strangetrip | [EP] Temple Opening - OTA, Tag Vax or Pike

It had taken many months, effort from many residents, the summons of an other-planar entity, and even trade negotiations between worlds to raise the Madonna Inn's new temple on an unassuming expanse of grass adjacent to Building 2. It felt more than a bit surreal, to finally walk the finished handmade brick hallways and peer into the room-sized curved-arch alcoves, to be able to reach out and touch the engraved names of those that had departed as mysteriously as anybody arrived in this place. The Temple loomed benignly, profoundly quiet as dawn rose over the newly completed building and brought with it the summer solstice. Vax'ildan and Pike Trickfoot sat together in the common gathering area, chins high with their heads tipped back. They watched a long while in reverent silence as the kindling sunlight began to lighten, then brighten, then beam, gradually filling up the temple with something like grace through the metal mesh and skylight that made the roof.

"It's beautiful," Vax murmured at last, when the whole of the Temple had been poured full of the ambient light. Shapes of brightness and shadow dappled the heights of the walls without causing any kind of painful glare at eye-level. He didn't quite know how Percy and Lillith had done it, but they'd managed some trick of the roof and sub-roofs at exacting angles, neatly fitted panes of black and clear and amber glass making a rather soothing kaleidoscope mosaic on the ceiling overhead. It was an effect quite like sunlight filtered through tree branches, though with an intricate and artful geometric design. Nightfall would be beautiful, too, though in the opposite way - the exterior and interior lighting would set the Temple dramatically aglow, deepening the contrasting shadows. It was a perfect place for private reflection, or to speak to the gods where they might deign to listen.

"Are we supposed to do anything else before it's... You know. Holy, or whatever? Before we can open it properly?" Vax turned to look at Pike, a hint of unease still lingering in his expression. "I'm honestly not sure when it stops being a bunch of stones and becomes a sacred place."

"It has never been just a bunch of stones. Our intent has always been known, and that's what's important. This place has been holy since the day we broke ground," Pike smiled up at him, internally applauding his sense of timing. She'd just reached the end of her spell. For twenty-four hours straight, she'd been casting Hallow to slowly imbuing the land and structure with holy protections and powers. But it wasn't a flashy spell, after the initial incantation and prepping of materials, it had mostly been meditation.

"But I could use your and the Raven Queen's help to finish this spell?" Reaching over, she took one of his hand in hers then held the other one out to her side. Nodding, she encouraged him to do the same. After a heartbeat, though nothing could be seen, she felt Sarenrae take her open hand in a warm grasp. "Ready?"

Vax didn't take her hand straightaway, mostly because he was trying to figure out if she meant for him to take both of her hands or just the one, and he had no bloody idea what she was wanting from him to finish off her spell. He looked quizzically between her palms and his, and decided that one of the hands was definitely for him to take, but the other... Pike's muscles in her far hand had a funny kind of tension to them, very much as if she was grasping something solid, though all Vax could see was a thin shaft of golden light somehow slipped from the ingenious layers above... Oh.

Brown eyes gone a touch wide, he swallowed, black-gloved fingers fitting Pike's smaller hand under his. "Yeah," he agreed with a gentle rasp. He unfolded his other, open palm, glancing at it for a moment and wondering what it was he expected to happen. Telling himself to stop thinking about it. Opening himself to letting it happen, whatever 'it' may be.

Squeezing their joined hand in an attempt to encourage him, Pike took in a deep breath and gathered the last of the energy she needed. Releasing the rush of divine magic, the space filled with a swell of bright golden light that was accompanied by deep inky shadow in equal measure.

With the spell now in full effect, she could almost feel the building vibrating with the new essence. Beaming up at Vax, she couldn't help but smirk, "That was so cool."

"That's... Wow." As the holy energies became less visible, less distinctly tangible, and began to permeate the Temple in a more subtle way, they became a part of the Hallowed halls themselves. And as Vax smiled softly back at Pike, it was with the assurance that just for a moment there, in the casting, even for not having seen any more than the display of light and shadow... He knew he'd felt a cool, strong, gentle grip of slender fingers around his empty hand. "...What's say we go open the doors? This place is meant to be shared, after all."

******

Vax and Pike will each have a top-level. Come have your characters engage them as they explore the new space, find an alcove of particular interest, or just snark cynically at the whole thing if they're so inclined. Feel free to use the Temple as a staging ground for any scenes you like later!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not only were they opening the temple, but the summer solstice was also Pike Trickfoot's absolute favorite day. It was the closest thing the followers of Sarenrae had to a holy day but it wasn't marked by celebrations or feasts in her name, no parades through the streets or tournaments. Those were for Pelor's followers, who also honored the longest day of the year. No, for the devout of the Everlight, the solstice was most often spent honor their lady is more subtle (but no less profound) ways. This year, that happened to mean helping open a temple for everyone.

Sarenrae's alcove was filled with rays of sunlight that danced through colored panes of glass and over the large stone statue at it's center. Warmth radiated from her beautiful bronze-skinned face, her wings outstretched and flowing golden hair composed of flame. One of her outstretched hands appeared to glow with a holy light, while the other held a scimitar emblazoned with radiant fire.

After being awake for 24 hours casting the Hallow spell, the only thing Pike Trickfoot should want to do was sleep...but nothing was farther from the truth. She was practically bouncing with energy. She'd stationed herself just outside of the Sarenrae alcove but was ready to talk to anyone who might have questions. "Hello and welcome! Let me know if you're looking for something in particular."

"I was looking for you, does that count?" He smiled to her as he looked around. "This looks amazing. You did a good." He had seen the end of its construction, sure, but seeing it truly completed and with Pike inside looking tired, but radiant nonetheless was breath-taking.

"Well, you found me," she laughed, looking down to cover the touch of a blush she could feel rising to her cheeks. "Thank you, but Vax really took the lead on the whole project. It's nice to have a space that honors so many different faiths."

"Speaking of, come with me..." Taking his hand, she pulled him to the next alcove over which was lined with bookshelves. The Inn had started filling the shelves, but they were still only half full. There was even a stack of blank sheet music on one. "I think this is for you."

He looked at it, then looked at her. "What do you mean?"

She blinked then realized she wasn't making any sense, "I'm sorry. My brain doesn't work well without sleep."

Shifting her body, she moved away from the altar and the symbols she had inadvertently blocked. "This alcove, it's for Ioun but it's filled with things you could use to write down all of the songs you've been working on."

Edited 2018-06-23 01:40 (UTC)

His eyes moved over the alcove, taking in the details. "How did you know it's for me?" He hadn't quite gotten around to telling her all the things yet. It never seemed like the right time.

"Well, who else would it be for?" she shrugged, "Of the Exandrian's here that would trigger an alcove to be created, it just made sense that it was meant for you. Especially with all of the blank sheet music. Your songs are usually stories that you share with the world."

Edited 2018-06-23 02:10 (UTC)

Scanlan always admired Pike's wisdom. He smiled warmly.

"I was going to tell you.. about Ioun. I swear. Things just never felt like the right time."

A smile spread across her face as well. Hearing that he'd prayed to Sarenrae had been a wonderful moment for Pike, but this felt even more important. The fact that Scanlan had grown enough to truly put his faith in something other than 'having a good time' was incredibly telling.

Turning to face him, she took a step forward and into his space. Then, hesitating for only a moment, she pressed her lips to his in a warm, gentle kiss. "This seems like a pretty good time, yeah?"

The kiss has been so unexpected that he hadn't had time to kiss her back or to wrap his arms around her and as she pulled away, he felt as if the warmth lingering on his lips. He looked just a little stunned, but then recovered and smiled.

"Alright." He took a deep breath. "I already told you that you became the. Champion of Sanenrae. Well, we needed more gods on our side and we ended up finding Ioun and she picked me. I had to pass a test to get her blessing."

The look on his face was absolutely priceless. Silently she hoped that she could keep surprising him like that for awhile. How long would it take him to get used to it? Because now that she'd started, she didn't want to stop letting herself kiss him.

"Wow. It's still hard to believe that we went through the divine gate and just...met gods," she laughed, then gestured over to a chair in the corner of the alcove. It was so big that they could share it rather comfortably, "Come, let's sit. Tell me all about her. What is she like?"

He took the seat with her, enjoying their closeness. "She looked like an old woman. Grey hair, wrinkled... purple eyes." Those had been striking. "And when she speaks... it's hard not to acknowledge the truths she says." He paused, then smiled. "She called me a buffoon... but then went on to say my stories were worth something, even after I questioned her judgement."

[EP] Temple Opening - OTA, Tag Vax or Pike

Pike - OTA

Pike/Scanlan

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