The Temple of Inari 50: Foxside

[Fenric]

[Summoning Chamber]

Caroline nods and activates the chamber: the runes on the walls begin to glow and there is an unsettling sensation of being very, very alone.

The isolation wards take some getting used to, but when summoning, it's very often as important to keep the real world out as it is to keep the other world in. I'd prefer whoever cursed you didn't notice until it is already too late. Ok, the first spell I'll try is the basic one. I don't expect it to work, but it should give us a feel for how far there is left to go.

And so, she casts the very basic spell "Remove Curse". As the title implies, it is intended to relieve the recipient of the baneful affects of other magic.

[Ionbound]

[Summoning Chamber]

Certain feels a bit odd at the magic tries to take hold, and says, "Urgh...I feel like there's something tugging in my head...But...It hasn't snapped. Maybe the next step up will do. I feel like we're close."

[Fenric]

[Summoning Chamber]

The next more powerful spell I know also attempts to dispel the magic that powers the curse, as well as just removing it. It tends to succeed on more stubborn or more complex ailments.

And so, she casts the aptly named "Dispel Curse"

[Ionbound]

[Summoning Chamber]

Certain clutches her forehead as the tugging in her head intensifies, but again, she says, "Agh...Nothing doing...But I can feel the spell pulling away at the curse..."

[Fenric]

[Summoning Chamber]

We're getting past the realm of mortal magic now... Consider what it was you said: were you spiteful or unnecessarily harsh? Was it something that perhaps could have been left alone, or stated more kindly or more appropriately? I don't need you to tell me what you did - I need YOU to think about it. If either you are true in your innocence, or if you recognize in your heart the offense you have given and truly repent, then this next spell may work. If it fails because the curse is more powerful, we will continue, but if it can do nothing at all, then I'm afraid I cannot help you. What do you say?

She waits for Certain's answer.

[Ionbound]

[Summoning Chamber]

Certain thinks and says, "All I did was make it abundantly clear to those hunters that if I caught them hurting someone who'd done no harm, it would be an issue. I don't see why someone other than them would curse me for that...And I don't think that curses are their style."

[Fenric]

[Summoning Chamber]

Very well. The spell is named Cleanse, and is a quite powerful expedient to the removal of even semi-divine and lesser-divine inflictions.

She refrains from saying "but fails utterly if you are unworthy". The advanced power of this spell is evident, and Caroline's ears and tail are drooping with fatigue by the time she is finished with the casting.

[Ionbound]

[Summoning Chamber]

Certain screams as her being is scoured of the curse, her body glowing orange as she spasms and shakes, eventually falling to her knees and saying, "Th-Thank you...I think that's it."

[Fenric]

[Summoning Chamber]

Panting heavily and trembling a little from the effort it had taken, Caroline drops the isolation wards

That's... that's good.

Then she involuntarily sits with a flop on the floor as her legs give way

Ooof!

She looks over at the kneeling Certain, and can't help but giggle a bit at it all.

[Ionbound]

[Summoning Chamber]

As Caroline giggles, Certain also begins to laugh as well before saying, "Wow...That was one heck of a spell...But I suppose it's divine-only, right?"

[Fenric]

[Summoning Chamber]

Still smiling, Caroline nods... she doesn't feel quite up to standing just yet.

Yes, I'm afraid it's not something you can just learn from a book.

[Ionbound]

[Summoning Chamber]

Certain nods sagely, slowly getting to her feet, and says, "I feared so...I can learn any arcane spell...But uniquely divine spells like that are out of my grasp. Not that I don't improvise."

[Fenric]

[Summoning Chamber]

Caoline stuggles back to her feet, then starts to head back to the sanctuary

I think we're done in here. It may be impressive, but the moving runes always make me feel uneasy

[Ionbound]

[Summoning Chamber -> Sanctuary]

Certain nods and says, "Indeed. Farewell," and then walks to the end of the anchor field before teleporting away.

[FireFox]

[Sanctuary]

Myobi chuckles again

I suspect you'd think me boring as well, I'm afraid

Kore does a front flip off the railing, landing on her feet in front of the woman in complete, unnatural silence. Do you choose to be boring? Why don't you do stuff?

[Fenric]

[Sanctuary]

Caroline stumbles back into the sanctuary and finds a chair. She motions over an acolyte and asks for some tea, then watches Kore and Myobi.

Myobi smiles

I do many things as a Messenger of the Goddess to our foxlike children. I have had my share of adventures, but they grow tiresome eventually. My enduring enjoyment is in my garden: tending the and arranging the plants, designing new layouts, and choosing, breeding, and raising my koi for the ponds.

[FireFox]

... Huh? Judging by the confused look on the young girl's face, she just can't understand why anyone would choose to be so boring.

[Fenric]

Caroline sends an acolyte to get her some willow bark tea. She missed Urias - he used to make it very well.

Myobi tilts her head and shrugs

We can't all be fascinating, or there would be no one to be fascinated.

[FireFox]

Historians would disagree. Kore tilts her head to the side as well, the movement making her appear disconcertingly feral. And even if nobody came after us to hear our stories, couldn't we fascinate each other?

[Fenric]

Myobi chuckles

I suppose there is that, yes. Though when gods attempt to impress each other, it can get quite excessive. You also run into the heart of our current discussion, which is that what I find interesting as a Messenger of an agricultural goddess would bore you to tears.

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Time passes, Myobi and the little girl get tired of each other and leave. Caroline heads out as well.

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About the time the group underground gets to the mirror chamber, Caroline passes through the sanctuary dressed in a blouse and skirt and heads to the mirror to Trog's

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About an hour later, Caroline returns looking shell-shocked and miserable

Why oh why do I have to be in this place?

[Recaiden]

Tavlii walks into the sanctuary, and takes flight to head over towards the portal.
"Lady Caroline? What is the matter?"

[Fenric]

Caroline (who is dressed in a casually cut V-necked blouse of the same silvery material that her usual robe is, and a just-shy-of-knee-length navy skirt) looks up at Tavlii.

I haven't had it hit me this hard in a very long time. I couldn't concentrate on my devotions anymore, and it was getting... um... so ... I... um... went to the tavern on the other side of the mirror over there. I thought it might be like the Troglodyte Tavern back home.

She looks down

It... um.... wasn't. So while I was trying to find something reasonable to order among the strangely named items I was distracted by all the other scents in the place and I took a look around. I looked back down at my menu and then I noticed... um... just how strongly... um... I was smelling. I panicked and ran back home, so now I'm right back where I started.

The thing is, she doesn't smell all that strongly: The most noticeable scent anyone with human-like senses would pick up is a very faint musk no worse than most colognes (and better than many) produced by the violet gland in her tail.

[Recaiden]

Tavlii is wearing her off-white robe, and lands, smiling at Caroline, rather close.

"No, it wouldn't be. Trog's Tavern is at the very center of the inter-dimensional nexus; it's one of the strangest places here. You recall that most people here do not have as strongly developed a sense of smell as you vulpans, yes? We would not have noticed if you hadn't pointed it out."

She holds out a hand to the other priestess.

"Let's find something to help you concentrate or..."

[Fenric]

Caroline nods - the rational part of her brain is well aware of the difference, and she takes Tavlii's hand.

That does make sense, yes... heh...

Unfortunately, another part of her brain is trying very hard to put the rational part on hold for a little while. She shakes her head as if trying to clear the fog away by force... that works about as well as it ever does for anyone. Then she takes a deep breath and blows it out again.

The staff here is just as bad as back home, you know: they're all too intimidated by that dratted silver robe. So I altered one to not be so ... temple-ish ... in my quest to find a date!

She spins around: club-wear, it is not... she looks like she works as the receptionist at an upscale dentist's office.

I just need to find somewhere more reasonable. What do you think?

She doesn't get out much, bless her heart.

[Recaiden]

Tavlii shakes her head.

"To those who know you, you'd be just as intimidating not wearing the silver robe. And I don't find you that intimidating. Anyway, Kai tells us that outfit you have still looks all business. Do you have anything else with you here? If not, we could probably find something that fits a girl with a tail."

It really must make tailoring more difficult. For her own part, Tavlii swishes back and forth, slightly awkward.

"More important than the place is how you act. So what if someone with a good sense of smell knows what it means? And it probably won't, most of the vulpans we've seen are here at the temple."

[Fenric]

Caroline sighs

You're right, of course - on all counts. And I do need to stop acting like Grandma if I want people to not treat me like her, don't I? And, um... I'm sure I could probably borrow something...

She looks up with a grin

In fact, I know just the person to ask: she's one of the gardeners. She's very popular, and I heard that she went to someplace called SHEOL to pose for their calendar - if anyone here has the right sort of dress, she will.

Depending on how much Tavlii has been talking to the other acolytes, she may know Caroline means Katrina, whom the gossip would not have failed to point out has posed for swimsuits and once for the magazine of questionable repute "Playfox".

[Recaiden]

"Katrina? Yes, we're fairly sure she'd be able to help."

Tavlii grins back. Of course, Caroline might be a bit surprised by the outfit found, but that will probably do her good. She seems rather sheltered; guess it comes with being such a powerful and devoted cleric.
She tries to hurry Caroline to the gardens, or quarters, or wherever Katrina would be.

[Fenric]

[Priest's Quarters]

This time of day, Katrina will be in the Priest's Quarters, which is where they go. Katrina is suprised by her sudden visitors, to say the least.

My Lady! To what do I owe this honor?

No, please! I'm off duty! This is Tavlii: she's helping me out today...

[Recaiden]

[Priest's Quarters]

"Hello Katrina. Caroline is looking for something a bit less formal to wear than even this."

Tavlii waves at the gardener and then gestures to Caroline's outfit.

"And of course having traveled here, she has a rather limited wardrobe..."

She's kind of interested to see what Katrina will come up with.

[Fenric]

[Priest's Quarters]

Katrina smirks at Tavlii

I'm impressed she had anything quite this interesting, to be honest. Nobody ever sees her in anything but her robe.

Caroline's ears fold, and Katrina winks

Except the bath-house attendants, naturally - and they say it's a pity.

Caroline's eyes go wide

Hey!

Katrina shakes her head saucily

You came to me for a make-over, and a make-over you shall have my Lady Caroline.

She looks at Tavlii

You too, Tav: Obviously, there's an outing planned. I'm not about to miss seeing Caroline's debut, and I'm not going out on the town with someone dressed in a plain white bed sheet!