Maekaelithe leaves the western watchtower beneath a pale afternoon sky, with Cassidy, a young woman with a compact build, warm brown skin, short curly black hair, and a rust-red traveling cloak, and Liora beside her. Behind them, Sera remains to gather the surviving wardens, while Caldrin stays near the oath-chamber as its witness.
The road descends through frost-bright grass. Dust gathers in deliberate lines across the stones, then breaks apart and reforms toward a narrow ravine east of the marked highway.
The Road-Spirit
The old pilgrim path is open again. It was hidden beneath fearful commands, but no counterfeit claim remains to bar those who travel freely.
Cassidy studies the shifting dust before glancing toward Liora. The stones ahead bear worn carvings of walking feet, their edges newly bright beneath the road-spirit’s restored attention.
Liora
That path was not on any warden map. If the stones reveal it now, the temple road may be safer than the king’s highway.
Cassidy
Or older, steeper, and full of pilgrims who learned to travel without maps. Still, I would rather trust a road that tells us what it is.
Ahead, the dust settles into a line of small white footprints leading between dark standing stones. The way toward Ishtar’s temple waits, newly revealed, while the party chooses its next step.
✓ Quest Accepted
Establish that the old pilgrim path is safe for Cassidy
“I nod. "I'm on good authority that we're on good standing with the road. Still, it's nice to be on the road with another bound towards Ishtar's Temple. Are you another Priestess, or looking to possibly becoming one like Liora?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Maekaelithe
I am told we stand in good favor with the road. Still, it is pleasant to travel beside another bound for Ishtar’s temple. Are you a priestess, or considering becoming one like Liora?
Cassidy walks beneath the rust-red cloak, her gaze moving from the white footprints to Maekaelithe. The standing stones hold their silence, but the road-spirit’s warmth remains beneath every step.
Cassidy
I am not a priestess. I have no mark, no temple vows, and no desire to claim a life before I understand its terms.
Cassidy
But I am curious. You and Liora speak of Ishtar as though devotion can protect choice instead of replacing it. That is rare enough to deserve a hearing.
She touches the edge of her cloak, thoughtful rather than guarded. The white footprints continue into the ravine, keeping their patient course toward the temple road.
Liora
Then you will have company in asking difficult questions. I am listening too, though I have not chosen my answer.
Cassidy
Good. I would rather walk toward a choice with someone honest than accept a blessing because everyone else calls it safe.
✓ Quest Accepted
Hear Ishtar’s terms
“"Well, you're in good company then, I'll always welcome another lovely face to travel with us." I smile, looking between the two. "You know, it is actually really funny, we had a sticky moment in our travels and Liora here ended up using your name as hers for a bit there." I lean against Liora. "Strange coincidence, don't you think?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe
You are in good company, then. I will always welcome another lovely face traveling with us. We had a sticky moment, and Liora used your name as hers for a while. Strange coincidence, do you think?
Maekaelithe smiles and leans against Liora, looking between her and Cassidy as the white footprints wind deeper into the ravine. The welcome carries no demand, only an open place beside them.
Cassidy
That is an impressive coincidence. I hope she wore it responsibly. Names can become dangerous when someone else is holding them.
Liora
I did my best. Cassidy’s name opened a door when mine would have drawn the wrong attention, and I never meant to keep it.
Liora’s shoulder settles comfortably beneath Maekaelithe’s weight. Cassidy studies them both, then lets out a low laugh as the road-stones glow faintly underfoot.
Cassidy
Then I will take it as flattering, provided the story ends with my name returned freely. I would like to hear what sort of trouble made it necessary.
Liora
You will hear it all before we reach the temple. I suspect the truth is stranger than the borrowed name.
“"It was spur of the moment, Cassidy is a common name, and I knew a white haired dhampir of the same name awhile back." I say as we walk. "So what made you curious to take the path of Ishtar?" I ask, glancing to Cassidy. "Not many freely decide to become a harlot after all."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Maekaelithe
It was spur of the moment. Cassidy is a common name, and I knew a white-haired dhampir of the same name awhile back. So what made you curious about Ishtar’s path? Not many freely decide to become a harlot after all.
The white footprints wind between the standing stones. Cassidy walks quietly for several paces, considering the question without offense, while Liora listens from Maekaelithe’s side.
Cassidy
Because I have spent too long watching people call captivity protection. A temple that openly names its costs, and promises to punish those who chain its servants, deserves my attention.
Cassidy
I am not drawn by the title alone. I want to know whether Ishtar truly protects choice when choice becomes inconvenient, frightening, or profitable to someone stronger.
Liora
That is the question I intend to ask as well. The answer matters more than how beautiful the blessing sounds.
Cassidy glances toward Liora, then touches the rust-red cloak at her throat. Her expression remains open, but her voice gains the firmness of a boundary clearly spoken.
Cassidy
If the temple answers honestly, I may consider the path. If it demands obedience disguised as devotion, I will thank them and walk away.
“I glance at the touch to her throat, but say nothing for the moment, Looking to the snow covered footsteps, I watch the path they weave, looking to see how fresh they are.”
SUCCESS (Superb Perception, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe glances at Cassidy’s hand resting against her cloak, then turns her attention to the snow-covered footprints. She studies their edges, depth, and the powder gathered within them.
Maekaelithe
The prints are fresh enough that the wind has not softened their edges.
Her superb sight separates the trail’s layers. The small white impressions were made within the last hour, after the latest snowfall, and several walkers passed in single file.
The leading prints sink deepest on the descent, while later steps follow carefully in the same hollows. No drift has crossed them, and no older trail lies beneath.
Cassidy
Recent, then. Recent enough that whoever made them may still be ahead of us.
Liora
And they knew this path before the stones revealed it to us. We should expect pilgrims, not an empty road.
The footprints continue toward the ravine without hesitation, their clean edges confirming a living procession recently bound for Ishtar’s temple.
“"LIora has a bow, are you capable with a blade, or do you use magic as well?" I ask, looking to Cassidy.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Maekaelithe
Liora has a bow. Are you capable with a blade, or do you use magic as well?
Maekaelithe asks lightly as they descend between the standing stones, her attention resting on Cassidy rather than the footprints. The question carries easy interest, not a test.
Cassidy
A blade, yes. I am not a duelist, but I know how to keep one between myself and someone who mistakes protection for ownership.
Cassidy draws a narrow, well-kept knife from beneath her rust-red cloak. Its plain hilt shows frequent use, while its edge catches the pale afternoon light.
Cassidy
Magic as well, though modestly. I can make a ward, quiet a lock, and put a little force behind a warning. I cannot call storms or command the dead.
Liora
That sounds more useful than modest. A careful hand and a ward can save more lives than a flashy spell.
Cassidy
Then we may suit one another. I will learn the temple’s terms, and if I walk its path, I would rather defend that choice than ask someone else to defend it for me.
“I nod slightly. "Your magic is subtle, like my own, I can appreciate that." I say, giving her a smile. "Also, you've said that twice now. 'mistakes protection for ownership'. I've a feeling you are more like me than like Liora. I say, giving Liora a glance.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -2)
Maekaelithe
Your magic is subtle, like my own. I can appreciate that. You have said twice now, “mistakes protection for ownership.” I suspect you are more like me than like Liora.
Maekaelithe gives Cassidy a slight smile, then glances toward Liora. The words land gently, but they place Cassidy’s convictions in the open before both women.
Cassidy
Perhaps I am. I have learned to distrust anyone who speaks of safety while reserving the right to decide for me.
Liora
And perhaps I am less unlike you than that glance suggests. I distrust ownership too. I simply prefer to test a promise before calling it kinship.
Cassidy’s smile fades into careful consideration. She does not retreat, but her fingers close around the knife beneath her cloak, as though Maekaelithe’s comparison has made a new boundary visible.
Cassidy
I will answer plainly, but I will not become proof of your likeness until I have seen how you treat disagreement. If you want my trust, that is the price.
Liora
Cassidy heard the invitation beneath Maekaelithe’s words, but also the danger in being claimed too quickly.
“I shake my head. "Then I will speak plainly. You were a pleasure slave, weren't you?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -1)
Maekaelithe
Then I will speak plainly. You were a pleasure slave, weren't you?
The question falls between the standing stones without disguise. Maekaelithe’s directness leaves no room for polite evasion, but neither does it force an answer beyond Cassidy’s choosing.
Cassidy
Yes. I was. Not by a title I chose, and not under terms I accepted freely. Someone called ownership protection, then expected gratitude for the chains.
Cassidy’s hand remains near her knife, though she does not draw it. The white footprints lead onward through the ravine, and the road-spirit offers no judgment.
Cassidy
I escaped when the person claiming authority made one demand too many and discovered that obedience was not the same as surrender. I have been careful about trust ever since.
Liora
You did not owe us that answer. But I understand why Maekaelithe’s question mattered, and why your boundary matters too.
Cassidy
It mattered because she asked plainly. If she treats my refusal with the same respect as my answer, then perhaps I can believe her promises are more than beautiful words.
“I breathe deeply, shaking my head. "I am sorry... " I say, turning to give Cassidy a hug. "I know that pain well... Too well." I say, letting her free. "You have my sympathies, and my help, you'll find no enemy in either of us."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +3)
Maekaelithe
I am sorry. I know that pain, too well. You have my sympathies and my help. You will find no enemy in either of us.
Maekaelithe breathes deeply, shakes her head, and turns to Cassidy. She embraces her, then releases her without holding on, leaving the choice of distance entirely hers.
Cassidy
Thank you. I believe you. Not because the words are beautiful, but because you let go when you said you would help.
Cassidy’s hand falls away from her knife. The road-stones beneath them warm, and the white footprints brighten toward the ravine’s far end.
Cassidy
There is something you should know in return. I recognize the temple’s old refuge sign. A safe house lies beyond the next bend, maintained by women who answer to Ishtar, not to any lord.
Liora
That is more than a kindness. It gives us shelter before we reach the temple, and a place where Cassidy can judge the priesthood without standing exposed on the road.
Cassidy
She offered help without asking me to belong. That is the first promise I have heard that feels safely chosen.
“I laugh lightly. "Maintained by women, yes, but don't expect that to mean there are just women there. a 'refuge of Ishtar' is still a brothel. Though I am slightly surprised at one this deep into the mountains."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe
I laugh lightly. "Maintained by women, yes, but do not expect that to mean there are only women there. A refuge of Ishtar is still a brothel. Though I am surprised to find one this deep in the mountains."
The laugh carries through the ravine, loosening the tension left by Cassidy’s confession. Ahead, the white footprints pass beneath a low stone arch marked with Ishtar’s refuge sign.
Cassidy
That is a useful distinction. I had heard refuge and imagined guarded beds, not a working house with its own rules and clientele.
Liora
A brothel hidden in the mountains would need more than secrecy. It would need supplies, trusted roads, and women willing to keep its laws when no warden is watching.
Cassidy
Perhaps the remoteness is part of the protection. A lord can seize a city house with a decree. Reaching this place requires knowing the path and honoring the people who keep it.
Beyond the arch, chimney smoke curls above dark pines. Bells answer faintly from the hidden refuge, and the road-stones warm beneath the travelers’ feet as the safe house receives them.
“"You have the right of it Liora, but make no mistake, Priestesses of Ishtar are by no means defenseless. I carry no weapons, yet you have seen first hand how I carry myself in a fight." I say, leaning into Liora as we get closer to the refuge.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +2)
Maekaelithe
You have the right of it, Liora, but make no mistake. Priestesses of Ishtar are by no means defenseless. I carry no weapons, yet you have seen how I carry myself in a fight.
Maekaelithe leans into Liora as they approach the refuge, her easy confidence matching the warmth beneath the road-stones. The reassurance settles without demanding agreement.
Liora
I have seen it. You faced danger with empty hands and made it reconsider its choices. I will not mistake a priestess’s lack of steel for helplessness.
Cassidy
Then the refuge’s rules may matter even more than its walls. People who can defend themselves still deserve protection from those who claim authority over them.
The stone arch opens into a sheltered hollow. A broad timber house stands among the pines, its red shutters marked with Ishtar’s sign, while armed and unarmed attendants move freely across the yard.
Liora
A working house, a sanctuary, and a place where its women keep their own terms. I am ready to hear how those things live together.
A bronze bell sounds once from the doorway. The refuge’s doors swing inward, revealing lamplight, warm voices, and a welcoming threshold beneath the mountain snow.
“Wandering in from the cold, I lead the two in. "We may well also have to get you two more appropriately dressed. Supplicants to Ishtar shouldn't be wandering around in road tattered cloaks and travelling leathers." I say, leading them towards the front desk. "Sister... A priestess and supplicants are seeking shelter." I say to the woman behind it.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe leads Cassidy and Liora beneath the arch and into the refuge’s warmth. Snow melts from cloaks and boots as attendants glance over, then return to their work.
Maekaelithe
We may well need to find you two more appropriate clothing. Supplicants to Ishtar should not wander in road-tattered cloaks and travelling leathers.
Maekaelithe
Sister, a priestess and two supplicants are seeking shelter.
Behind the front desk stands Nessa, a broad-shouldered middle-aged woman with deep brown skin, silver-threaded braids, and a russet vest over a cream wool dress. A refuge sign hangs at her throat.
Nessa
Then shelter is granted. Come in from the cold, all of you. We have a warm room, food, and clothing suitable for those who have arrived under Ishtar’s protection.
Cassidy
I appreciate the welcome. I would like to choose what I wear, and understand any expectations before I accept anything.
Nessa
That is precisely how this house works. You will be shown the guest rules, offered garments without obligation, and left free to decide what comes next.
Quest Complete
Establish that the old pilgrim path is safe for Cassidy
Attribute Upgrade: Perception Superb→Legendary
“I nod to Nessa. "I greet you in good faith, I am Maekaelithe, Wandering Priestess of the Scarlet Temple of Ishtar."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe
I greet you in good faith. I am Maekaelithe, Wandering Priestess of the Scarlet Temple of Ishtar.
Maekaelithe nods to Nessa, and the refuge’s lamplight catches the confidence of her introduction. The room’s quiet attention settles without tension or suspicion.
Nessa
Then you are welcome as Maekaelithe, Wandering Priestess. Good faith is received here, and your name will not be used as a handle against you.
Nessa touches the refuge sign at her throat, then gestures toward a long table where folded garments, steaming bowls, and a slate of house rules await.
Nessa
The Scarlet Temple is honored in this house, though no guest owes devotion for shelter. You may inspect our rules, choose clothing, and ask every question before accepting anything.
Cassidy
That is the welcome I hoped to hear. Maekaelithe, I would like to see those rules beside you, before I decide what this refuge offers.
Liora
And I will help examine the clothing. If Ishtar’s house values choice, its garments should leave room for that choice too.
“I nod. "As you like. Though from what I see, this refuge does not tend to keep to the traditional garments of Ishtar." I say, glancing to Nessa. "Though I imagine by necessity, it must get quite cold here for humans. Even i could do with a pair of boots travelling through the snow."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -1)
Maekaelithe
As you like. Though from what I see, this refuge does not keep to Ishtar’s traditional garments. Necessity must matter here, especially in the snow. Even I could use boots.
Maekaelithe nods toward Nessa, glancing over the folded cloth: practical wool, layered wraps, soft slippers, and several pairs of sturdy boots made for mountain paths.
Nessa
You see correctly. Temple tradition guides the house, but it does not freeze people for the sake of appearance. Boots are offered to every traveler who needs them.
Nessa lifts two pairs from beneath the table, one lined with felt and another reinforced at the ankle. She sets both before Maekaelithe without ceremony or expectation.
Nessa
These should fit you. The lined pair is warmer; the reinforced pair grips ice better. Keep whichever serves your road, and return them only if you later choose another size.
Liora
That is a sensible kind of tradition. I will look for something warm that still lets me move freely, especially if the path remains steep.
Nessa
Then choose for movement. The rules are beside the bowls, and nothing on that slate turns clothing, shelter, or food into a promise.
“I nod. "For the Supplicants, perhaps. I can suffer a little cold just fine. I prefer my silks if I am to wear anything at all." I move towards were Cassidy is reading. "If you've any questions about any of the tenants of Ishtar, feel free to ask about them. You've at least two priestesses here that are knowledgeable on them.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Maekaelithe
For the supplicants, perhaps. I can suffer a little cold. If I wear anything, I prefer my silks. Cassidy, ask freely about Ishtar’s tenets. You have at least two priestesses here who know them well.
Maekaelithe nods and moves beside Cassidy at the rules table, leaving the offered boots untouched. Cassidy has the slate open, one finger marking a passage about vows and sanctuary.
Cassidy
Then I will begin with the difficult question. What happens when a priestess refuses a temple duty, especially if someone claims the refusal breaks her devotion?
Nessa
Refusal is not treason. A priestess may decline a service, a client, or a ritual. The temple may discuss consequences for office, but it cannot turn consent into obedience.
Cassidy
That is the answer I needed to hear, though I will still ask how often the temple honors it in practice.
Nessa
Ask that too. Ishtar’s tenets are not weakened by scrutiny. A house that fears questions has already forgotten whom it serves.
Quest Complete
Hear Ishtar’s terms
Skill Upgrade: Intimidation Great→Superb
“"Not inaccurate, but also not wholly so. " I correct, looking to Nessa. "Certain rites must be taken, and a High Priestess that is presiding over a Temple cannot refuse them. though for the typical priestesses you come across, what Nessa says is true. While some lesser rites must be observed, if a Priestess does not feel comfortable enacting the rite, another who is willing may do it.”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled -1)
Maekaelithe
Not inaccurate, but not wholly so. Certain rites must be taken, and a High Priestess presiding over a temple cannot refuse them. For ordinary priestesses, refusal is usually honored. Lesser rites may be performed by another willing priestess if the appointed one is uncomfortable.
Maekaelithe’s correction settles over the rules table. She and Nessa compare the slate’s careful wording with temple practice, and the distinction proves more layered than the refuge’s brief summary.
Nessa
Yes. The presiding High Priestess bears duties of office that cannot simply be declined while she holds that seat. She may appoint a willing priestess to perform lesser rites, but she cannot abandon the temple’s central obligations.
Nessa
For other priestesses, the rule is consent. Some lesser rites are expected of the order, yet discomfort permits another willing priestess to take the duty. Refusal alone is not betrayal.
Cassidy
So the obligation follows office and rite, not merely the person wearing Ishtar’s mark. I will want the central rites named plainly before I call that protection reliable.
Nessa
That is fair. I can fetch the temple register, though it is kept in the inner room and will take time to retrieve. The slate gives principles, not every exception.
Liora
The answer is more complicated than freedom to refuse, but the choice of a willing substitute still matters.
“"There are three, mainly. The Carnal Baptism, which is used to confer right to rule to a noble lineage, usually reserved for a higher noble house. The High Priestess is expected to bed a princeling under the shadow of a new moon. The Sermon, conducted by a High Priestess or her attendant, which is exactly what it sounds like and is equally as boring. Then there is the Grand Orgy, A High Priestess may be given an oracle that such must be held, and all priestesses of the Temple are called in to participate, it is typically reserved for special occasions or celebrations, such as the ascension of Ishtar to Godhood."”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled -1)
Maekaelithe
There are three principal rites. The Carnal Baptism confers the right to rule upon a noble lineage, usually for a higher house. The High Priestess beds a princeling beneath a new moon’s shadow.
Maekaelithe
The Sermon is conducted by a High Priestess or her attendant. It is precisely what it sounds like, and every bit as tedious. The Grand Orgy requires an oracle declaring that it must be held.
Maekaelithe
When called, every priestess of the temple participates. It is reserved for celebrations or extraordinary occasions, such as Ishtar’s ascension to godhood.
The explanation fills the refuge’s quiet corner with an uncomfortable clarity. Nessa reaches for a second slate, while Cassidy studies Maekaelithe’s face for any distinction between office, obligation, and willing participation.
Nessa
Then the central obligations are narrower than the register suggested, but heavier. The Carnal Baptism and princeling rite belong to the High Priestess’s office, while the Grand Orgy depends upon an oracle.
Cassidy
And for an ordinary priestess, participation in the Grand Orgy remains a choice when the oracle calls it? I want that written plainly, not left to custom or pressure.
Nessa turns toward the inner room to retrieve the temple register. The clarification is complete, but the cost is time: the refuge’s concise slate cannot settle how often communal expectation pressures a refusal.
“"You'll need to attend at least one." I say, shrugging. "Ishtar's Ascension is the one that really matters. I think I've missed the last three that have been called."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -2)
Maekaelithe
You will need to attend at least one. Ishtar’s Ascension is the one that truly matters. I think I have missed the last three that were called.
Maekaelithe gives a small shrug, making the requirement sound plain rather than coercive. The words settle beside the slate’s careful distinctions, and Cassidy studies her in silence.
Cassidy
You are telling me that attending one is necessary, not merely customary. I can accept that, provided participation still means what the temple claims it means.
Maekaelithe
Three missed Ascensions leave me with little authority to pretend this obligation is theoretical.
Nessa
Then you have persuaded her, Maekaelithe, but you have also made yourself responsible for the explanation. Cassidy will expect you beside her when the register is read.
Cassidy
I will attend one Ascension celebration. I will not promise anything beyond attendance, and I expect Maekaelithe to stand with me while the temple states every term plainly.
Nessa returns from the inner room carrying a leather-bound register. Cassidy’s acceptance is secured, but Maekaelithe now owes her presence, advocacy, and an honest accounting before the temple.
“I smile at her. "You're a supplicant travelling with me and under my protection. Of course I'll be there with you, that is one of those 'lesser responsibilities' of a Priestess." I say sitting down to eat. "And I wouldn't worry too much, it is an orgy, yes, but they are celebratory, think of it as a big party where everyone is naked and possibly having sex."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe
You are a supplicant travelling with me and under my protection. Of course I will be there. That is one of a priestess’s lesser responsibilities.
Maekaelithe smiles at Cassidy, then sits at the long table. Nessa promptly places a steaming bowl of mountain stew and dark bread before her.
Maekaelithe
I would not worry too much. It is an orgy, yes, but think of it as a large celebration where everyone is naked and possibly having sex.
Cassidy considers the blunt reassurance over the rising steam. Her shoulders ease, though one eyebrow remains lifted at the distinction between celebration and obligation.
Cassidy
That is a clearer description than most priests would offer. I can attend a celebration without consenting to every person who attends it.
Nessa
Correct. Attendance opens no one’s body, purse, or room to another person. Every invitation remains separate, and every refusal remains final.
Cassidy
Then I will attend with you when the Ascension comes. I will listen to the temple’s terms, and decide each further step for myself.
“I laugh lightly. "Guess I have to show up to the next one, then." I say teasingly. Glancing over at Liora, I watch her as she looks over the clothes. "Find anything fun over there?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +3)
Maekaelithe
I suppose I have to show up to the next one, then. Glancing at Liora, I ask, find anything fun over there?
Maekaelithe laughs lightly over her stew. Across the room, Liora turns from the clothing table with a bundle of wool, silk, and one conspicuously scarlet sash.
Liora
I found warm leggings, a green tunic, and this sash. The sash is impractical, dramatic, and apparently determined to become my favorite.
Cassidy
That sounds like the most honest garment in the house. I would like to see what you do with it.
Liora wraps the sash at her waist and tests a quick turn. It flares neatly without tangling her bow, earning an approving nod from Nessa.
Nessa
It suits a traveler who intends to be noticed on her own terms. The temple register also names the next Ascension, three weeks hence, at the mountain sanctuary.
Liora
Then we have time to prepare, ask sharper questions, and find Maekaelithe something equally dramatic. I refuse to let her attend in plain silk.
“"Plain!?" I say in mock offense. "This is the finest spider silk in the lower provinces I'll have you know!" I say, pouting. "You're just looking to be pinned to a bed later tonight aren't you?" I tease back.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +3)
Maekaelithe
Plain!? This is the finest spider silk in the lower provinces, I'll have you know! You are merely looking to pin me to a bed later tonight, aren't you?
Maekaelithe pouts over her stew, the delicate silk catching the lamplight as though personally insulted. Liora’s eyes widen, then her mouth curves into a delighted smile.
Liora
I said dramatic, not plain. And if I wanted to pin you to a bed, Maekaelithe, I would ask whether that was welcome first.
Liora
Since you ask so boldly, yes, I might enjoy an evening where the finest spider silk is appreciated properly. But only if you keep teasing me this shamelessly.
Cassidy laughs into her cup, while Nessa hides a knowing smile behind the temple register. The exchange leaves the room warmer than the stew, and Liora’s confidence plainly wins her an audience.
Nessa
For what it is worth, the refuge keeps a private upstairs room for visiting priestesses and their guests. No charge, no assumption, and a lock that answers only from within.
Liora
Then choose your finest silk for the Ascension, Maekaelithe. I will help you make it impossible for anyone here to call you plain.
“I nod, looking to Nessa. "You are a Priestess worthy of her position, Sister. I'll be sure to speak highly of you whenever I end up back at the Scarlet Temple."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -1)
Maekaelithe
You are a priestess worthy of your position, Sister. I will speak highly of you whenever I return to the Scarlet Temple.
Maekaelithe’s praise settles over the table with quiet authority. Nessa’s guarded courtesy softens into genuine warmth, while Cassidy watches the exchange with renewed interest.
Nessa
Then I will trust your judgment, Wandering Priestess. A good word from the Scarlet Temple carries farther than most travelers realize.
Nessa
In return, I will give you the refuge’s sealed letter of standing. It names our rules, our sanctuary, and the aid we provide to any priestess who arrives under Ishtar’s protection.
Nessa opens the leather register and draws out a folded sheet marked with red wax. The seal bears no command, only the refuge sign encircled by a promise of safe passage.
Cassidy
That would let the temple judge this house by its own words, rather than by rumor. I would like to read it before we carry it onward.
Nessa
Of course. And while you read, I can explain who is expected at the Ascension, which rites are public, and where a supplicant may stand without being mistaken for a participant.
“I nod, glancing to Cassidy. "If you are so interested, you may carry it with you. It's not like I have pockets or a pack to carry such a thing."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe
If you are so interested, you may carry it with you. It is not as though I have pockets or a pack for such things.
Maekaelithe nods toward Cassidy, and Nessa passes the red-sealed letter across the table. Cassidy accepts it carefully, tucking it inside her rust-red cloak where the wax will remain unbroken.
Cassidy
I will carry it, then, and return it whenever you need it presented. I will not open the seal without your permission.
Nessa
That is suitable. The letter recognizes the refuge, not ownership of it. Any priestess may present it, and any guest may read its terms before relying on its protection.
Nessa turns the register toward Cassidy and opens it to a marked page. Ink lists the Ascension’s public rites, the sanctuary’s boundary, and a gallery reserved for observers and undecided supplicants.
Nessa
The public rites are the opening invocation, the procession, and the oracle’s declaration. Participation begins only by separate consent. Supplicants may remain in the gallery, ask questions, or leave.
Cassidy
Then I will carry the letter, read every term, and stand in the gallery until I decide whether the temple deserves anything more from me.
“I nod, looking to Nessa. "The Mountain Sanctuary the next Ascension is to be held at, what is it's name?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -2)
Maekaelithe
The Mountain Sanctuary where the next Ascension will be held, what is its name?
Nessa studies Maekaelithe over the open register. Her expression warms, but the question draws her attention to the priestess’s standing as well as the sanctuary’s name.
Nessa
It is called the Crown of Ishtar. The sanctuary stands above the snowline, built around a red-veined peak that catches the dawn before any valley below.
Nessa
The next Ascension will be held there in three weeks. The public gallery overlooks the procession court, and undecided supplicants may leave by the eastern stair at any time.
Nessa taps the refuge’s sealed letter, then turns the register toward Maekaelithe. A second entry names the refuge as a recognized wayhouse on the Crown’s pilgrim route.
Nessa
If you present our letter at the Crown, they will admit you as a wandering priestess. I ask only that you speak truthfully for this refuge if its standing is questioned.
Nessa
That is the cost of my candor, Maekaelithe: your good name becomes part of our protection. I would rather owe that risk to someone who values chosen vows.
“"I am a Priestess of Ishtar, and this is a place of refuge for her flock. You have been nothing but a good host to us, so i see no reason to call your refuge into question." I say, leaning into Liora as she joins us.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -2)
Maekaelithe
I am a Priestess of Ishtar, and this is a place of refuge for her flock. You have been nothing but a good host, so I see no reason to call your refuge into question.
Maekaelithe leans into Liora as she joins them at the table. Her words settle warmly in the refuge’s lamplight, carrying reassurance without surrendering scrutiny elsewhere.
Nessa
Then I will record the refuge as standing under your good word, Wandering Priestess. You have persuaded me that our letter will not be challenged by you at the Crown.
Nessa
But understand the cost clearly: if another priestess questions this house before the sanctuary, I will ask you to answer for the truth of what you have seen here.
Liora
That seems fair. Maekaelithe is not vouching for rumors or hidden arrangements, only for the welcome, rules, and protection we have witnessed.
Nessa
Precisely. I will add your name as an advocate, not an owner. The Crown will know your standing supports our refuge, and that makes your testimony valuable.
Nessa takes up her quill and enters the pledge beside the refuge’s seal. The record now grants Maekaelithe influence at the Crown, while binding her reputation to this house’s conduct.
✓ Quest Accepted
Leave the refuge for the Crown of Ishtar
“After spending the night with Liora and Cassidy at the Refuge, we start up the pass heading towards the Crown of Ishtar. I keep a general eye on our path, though enjoy the cool air on my skin as we travel.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Perception, rolled +0)
Morning finds the refuge behind them, its red shutters shrinking beneath the pines. Maekaelithe climbs the mountain pass bare-skinned beneath the cool sky, while Liora and Cassidy keep pace nearby.
Maekaelithe
The wind is cold, clean, and harmless. The safest trail follows the red-veined stones.
Her legendary sight reads every detail of the ascent: fresh pilgrim prints, old refuge signs, loose stones avoided by careful travelers, and a sheltered bend ahead where the path divides.
Liora
The left trail is steeper, but your eyes found the stable footing. The right one leads toward a snow shelf that looks ready to shift.
Cassidy
And there are three sets of recent prints ahead. Pilgrims, I think. If the pass is watched, I would rather meet its guardians openly.
The red-veined stones brighten beneath Maekaelithe’s passing. Far above, the Crown of Ishtar appears between jagged peaks, its dawn-lit summit marked by a thin plume of temple incense.
Liora
There it is. Three weeks sounded generous at the refuge, but the mountain has already made the sanctuary feel close enough to matter.
✓ Quest Accepted
Speak with the pilgrims ahead
Quest Complete
Leave the refuge for the Crown of Ishtar
“"Hopefully it is just pilgrims." I say wearily. "Cassidy knows this all to well, but Liora, you should be made aware." I say, watching our path ahead. "Not everyone that sets upon a pilgrimage is a priestess, supplicant, or someone yearning for out attentions. Some prey upon the paths, and seek to chain supplicants for their own desires. Keep a weapon ready, just in case." I say, heading for the safer looking path.”
SUCCESS (Great Agility, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe
Hopefully it is just pilgrims. Cassidy knows this all too well, but Liora, you should be made aware.
Maekaelithe
Not everyone on pilgrimage is a priestess, supplicant, or someone seeking our attentions. Some prey upon these paths and chain supplicants for their own desires. Keep a weapon ready, just in case.
Maekaelithe turns onto the safer-looking trail, choosing firm red-veined stones above the shifting snow shelf. Her footing remains sure as the pass narrows beneath the Crown.
Liora’s hand settles on her bow, and her gaze sharpens toward the three recent sets of prints. Cassidy watches the ridgeline rather than dismissing the warning.
Liora
I understand. I will keep the bow ready and treat every stranger as unknown until their actions prove otherwise. A pilgrim’s cloak is not a guarantee.
Cassidy
She is right to warn you. I have seen chains hidden beneath pious language, and polite escorts become handlers once the road grows lonely.
Ahead, the prints leave the main ascent and gather beside a weathered shrine. A folded white cloth hangs from its stones, while fresh boot marks circle the shrine without entering.
“As a priestess, would I understand the meaning of the white cloth at the shrine?”
YES (Likely, rolled 21)
The white cloth is a refuge sign, not a prayer flag. In Ishtar’s mountain tradition, it marks a shrine where travelers may declare themselves under sanctuary before approaching the house or temple.
Its placement matters: folded over the shrine stones means the refuge is open, while the boot marks circling it show that someone recently announced their presence without claiming the sanctuary.
Liora
So the cloth promises protection, but only after a traveler presents themselves plainly. It is an invitation to speak, not permission to cross every boundary.
Cassidy
And whoever left it knew the custom. The question is whether they came seeking shelter, warning others, or trying to make the shrine look occupied.
The cloth bears a second, subtler fold recognized by temple training: one corner turned inward signals that the travelers nearby are uncertain or divided, and should be approached without sudden demands.
Liora
Then we should announce ourselves before we reach the shrine. If someone there is frightened, the sign says they deserve a chance to answer freely.
Cassidy
That suits Ishtar better than creeping closer. Let them decide whether they want company, aid, or simply a clear road past us.
“I nod. "Sound reasoning, both of you. But the circling tracks do not step inside, keep an eye on our surroundings, someone did not wish to risk the ire of Ishtar." I say, moving forward, as I reach the shrine, I call out. "I am Maekaelithe, Priestess of Ishtar, you are met with safety, speak and I will hear you."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe
Sound reasoning, both of you. The circling tracks do not enter. Keep watch. Whoever came here did not wish to risk Ishtar’s ire.
Maekaelithe advances to the shrine with measured steps, scanning the ridgeline and the untouched snow beyond the circling tracks. The folded cloth stirs in the mountain wind.
Maekaelithe
I am Maekaelithe, Priestess of Ishtar. You are met with safety. Speak, and I will hear you.
Silence holds for a breath, then two travelers emerge from behind a black standing stone. One is a broad young adult woman with dark braided hair, a blue wool mantle, and an axe lowered at her side. Beside her stands an elderly elf man, slight and white-haired, wrapped in layered gray robes.
Liora
Your name carries temple authority, and your terms are plainly spoken. We accept the sanctuary. No weapon will rise unless danger rises first.
Othmar
We came seeking the refuge below the Crown, but found the path watched. The watchers did not claim the shrine, and would not answer us.
Liora keeps her bow ready without drawing, while Cassidy studies the circling tracks. The young woman steps onto the white cloth, and the shrine-stones kindle with a faint red glow.
✓ Quest Accepted
Ensure the pilgrims reach the refuge safely
Quest Complete
Speak with the pilgrims ahead
Attribute Upgrade: Agility Great→Superb
“"We are travelling to the Crown, if you are wary, there is safety in numbers. It could simply be the War Dogs watching the path up to the Crown, but this time of year, one can never know. Come along with us, and I'll hear your story as we travel."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe
We are travelling to the Crown. If you are wary, there is safety in numbers. Come with us, and I will hear your story as we travel.
The young woman studies Maekaelithe, then the elderly elf man. The shrine’s red glow steadies beneath their feet as the mountain wind carries distant bells from the Crown.
Liora
Then we will come. I am Rava, and this is Othmar. We have no wish to test the path alone while unknown watchers circle the sanctuary.
Othmar
I am Othmar, an old boundary scholar. Rava brought me from the eastern valleys after my records drew attention from men who wanted the routes, not the pilgrims.
Rava steps off the sanctuary cloth and falls into the traveling party’s pace, keeping her axe lowered. Othmar follows carefully, his gray robes brushing the snow crust.
Liora
The watchers wore no temple colors. They kept the Crown road under observation and drove away anyone who approached without a recognized sign.
Othmar
If they are War Dogs, they have abandoned proper custom. If they are not, then the Crown should hear that strangers are policing its pilgrim road.
“"If I do not have them take a 'scenic walk', to the bottom of the ravine." I say with a pained look. "I really do hate slavers." I say, nodding. "So what brings you to the crown? You two are certainly a strange mix. Rava, you look like someone wanting to join us possible, I see the figure under the cloak, but you... " I look to Othmar. "... I thought Elves had a long standing hatred of Ishtar."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled +1)
Maekaelithe
If I can avoid it, I would rather not give those watchers a scenic walk to the bottom of the ravine. I truly hate slavers.
Maekaelithe nods toward the circling tracks with a pained look, then turns her attention back to the two travelers. Rava’s grip loosens on her axe.
Maekaelithe
So what brings you to the Crown? You two are certainly a strange mix. Rava, you look like someone who might join us. But Othmar, I thought elves had a longstanding hatred of Ishtar.
Rava
You read me fairly. I am considering the temple, or at least the company gathered beneath its protection. I brought Othmar because the Crown may shelter his knowledge, not because I have decided my own future.
Othmar
Many elves do hate Ishtar, especially those who remember her temples as places where nobles purchased influence through appetite. I remember those abuses. Hatred of corruption is not hatred of every choice made beneath her name.
Othmar
I come to the Crown because its oldest boundary records may prove the eastern routes belong to pilgrims, not the men trying to seize them. If Ishtar’s sanctuary protects free passage, I will accept its aid without pretending to share every doctrine.
Rava
And if the temple truly protects choice, I may join you. I will judge that by how it treats Othmar, my questions, and my right to leave.
“I laugh. "Oh, we don't have any issue with Elves. Honestly, this is my second time meeting one, the other is my own Head Priestess, if that tells you anything." I glance at Othmar. "How old do you have to be to look like an old elf? Celena has to be what, seven hundred years old and she doesn't look anywhere past twenty... "”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled -1)
Maekaelithe
Oh, we have no issue with elves. This is only my second time meeting one, and the other is my own Head Priestess. If that tells you anything, Celena is seven hundred years old and still looks barely twenty. How old must you be to look like an old elf?
Maekaelithe laughs lightly, and the question eases the guarded air. Othmar studies her with dry amusement, though the party loses several minutes as he considers which elven measure will make sense to outsiders.
Othmar
Old enough that human calendars become unhelpful. I have lived three hundred and twelve years, though among my people I am not yet considered venerable.
Othmar
Celena’s appearance tells you little. Elves mature quickly, then change slowly for centuries. Some remain youthful until illness, magic, or age finally alters them.
Rava
Othmar is old enough to remember treaties my grandparents only heard in songs. He is also stubborn enough to argue with anyone who mistakes youth for ignorance.
Othmar
As for your reassurance, Maekaelithe, I accept it. Your Head Priestess may be an exception, but your welcome is evidence enough that I need not defend my people here.
Rava
She asks directly, laughs at her own uncertainty, and does not pretend to know what she does not. That is a promising way to lead.
“I nod slightly. "That confuses me even more, but it's fine, I'll not pry." I say, sauntering back between Cassidy and Liora. "All the same, we should get moving. One way or another, I'd not like to cross paths with these 'watchers' of yours."”
SUCCESS (Superb Agility, rolled -2)
Maekaelithe
That confuses me even more, but it is fine. I will not pry. All the same, we should get moving. I would rather not cross paths with these watchers.
Maekaelithe nods, then saunters back between Cassidy and Liora. She leads the party off the watched road, choosing a narrow shelf beneath the standing stones and keeping the Crown’s bells ahead.
The route demands quick footing. Maekaelithe slips across a tilted slab and catches herself against the rock, scraping her palm, but the party passes below the watchers’ circling line unseen.
Liora
Your hand is bleeding, but your route worked. I saw movement above us, and none of them saw the party leave the road.
Cassidy
Then the watchers guard the obvious path, not the mountain itself. That tells us they rely on control and reputation more than numbers.
Rava
You have my thanks. I know a lower traverse from here, one used by shrine keepers. It will bring us beneath the Crown without passing their overlook.
Othmar
And from that traverse, I can identify whether their signs are lawful. Let us reach the sanctuary before those watchers realize the road has carried travelers past them.
“I nod slightly. "I'll be fine, we can dress it at the Crown." This would be a nice time to have Alric around. His faith aside, I'd be sure to bet on their lot having some form of healing magic."”
Maekaelithe
I will be fine. We can dress it at the Crown. This would be a nice time to have Alric around. Faith aside, I would bet the shrine keepers know some form of healing magic.
Maekaelithe nods slightly and keeps moving, holding her scraped palm clear of the rock. The narrow traverse descends beneath the watchers’ overlook toward the Crown’s lower sanctuary.
Rava
The shrine keepers do. Their healing is modest, but they clean wounds, close torn skin, and ease the pain without asking which god you praise.
Othmar
I have seen their art used on frostbite, broken fingers, and worse road injuries. It is old boundary magic, strengthened by hospitality rather than devotion.
Below, a red-roofed wayhouse appears between the stones. A carved refuge sign hangs above its door, and blue smoke rises from a chimney into the clear mountain air.
Liora
Then the Crown can tend your hand, and we can ask about the watchers without approaching them first. That sounds like a better use of the afternoon.
Cassidy
Agreed. We arrive as travelers under sanctuary, not as trespassers challenging a guarded road. Let the keepers tell us what they know.
“I nod, looking at the wayhouse. "I don't remember Nessa mentioning a wayhouse... " I say, my brow furrowing.”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled +0)
Maekaelithe
I do not remember Nessa mentioning a wayhouse.
Maekaelithe studies the red roof and carved sign. The markings identify this as a Crown wayhouse, separate from Nessa’s refuge, maintained for pilgrims approaching the mountain sanctuary from the lower paths.
Rava
Nessa may not have named it because this house answers to the Crown directly. Refuge keepers share routes, but they do not always advertise every sanctuary.
Othmar
Its sign is older than the refuge below. This was once a boundary station, where travelers declared themselves before climbing into the temple’s jurisdiction.
As the party reaches the wayhouse, its door opens. A middle-aged woman with copper-brown skin, a sturdy build, black hair braided with blue thread, and a blue wool mantle steps onto the threshold.
The Wayhouse Keeper
Travelers under the Crown’s road, welcome. Enter if you seek shelter, healing, or a lawful hearing. The watchers above have no authority here.
Liora
Then we have found the right door. Maekaelithe’s palm needs tending, and we need to understand who is policing the road.
“I nod. "Before that, who are they? if they are not Ishtar's war dogs, then they pose a threat to the ceremony."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Persuasion, rolled -1)
Maekaelithe
Before that, who are they? If they are not Ishtar’s war dogs, then they pose a threat to the ceremony.
The wayhouse keeper studies Maekaelithe’s face, hears the urgency beneath her courtesy, and opens the door wider. Blue-threaded braids shift as she gestures everyone inside.
The Wayhouse Keeper
They are the Ashen Chain, former road wardens who abandoned the Crown’s law. Their leader is Veyra Holt, a disgraced captain who sells protection to frightened pilgrims.
The Wayhouse Keeper
They are not Ishtar’s war dogs. They have no temple authority, no sanctuary right, and no lawful power to question anyone entering the Crown.
Rava’s hand settles on her axe, while Othmar’s gaze fixes on the mountain road. The wayhouse keeper bolts the door behind them and lowers her voice.
The Wayhouse Keeper
Yes, they threaten the ceremony. Veyra means to stop or control the Ascension unless the temple recognizes her company as its armed guardian. The Crown will reject that claim, but only if warned before the procession.
The Wayhouse Keeper
I can send word through the shrine channels tonight. If you carry the warning upward, bring witnesses and the refuge’s sealed letter. Veyra’s men cannot lawfully bar your passage.
Warn the Crown about the Ashen Chain
Quest Complete
Ensure the pilgrims reach the refuge safely
Attribute Upgrade: Reasoning Good→Great