Amun Rah Envoy - Chyril 27th Early Eveningtide

[Ashari]

Ashari had intentions toward a brief meeting with a representative of the faith of Anasis to discuss proper rites for Aeris. The swanmaiden had been quite open about her faith, as well as her respect for the High Priestess Nadia. Ash imagined it would be best if the swan could be sent back home. Her bird body was resting back at the house in one of the cellars where it was cool and undisturbed, but it wasn't the proper place for her corpse to stay.

The embassy of Amun Rah is a large building, with a broad base running up to a much smaller top. The building has been created of sandstone, and numerous intricate designs have been carved into these stones. Atop the large gate, which depicts many golden serpentine figures, one solid gold ankh rests, a proud symbol of the inhabitants of this location. Two guards, oddly underdressed for this climate, stand watch outside the gate, each of them with a tanned skin and bald head. Somehow, their armours seem gold.

Approaching the guards she felt quiet overdressed in her burgundy dress, but gave them each a smile and bowed her head. She wasn't entirely sure on the customs, but had seen that local etiquette, when put forward with honest intentions, generally held true as polite. "Guild Mistress Ashari Gywien," she introduced herself. "I'm looking to speak with a priest or priestess of Anasis," she said plainly.

[Meridiuz]

One of the guards took one step forward and gave Ashari a slow and very strict nod. He was indeed wearing nothing more than a white toga and his golden armor, which still left most of his well toned body revealed. If he did think anything of Ashari's clothing, he kept it completely to himself.

"Please state your business with the priest of Anasis, lady Gywien and I will escort you to the Chamber of Woreship."

[Ashari]

"I have questions on burial customs, and several other matters of faith concerning the recent death of a close friend of mine who hailed from Amun Rah. I want to be sure that all the necessary practices are handled correctly," she replied to the guard with the subtly growing sensation of importance. Once upon a time Ash wouldn't have dreamed she'd be seeking out a member of the Amunic clergy in an embassy on Citadelian soil.

Life is an ever winding road. It's turns can be abrupt and off the path that those before you walk, but it is usually in those places - the ones where you must break brush - that the treasures are found. The mage mused to herself in during the hiatus of her speech and waiting on the guard to pose any other questions. If none came she was prepared to fill her hands with folds of her heavy skirt (so-as to prevent herself from tripping) and take after the scantilly clad ward without further discussion. These were not the men of uniform to whom she often found herself struck by.

[Meridiuz]

The guard merely nodded and responded: "Follow me, lady Gywien." He turned around and walked into the building, assuming Ashari to follow him. He walked into the hall of hospitality and then turned right, going into a corridor which lead to a small room. They called it the chamber of worship.
The room was filled with a heavy silence, that of a sanctum. Filled with several columns, it has no place to sit, only to stand or kneel. A shrine against the far wall shows scenes of how the Amun Rah people see the gods, and the walls contain depictions of important religious events. Here, too, the usage of the serpent and gold stands out in the adornment of this room.

The guard walked up to a man who was standing close to the shrine. The man was dressed in a toga with blue, green and purple lining. He walked straight up to him and told him what Ashari was coming for in a soft voice. The man, apparently a priest, nodded in agreement and the guard walked away. The priest turned to Ashari and gave her a small smile. "Greetings, Lady Gywien. I am Balophonthys, I am a priest of Anasis. You had some questions concerning our burial customs?"

[Ashari]

Observing the somber atmosphere wasn't difficult. Ashari often felt awkward and out of place in religious places and thus shuffled along silently behind the guard. She kept a polite distance as the guard announced her and her business to the priest, and then waited for him to approach when he was done with whatever things he might need to do to be 'right' with his goddess.

"Pleasure to meet you," she replied with an equally quiet tone. "I apologize for the weight of my questions. A friend of mine hailed from Amun Rah and was a very devout follower of Anasis. Her priestess at home was named Nadia... I know very little about her aside from what she told me, but that she was a high priestess and she respected her very much." Ashari also knew that Nadia was one of Ionis' closest advisors, but she expected that Balophonthys would know that, too. "She... my friend, that is. She was killed in a fire," Ash couldn't help the deeper breath she took to calm her nerves. "I want to make sure that she's taken care of properly..." Her voice trailed off leaving an opening for the Priest to take should he be motivated by her emotions.

[Meridiuz]

Eyes widened for just a flicker as Ashari mentioned Nadia. Of course there were quite some followers that were under Nadia's care, but most of them had not been merely commoners. Balophonthys looked straight into Ashari's grey eyes. "I'm sorry to hear about your loss, lady Gywien. It is always difficult to lose the ones that we hold dear. I would gladly assist you in making sure that your friend can safely travel to the home of Anasis." He paused and gave Ashari a warm smile. "I am sure she will receive a very warm welcome there."

The priest had noticed the deeper breath and he gestured towards a bench that seemed to be made out of the wall, following the exact same curves. "Please, perhaps it is better to sit down while we discuss this further. I will ask one of my acolytes to get something to drink." He snapped his fingers and gestured towards one of the acolytes near the shrine. "Milk and water please, Akhom." The young boy responded immediately, nodding and walking away in a fast pace without looking too hurried.

Somehow it didn't feel like it was a priests business to be curious, yet a follower of Anasis...one of Nadia's, dying in a fire in the Citadel. Balophonthys was too curious not to ask. Besides, maybe word should be sent back home that this person was dead. As they approached the bench and sat down, he asked: "May I ask what your friends name was?"

[Ashari]

"Thank you, I appreciate your condolences," Ash said with a small smile. There was one thing that priests and priestess of every religion seemed trained in, and that was easing the spirit. Here, in the sanctum of Anasis, surrounded by the cool colors and stony silence, the Westerner understood her friend's religion and why she followed the water goddess. There was a peace here very similar to the peace of the Mother's Temple back home.

As the priest suggested the sit she nodded. "That sounds lovely." She followed him over to the elegantly understated bench and sat down on it's hard surface which was surprisingly comfortable.

Perhaps it wasn't a priests place, but the mage understood the question and considered it logical. The problem was, she wasn't entirely sure how to tell him.. and how involved he might be with Isis. "I suppose, sir, that would depend on why you were asking," she bit her bottom lip and placed her hands in her lap. Already the fingers began knitting together. "If it was to inform Nadia, then I should like very much to tell you. I'm afraid my friend had an enemy - a powerful one, and I'm not sure if this enemy might make her burial more difficult." There were other matters as well, such as the fact that Aeris was still in swan form, which she could already anticipate would be interesting to describe. "Or make it more difficult to get home where she belongs. Does... does she need to be interred in Amun Rah, or could all the rites be done here so long as proper place was set up?"

[Meridiuz]

Balophonthys' eyes narrowed as Ashari started to explain why she could not just give him the name of her friend. Ah..intrigue..People bring about their own undoing through their tongues. He nodded as he folded his hands together. "I think I understand. Please, know this: My highest priority is to make sure that any true follower makes it to Anasis safely. She is the one who will know that the heart of your friend was true. You have my word, I will only tell her name to Nadia."

The sound of glasses softly clinking against each other announced the return of Akhom. He put the plate in front of the priest, bowed and left again after the priest had thanked him. "Would you like water or milk, miss Gywien?"
He would pour in what she requested and he would then take some milk himself. "Now..about the rites. I do not know how much knowledge you have about our rites, but I will be happy to explain them to you. It is not necessary to bring her to Amun Rah. We have a small tomb on the premises where our followers who live in the Citadel can be taken to the after life. Would you like me to take you through the rites?"

[Ashari]

Ashari's eyes remained affixed to the priest as he spoke. She took in every detail of him from his dark skin (darker even then her own) to the contrast of his cool toned garments. "I appreciate that, thank you," she said and paused while the tray and drinks were set down.

"Water, please," she responded. "Thank you." Manners dictated the necessity of taking one of the offered beverages, though she had no want of drink. She did take a small sip before placing the cup in her lap - her fingers wrapped around it with white-knuckled intensity. It felt real to hold the cup, more-so to grasp it so tightly. It was more real than the death of her friend.

"If.. if she were to be placed in a tomb on the premise would it be marked?" A note of concern placed the question not out of just curiosity. If the priest were a sharp man he might begin to wonder what sort of trouble Aeris was in. Ash followed up with interest in the rites. "Yes... please, I would like to know more about it."

[Meridiuz]

The glass of milk wwhich was finding it's way to the priest's mouth, suddenly found itself back in his lap being held in a firm grip. Balophontys looked at Ashari and said nothing. He looked straight into her eyes and inhaled deeply. He exhaled, holding in his breath for a flicker longer than usual. Still he remained silent.

Finally he spoke, with a serious, almost strict voice. "Miss Gywien, I believe there is something you need to understand. I am a priest of Anasis. I dedicate my life to Her. I help Her followers do the same. I guide them when they are unable to see Her path. I also guide Her followers on their final journey. I am honored to do this task." He paused for a flicker, making sure she took in every word that he said.

"One of our burial customs is the funeral procession. At this time the relatives of the deceased are alerted so that they can prepare to accompany their family member in their journey from the preparation room to their tomb. After that the priests will perform several burial rituals and then the ceremony will be concluded by a dinner and a party for the family members and friends." The priest paused again.

"Now...you come to me to make sure your friend finds her way safely to Anasis. You also tell me that she knows our high priestess Nadia very well. But even though you seem to very concerned about your friends well being in the afterlife, you are also not willing to give me any information about your friend. I am fully willing to help you, but you will have to trust me and help me."

Balophontys now set the glass aside and folded his hands together again. "And to answer your question, yes, we do mark the tomb, we consider it a way of honoring the dead." He kept staring at her, demanding an explanation from her with his further silence.

[Ashari]

It had been a while since Ashari had been treated like the child she looked like. Balophontys, priest of Anasis, had no fear of her - or who she was, nor of her ability. That, in itself, was humbling and made for her to feel quite small as he explained himself, the funeral rites and customs. It also made her less mindful of her phrasing, her words, and her careful little plans to protect Aeris' identity.

The clergyman's direct and rather hard eyes bore deep into her. Ash's eyes, in return, sought the relative comfort of watching her lap. "She has no family," she started. "I... am her family. Her only family here. Nadia - Ionis, they and another boy named Jin - they are her family in Amun Rah. She has no bloodkin." Ashari sighed and her shoulders started to droop with the exhale. This is where it got complicated. "Your Queen had her captive and she escaped. She is - was..." Ashari winced at her own mistake. "Was a swanmaiden," she said with some finality.

The mage, who wanted to be proud and strong, shivered as if chilled by their conversation. "I don't want anything to happen to her." Ashari needed to believe in the afterlife. She needed it for Aeris, Iorn, her family, and so many other friends. These rites and rituals, they were specific to Amun Rah, but they were much the same everywhere. "Aeris. Aeris Mourir. That was her name.

"And she was beautiful and charming, and would've done more great things if her life hadn't been cut so short. And I miss her... and I'm so sorry for being this way, but I don't know this Queen of yours, but I saw her at the Coronation and she was - well... by the gods, terrifying in her beauty, but like nothing I've ever seen before." Like a deadly viper. For, Isis was just that. "What do I do?" She ventured a glance at the priest, though didn't wish to meet his eyes just yet. "How do I do this? - How do I make it right by Aeris. Do you think your Queen will enact some sort of revenge on my for hosting her pet? That's how she treated her - Aeris, I mean. She locked her away in a room. I just wanted her to be safe-" The words were coming faster now, and if Balophontys was to interrupt her torrent of questions and comments now would be the time.

[Meridiuz]

If Ashari would have tried to read Balophontys his mind right at that moment, she would have seen the exact same thought in his mind. Like a deadly viper. He had been working with her for quite some years now and he knew exactly how she could be. As a high priest he had to walk a thin line when it came to situations like this. But he had walked that line before and he wouldn't stop from doing it now. His faith was stronger than any being in this world. Only Anasis would be the judge of his deeds.

He had to be careful though, the other priests were always watching and Isis had eyes and ears everywhere. The fact that Ashari was breaking up right this moment however helped his cause. The priest leaned in an whispered softly. "Put your arms around me, as if you are bursting into tears. Please. It's the only way. Do it quickly."

The other priests would figure that the girl was overwhelmed by her grief and that the hug was just something that the people did in this weird city.
When Ashari would do what the man had asked, he would act a little surprised and loosely put his hands on her back. He would then continue his story, now being able to whisper it directly in her ear. "Lay Gywien. The fact that you have entrusted me with her name, her real name, tells me that you truly care about her. That is what I needed to know. Now I have an idea how to do this, but this must remain between you and me. No one else can know about this."

He paused for a moment. "We will have to change her name. Lady Isis knows about every follower that is buried here and she walks through the tombs sometimes. Now..what if we would mirror her name? Write it backwards..we would call her Sirea Riruom. This is the only way that I can help your friend to safely cross over to the other side. Please nod if you agree with what I am proposing to you."

[Ashari]

Ashari was no trained actress, but she'd conned her way out of and into a few places and thus nodded at his request. Shimmers of tears could be seen already brimming at her eyes and it took nothing more than the pressure of a hard swallow to bring them over the edge so that they could cascaded down her tanned cheeks. Hands went to immediately smudge them away, the backs of them subsequently smeared with kohl as she acted as though she were trying to contain herself, only to lose into trembling sobs that allowed her the opportunity to let go of everything she was feeling and actually use it to gain her something - to gain Aeris something.

Shaky arms wrapped around Balophontys followed with a sniffle as he returned the comfort that she so desperately sought. She didn't question his intentions or honesty. Instead, Ash trusted him deeply - almost unendingly. His faith, though in a foreign deity, transcended and made her feel at peace. The priest was quick with his words and she nodded into the crook of his shoulder with understanding and agreement toward his idea. Sirea Riruom. A hot gust of air pushed from between her full lips as she sniffled again, then spoke in her own quiet tones. "She's not in a human body," she murmered. "She looks like a swan." The situation was increasingly complicated.

[Meridiuz]

Whether it was real or not, Ashari did exactly what Balophontys had asked of her and he could explain the plan perfectly without anyone being suspicious..at least for now. And then she told him the next twist in the story...Aeris was in swan form.... For a couple of flickers the priest absolutely had no idea what to say. It wasn't like he had never heard of a swanmaiden being buried before, but most of them were in human form when they died. It would definitely be interesting with some of the rituals...

It also made Ashari's story less believable on one hand, but on the other...it actually strengthened it. The priest could see Isis having an obsession with one of the swanmaidens. Using them as her little play things. That was much more logical than her having an issue with some random girl. He let out a small sigh. "Don't worry. That is no problem. We will take care of her." He would definitely have to read back on some of the rituals, perhaps they would say something about these situations, although he doubted it.

Releasing himself from the hug the warm tone in his voice changed back to a more serious one as others could probably hear the rest of their conversation if they wanted. "Miss Gywien, I must inform you that our services do require a small monetary compensation, for the rituals and the space in the tomb. Are you willing to pay that fee?"

[Ashari]

He didn't ask further as to why the girl was in swan form, that meant he'd heard of it before, and that he believed, both of which were important factors which she hadn't expected but was quite relieved to find. Snuffling, she wiped the remnants of tears from her eyes as Balophontys extricated himself from her grasp. Nodding in agreement, and looking ever the part of a mourner, she managed a strangled: "Yes," in response to his questions. "I can pay, when will you need it? And when... should I have her brought here? - and where to?" Still so many questions, but atleast these were standard ones, ones that anyone could overhear without great interest.

"Thank you, Balophontys," she said with a peace and serenity that had been lacking. The details were being worked out. Everything would be ok. Aeris was dead, but she would be taken care of - she could go home to the heavens of her people where she could be comforted by her own goddess. Her life hadn't been an easy one, perhaps it was for the best. There was a frailty about the fair skinned beauty that always caused for Ash to wonder if she could make it - especially among the nobility. They were a dangerous lot, and had much time and money to spend on destroying anyone they thought they could. It was still Ash's fear, but now for a new set of students who would have to prove themselves with their own confidence and abilities.

[Meridiuz]

Balophontys nodded as Ashari told him she could pay. He kept up the rest of the conversation in a businesslike manner, with just a slight hint of friendliness and compassion which was mostly just visible in his eyes. "Very well. I think it would be best if you have her brought here as soon as possible so that we can start the rituals to preserve her body. If you can have her delivered here tonight, I will perform the rituals myself."

He paused for a flicker, taking another sip from his drink. "The rituals will take a day or two, so the procession for the family, will be held on the 29th. I will send a messenger to tell you at what time you can come here to say goodbye to Sirea and help her on her last journey."

A brief smile appeared on his face as she thanked him. "It's ok, child. I am here to serve Anasis and the people she loves. I thank you for helping your friend get to the lands of Anasis. It is a very honorable thing to do."

[Ashari]

Ashari rose from the bench and nodded to Balophontys. He said she was honourable and she granted him a smile as thanks to it. If it hadn't been for her then Aeris might not have been dead in the first place. It was a cold reality. All she was doing was setting it as right as she could. "I will be waiting for word from you, then," she said simply. "Until then, blessed be." It was a farewell generally reserved for between Motherists, but she thought it fair enough to pass along to the priest for she wasn't sure on what custom called for in Amun Rah. With Isis' constant appearance at court it might prove to be time to learn more about it. Perhaps Balophontys would be a good teacher on the subject both for herself and so that she might pass it along to her students in the future.

Seeing herself out of the temple was easy enough, and as soon as she felt the tug of the cool air and tasted the sea-breeze she knew she was back in the Citadel. Ashari found great pleasure in visiting temples of distant lands, for they always seemed so well equipped to evoke the feelings of the place they represented. She wished she felt motivation toward Dominicus so that she might visit such places in the Citadel that would remind her of the West.

OOC: That's it for me. Thanks!

[Meridiuz]

Balophontys gave Ashari a slight bow as she said goodbye. He followed her with his eyes until she walked out of sight. He had no idea of who this Aeris person actually was and what she meant to Isis. But he would keep his word and let it be a secret. For now.

He walked away to continue his previous talk with one of the acolytes, feeling good about himself. Today seemed to be a good day for the followers of Anasis.

OOC: Thank you too!

Skill advancements:
-Theology (basic)