[ We find Alcinoe and Istvan somewhere in the Flying Couches home! Wherever they are, they both hear a knock on the door. Minisession Start! ] * Istvan had been heading down to his forge after a short break, but pauses at the door knock. After a quick look between the door and the stairs, he sighs, and heads over to open the door. * Alcinoe is sprawled on one of the couches. Lazy cleric. She opens one eye, but when she sees Istvan getting the door, doesn't feel like moving. * Istvan opens the door! [ Lazy Cleric. When Istvan opens the door, he sees Kardos looking up at him on the other side. As usual, Kardos is clad in tattered clothes that don't quite fit, but he has his sword with him, too. "Hello, Istvan," he says quietly. "I understand Kenji has been missing for almost a week." ] He has? [ Oh, and I should've mentioned that. Kenji's been gone for six days, and didn't tell anyone where he was going, either. Someone put this up at the top in the log, please. ] * Istvan looks back at Alci. "Has Kenji been missing for the last week?" [ Kardos nods. "Yes. I'm rather certain about this, because Reverend Brother Turner has told me that he's been praying in the temple of Bahamut, here on campus, for six days now." ] Yeah, 'e's been gone. Said somethin' 'bout- uh, yeah. * Alcinoe gets off the couch, runs a hand through her hair, and smiles. "Howdy, Kardos." [ Kardos manages a tiny smile. "Hello, Alcinoe. I think you should go visit Kenji at the temple." ] * Alcinoe blinks. "At the- ah, sure." She goes about getting ready. ... huh. Thought it was peaceful around here the last week. * Istvan looks down at himself. "Hmm. Haven't been to a church in a while. Think I should wear something a bit less... soot-stained?" [ "Perhaps," says Kardos. ] Probably a good idea. * Alcinoe finishes pulling on her boots and stands, rubbing at one shoulder. "All right." She looks to Istvan. "Ya comin'?" One sec. * Istvan runs back to his room! And returns, wearing a short-sleeved button down shirt and clean pants. "There. As spiffy as I get." [ Kardos just nods at Istvan. ] * Alcinoe snickers. She doesn't look that much better, really. "Good." And she heads out! [ He then turns and follows Alci as she sets off across the campus. ] * Istvan follows after the two. "Hey, Kardos... you ever wonder what you'd be doin' if you never got into the paladin thing?" * Alcinoe chuckles. [ Kardos looks thoughtful. "Hunting and gathering, I imagine." ] * Istvan rubs his neck. "So you never had any other real plans for your life, other'n becoming a paladin?" [ "In my youth, I was a savage living in a part of the world nobody knew about. I was introduced to the concept of society by a Paladin of Bahamut, whom I decided to emulate from that point on." ] * Alcinoe nods. Mmm... one more question, if you don't mind, and feel free to not answer if it's pryin' too much... ever find yourself wishing you had stayed back where you were born? [ "Only at loud parties," he says. And then you reach the temple! The structure is arranged so that all lines of the building are rays coming from four representations of the sun. The doors are currently open, and Kardos walks on in. ] * Istvan follows. "I think it's been... seven years since I've been a church? More?" * Alcinoe quirks an eyebrow at Istvan. "Now's a good time ta remedy that." * Alcinoe heads on in. [ Kardos nods at what Alci says. ] * Istvan follows. "I dunno. I think I got a good deal going with the gods. I don't ask of them, they don't ask of me." Ya could just give some thanks for what you've got. [ Inside the temple, ahead of the rows of pews, is a raised dias with a shrine to Bahamut, complete with a statue of him - he looks, in this depiction, like a kindly old Paladin with a gentle smile on his lips. ] * Istvan shurgs. "What I got, I worked hard for. Didn't ask for help..." *frowns* "... sure as hell didn't get it." ... on the other hand, given my recent Bahamut-plushie-related- incident, I think paying my respects wouldn't be outta line. * Alcinoe eyes Istvan. "Ya might've gotten more help than ya thought. Don't take anythin' you got for granted." * HKenji is up on the main dias, in front of the altar. He's been there for a week, and boy does it show. His normally perfect clothing is wrinkled and slightly dirty, his hair, normally kept in a neat topknot, is limp and half out of its bindings. * Max pokes his glasses-masked face up from behind a front row pew. "Bahamut- plushie-related-incident?" * Istvan grins at Alci, though the grin doesn't continue higher up his face. "I've got a past I can't talk about, a present I hate, and a future filled with getting stabbed, slashed, burned, and generally mistreated. When I find somethin' to be thankful for, I'll be thankful." * Alcinoe snorts. "You've got a lot more than ya think." She nods to Max as they approach. "Howdy." *waves at Max* Tell ya another time. * Istvan sits in a pew a few rows back from the front, bows his head, and mutters quietly to himself... and Bahamut, of course. * Max waves, then 'eep's as a bunch of dust falls out of the waving hand. He stoops and collects it again, then goes over to the dias and stretches up on tip-toes to reach back on the top of it and sweep some more dust into said hand. What brings the rest of you here? Kenji's been here a while, the priests tell me. *drops the dust he's collected into a small pouch, which he seals tightly before walking over to Alcinoe and Istvan. He looks a bit funny, now, so obviously short when he's not sitting on his Book* * Alcinoe grins a little. "Been invited." She glances to Kardos. * Istvan mutters something that sounds like "... no more smothering. Promise. Amen.", then stands. "Checkin' on him." *points thumb at Kenji* Oh. Hi! *squints, and pushes his glasses up his nose at Kardos* ...I don't think we've met. I'm Max. Pleasure! *waves* * Max blinks. "Oh, I think he's okay. Lots of people pray for remarkably long times. Rarely hurts 'em permanently." * Max tugs on Alcinoe's clothes, and looks up at her. "Any idea how long he'll be staying there now? I really don't know what he's praying for, and even if I did, I'm afraid I don't know a lot about Bahumut's prayer requirements." [ Kardos nods at Max. "Kardos." ] * Alcinoe looks down at Max, shrugging helplessly. [ Kardos then looks around and holds up a hand with a finger raised in a 'one moment' sort of way and heads out of the temple. ] [ Kardos returns shortly, bringing Will with him. ] * Alcinoe smiles to Will. Knew I forgot something. *chuckles* * Will smiles back and waves hi to the others. Hi Will! Wow, it's a regular get-together. I've not seen ... well, any of you... since we got back from that dungeon. * Will nods. "It's been a while hasn't it? Glad to see you too, Max." * Max climbs up on an armrest of a pew where it rises to meet the top of the backrest, and sits there. At least that way he's not putting a crick in his neck. "What've you guys been up to?" Forgin'. Oh? Havin' fun with it? * Alcinoe idly turns her attention to Kenji. * Istvan nods. "Forging Master here decided I had gotten good enough that he got permission from the proper dwarven authorities to start teaching me some of the super secret dwarven forging techniques." [ Kardos listens to Istvan and Max talk for a bit, but then looks towards Kenji. ] Oh, neat! * Max kicks his feet in the air. "I've been trying to figure out how to make that dust stuff again. It was remarkable." He pushes his glasses up again. * HKenji stands up smoothly from his kneeling position, and with almost mechanical precision draws both katana and wakizashi and raises them over his head as he stares straight up. ... amazing that his legs didn't fall asleep. [ The blades of Kenji's weapons shed brilliant, rich, golden sunlight, enough to light up the already-bright room. ] Oooh. *turns his head to watch* * Alcinoe smiles a little at that. * Istvan shields his eyes. "Ooh, shiny." * Will looks at the light reverently. * HKenji just stands there, staring into the light, probably being blinded permanently. * Istvan unshields his eyes. "Hey... how come that isn't making me go 'Ack, my eyes!'?" * Max turns back to look at Istvan. His glasses have gone dark. "I dunno." He looks back again. * Alcinoe keeps watching. "It's divine." [ It is nice, isn't it? ] * Will smiles. "Bahamut's blessings doesn't harm those that are good in their hearts." Ah. That'd do it. *pauses* Guess that means he forgives me for the plushie, then. *looks up* Thanks. *thumbs up* ( AGH THE PAIN!) [ Kardos just nods. ] ( Yup! ) * HKenji lowers the blades as the glow dies down a bit, and slides them smoothly back into their saya. As the last of the light disappears, he slumps a bit, as if he's having difficulty holding himself up. * Max mutters a quite "huh", and shrugs. He jumps off the pew and to the floor. "You okay, Kenji?" * Istvan walks over, and helps prop Kenji up. * Alcinoe looks like she's about to, but really, the guys have it in hand. I think you need some food and some sleep, Kenji. * HKenji looks half dead, actually. Gaunt as hell, and dehydrated. He hasn't had anything to eat or drink in a week. (Guys? Just Isty, Alci. Max couldn't support a big heavy human.) [ Kardos starts to go forth to prop Kenji up, but stops when Istvan sets out to do the same. ] * Max takes off his still-dark glasses, and squints a bit. "Darn it, that was bright. Can't see a thing now. *mutter, mutter*" (Guy, then. ;P) Correction. *Really* need something to eat and drink. Will, you guys got some food and water around here Kenji could have? Um...here. *pulls some trail rations and a water-pouch out of his cloak, walking with quick little steps up to the dias to proffer them* How long was that? Six days, they told me. Little over six days? * Will nods. "I have some dried crackers on me. We can bring him to someplace to eat afterwards." ... * HKenji reaches out and slowly takes the flask of water, gulping down a fair mouthful. * Istvan just continues to support Kenji's weight. I'll be fine. Sure, but right now, ya can't even walk. Yeah, but after six days, your legs have gotta be jello. No sense injuring yourself... lemme help ya 'till you get some food in ya. * Will nods. "Yeah. Let's get some food into you first, Kenji." Six days. Didn't seem like that long. Here, take this. I'll be back in a minute. *runs out on short little legs* * HKenji takes another big mouthful of water. [ Kardos glances after Max as he leaves, then steps up to the dias with the others. ] Well, you know what they say. Time flies when you're calling upon a god to imbue your sword with his all-powerful, all-seeing, all-piercing light. I... didn't ask for that. It's an answer, though. Well, that's what you got, I think. Yeah. Does Bahamut ever answer a question with yes or no? * Max comes zipping back in, looking much more familiar kneeling on his Book. It comes to an abrupt halt next to Kenji, almost throwing Max off. Max manages to turn it into a jump that lands him in a small heap on the floor. "Oof. Book, open." The Book complies, opening to a random page in the middle. It's a good 5' wide by 3' from top to bottom, now. [ Kardos smiles at the question. ] There. Kenji, climb on. ...just don't wrinkle the pages too much, please? ^^; ...thank you, but no. I will get back under my own power. And a little of Istvan's. * HKenji finishes off the flask and offers it back. ...you're sure? It's great fun, I promise. ...and, no offense, but you-- *shrug* Okay...your personal pride, your choice. ^_^ Book, close. Keep it. I'll have another tomorrow. I'll consider this my final act of penance, and then the slate's clean. * HKenji shakes his head a little. "It's been ages since I've done something like this." * Alcinoe watches. What was it like? *child-like curiosity* It... uh... wasn't. Really? That's wierd... It's hard to understand unless you've meditated. * Will nods understandingly. Was Bahamut as tall as you expected? I see... I may have to try it sometime. Is it like spending all day on a math problem, and being surprised when 80' of chalkboard is full and it's dinnertime? ...perhaps. * Max tilts his head, hming. "Oh well. I'm glad you got a positive answer, at least. ...it is positive, right?" I'm not certain. oh. I got an answer. I'm just not sure what the answer WAS. I suppose you'll have to see how it plays out, then. So, um, let's get you back to your home, where you can rest, okay? I'm... not tired. I'm just rather weak. Then let's get you some food. Same difference. Finish eating that packet. It'll help. Istvan, you should probably make him walk, since he seems determined to prove he's not as weak as he looks. *sticks out his tongue at Kenji, and shares a worried glance with Istvan* * Istvan starts leading Kenji out. * HKenji looks over at Will and Kardos. "Are you two coming? It's your god I need to talk about." * Max follows, almost jogging to keep up. His Book follows meekly about two feet behind him, and hovers about waist-height for him over the ground. * HKenji chuckles a little as Istvan leads him off. "And maybe my goddess, too." [ Kardos nods. "We will answer your questions as best we can." ] * Alcinoe lets out a faint huh, but she bows her head to the priest and heads after Kenji. * Will nods and walks after Kenji. "Yeah." * Max ...s when he sees the sun's position. "I've got to get back to my lab, or something's going to be ruined. I might catch up with you later. Which House are you in?" * Max waves and hops on his Book, flying off, after he gets an answer. [ The resident preist of Bahamut asks that Will stay behind and help him with something. Will obliges. ] [ Before long, you're situated in the common room of the Flying Couches home. Kenji has been helped into a comfy chair where he can wait for his legs to heal. ] * Alcinoe sits on a couch nearby (of course a couch!) and folds her hands. * HKenji sits down gratefully. "I feel like I've gone through a Matsu gempukku." Ah can't say Ah know what that is. It's torture. * Alcinoe winces and nods. * HKenji shakes his head. "Not really. It's actually the coming of age ceremony, when you are considered an adult. But for anyone but a Matsu, their ceremony is torture." But that does not matter here. [ Kardos has a seat, and looks expectantly at Kenji. ] I went in to ask a question, Kardos. I'm not sure you'll like it. I wanted to know... if your Bahamut and Amaterasu, the mother of the Eight Kami, were one and the same. [ Kardos shrugs. "Weather I like it matters little." ] [ Kardos nods. "They are. Do you wish to know how this is possible? Or why it would be?" ] Such an easy answer? Why didn't I ask you first? [ Kardos tilts his head at Kenji, rather like a bird. "Do you not like the other answer? Bahamut has given your weapons a considerable blessing. Which, really, could be considered answer enough by some." ] It was definitely an answer. How are you so certain? [ "I have spent time in prayer, research, and communion. This is what has been made plain to me. When Bahamut's rays illuminate a matter, there is little in the way of darkness left." ] You sound like a Kitsu who has spoken with the Ancestors. I have always wondered what it would be like to have such surety. So tell me, how is this possible? [ "It is very reassuring. Sometimes too much so." ] [ Kardos nods, then thinks a moment about the question. ] [ "The substance of the divine is unique among all things. It is both mutable and rigid, shaped soley by the will of the deity itself. This allows the change, although in a sense no change took place." He takes a breath and continues. ] [ "Understand that no divine being has a sex in the same way that you or Alcinoe or I do. They choose the appearance of a gender out of personnal tastes, and out of personnal preference. They choose to be the gender that best suits them, and sometimes that which bests suits their needs." ] [ "But if they have no sex, you might ask, how was Amaterasu able to give birth? The answer is that not having a true gender and not being able to have a true gender are two seperate things. A deity is capable of such things, but usually does not make use of this capability." ] [ "Which brings us to 'why', unless you wish further clarification." ] No... it is quite evident, even to my somewhat foggy mind. [ Kardos nods. "To the matter of why, then. Why would Bahamut become Amaterasu and concieve? Why would he not then remain in that guide all the time?" ] [ "The answer to the first is that your Eight Kami needed to be born, and that required a mother. It was the eight Kami who led the Rokugani people into the light of their mother, after all, and that was no small task." ] * HKenji smiles grimly. "Well... seven of them, anyway." ( Wait. Strike that. ) * HKenji smiles grimly. "Yes... eight of nine. And I suppose even the ninth was... "needed." [ Kardos shrugs, then continues. ] [ "But why not remain as Amaterasu all the time? The answer to this is that not everyone needed Amaterasu and the Eight Kami. Some needed the Paladin Bahamut to break them free of their captivity and lead them into his light. Bahamut was busy doing this in many different places, and this went on for some time." ] So... Bahamut presents himself... or herself... itself to different people in different ways, dependin' on how they need to see it? [ Kardos nods. "Yes. Many of the other gods of the Bright Pantheon take dual roles in this fashion, as well. They are willing to do what is needed." ] ... so how come nobody bothers to present themselves as a dwarf? * Istvan turns to Alci, a small grin on his face. "Would it kill Galahad to go short and grow a beard a few times a year?" [ "Because none of them feel particularly dwarven, save Karr, who could very well be a tall 'dwarf' rather than a squat 'human'." ] [ "Similarly, none of the gods feels particularly Elven, save Kali, who sometimes has pointed ears. With her, one never knows." ] * Alcinoe snickers. * Alcinoe looks to Istvan. "You wanna ask him that?" Could be, I suppose. *pauses* Nah. Like I said, I try to keep my divine interactions to a minimum. No offense... I'm sure he's a kickass god and everything. [ Kardos shrugs. "Your choice. I honestly think you'd get along well with Karr. He'd appreciate your smithwork." ] Maybe I'll donate a shield or somethin' to the church. If nothin' else, maybe they'll like the work and commission s'more. But I generally try'n live by the rule that one really shouldn't try to do things one needs divine intervention to succeed in, if at all possible. [ Kardos sighs. "Perhaps." ] [ Kardos almost smiles at the other part. "And without clerics to heal you, through spell or potion, how far would you get?" ] * HKenji laughs weakly. "If you're not pushing your limits, Istvan, then something is wrong." * Alcinoe shakes her head. "The divine touches everythin'. Ya just acknowledge it or not." Point taken, Kardos. *turns to Kenji* And I think we've already established that I've got some things wrong with me. Nothing you can't change, Istvan. Nothing you can't change. * HKenji closes his eyes and passes out on the couch. * Istvan frowns. "Figures. I'm just about to beat down my conscience and give him a noogie while he can't defend himself, and he goes and passes out." * Istvan looks back up at the others. "Don't take all this like I'm knocking your faith or anything. If anythin', I admire the ability to devote yerself completely like that... just not somethin' I can do." [ Kardos shrugs. "If you insist, then it is true." ] Ah dunno if you'd ever really tried, Istvan. Ya said yerself that yer content with coasting. If that's the way it is, then you're right. It is. I care about my forging. I'm driven about that. Adventurin'... s'just a job. * Istvan shrugs. "Wish I had some greater purpose like you guys do... but I guess 'don't get dead' will hafta do." *smirks* * Alcinoe just sighs and looks to Kardos. [ Kardos sighs, too, glances at Alcinoe, then looks back to Istvan. "As you say." ] ... yeah. That's my cue to go back to the forge. * Istvan heads for his room to change. [ Minisession End! ]