Matters of Faith

[Horu]

The newest arrival to the city, A stranger bay the name of Horu. Had found his way to the active church of the city. Of all the things this new arival wanted to se. The place of worship was at the top of the list. What better way for a paladin to acquaint himself with the people Avaren than to show he held no hatred for their own beliefs.

So the Cloaked paladin stood before the large wooden doors. He Knocked, and waited a moment to see if there where any fellow faithfuls present to show him around.

[Tiy Lockheart]

The memories held in the heart of the cathedral were still vivid and fresh in Tiy's mind. Her heart was warm with the memories of her vows to Zeion and of the love that filled their air when the family and friends gathered and the 'I do's' were said. She smiled lightly as she thought it was strange that such a place could hold such fond memories of a new life beginning, but how it could hold the celebration or grievance of someone passing to the next world. How similar it seemed to her that life and death were existent in each other. Living did not exist without the dead. And the dead did not exist without the living. She let out a small sigh as she bowed to one of the priests and wondered how long they had been here.

The kingdom had stood for many years, and she knew that it would stand for many more. He gave her his blessing and touched her head with his hands. She stood, nodding and bowing lightly to him. As if knowing what she was wondering the priest spoke. "Time is what the gods have gifted us with. They can take it or they can leave it with whomever they choose. Master Lockheart and yourself have just started on a time that the gods have given you and you will learn that your time is precious just as the gods meant for it to be. Now. Go, my child, and may we see you again in these sacred halls."

She bowed again and turned to leave. She walked down the halls, contemplating on what he had said and knew that he was right. She had never fully converted to being a faithful, but she was willing to learn their ways. As she reached the great hall where the door to the market led, she pulled the shall up over her head and wrapped it around her shoulders. Placing her hand on the door to open it, she heard a small knock and pushed open the door to see a young man, not much younger than her, standing there. She had never seen him around the city before and wondered who he may be. She smiled lightly to him. "Hello.."

[Horu]

The door opened just after he had knocked there must have been someone waiting on the other side. A porter maybe? One the other side of the door stood a younge woman who appeared to be leaving the chaple. "Hello ma'am My name is Horu, I'm a Paladin from another kingdom and I was hoping to learn a little about this land's beliefs. Are you a priestess?" He asked curiously

[Tiy Lockheart]

He introduced himself as Horu and he was a paladin from the next kingdom. She raised a brow to him as he asked about wanting to learn about this kingdom's beliefs and if she were a priestess. She smiled gently to him and shook her head. "I am no priestess, nor am I much of a faithful. I married under their teachings and learn from them, but am not of them. My name is Tiy Lockheart. I am a traveling Mage and teacher. I once lived in your kingdom, young paladin." She smiled at him again and then descended a couple stairs so that she was eye-level with him. His eyes seemed to hold wonder and awe at such a site as the temple in front of them and she wondered what exactly had brought him here.

"I do not know much of the ways of the faithful in this kingdom, but I can show you around the city if you would like..?" she offered. She knew what it felt like to be new in the city and not know a single person here. She awaited to hear what he had to say and then began to wonder. Did he have a place to stay now that he was here? She thought about the empty guest room and the Lockheart Manor and wondered if Zeion would mind a guest. She laughed silently to herself as she saw just how concerned for people she was: even ones she just met. She knew it was just in her nature to be caring... it was required for anyone that wanted to be a professor at the academy, and she was close to that herself.

Her thoughts wandered back to where she was now and looked back at the young man in front of her and awaited his response to her offer of the tour of the city and kingdom.

[Tori Shiroishi]

Tori had been making her rounds of the Chapel when she noticed the Lady Lockhart and a new man, one who seemed odd, but nothing more. Certainly he was well-meaning enough, if a deluded fool. He was dressed in the armor of a paladin, and from another order. This clearly meant that he worshiped another god. Tori, while unable to bear the thought in her mind, walked up to the pair.

"Our religion is simple. We are the chosen people of our god. He is the only god. The path to spiritual growth is through strength of arms. Magic is the workings of folly and impurity. Your presence here, while as though a smear on a white dress, will be tolerated so long as you do not attempt to teach your religion to others in this building. I would attempt to eject you, myself, but I have been chastised by authorities for ejecting those viewed as evil in my faith before."

She looked at the pair. "If you wish to accompany Lady Lockhart, I insist that she be accompanied by an escort of reasonable skill. I do not trust new people that easily, but I will not stop you from learning all there is to know of our city."

She brought her scythe into her grip, not to threaten, but to show that she was, in fact, armed and would not take his presence lightly. As soon as she had finished revealing her weapon to him, she replaced it back at her side. She was famous for her religious zeal, not for pure stupidity.

"I do have a question for you, however, before you get angry with my display. Would you, should one of your 'dark gods' send an envoy, reject him from your place of worship and disallow his entry?"

[Horu]

Horu smiled. She wasn't a priestess but she seemed to be willing to help him by showing him around she even offered him a room in her home if her husband allowed. She was indeed a very caring person. He wondered if her other half was the same. But was, going to push her offer he could get a room at the in. Or maybe here at the chapel if the patrons allowed.

Speeking of the chapels patrons, just as he was about to agree to the tour a small woman dressed like a house maid burst through the door. Part of him wanted to ask why she would wear such clothing, and make a joke at her lords expense, but her demeanor stayed his tounge. Which was probably good after what she said to him. Why? Why had Bahamut sent him to this town if it would not welcome him. Maybe it was a test. Besides it was the people not te resident god that he needed to gain the trust of.

Then she asked him question. that last question almost made him laugh, but only because the thought of one of Taimat's minions coming into his city was just ridiculous. He knew he would need to choose his words wisely. "Firstly, I'd like to say I am no missionary. I am here because I was told I may be needed in the near future. For what reason, I do not yet know, but because my god is a Patron of Protection I can't mean anything good is coming this way. And to that I could careless if anyone here believes in my lord. Nor do I require to cooperation of the resident deity."

As for your question... The one main dark god, actually goddess of our beliefs, had she sent an envoy we would have no choice but to either flee or fight to protect our people, for those disciples would give us no other choice. As for an envoy of any other god we would have no problem with, and so long as the didn't do anything that harmed our people, we would greet them as we greet any non-faithful. Now I have no qualms with you accompanying us. I have nothing to hide." He said then he turned to Mrs. Lockhart, "Lead the way."

[Tiy Lockheart]

((ooc: I'm going to be honest and say that i'm horrible with three way thread, so i apologize if my thread is just down-right awkward. lol =]))

Tiy was rather shocked at the attitude that the small holy-warrior had. She thought that it was very rude to just come out and attack another god like that. People had a right to believe in what they wanted. And sure, Tiy and Zeion were married under the god of Avaren, but she knew full well that there were other gods for other people and she was accepting of any religion, of any faith. And as far as she was concerned, a lot of people were dependent on her magic and potions for the curing or relieving aliments and wounds. Calling magic folly and impure, Tiy found offense. She knew that the girl knew not of the power that Tiy held, but she wished she could show her.The girl asked about the boy's 'dark god'. This was just a battle. Why didn't this 'holy warrior' just invite him in with love and tell him about the god of Avaren instead of make him feel like some plague? She knew this was the problem with the church here and would have to talk to the priest about it.

The girl also said that she would like someone of skill to escort Lady Tiy and she shook her head lightly, unnoticeable to the other two. As for his response, she was happy to see that the boy knew how to stand up for his faith and what he knew as truth. She waited for them to finish and then she cleared her throat and looked up at the girl. "I'm quite all right with escorting him myself, my dear. Thank you for offering, but I really think that I can take care of myself if he really tries to harm me. But from what I know of him, I know I can trust him."

It hit Tiy that there would always be opinion and fact. She knew that it was a fact that the people with different religious opinions would always fight over what they thought was fact. 'Ironic...', she thought to herself with a smile. She looked back over at the girl and nodded to her. "How about you pray for our friend here in the chapel. I will talk to him about our faith too." she said to the girl. She looked over at the boy and then pushed her shall back off her blond hair. She wrapped the shall around her shoulders and then began to walk down the stairs from the church. At the bottom of the stairs she waved her hands at it. A black band appeared and her hair tied itself into a bun on her head.

((ooc2: Yeah... knew that would be awkward.. lol - sorry guys!))