As they followed the crushed quartz path, the old lady let Drinyr left at the first fork they came too, crossing a low, wide bridge spanning a gently meandering stream of some twenty feet in width. The quartz path continued beyond the bridge, with several smaller paths branching off. The young elf could see several building to both sides of the paths, probably temples for one god or another.
Too her left a large square complex dominated the skyline. Built of granite its dull red walls resembled an austere castle more than anything else, an impression reinforced by the turrets at each corner.
They continued past the apparent path to the forbidding edifice, which was wider and apparently more used than most of the other paths. Walking for some time before taking a side path, on the left, and now moving towards the escarpment which seemed to hold this whole area in a gigantic canyon of sorts.
Before then the path wound into the foothills of the escarpment, and up towards a soaring building apparently built into the side of a steep, almost shear cliff face.
The old lady stopped, "K'Tan's temple, I will go no further child, but will wait here for your return." The old lady indicated a quiet glade to the side of the path, resplendent with a small stream, and a comfortable looking bench.
Waking Up [Entrance Thread for Drinyr Karet'lorin]
Moderator: Mods
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Drinyr Karet'lorin
Drinyr drank in the sights, her dark blue eyes lingering as much on the natural environment as the buildings. She spoke little as they walked. There would be time enough for questions later. Yet despite the beauty of her surroundings, one curious thought couldn't help but niggle at the base of the young elf's mind. Who was the old woman? The elf had taken her for human when she first saw her, but, well, no human she had ever seen had had such a depth of ancient knowledge in their eyes.
Her mouth twitched slightly. Time enough for questions. She followed in silence and let her mind drift back to the isle.
When they stopped, she gazed up at the temple of her god in wonder. The Lord of the Mountain indeed. Turning back to the old woman, she bowed deeply from the waist. "Thank you, Lady. Tenna' san'." Until then.
Straightening, she turned away and began to walk up the path.
Her mouth twitched slightly. Time enough for questions. She followed in silence and let her mind drift back to the isle.
When they stopped, she gazed up at the temple of her god in wonder. The Lord of the Mountain indeed. Turning back to the old woman, she bowed deeply from the waist. "Thank you, Lady. Tenna' san'." Until then.
Straightening, she turned away and began to walk up the path.
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rhoddin
The old Lady bowed in return "Valina, Quel Marth" You're welcome, good luck. she turned slowly to walk over and sit silently beneath the shade of the tree to await Drinyrs return.
The path up the mountain side was not overly taxing, but the loose scree underfoot ensured those who walked it needed to concentrate on the path and their footing. This had effect of the the temple doors seming to sneak up on one approaching. One moment you had reached a bend in the path, and the next you were confronted by a pair of solid oak doors, bound in steel, and closed.
A large metal knocker hung on one side, and solid stone walls completed the facade of the temple, nothing but the doors and the walls could be seen of K'Tans temple from where Drinyr now stood.
The path up the mountain side was not overly taxing, but the loose scree underfoot ensured those who walked it needed to concentrate on the path and their footing. This had effect of the the temple doors seming to sneak up on one approaching. One moment you had reached a bend in the path, and the next you were confronted by a pair of solid oak doors, bound in steel, and closed.
A large metal knocker hung on one side, and solid stone walls completed the facade of the temple, nothing but the doors and the walls could be seen of K'Tans temple from where Drinyr now stood.
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Drinyr Karet'lorin
The young elf slowed to a halt as the doors loomed before her, almost without her noticing. It was an imposing sight, but a fitting place of worship for the Lord of the Mountain. Taking a moment to quiet her beating heart, she reached out for the knocker and rapped it against the door three times. Then she stepped back to wait.
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rhoddin
As the young elf stepped back, her three knocks reverberated through the temple before her, gaining in volume as they seemed to repeat over and over again.
Suddenly they simply ceased, and an strange silence surrounded herself and the temple.
In the door before her, a small eyehole appeared, and although she could see little as shadow hid what was behind the peep hole, a sense of being examined washed over Drinyr.
The peep hole closed, and the doors cracked open, and stepping through the opening was an elf. Well at least he seemed to be an elf, although rather tall for one of the fairer race, and maybe more robust than Drinyr was used too.
Long silver blond hair framed his regal face, and direct violet eyes regarded her with a careful look, not unlike a sharp housewife gives to weighing up a side of lamb at the markets.
He only spoke one word, but it was full of questions and not a little antipathy, "Yes?"
Suddenly they simply ceased, and an strange silence surrounded herself and the temple.
In the door before her, a small eyehole appeared, and although she could see little as shadow hid what was behind the peep hole, a sense of being examined washed over Drinyr.
The peep hole closed, and the doors cracked open, and stepping through the opening was an elf. Well at least he seemed to be an elf, although rather tall for one of the fairer race, and maybe more robust than Drinyr was used too.
Long silver blond hair framed his regal face, and direct violet eyes regarded her with a careful look, not unlike a sharp housewife gives to weighing up a side of lamb at the markets.
He only spoke one word, but it was full of questions and not a little antipathy, "Yes?"
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Drinyr Karet'lorin
The young elf immersed herself into the sound and into the heavy silence that followed. And she waited, still and patient.
As the eyehole opened, Drinyr looked steadily into it, refusing to be perturbed by the examination despite the sudden awareness of the sand still lodged uncomfortably in her shoes. She had nothing to hide. After all, K'tan had accepted her into his service, had he not? She would be his paladin. The thought brought a tiny smile to her lips that faded away to her usual solemn expression when the doors open and the elf stepped out.
She tilted her head up to meet his eyes, returning the appraising look. Hmmm. Maybe the elves were bigger around these parts. Though the one on the Mountain didn't really count. The Mountain was a ...different place, not of the ordinary world, if the world could be called ordinary.
On Kislovan, however, someone like the elf before her might have been suspected of carrying some human blood on account of his size. Or perhaps, merely blessed (or unlucky, as the case may be). She set the thoughts aside for later perusal. It was difficult to ignore the hostility in his voice, however, and she couldn't quite hide the stiffening of her back before she bent into a polite bow, her voice quiet but steady.
"Greetings, sir. My name is Drinyr Karet'lorin and I have come here to learn how to serve the Protector as his paladin."
As the eyehole opened, Drinyr looked steadily into it, refusing to be perturbed by the examination despite the sudden awareness of the sand still lodged uncomfortably in her shoes. She had nothing to hide. After all, K'tan had accepted her into his service, had he not? She would be his paladin. The thought brought a tiny smile to her lips that faded away to her usual solemn expression when the doors open and the elf stepped out.
She tilted her head up to meet his eyes, returning the appraising look. Hmmm. Maybe the elves were bigger around these parts. Though the one on the Mountain didn't really count. The Mountain was a ...different place, not of the ordinary world, if the world could be called ordinary.
On Kislovan, however, someone like the elf before her might have been suspected of carrying some human blood on account of his size. Or perhaps, merely blessed (or unlucky, as the case may be). She set the thoughts aside for later perusal. It was difficult to ignore the hostility in his voice, however, and she couldn't quite hide the stiffening of her back before she bent into a polite bow, her voice quiet but steady.
"Greetings, sir. My name is Drinyr Karet'lorin and I have come here to learn how to serve the Protector as his paladin."
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rhoddin
"hmmm, Drinyr Karet'lorin is it. From Kislovan I surmise. Come to serve K'Tan as a paladin." He paused and rubbed his chin, those violet eyes seeming to bore holes into Drinyr as he looked her over, scrutinising her closely.
"I assume the ancient one has dunked you in her pool? Yes? And you had a vision? Thought so, and now you think you've arrived." he shook his head, as if in response to a private joke he had heard once too often.
Finally he smiled, although it didn't really reach his eyes, "Well, you had best enter." And standing to one side, he made a surprising elegant florish, and ushered Drinyr into the darkened doorway. "Oh, my name is Lemos, I am the Gatekeeper."
"I assume the ancient one has dunked you in her pool? Yes? And you had a vision? Thought so, and now you think you've arrived." he shook his head, as if in response to a private joke he had heard once too often.
Finally he smiled, although it didn't really reach his eyes, "Well, you had best enter." And standing to one side, he made a surprising elegant florish, and ushered Drinyr into the darkened doorway. "Oh, my name is Lemos, I am the Gatekeeper."
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Drinyr Karet'lorin
Drinyr responded to the other elf's statements with a tiny inclination of the head, eyes cool. From the thinning of her lips, the other could doubtless tell that she did not appreciate the mockery.
Shifting her pack slightly on her shoulder as she stepped through the door, she paused when he introduced himself. She warmed to his smile to about the same degree as his own eyes, though her words were polite. "I am pleased to meet you, Lemos, Gatekeeper." Her eyes flickered. "And I think I have arrived at a place where I may begin my learning, though if I am wrong, please correct me."
Shifting her pack slightly on her shoulder as she stepped through the door, she paused when he introduced himself. She warmed to his smile to about the same degree as his own eyes, though her words were polite. "I am pleased to meet you, Lemos, Gatekeeper." Her eyes flickered. "And I think I have arrived at a place where I may begin my learning, though if I am wrong, please correct me."
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rhoddin
"Oh, you are right, probably."
As Drinyrs eyes adjusted to the enterence, she could see spread before her a large compound. It seemed to be a series of gardens, although unlike any she had seen before. Much of the gardens were rock, and only a few strategic plants seemed to dominate each bed.
"Come," noted Lemos, "I will show you the temple, the better for you to understand what you seek."
As Drinyrs eyes adjusted to the enterence, she could see spread before her a large compound. It seemed to be a series of gardens, although unlike any she had seen before. Much of the gardens were rock, and only a few strategic plants seemed to dominate each bed.
"Come," noted Lemos, "I will show you the temple, the better for you to understand what you seek."
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Drinyr Karet'lorin
As the compound came into focus, Drinyr looked around curiously. Back home, the gardens were created of living things, not stone, though she could see that there was beauty here in the spare, inanimate arrangement of rock that seemed to set off the wilder grace of the plants. Her eyes briefly sought out the light source that must feed the plants.
The high elf nodded at Lemos' words and murmured a "thank you" as she followed him. A part of her could not help but wonder what must be in the temple. From his various remarks, it sounded like he expected her to be...surprised. Hmmm.
The high elf nodded at Lemos' words and murmured a "thank you" as she followed him. A part of her could not help but wonder what must be in the temple. From his various remarks, it sounded like he expected her to be...surprised. Hmmm.
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rhoddin
The inside of the coutyard was indeed austere, yet a strange sense of grace cloaked the area's Drinyar could see. It was odd, but the whole effect was to remind her of a mountain top, small outgrowths of plants in rocky pockets, and an odd beauty in the pebbles, raked in slow curving geometric patterns.
As indeed it was a courtyard, opening behind the walls, or rather a forecourt, as not far from the gates sat what was obviously the temple. A grand building, seemingly hewn from the very rocks, soft pinks and yellows, intersperced with harder reds and browns. Several long thin windows had been carved to allow the enterance of light into the interior.
Several people could be seen wandering the courtyard, generally in solitude, but occassionaly in pairs, but it was not possible for Drinyr to decide if they were elven or human, as they were all dressed alike in soft pale brown robes, with a hood pulled over their heads, and their faces covered in the following shadow.
As they walked towards the temple, its size became more obvious, and it loomed above them, as a mountain side would.
As indeed it was a courtyard, opening behind the walls, or rather a forecourt, as not far from the gates sat what was obviously the temple. A grand building, seemingly hewn from the very rocks, soft pinks and yellows, intersperced with harder reds and browns. Several long thin windows had been carved to allow the enterance of light into the interior.
Several people could be seen wandering the courtyard, generally in solitude, but occassionaly in pairs, but it was not possible for Drinyr to decide if they were elven or human, as they were all dressed alike in soft pale brown robes, with a hood pulled over their heads, and their faces covered in the following shadow.
As they walked towards the temple, its size became more obvious, and it loomed above them, as a mountain side would.
Last edited by rhoddin on Mon Feb 23, 2004 5:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Drinyr Karet'lorin
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rhoddin
Without even appearing to look at her, the tall elf remarked to Drinyr, "Followers of K'tan, the nuns and monks of His temple. They were The Robe to signify their lack of individuality in their following of their god."
They walked up the stairs, confront the enterance of the temple. A dark archway greeted them, and if Drinyar looked very carefully she would see the huge oaked doors swung open inside. As he approached, Lemnos made a bow, not overly deep, but from the waist, his proud eyes downcast, just at the edge of the darkness.
Standing straight again, he netered the archway, cool form the shadow, and walked through darkness, until he seemed to transcend into light again. The move from darkness to light was gradual, and came upon the inexperienced suddenly.
Before them stood a grand hallway, apparently built around four massive trees which sttod in a box formation. The arched roof soared out of sight into the heights above them. More of the robed persons moved about the temple, some walked and some knelt, facing forward.
As they walked, there were the occassional report of echoes as their feet softly padded across the falgstone floor. Eventually they reached the end of the temple, and a figure detached itself from the shaow and approached them.
Lemnos stopped and bowed again, before speaking, "Brother, I bring you Drinyr Karet'lorin. She would dedicated herself to K'tan, and indeed wishes to follow the holy path of a paladin."
The figure drew off his hood, for indeed it was a male, to reveal the face of an ancient elf. Slightly diffferent from any elf that Drinyr had previously met, he was indeed an elf, and clearly very old, but when he spoke his voice was still clear and strong, with the iron of authority concealed in the velvet of his greeting.
"Welcome to The Temple Drinyr. You are welcome in the name of Kt'an our Father, and protector of His people."
With a bow, similar to his own, he turned to Lemnos, "Thank you my son, your duties are finished with this one, return to your place and await the next who would find Him." An acient, muscle knotted, arm reached out and patted the large elf on the shoulder.
"So child, you seek to serve K'tan. Why?"
They walked up the stairs, confront the enterance of the temple. A dark archway greeted them, and if Drinyar looked very carefully she would see the huge oaked doors swung open inside. As he approached, Lemnos made a bow, not overly deep, but from the waist, his proud eyes downcast, just at the edge of the darkness.
Standing straight again, he netered the archway, cool form the shadow, and walked through darkness, until he seemed to transcend into light again. The move from darkness to light was gradual, and came upon the inexperienced suddenly.
Before them stood a grand hallway, apparently built around four massive trees which sttod in a box formation. The arched roof soared out of sight into the heights above them. More of the robed persons moved about the temple, some walked and some knelt, facing forward.
As they walked, there were the occassional report of echoes as their feet softly padded across the falgstone floor. Eventually they reached the end of the temple, and a figure detached itself from the shaow and approached them.
Lemnos stopped and bowed again, before speaking, "Brother, I bring you Drinyr Karet'lorin. She would dedicated herself to K'tan, and indeed wishes to follow the holy path of a paladin."
The figure drew off his hood, for indeed it was a male, to reveal the face of an ancient elf. Slightly diffferent from any elf that Drinyr had previously met, he was indeed an elf, and clearly very old, but when he spoke his voice was still clear and strong, with the iron of authority concealed in the velvet of his greeting.
"Welcome to The Temple Drinyr. You are welcome in the name of Kt'an our Father, and protector of His people."
With a bow, similar to his own, he turned to Lemnos, "Thank you my son, your duties are finished with this one, return to your place and await the next who would find Him." An acient, muscle knotted, arm reached out and patted the large elf on the shoulder.
"So child, you seek to serve K'tan. Why?"
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Drinyr Karet'lorin
At Lemos' explanation of the hooded figures, Drinyr nodded slightly. There was a certain peace in their regularity. A sense of place. They were one in their worship.
At the doorway, Drinyr followed her guide's action and bowed respectfully before padding after him into the dark, then out into the light. The grandeur of the temple made her want to slow her steps so she could drink it all in, but Lemos moved on, and so, the young elf followed.
The elder, when he appeared, filled Drinyr with a strong respect. He had a presence that demanded it, and her bow to him was deep and sincere.
Drinyr considered the question only briefly before she answered.
"Because it feels right."
Perhaps she could have said more, about the aimlessness that she'd felt, about her desire for a focus, for that something more that had been missing in the idyllic life she'd led. And how coming to the Isle to dedicate herself fully to the god she had followed her entire life had given her the sense of purpose that she had been missing.
But those four words were the crux of it, and she felt that the ancient elf before her would understand.
At the doorway, Drinyr followed her guide's action and bowed respectfully before padding after him into the dark, then out into the light. The grandeur of the temple made her want to slow her steps so she could drink it all in, but Lemos moved on, and so, the young elf followed.
The elder, when he appeared, filled Drinyr with a strong respect. He had a presence that demanded it, and her bow to him was deep and sincere.
Drinyr considered the question only briefly before she answered.
"Because it feels right."
Perhaps she could have said more, about the aimlessness that she'd felt, about her desire for a focus, for that something more that had been missing in the idyllic life she'd led. And how coming to the Isle to dedicate herself fully to the god she had followed her entire life had given her the sense of purpose that she had been missing.
But those four words were the crux of it, and she felt that the ancient elf before her would understand.
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rhoddin
The elder bowed his head at her reply. "Indeed it does feel right, but is there not more. Do you seek the confinement of a place such as this? Or do you seek to glorify him in the wider world?"
Indeed the elder did see Drinyr's need for purpose, for a mission, but he saw deeper, and wondered at her desire to follow the life of the temple, and all that entailed.
Indeed the elder did see Drinyr's need for purpose, for a mission, but he saw deeper, and wondered at her desire to follow the life of the temple, and all that entailed.