A/N said:
Bit shorter tonight, busy day, didn't get to the meat of it until I was already tired, hope it doesn't read as phoned in.
Adventure 1: Journeywoman, Page 4
The centrepiece of any properly devoted Imharite temple is flowing water.
The small temple that Anne-Seht has attended since birth had a small fountain behind the altar that the Divine Sisters would draw water from for their daily and weekly rituals.
Now she finds herself standing next to the babbling stream that runs through the Khot-Sen-Lanua's greatest Imahrite temple, the Grand Temple of Learned Waters.
The humble temple that preceded the Grand Temple of Learned Waters two centuries ago was built on the outskirts of a smaller Khot, but the current Grand Temple now finds itself surrounded by several residential islands and sits adjacent to the newest of the Seven Grand Collages.
Compared to the small temple that burst at the seams to fit Anne's neighbourhood faithful, Learned Waters is massive. It's in fact the largest single house of worship in Khot-Sen-Lanua, as the city's far more numerous atheists do not need such services, and the Channelers houses of worship like the Imharite temples.
Anne stands next to her mother and father, her father maintaining a respectful silence and her mother radiating clear relief that the temple is nowhere near as crowded as it would be during the morning and evening ceremonies.
Anne stands in front of the temple altar, her parents behind her and a middle aged Divine Sister in front of her carefully laying out a ceremonial blade. Blade prepared, she pours water from a ceremonial ewer into the basin set into the altar.
Setting the ewer aside the Sister closes her eyes and holds a fist up to her forehead as she speaks several passages in the Rivers' Tongue, beginning the blessing of the water in front of her.
When the Sister opens her eyes she speaks a command in the holy tongue and, for the second time today, Anne holds out an open palm, and for the second time, a ceremonial blade is run over it.
"Lady of Rivers, grant your supplicant clear waters." The Sister plunges Anne's hand into the basin, "May her blood run pure." She lowers both her hands into the basin and flicks water into the altar, where it instantly vanishes into the stone in exactly the way that water usually doesn't.
"If cold blood be shed, let it be the blood of your enemies." another flick, "If she thirsts, may you grant her your waters," more water, this time flicked onto Anne, "If she hungers, guide her towards sustenance."
Anne feels the familiar slick sensation that she usually does during these ceremonies. It is a comforting one, lapping away the pain from the cut.
"If she be lost, guide her," the Sister reaches forward and anoints Anne with water from the basin, her thumb cold against the girl's forehead, "Imahar Zarel. Goddess of Rivers. Patroness of Peoples. At this time we beseech you to honour your Covenant with us. Bless Anne-Seht of Cohacos with your for the lifeblood of our Covenant with you flows through her.
"For this blessing: Blood." she lifts Anne's hand from the basin, "Blood, freely given."
She wipes clean the edge of the ewer and raises it to Anne's lips, "Drink, blessed, feel the lifeblood of our Patroness."
Anne sips from the ewer, the water is always cool and refreshing, but she's never had any hint of the silvery feeling that the water mixed with freely given blood has.
That done, the Sister lowers the ewer and pulls a towel off the altar and hands it to Anne, "That's that." she says with the casual practicality that a lot of the Divine Sisters that Anne has met possess, "That's the Traveller's Blessing made," she pulls a small flask off the altar, and cups her hand to pour some of the basin's water in, "Here's your Covenant Blood."
"Thank you" says Anne as she takes the small flask from the Sister.
"As well as," the sister hands Anne another small flask, "Travellers' Blood." she points at the first flask, "Covenant for wounds of the mind and pain of the body, and a drop of Travellers' Blood into water and it will be pure for you and yours."
The Sister smiles as she begins cleaning up the altar, "Done a lot of these today, busy time of year," she begins cleaning the knife in the basin, where are you headed to Anne-Seht?"
"Oh, I'm headed to the Singing Dunes." says Anne casually.
The Sister laughs, either impressed at the destination of Anne's audacity, "That's two of you today. You're headed a long way. Genuinely, may the Lady of Rivers steer your way to distant lands and back again."
Anne's mother smiles and lightly puts a hand on Anne's shoulder, "Thank you Sister. The Traveller's blessing is such a relief."
"We give to her, she gives to us. That's why she's Our Lady."
"That's that Covenant." says Anne's father with a smile. He's always bemused at how seemingly similar the openly transactional nature the Imharite religion is to his own Atheism at times.
Seth strokes his chin, and turns to Anne, nodding at the flasks in her hands, "Now all that's left is ensuring that your bird is properly seen to. I know that Tarn doesn't trust the endurance of riding birds. So I'd make sure that you force them to have spare gear, and maybe some medicinal herbs on hand. Unless you're planning on riding one of his horses?"
Anne laughs, "Uncle, there's no way I'm leaving behind…"
EXAMPLE:
[ ] …Zephyr
Kaf saw the raising of a bird as part of the process of becoming a full member of Clan Cohacos, and Annasavai was happy to cooperate, wanting a first hand view of traditional riding bird husbandry techniques.
Now five years grown, and Anne's personal mount, Zephyr is as quick as her name, and twice as flighty. Despite Anne's best efforts, Zephyr has never been good with surprises and really doesn't like other riders.
Still, the red and black feathered bird is fast, isn't a picky eater, and trusts Anne.
For this write in (90 words) I'm looking for a name, a brief description of the bird, a clear strength, a clear weakness, and some characterization of the bird's personality.
