Citadel Wiki wrote:Amidst the flash and grandeur of some of the more showy temples sits the Mother's Temple of the Citadel. A wide low building plainly shaped and missing much of the decoration apparent in the other places of worship, the Temple is constructed of the heavy gray stone that seems to be found everywhere on the isle. The workmanship is of such quality that there are no visible seams: the Temple appears one great, vaguely mound-shaped stone of various blended shades of gray.
The entrance is a wide open archway leading into an antechamber. The doors to the great chapel within are a wonder to behold: seemingly an infinite variety of woods and metals have been blended into an abstract, but comforting pattern decorating the two large doors.
Within is a large open chapel with a low ceiling. Rows of wooden benches provide seating for the large number of commoners, mostly women, that come here seeking the blessing and comfort of the Mother. A warm glow from several large oil lanterns provides both light and dancing shadows along the walls. Simple but well-crafted friezes depicting the various events associated with the Mother - planting, tending and harvest of the fields, fertility and childbirth, and gardening - to name a few.
Doorways lead off to the sides - perhaps into the separate chapel rumoured to exist for the use of the Citadel's wealthier women; perhaps into the gardens and elemental shrines that are spoken of in whispers by those few devout worshippers who have been invited within. The Temple is pleasantly warm within in contrast to the chill weather that seems to have gripped the city outside. All in all, it is a sober, comforting atmosphere.
Having travelled from the Jardin Clos to the Temple of the Mother in her personal carriage, Ash took the time to remove her brightly colored scarves from her hair and shoulders to instead grasp a sage green shawl from the seat and drape it around herself. Her hair became a lose mane of curled locks from the braids that it'd been tamed into which tumbled around her and over the knitted covering. She bid for her coach to stick in the area, and then made her way into the building.
It had been upon the lips of anyone who knew the slightest bit of Imperial mythos that the Caesar could only impregnate a woman he loved - on top of that, once impregnated, she begame the vessel of the Mother a term that Ashari hadn't gotten any answers to the meaning of, but it sounded fairly important. With it in mind, she'd headed toward the Temple in hopes of speaking to the High Priestess of very delicate matters.
Inside the structure, Ashari marvelled at it's beauty for the first time. When last she'd been here it was for Iorn's funeral and she couldn't take in it's austere and earthen finese. Awed by the wood, metal and stone work, she shifted into the chapel with the scent of burning oil flaring her nostrils. It was pungent, but not overwhelming even in the low-ceilinged space.
She took a seat, and then a breath and laced her fingers together, closing her eyes...
Mother, I have grown so far from where I started in your gardens as a child with my blood-mother to teach me your ways. She was taken from me, and I abandoned you because I blamed you. Please forgive me, Mother.
I was a maiden turned wanton by my own blindness, and it lead me down a dangerous path. I carry now a child, One of Ashari's hands released and tenderly roamed across her stomach, her eyes still wandering the unseen world behind her lids. But I don't know the father. They are both good men. The young woman desperately needed to believe that Andolin was a good man. And I love them both for different reasons, though I think I'm falling in love with one more than another. The seed is planted, I cannot change from which tree it fell, but Mother guide me in this time when I need you - please... I have so much now, but I feel so very alone.
The opened her eyes to fingers wrapped tightly into the folds of her dress, protectively and needfully around her womb. She felt the foreboding of her future lying in wait, and knew that if this child was not Andolin's, then she'd only be able to lie for so long and then the undoing would begin. Don't cry, this is it. This is the beginning, do not question Her motives, for She works in mysterious ways.
Finding the nearest acolyte (and only after composing herself with a few clean, clear, cool breaths) she introduced herself. "I seek the High Priestess," she started steadily. "For a discussion on matters of faith within my institution of learning." It was all very formal, Ash was becoming accustomed to it, and even comfortable with, the distant tone and brisk words. "In private," she ammended to the end.