Located on the Inner Ring of the Citadel, it is one of the few known temples of the infamous god, Pan, blossoming in the tolerance that used to be so typical of the capital. Though there are altars for the sects of Pan's Blood and Pan's Arts this temple is mainly devoted to Pan's Joy: the wild enjoyment of drink, sex and music to the abandonment of everything else. And surely it’s no coincidence that this temple is located right between the former Rose Guild and the Bardic College. The sounds of revelry have died out with the raids in the town, a sudden silence that seems almost eerie.
The whiter than white marble columns are invitingly covered by green vines, almost pulling the visitor inside. The entrance of the temple is formed by a set of large marble stairs that give a sense of awe, but the creeping plants manage to give the atmosphere something intimate at the same time. The great redwood doors stand open to welcome all who wish to worship the Threefold God.
Entering the sanctuary and crossing the marble floor accented with inlaid lines of black mica, one quickly realizes that the vast chamber is divided into three areas, each containing an altar to an aspect of the deity. Huge columns rise up to the vaulted ceiling, each entwined with lush vines, giving the sanctuary a feeling reminiscent of a garden.
Acolytes are present to greet visitors, dressed in loose robes.
Her classes done for the day, Aerin went for a walk, looking to kill a little time between her classes and her shift at Simple Pleasures. Cicero, like his owner, was subjected to the sights and sounds of Citadel in the summer as he rode upon her shoulder, Aerin’s plans for the tide including returning him to Thalas before work as there were very few customers, she imagined, who would relish the thought of their food or drink being pawed by a furry little hand before service.
Along the way, she got to thinking – of all things – about religion. Aerin was, due to her father’s insistence, a Oneist but, as the events from the time that she had left the house to the erotic near-assassination of Wrinkles had shown, many people…herself included…labeled her as more of a Panling. But who was Pan? Why did his followers engage in wild orgies of delight? What did Pan actually do? Why was Pan worthy of worship?
Jade eyes narrowed upon the outer face of Pan’s Temple as she rested on a small bit of rubble outside of the old Red Rose Guild. She had a choice to make. Either she lived in ignorance about a question that had been on her mind as of late or she would find out the answers. Aerin knew that she did not have to actually join the religion/cult/what have you, but her first class of the morning had shown her that conversations borne from ignorance were the best way to start arguments.
Besides…, she told herself as she rose and walked up the temple steps. You might just like it – any religion which fucks instead of fights can’t be all that bad, can it? Ignoring the alters for a flicker, she approached an acolyte with a smile. "Namaste...hello...", she greeted, keeping Ashari's lessons well in mind about etiquette and conversation. "Do you have a burn or two to answer some questions?" she asked.
OOC: I would like Aerin to have an audience with Fia, but that cannot happen until Fia passes recess, so please feel free to toss an NPC my way to stall. Thanks.