The party wake at the temple, pack their belongings, and put away the bedding present in their pergola. They are neighbouring the main garden in the Temple of the Ancients, and can see there are many visitors this day. With a primordial spirit lifted from the world, they are here to pay their respects and make prayer. Jandar Bijor walks through the crowd, kind words imparted, as he makes his way to the party. He asks them if they would like to join his sermon in two days time, on Feastsday, and the party agree. He keeps it short and wishes for the light to shine brightly in each of them, and explains where they can find him should they wish to talk further.
The party generally split into different directions, each contextualising their experiences, putting well needed time into developing their skills and disciplines.
Crom seeks nature, even a city as natural as Anlyth has him wanting serenity away from crowds. He wonders east, through the hunter laden outskirts before striding outside of the city limits. He is stopped by a voice stating how dangerous it is for a foreigner to brave the jungles alone. He meets Glanduil Trisbalar, an elven barbarian following the path of the mistwood. They partake in friendly sparring, Crom learns that Glanduil can misty step through the jungle while unleashing a barrage of throwing knives. He helps Crom train his reactions, and quell any chance of him being surprised.
Mornington Lormanston crosses the city to the palace Lunas Orberus where he gains entry and meets with Folas Carna. He requests to study in the great libraries held within the palace, and Folas goes as far as to show him the deep archives of the elven people, open to only the most privileged. Here Mornington enriches his knowledge of the elves, and of the world, as it's seen by their long standing civilisation. But, he wishes to learn specific answers on the wider cosmos, and the forces the party find themselves entwined with. They scour books by long dead philosophers, great minds of the Tide, and many other masters alike. Folas picks out a book for Mornington that theorizes on the shape and relation of the many planes within the cosmos. Now, Mornington feels like he is getting close to the answers he seeks.
Edward Fogbluff takes a deep interest in the Temple of the Ancients, ultimately trying to seek knowledge of potential patrons, his distrust for his current patron at an all time high. He learns of Eloranos, mother of the Primordials and finds four statues in the main garden depicting a woman with a featureless face. Each statue seems to be nurturing one of the four elements, and he learns there are many primordial spirits for each element. He begins searching for a statue in the temple complex somewhere that represents death, trying to draw similarities to the Element Stones, but finds none. Edward then questions Amarion about his religion and learns that they believe the four elements are needed to cradle life in this world. The primordials are responsible for building the cot that nurtured life in this world, as Eloranos nurtured the primordials.
Amarion meets with Eparch Jandar Bijor, finding him in his serene quarters of the temple. They discuss Amarion's concerns over his faith, as he feels he lacks specific guidance from the mouth of his deity. While Eloranos is a god that grants him much power, he seeks a voice to tell him the right path to tread. Jandar explains that as the light is bright within Amarion, and has been for years, Eloranas believes in him, believes he can make those difficult decisions, and find the path. She may be the wind in his sails, but he must still steer the ship. It is never easy to confront the issues of the world, but with his god's blessing, he is righteous. Amarion states that it's difficult to know the right choice sometimes, especially regarding the Element Stones and the potential danger the world is in. Jandar reinforces the fact that Amarion and his companions set free a great primordial spirit. If they are bound to the stone's as part of the magic enforced by the Dargean Empire, then they should be destroyed. Amarion rebuttals, surely that puts the world at risk, creatures from the outer planes freely travelling to their world. Jandar believes that the primordials will protect them, Eloranos is watching over them, and the Dargean disgraced the natural order.
The party rest another night in the safe haven of the temple.
Crom had arranged to meet Glanduil Trisbalar once more, but first, he wanted to do something he's been meaning to do for a while. He retrieves his sending shell and sends a short message to Sivynel Moonvine, to hear word of where his family tribe are now. The message he receives is in no light a pleasant one. Last they had spoke Crom knew that The Unbound Tribe took off north after Karna-Kar set ablaze the forest they had called home for a time. Finding wide open grasslands they had a terrible run in with some hill giants that forced them to flee east into the Ustaren Jungles. Now hearing what had followed, it only got worse. They had numerous run ins with Lizardfolk, a mixture of hostile skirmishes before a common language could be bridged and they met Salusanus. Due to the nature of the sending spell, there was limited words. "Trap. Ambush. Poisoned. Enslaved. Now we build their monuments. They say the prophecy is here, The Great Winged Fire Returns". Crom is shaken by this, but is helpless to act in this moment. Anger in his heart, he goes to meet Glanduil to spar, this time he is able to react in time to deflect a knife thrown to his back. However, over the course of their sparring, many knives meet their mark. Nothing grievous, but there is still more to learn. Crom feels no pain to his body, his mind adrift.
Mornington returns to the archives in Lunas Orberus, again accompanied by Folas, as he is not permitted to browse the archives alone. During their studies Mornington happens upon a book regarding the noble houses of Dawnreach. Thinking of home he browses the section about his family, the Lormanstons, and their land. Strangely, he finds a fortress that is mentioned, positioned on the edge of the Lormanston domain, belonging to his late father. What's strange is that Mornington has no memory of this place, not even of it being mentioned by other family members. Has he forgotten all about it due to the trauma of losing his father as a young boy, or is it something else. Returning to his main research, Mornington and Folas span a number of topics. A second religion in the Shimmer Isles that worships animal spirits, the red elves of far east Aglia, and the outer planes as philosophical ideals manifest. Mornington starts to explore the idea that, should the veil between planes slip, could they find allies, and not just enemies, that wish to visit their home plane.
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