"This age is new," a voice suddenly declared, startling you so thoroughly that your knee collided hard with the underside of the table. The sharp pain brought you back to the moment as you spun around to face the intruder, your heart pounding in your chest. Standing in the doorway, leaning nonchalantly against the frame, was the Dappled Wing, it's dark and looming form as unsettling as ever. Instinctively, you glanced past it, making sure no one else had followed behind after your sermon earlier that day. The thought of one of the congregation members lingering and witnessing this would've been a far greater headache than the creature's cryptic musings.
Thankfully, no one was there. It was just the Dappled Wing—and its tendency to appear without warning, delivering vague proclamations like it was reading from some eldritch script. You rubbed your temples, feeling the dull ache of frustration mingling with your lingering adrenaline. You knew you shouldn't bite at its words, shouldn't give in to the temptation of engaging with whatever cryptic nonsense it was spouting, but curiosity had always been your curse.
With a weary sigh, you met its gaze, those inhuman black eyes glittering in the low light, reflecting more than just the world around you. They seemed to see something beyond, something you couldn't even begin to comprehend.
"What do you mean?" you asked, your voice hoarse with exhaustion, though a faint thread of interest wove through your tone despite yourself. The Dappled Wing hesitated, its many limbs shifting slightly as though the question had caught it off guard. Perhaps it had not expected you to engage. After a beat, it lifted its head, staring upward, as if peering through the ceiling, gazing into the unseen beyond.
"The sun is darker," it murmured, its voice low and almost wistful. There was a peculiar nostalgia in its tone, as though it was recalling something long lost. "There was a time when it was beautiful, bright yellow, and now... now it's orange." The words hung heavy in the air as the Dappled Wing strode toward the window, its movements fluid and deliberate.
You frowned, following its path as it reached the frosted glass and peered out at the midday sun hanging high in the sky. The light filtered through the panes in a soft, golden glow, illuminating the dust motes that lazily drifted in the room. It looked as yellow as ever to you, unchanging, familiar. You tilted your head slightly, trying to see whatever it was the Dappled Wing was seeing, but nothing about the sun seemed off. It was just the same as it had always been.
"Why is it orange now?" you asked, your curiosity deepening. You turned to face the creature, watching it as it stared out the window with an intensity that made your skin crawl. For a brief moment, you thought you saw something else in its gaze, something beyond that cold, predatory hunger that usually lingered in its eyes. There was a flicker—was it longing? Sadness? The emotion was there and gone so quickly that you almost thought you had imagined it.
"Things died. We lived," it murmured, one of its hands tracing the frosted glass, its touch almost tender despite the fact that it was a monster garbed in human flesh. Another of its hands absentmindedly stroked the twisted ivory horn that it held in its hand, a gesture that seemed almost thoughtful. You watched it in silence, unsure of what to say. There was a weight to its words, a gravity that pressed down on the room, though you couldn't quite decipher its meaning.
The Dappled Wing shook itself then, its wings fluttering slightly, the motion breaking the strange reverie that had fallen over the both of you. Without so much as a glance in your direction, it turned and left, its movements smooth and soundless as it made its way back to the alcove high in the church's roof, where it often took up residence.
You stood there for a moment, watching its retreating form. The words it had spoken echoed in your mind, hanging there like half-remembered fragments of a dream. They felt important, significant in a way that eluded you, yet you lacked the context to understand them. What did it mean, that the sun had once been yellow, and now it was orange? What things had died? And why did the Dappled Wing seem so nostalgic, so mournful, in a way that you had never seen it before?
You weren't sure, but you could try and figure them out later. You had paperwork to get back to.
The Financial Records improves Fund lending to 30 Funds/Turn
The House of Lady Mylissa gains Underworld Members (-1 to Unsuited for Combat malus.)
Lady Mylissa's Library gains 1 Forge manuscript, improving the Forge level to 1
Vote by plan
Possible Actions: You have 4 Actions each month; more can be gained by spending less time at work. You have 1 Follower Action, represented by your Dappled Wing
Followers can take any of the below actions, except for ones that would obviously need your presence. To mark which Action they are taking add a [Follower] tally before it.
You have 2 months until the cult reconvenes, it is expected you have accomplished at least one thing of note by then. You have already discovered a ritual that effects not just the body but other parts as well.
Current Funds: 230
Income: 45 Funds/Month
[] On work and the people you preach to.
-[] You'll pray and preach as you have been told to (Gain no extra actions, default)
-[] You'll end a few minutes early, subtly of course (Gain an extra action, will not be noticed if not done often)
-[] You fell ill, a rarity but one that strikes even you (Gain two extra actions, will be noticed by your congregation.)
-[] There's been a crisis, one that you must handle yourself (Gain three extra actions, a few members of your congregation will approach you)
-[] The doors shall be closed, the church will be empty (Gain four extra actions, there will be widespread worry from your congregation)
[] On the goal, of rites, rituals and summoned creatures
-[] Search out a Ritual
-[] Research a Ritual
--[] What Lore? (Write in)
-[] Create a Ritual
-[] Search the Woods for summonable creatures
-[] Gather supplies
--[] For which ritual? (Write in)
[] On furthering the cause.
-[] Recruit people from your congregation
-[] Assist somebody else in their task
--[] Who? (Write in)
-[] Items and strange artifacts, go search for them. They could be useful
-[] Request Funds (This does not cost an Action)
--[] How much? (Write in, up to 30)
[] On learning the Lores.
-[] Search for books
--[] In the local libraries and bookstores
--[] Stranger and more hidden places
--[] Online, from places abroad (Will cost 10 Funds per book in shipping)
-[] From the Cult's very own library (Gain 1 scrap of the chosen Lore)
--[] Edge
--[] Winter
-[] Lady Mylissa is willing to teach, request a lesson
--[] What lore? (Write in, she is willing to teach all Lores, up to level two)
[] The Mansus, a place of contradictions. It calls to you, reach out.
-[] Explore the Woods and it's many secrets
-[] Climb higher, Glory awaits
[] On matters outside the cult.
-[] Spend time with somebody
--[] Who? (Write in)
-[] Get to know somebody
--[] Who? (Write in, one of your parishioners, a low level person inside the cult, a random joe on the street etc)
[] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions might never be available again)
-[] [Summon] Lend your Dappled Wing to Christopher for his research
[] Something else? (Write in, must be approved by QM)
