magic question
'Why?' But she replies, with excitement in her voice: "But I'd love to meet
her... It would be a honour..."

Elsa nods. "Indeed."she briefly states.<< Let her wonder. I cannot tell her
now anyway. Let's just see how she behaves in front of her. If she would
come prepared, she'll not be herself.>> "I will contact her, then." she
says and rises, holding out her hand to you. "Shall we have lunch together,
My Lady?" she asks.

Sisay takes your hand and rises aswell. "Gladly! My stomach owes you
one..." she giggles as she raises and makes the sign of the Holy Cross
again.

Elsa smiles and walks alongside you towards the centre of the vast
cathedral, turns to face the altar and makes the sign of the Holy Cross,
before turning and walking with you through the lines and lines of
seatings. "I was not aware that Saint Patrick was your personal patron, My
Lady?" she says, nearing the doors. At the doors, she turns once more and
again makes the sign.

Sisay says as she walks alongside down towards the doorway: "Indeed. It
came from my mother's family. He is the protector of our family and of our
ancestors. It is said he once tamed the wild lands of our ancestors and
turned them to christianity. It is also said he had magical powers and used
them to heal the people and the land and he will always watch upon us from
the Heavens so we will never get lost. I think he was a nice laddie, I
often imagine him as my grandfather..." She giggles and turns to make the
sign again as they arrive at the doorway.


And they walk out of the Holy Sanctuary into the busy streets of Kaitain...

 



------------------------------
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by KappaNet http://www.kappa.ro/





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