[Nexus] Temples of Dalachrech II

[Earl of Purple]

This thread covers the four Temples of Dalachrech, one in Inside, one in Riverside, one in Underside and the Hermitage in Outside.

Reformed Temple of Dalachrech- Inside

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This building resembles most of the other terraced houses on this road, consisting of three floors, a small front garden, a front door and the same number of windows. However, unlike the other houses, the red front door has a knocker shaped like a two-tailed scorpion and also a sign post in the middle of the lawn. The sign is shaped as a two-tailed scorpion, and proudly states that this is the oldest Temple of Dalachrech in the Nexus, and home to the faithful in this city.

Attached Clergy

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Terrowin of Xela's Howe, the Twice Survivor, the Living Prophet, High Priest of Dalachrech and head of the congregation.
Destur Spritesson, gnome cleric of Dalachrech.
Jorje Hargonnen, human cleric of Dalachrech.
Gertrude de la Moy, 1/16th giant human cleric of Dalachrech; holds a minor noble title (Madame).
Lauretta, human cleric of Dalachrech played by happyturtle. (Deadtimed)
Samantha, spectre Novitiate of Dalachrech played by Gulaghar. (Deadtimed)
Fade, a fade Novitiate of Dalachrech played by Zefir.

Orthodox Hermitage of Dalachrech- Outside

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A vast door forged by a long-vanished race blocks the entrance to this old mine; the door is made of a mysterious, bronze-coloured metal that nobody knows how to make any more. The mine itself is in the side of a tall mountain, hidden in a cleft in the mountainside. Beyond the door is a large chamber decorated with dilapidated mining equipment, piles of rubble and old mine carts; passage further in appears to be blocked by a cave-in, but in fact that pile of rubble was engineered and there's a carefully concealed tunnel through it to deter explorers.

This location was chosen for its isolation. Please PM me before you turn up at the door.

Attached Clergy:

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Elezibethele, elvish Head Priestess of Dalachrech and Mistress of the Hermitage.
Azurelle D'Langley, aasimar Grand Mistress of the Order of the Centipede, a knightly order devoted to Dalachrech.
Kail, human student of Dalachrech, aiming to join the Order of the Centipede rather than the clergy; played by Harnel.

Neo-Reformed Temple of Dalachrech- Riverside, Northside Bugside/Southside

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The large termite mound is now the largest structure in this part of Southside, and the internal hollows are large enough now that the clergy have moved in. There's a large, reinforced wooden door at the front of the Temple that now stands open from dawn until dusk, and a sign post bearing the two-tailed scorpion of Dalachrech emblazoned in red upon a black background upon it. The Temple in Northside hasn't been abandoned; the cult has converted it into a homeless shelter with enough room for thirty five people inside and meals provided by the Cult.

Attached Clergy:

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Defelent A'dam, tiefling High Priest of Dalachrech.
Omid Janni cleric of Dalachrech.
Narahar the Twice Martyred half-elf cleric of Dalachrech, currently deceased.
Cassidy, Ritter of Sznovf and member of NO, human cleric of Dalachrech. Played by Rotting Baron.
Shanaya of NO, a Student of Dalachrech. Played by Mahonri Violinist.

Chthonic Temple of Dalachrech- Underside

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A selection of spider-silk cocoons tied to the ceiling of a large tunnel just outside the Undercity, to the West specifically. They are easy to spot; the structure is covered in glowing dog-sized beetles. There are two ways up, a silk rope ladder leading into one of the larger cocoons and a lift, consisting of a dried mushroom flesh platform attached to spider silk ropes. A bronze bell is nearby, likely to let those within the Temple know that somebody wants to use the lift. Beneath the Temple is a massive mosaic made of small tiles depicting a two-tailed scorpion, though there's no light to see it by.

Attached Clergy:

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Charynrae Baeld'alachrech, drider High Priestess of Dalachrech
Will, Rayaat'Tyr Novitiate of Dalachrech played by C'nor. (Probably deadtimed)

Ranks: Student (learning basics of religion and Abyssal, no secret rites known; addressed as Student), Novitiate (loyalty proven, learning how to channel their faith into spells and armed from the Temple Armoury; addressed as Novice), Cleric (written their personal prayer book, good at casting spells; addressed as Reverend), High Priest (communes directly with Dalachrech, capable of summoning demons, master of a Temple/Hermitage; addressed as High Priest/Your Holiness).

Branches of the Faith:
Reformed: This branch of the Faith has been around the longest, and its High Priest is the progenitor of all the other branches. However, in order to adapt to the political climate of Inside, Terrowin surrendered the traditional practice of keeping Temple Slaves. Sapient sacrifice has not been practised here, though forced conversion has and the equipment used for that is still present and used for other things.
Neo-Reformed: This branch was originally founded in another city, however when that Town fell to the depredations of Deadtime Ooze, its clergy moved elsewhere. They kept Temple Slaves, traditionally illiterate and without tongues, though they don't practice sapient sacrifice to suit the tastes of the local population. The Slaves were released after a visit by NO, and the branch renamed itself, adding the 'Neo' to signify they do not recognise Terrowin's authority over their Temple.
Chthonic: This branch is the only one whose clergy has not ever owed fealty as clerics under Terrowin, and Charynrae converted to Dalachrechianism on her own. They practice slavery, but life in Underside is hard, so do not practice sapient sacrifice. The slaves kept here have not had their tongues removed, though their literacy has never been questioned.
Orthodox: This branch is extremely secretive and cloistered, primarily practised by ettercaps, aranea, Falmer, thri-kreen and other creatures whose link to invertebrates is very primal. They practice slavery, though haven't muted their Temple Slaves, and are the only branch which offers sapients in the traditional manner- a brainbeetle larvae placed on the foot.
Order of the Centipede: A holy order of warriors sworn to protect all Dalachrechians, regardless of their personal spiritual alignment. The Grand Mistress supports slavery; however this is a personal view and not necessarily that of the organisation as a whole. It is their duty to defend the clerics and temples from unbelievers, and to stay out of any factional squabbling between the other branches unless they are directly commanded by Dalachrech to intervene, in a vision that will be shared between all the paladins within to ascertain its authenticity. That vision is the Will of Dalachrech, and represents official doctrine on the conflict.

[Asha'man]

[Reformed Temple]

The insect lunged its jaw at him. He vaulted to the side a little too late and sustained a deep wound, which of course tore his outfit, on his left arm. Pain rocked the void but it did not shatter. There was something worse than the wound. In his head a man was speaking to him of multiple weaves that would obliterate the insect. Since his arm was hurt he would not be able to use his power forged sword. Trying once more he circles the insect to try and blast the door open and run outside. If he could not he would be forced to use those weaves in his head.

[Earl of Purple]

Reformed Temple

The insect will persevere in trying to bite Serph, though he could escape. The door will be blasted open without any ceremony or enchantment activating.

[Asha'man]

[Reformed Temple]

Seeing the exit in sight he runs for it. The insect that lunged another bite at him will miss the intended target, which was probably the torso, and instead make a deep gash on Serph's back as he dashes for the exit. Serph barely even notices it. Once outside he makes a gateway instantly and hops through and immidiately closes it.

-------

The area he pops out in is a small camp where his tent is just outside The Weald. Immidiately he releases Saidin and the voice in his head goe away. Entering his tent he starts to tend to his wounds. He'll rest give or take three days before he decides to hit the next Temple.

(Just a question, now that a temple has been robbed, what will its inhabitants be doing?)

[Earl of Purple]

Reformed Temple

The giant bombadier beetle follows Serph till he disappears, at which point it will wander off somewhere.

The inhabitants will mainly be telling the authorities about the theft and put a description out for the objects stolen and offer a reward and a promise that the thief will regret his actions for the rest of time. They'll hide the evidence of zombies first, though; I'm not sure how Remnant sees mindless undead, even ones used as guards in such a manner.

[5a Violista]

Underside Temple

Shanaya will find, at the top of quite a long ladder, the main altar room. There's two columns of fungus-wood pews (the ones at the front shaped for non-humanoid rears) along the side walls, and at the far end is a large black marble statue of a large, centipede-like creature with three scorpion tails, the claws of a praying mantis, and the head of a beetle with large, flesh-tearing jaws. It has gold projections resembling the veins of a dragonfly's wings, with thin silk wrapped around them to make the main wing. Many small, polished black opals with an oily sheen have been set into its head as eyes. Near the entrance hatch is a small table of imported wood with a guest book on it and a pen.

Ordo will discover that there's no way to get the lift up from where he is, but there is a silk rope dangling down- at the top is a bell, and if it's rung it will alert the Temple Slaves that they have to work the mechanism that brings the lift up.

[Underside Temple]

Shanaya reaches the top, panting and lying on her hands and knees. Man, that was a long ladder! Probably the longest she's ever climbed. But it was fun! She beat Ordo up to the top.

Quickly catching her breath, she stands up and looks around in reverent awe. Not as beautiful as a shrine to her Dragon Queen, but pretty cool nonetheless...oh, look! A Guest Book! Might as well sign in.

The girl walks over to it, and grabs the pen, signing her name in cursive, Shanaya Evilene Klisvane, Knight of The Dragon Queen.

Then, since Ordo's supposed to accompany her, she waits around for him, wondering if his way up leads to the same room or not.

[Hattish Thing]

Inside Temple

Captain Clegg Thenardier has walked through Inside, searching for the temple. Provided it's not hidden somewhere, he'll be able to find it pretty easily, knowing the streets of Inside pretty well. Thee bounty hunter is...a unique sight.

He walks with a crutch that used to be composed of sleek ebony wood. Now, there's a piece chipped off, the handle is slightly dented, and the crutch has odd brownish, rust-colored stains. He wears a long navy and gold coat, now ripped up at the bottom, several bullet holes in the back of the long coat. He wears his wide-brimmed, ripped hat. He has a brown-grey messy beard, that matches his long grey hair. His left leg is wooden, and clunks as he walks. He wears ripped up gloves, and black trousers. He has some kind of leather armor underneath the coat. He takes yet another swig from the hip flask at his belt before moving over to the door of the temple, providing he could find it.


He knocks with a fist and looks about. The man smells of alcohol, gunpowder, and...oddly enough a corpse. His eyes flash around with evident paranoia, and hidden in his coat are about ten different pistols and one rifle, hidden in his boot are two magical knives, and up his sleeve is a special gun, strapped to his arm, covered by the coat cuff. He knocks on the door. Hallo? Anybody 'ere? It's me...I"m looking fer High Priest Terrowin?

[Earl of Purple]

Inside Temple

The front door is answered by a tall woman wearing a long, teal dress (that seems to crawl with beetles when viewed from the corner of the eye). She has long red hair cascading down her back and her eyes are a very bright, slightly inhuman green eyes. Her left arm, from the elbow down, is a pike. Not the weapon, but the fish.

[Hattish Thing]

Temples of Dalachrech

Thenardier stares for about half a second. He had seen quite a few odd seas creatures due to being a sailor. He just leans on the crutch and frowns a little. He smells of alcohol, gunpowder...and oddly enough, a corpse. 'Ello...lass...I'm 'ere fer High Priest Terrowin. M'name's Clegg. Captain Clegg.

[Earl of Purple]

Inside Temple

"So you're Captain Thenardier, hmm? I am Madame de la Moy, priestess of Dalachrech. Please, follow me." Gertrude turns to let Thenardier into the Temple's foyer. It's a small room, with five floor-to-ceiling drapes. One is on the right, two are on the left and two are opposite the front door. Gertrude will walk to one of the ones opposite and pull it aside, revealing a door which she'll open. Beyond, is a staircase with a carpet patterned to resemble a giant centipede.

[Hattish Thing]

Inside Temple

"So you're Captain Thenardier, hmm? I am Madame de la Moy, priestess of Dalachrech. Please, follow me." Gertrude turns to let Thenardier into the Temple's foyer. It's a small room, with five floor-to-ceiling drapes. One is on the right, two are on the left and two are opposite the front door. Gertrude will walk to one of the ones opposite and pull it aside, revealing a door which she'll open. Beyond, is a staircase with a carpet patterned to resemble a giant centipede.

Captain Clegg is not at all bothered by the evidence of fish and bug worshiping here. He looks around, always hunting for an exit strategy, or looking for a possibly hidden sniper. Adjusting the soul knife in his boot that he stabbed poor Civvy with...Thenardier walks down after her, his wooden leg clunking. Nice place....I suppose...

[FireFox]

Inside Temple

A few minutes later, Tobias Vulpan--HALO commander, Inside Councilor, and overprotective father--walks up and knocks politely at the front door. He does not look happy.

[Earl of Purple]

Inside Temple- Inside

Gertrude doesn't respond, instead leading Thenardier up the stairs, to a corridor with ten doors along it.

Inside Temple- Outside

The door is opened by a gnome with a large nose and faintly glowing skin. He's wearing a bright red top hat, a green waistcoat, blue breeches and a purple cloak with yellow tassels. His buttons are very shiny polished brass, and marked with two-tailed scorpions. "Yes? How can I help?"

[Hattish Thing]

Inside-Inside Temple

Thenardier's extremely powerful sense of hezaring most likely detects Tobias's voice, and the gnome's. Um...p'rhaps we c'n continue this meetin' some other time? Somethin's come up...an'...I need t' go. Um....yes...Woul' ye mind postponing this? Or...walking faster? I need to be somewhere soon, walk faster! Thenardier prepares himself, secretly dropping a small, flat object onto the ground behind him, which then turns invisible. Um...lead th' way!

[FireFox]

Inside Temple- Outside

Yes, I certainly hope you can. Tobias smiles casually, keeping a firm hold on his rage. I am Commander Vulpan from HALO and the man you are about to hire to retrieve your stolen property is an enemy of mine. If he is already inside your temple, I would like to formally request you hand him over to me. I will let you use my personal discount for a local mercenary company, if you would rather not be inconvenienced.

[Earl of Purple]

Inside Temple- Inside

"Of course. Please, follow me." Gertrude smiles and turns towards one of the doors on the left.

She possesses an item that enables her to communicate telepathically with other clerics. Such as the one answering the door.

Inside Temple- Outside

"Of course, please wait here. We don't want to antagonise HALO." Though they have before.

[Hattish Thing]

Inside Temple- Inside

"Of course. Please, follow me." Gertrude smiles and turns towards one of the doors on the left.

She possesses an item that enables her to communicate telepathically with other clerics. Such as the one answering the door.

Inside Temple- Outside

"Of course, please wait here. We don't want to antagonise HALO." Though they have before.

Thenardier is somewhat in panic mode. He follows the woman, but prepares to go into battle with Tobias. He readies himself, even putting on a few rings and a necklace. Yes...do...Alrigh', now. I'm following ye. Clegg walks into the room.

[FireFox]

Inside Temple- Outside

The fox-eyed Druid nods and steps back. He casts two spells to improve his strength and endurance, then starts drawing a rune on his left arm with a marker.

[Earl of Purple]

Inside Temple- Inside

Walking through the door triggers a sleep spell that should put Thenardier to sleep. If it's successful, Madame de la Moy will try to pick him up and carry him downstairs.

Inside Temple- Outside

"There is something we'd like instead of your mercenaries. Could you spare a diamond? The items were stolen from Narahar the Twice Martyred, and he's currently dead again. If not, we would like to accept your mercenaries." And they'd like to ressurect him.

[Hattish Thing]

Inside Temple- Inside

Walking through the door triggers a sleep spell that should put Thenardier to sleep. If it's successful, Madame de la Moy will try to pick him up and carry him downstairs.

Inside Temple- Outside

"There is something we'd like instead of your mercenaries. Could you spare a diamond? The items were stolen from Narahar the Twice Martyred, and he's currently dead again. If not, we would like to accept your mercenaries." And they'd like to ressurect him.

Thenardier is in fact, immune to sleep spells, seeing as he does not sleep. Or eat. Or breathe. However, he does realize a spell was just cast, and turns to Madame de la Moy angrily. Thenardier is a corpse. A....dead thing. Nonliving, undead. He's vertainly upset now. He turns to her, and in a flash, his hand cannon hidden in his sleeve will fire at her, while his crutch transforms to a long, ebony blade. 'Ow dare ye betray me!

[FireFox]

Inside Temple- Outside

I don't have any diamonds, sorry. Tobias doesn't have any on him, but he could get some. Of course, he doesn't really care about a dead cleric. Letting them use his personal discount with a mercenary group doesn't cost him a thing, so he'd prefer to go that route.

[Earl of Purple]

Inside Temple- Inside

The spell was cast several hours ago; Thenardier triggered it by walking through the doorway. Regardless, Gertrude now tries to blast him with holy energy, which should (if successful) either force him away from her or force him to obey her orders. As she does so, her holy symbol glows teal, and translucent beetle wings and elytra appear behind her back of the same colour.

The shot fails because whilst his back was turned Gertrude activated the enchantment upon her dress, causing it to turn into a suit of formidable-looking teal plates, complete with blank, face-concealing helm, with a specially adapted arm for her pike-hand. "Stop, and go down the stairs without fighting."

Inside Temple- Outside

"It seems our sleep wards have not worked. Do you have an idea of what will work to incapacitate him? Don't worry, we have every intention of letting him live. Unless he kills Madame Gertrude, but in that case I doubt he'll manage to escape." Gertrude's presence counteracted several defensive wards which Thernadier cannot otherwise bypass.

[Hattish Thing]

Inside-Inside Temple

Thenardier growls and sneers at Madame Gertrude. The holy energy pushes Thenardier away, and the light also shows a skeletal version of Thenardier. AS soon as the light fades, Thenardier has flesh again. Die, scum. I fought fer fifteen years in tha' godforsaken rock, I c'n fight some bug-crazy priestess. His black blade draws life force, and he moves to attack her, trying to smash in the face-mask with the vorpal blade. His other hand reaches for a pistol in his jacket.

[FireFox]

Inside Temple- Outside

The last time I dealt with him, he was a mortal man possessed by a demon. I don't know what he is now, though... Tobias puts away the marker and shrugs. I'd imagine cutting off his arms and legs would quickly incapacitate him, but you do what you have to.

[Earl of Purple]

Inside Temple- Inside

"Scum? Scum? HAH! I have a noble title, pirate!" The platemail is far more bendy than normal steel plates, enabling Gertrude to dodge the sword, if barely. Her left hand, the fish, reaches up and Gertrude tries to use it to grab Thenardier's arm and bite down. It's quite painful; it's a predatory fish, and it has backwards-pointing teeth to prevent fish-prey from escaping. In her right hand, however, is a pistol which is aimed at Thenardier's real leg. It's a particle magnum; very powerful, and probably capable of blasting the leg off if it hits when Gertrude pulls the trigger.

Inside Temple- Outside

"I'll pass the information on, thank you. He seems to be undead now, and immune to the sleep spell we tried to use against him." The gnome smiles.

[Hattish Thing]

Inside Temple-Inside

I was th' Inspector! No one cares who ye were....no one cares about ye! Yer hated by most 'o' th' Nexus! No one will miss ye. The fish will bite down on Thenardier's arm. Blood starts to flow. The blood is...black...and poisonous, it's a disgusting mixture of ichor and saltwater. Haha! Come then, choke yer little fishy on my blood! I'll make yee bleed! Thenardier does not drop the pistol held in the hand bitten, and instead fires, most likely hitting Gertrude, or freeing himself. AS for the other pistol, Thenardier recognizes the type instantly, and knows to fear it. He activates a ring, causing his body to be shielded from ranged weapons for a short while.

[FireFox]

Inside Temple- Outside

Tobias sighs and takes the marker back out to draw a different rune on his left palm. That's one of the problems with the Nexus these days. Nobody has the decency to stay dead anymore. I don't know what he's talking about. Even when it was only HALO, AMEN, and the Town nobody ever stayed dead. And he's one of the biggest offenders for resurrection abuse.

[Earl of Purple]

Inside Temple- Inside

Gertrude grimaces beneath her helmet at the taste of poisonous blood entering the fish. So she begins to chant a spell in Abyssal, directing healing energies through her left arm, through the pike and into Thenardier's arm. The problem with healing spells is that on undead they usually have the opposite effect, and that's what Gertrude's hoping for.

The first shot is blocked, but Gertrude now fires again.

Inside Temple- Outside

"Not here. My brother died a long time ago, and he's still dead. Madame de la Moy was murdered by a demi-goddess who was punished by bringing her back. Due to a happy accident, Narahar the Twice Martyred was brought back after his first death. Until such an occurrence happens again, or we source some diamonds, we won't be breaking the laws of death." The gnome, Destur, sounds rather sad about the loss of his brother.

[Hattish Thing]

Inside Temple- Inside

Gertrude grimaces beneath her helmet at the taste of poisonous blood entering the fish. So she begins to chant a spell in Abyssal, directing healing energies through her left arm, through the pike and into Thenardier's arm. The problem with healing spells is that on undead they usually have the opposite effect, and that's what Gertrude's hoping for.

The first shot is blocked, but Gertrude now fires again.


Inside Temple- Outside

"Not here. My brother died a long time ago, and he's still dead. Madame de la Moy was murdered by a demi-goddess who was punished by bringing her back. Due to a happy accident, Narahar the Twice Martyred was brought back after his first death. Until such an occurrence happens again, or we source some diamonds, we won't be breaking the laws of death." The gnome, Destur, sounds rather sad about the loss of his brother.

So, Thenardier will be healed! It does have an opposite effect, to the point where Thenardier will be launched backward, out of the fish's jaws, though it's teeth rake flesh to his barnacled bones. Now, he's about ten feet away, and her shot will have missed again. The black ichor is dripping now, but Thenardier does not seem to feel the pain. Instead, he blasts a shot at her, trying to break her gun. So, 'ow do I taste? He cackles loudly.

[FireFox]

Inside Temple- Outside

Mm. Tobias tries to wait patiently, but doesn't last a minute. Need any help dragging him out?