Calypso inclines her head towards Bianca when she spots the Archlector among those gathered.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Bianca before departing.



The large knight eases his massive frame down onto the pews next to Waldemai. A bright smile being flashed to the other man as Sir Jeffeth Bayweather goes about trying to manage his large arms as to not intrude on anyone's space. As the choir sings Jeffeth straightens somewhat at attention, his eyes shooting to the front of the cathedral.

6 Thrax Guards arrives, following Abbas.

As the choir is chanting their somber words, a black robed figure wearing a priest's white stole over his shoulders enters swinging a black pewter thurible that sends tendrils of blue gray incense which snake and entwine through the pews. As he reaches the high pulpit, Driskell hands the smoking thurible to an assistant before he drops to a knee in a prayer and then stands up.

The gloved hands rise of Driskell, "Gods above, may you see that those gathered have open hearts to receive your words. May you bless those who protect the Faith and the faithful who live their lives according to your words. May we find strength in our weaknesses, and see each other not as strangers, but brothers and sisters in the family of humanity."

The gold eyes look down to those gathered in the pews below. "Faithful, let me speak a few truths which we know. The Pantheon are our aspirational ideals and their reflections the most basest of our unchecked desires. The world around us reflect the choices we have made, and reflect the status of our hearts inside each of us. Today, we come together to learn how dangerous our emotions can be, how they can enslave us just as they can free and strengthen us. Step back in time with me."


Orland, The Tiniest Donkey arrive, following Duarte.

The Tiniest Donkey have been dismissed.

Cambria, upon entering the Great Cathedral, finds a place amongst the noble pews. A space is saved to one side of her, no doubt in expectation of a relation to join her.

When he arrives, Valdemar looks about the Cathedral with a mildly curious expression, as if perhaps it is the first time he has been here. Soon, however, he makes his way to the noble pews to find a seat, inclining his head in silent greeting to Vanora and Calypso as he does so. He eventually ends up sitting near them, shifting slightly as he tries to get comfortable on the bench.

Merek moves into the Cathedral, and takes his time to move towards the back of the room at a quiet alcove. He listens, his cloak wrapped about his form in its dark hues, along with hood up, smouldering amber gaze curious as he rubs at his full beard a small bit.

Duarte shoos away a tailing donkey that tries to follow him in. Upon success, he straightens his coat and slips into seating near the back.

Duarte has joined the Commoner Pews.

Tabard of Gild, shiny armor, double blades at his side. That's Daemon, the Knight of Solace coming to offer his reverence to the church as he moves through the aisles. With quiet nods and some nice words to those who he passes by, he eventually settles into the noble pews. Small waves are given in particular to Bianca, Alarissa and Cambria. The Marquessa being who he ends up settling beside!

Bianca didn't even see Daemon in all his blinding bling! A bow of her head was returned to him, though the sermon started so quiet time!

There's a dip of Alarissa's head to those who lift fingers or wave, dip thier own heads. But Alarissa remains quietly seated in that side alcove.

Wynna has joined the Commoner Pews.

Rinel rushes in, her cloak billowing madly behind her, face flushed from what has quite obviously been a near-frantic run. She slips quietly through the crowd to sit beside Wynna.

Rinel has joined the Commoner Pews.

As Driskell speaks, there is a young child dressed in a white plain robe that holds up a white banner with the gold symbol of King Alar and the Reckoning, which no doubt has similarities to the mural within the cathedral itself.

"A thousand and more years ago a king was visited by each of the gods who pleaded with him to listen to their words, but the king was proud and mighty and he refused to bend his will, for a king has the power of death and life, his voice speaks for hundreds of thousands and his will determines the direction of where his people will move. The Thirteenth came to him and showed him the Reckoning and what might be, and filled the heart of the king with dread; the king shattered his pride and fear and sought an alliance with each of the high lords and putting aside bigotries, allies beyond and formed the Compact. It was he who created with the Compact and their allies the beautiful city in which we all live in currently, and to protect and fight against that terrible darkness, that beast of midnight, which through the sacrifice of Lord Golden and so many others, the Compact was able to prevent the world from being sundered and lost to evil."

Driskell pauses a moment, looking at them all. "The king's pride would have been the downfall of all the world, but humility he accepted and through mastering his passions, he led the forces to protect the world. To King Alar, we should thank for his life and death, that we are able to learn how the highest of humanity has weaknesses, but through the gods, we can all become stronger and better than what we are if we but look to them."

The light sound of bells chiming thirteen times can be heard from somewhere that echo in the cathedral.




As Daemon steps in, Jeffeth Bayweather perks up, eyes flashing to the other man in the tabard of the Gild. His gaze tracks the other Knight's progress through the Cathedral. Watching the other Knight of Solace settle down in the noble pews his shoulders relax some, breath expelling. His eyes dance to the sermon before something is said in the pews near him, drawing a sharp glance from the large Knight. However then, he looks back to Driskell.

Behtuk has joined the Commoner Pews.

5 Thrax Guards, Bastian, the Reformed Rogue arrive, following Cassima.

Abbas arrives and gets settled, The infamous Thraxian finds his seat and begins to listen to the sermon.

Abbas has joined the Noble Pews.

Grady steps into the Cathedral, looking around with his hands tucked into his beltloops, calm and casual as he takes in the sights of the Great Cathedral. He's clearly unfamiliar here, as he takes a long moment to look curiously around at who is sitting where before starting to slide into a pew to listen.

Grady has joined the Noble Pews.

Duarte looks to have his head bowed in constant reverence...

The look that could be described on Vano's face would be likely best considered 'dubious'. The new lord of what was formerly clan Rivenshari has stepped inside just enough to be considered 'inside'. For the moment, he kind of hangs in the back near the door, looking the whole interior of the cathedral while listening to this whole matter of other gods an whatnot.


Better late than never, right? Cassima is, she would be embarrassed to say, late. Scurrying in, flushed from the hurry, she's quick to hand off her cloak of black fur to one of the servants by the door. Still seeing people mulling around, she realizes that, just perhaps, she's not as late as she thought. Good. Taking a moment to touch up her wild black curls, pinned up and out of the way, the Thraxian woman - dressed sharply in a shiny brocade hunter green dress, pressed with a pattern of vines, and an underskirt of gold - recovers her composure and moves to find a seat.


Cassima has joined the Side Alcove.

The Sword of Southport might have been tantalized into attendance of the sermon by the provocative title advertised, but as Costas slips quietly through the back of the cathedral his stormblue gaze wanders idly over the crowd while the speaker launches into historical context. Finally finding stillness in holding up the wall just aside from an alcove he perches an idle hand comfortably atop the pommel of a slender longsword strapped to his hip as he leans rakishly aside.

Another young child comes up dressed in a white plain robe and holds a white banner with the gold symbol of Queen Alarice and the Great Elven War, standing next to the first child.

"Five hundred and more years ago a queen brought together a fragile alliance that was in tatters as doubt and betrayal swirled all around. It was she who stood up against treachery from within and without. A queen that saw her king executed and while she could have desired to have her heart go cold with hate and grief, she instead turned her rage and anger into seeking justice for not just her, but that no one within the Compact should feel unsafe and uncared for. How often has someone hurt us, or those we care for and all we have is that red bloodlust wash over our sights or minds? How easy it feels to make them hurt as much or if not more than how we feel?Think upon the queen and her choices." says Driskell, pausing a moment to again let the gold eyes look at the faces gathered.

"While it is easy to decide to slip to war and let your anger fly free and unrestrained in rage and hurt, it is by far harder to decide that war waged will have limits and that one should look towards the future peace and plan for it even when surrounded by forces which desire to choke you out. To Queen Alarice, we should thank for her life and death, that we are able to learn how the highest of humanity has weaknesses, but through the gods, we can become beacons of hope for a world clad in despair. For we can use our emotions if we restrain and keep them in check rather than letting them take over our lives."

Again, the light sound of bells chiming thirteen times can be heard echoing from somewhere.


Scribble, a Delicate Social Butterfly arrives, following Delilah.

Delilah has joined the Commoner Pews.

Merek looks up and nods at something, while he continues to listen then towards the sermon with his attention all on it. For a reason or another, he seems to be contented by listening the words, as he relaxes.

Calypso makes a sort of thoughtful sound as she sits at the bench. Something about this particular story raises a bit of contemplation in the General's mind it would seem. Her attention remains rapt with the sermon at hand.

Elizabetta, a lissome lady-in-waiting, a sleek white and brown spotted corgi, 1 Grayson Guardsmen arrive, following Sabella.

Garibaldi, the Lycene swordbearer, Sabella arrive, following Theron.

Duarte coughs once.

Jordal, a bodyguard arrives, following Isabeau.


Cassima, once settled in the alcove nearest Alarissa, watches the sermon ... for the most part. From the movements of her head and the sweeping of her rich, green eyes, it's clear that she's curious as to the attendance and their responses, as much as the words spoken.


Sabella has joined the Noble Pews.

Isabeau has joined the Noble Pews.

Theron has joined the Noble Pews.

Theron and Sabella make a quick beeline for the noble pews, with the Sword of Ostria opting to sit beside his cousin, the Marquessa.

Vano folds his arms across his chest, not exactly dismissive of what's being said, just perhaps never really heard anything like this for an explanation before. It's different, there's that much.

Cambria, seated beside Sir Daemon, now finds herself joined by the Sword of Ostria, as well as a Princess of Grayson! She gives each of them a welcoming nod.

Another child comes up dressed in a white plain robe and holds up a black banner with the silver symbol of house Marin with the encircling waves of a maelstrom.

Driskell looks to the third child's banner and says, "A thousand years ago, king Koraj Marin who was the last high lord of house Marin lived. His fleet was the largest ever seen, and will ever be seen, as his ships outnumbered the isles that was his domain. King Alar and the Compact petitioned the Marin king to retreat and bring his people and forces to Arx, the beloved jewel of the world, to make a last stand against the dark forces that scoured the lands and the great beast of midnight swallowed the world wherever it went. But the Marin king refused, for no man under the gods commanded such a force as his, he said. His heart was cold, frozen and not open to receive the words of the gods. His soul was already enchained by the dark passion of pride and he allowed it to fully envelope his being. For who could stand against him? Did he not take what he desired to take without fear of consequence? Did he not have strength and power born out of his own hand, he said?"

"Ignoring the wisdom of the Compact, his choice was to not help his fellow souls and not share in the glory but instead to take full on the forces that were moving against the Compact by sea. The king had a duty to protect his people, that they've given their loyalty to him, they're lives, their sweat and labor, their hopes for the future...and he had a duty to ensure they were protected and safe to fulfill their lives to their fullest. He turned his heart and mind away from those duties as his emotions took control, he became a thrall to his own heart. As he sought only more power, instead of fighting against the horde that approached, he dared to bend his knee to the Beast in the Depths. But he had already bent the knee, for no king puts his own desires and selfish gains ahead of the people he leads. He was judged, cursed and banished to a watery prison. Let us think and reflect on this cursed man, this fiend that was a slave to his dark emotions and rejected the guidance of the gods and their chosen. Let us reflect on choices, dear faithful. Choices made recently which reflect the hearts of us all, how we leap to conclusions that our fellow brother and sister of humanity are prideful, greedy...that they embody the worst while we judge not ourselves. But who are we to judge another soul? We are not the Sentinel, we are no god. Humanity is a frail light that is lit in the dark, it glows though so brightly and can accomplish so much ....terrible and good...in the short time that humanity lives. Take care on your choices lest you become a prisoner to them like the fallen king Marin. Pity him that could have saved his people instead greedily sought to enslave and in his selfishness, curse them. And pray that he might find redemption and cease his continued folly, for his people's sake not his own. A king in name only, a shallow fiend by his actions and choices as his emotions chained him and his people to evil. Learn his name, learn his folly and use this as a warning to what can happen when we are servants to our basest emotions and desires instead of guiding our souls to the ideals of the gods."

There's a hollow sound of a muted bell that tolls in warning thirteen times from somewhere.

Sabella smiles at Cambria as she settles into the pew, offering Daemon a polite wave. She turns her attention to the sermon, folding her hands and resting them on her lap.

Daemon offers a nod and a short wave to each new arrival, Theron and Sabella earning smiles in kind! His attention returns to Driskell as he speaks, his fingers intertwined.

Rinel looks increasingly nervous, and each time mention of the Thirteenth is made, or a thirteenth bell rings out, the woman shivers and gestures in an ancient warding sign, her lips silently tracing age-old invocations of the Oathlands faithful.

Theron inclines his head to Cambria and Daemon, turning to pay rapt attention to the sermon, listening intently.

Isabeau arrives late, but slips into one of the noble pews quietly enough to catch perhaps some wisdom left to dispense.

Wynna watches the sermon relatively quietly, inclining her head as she processes the words.


As the sermon continues, Cassima continues to move her eyes slowly about the room. Her great interest, it seems, is in the responses from the crowd to the words that are so well-preached from the front of the room.


Percephon has joined the Commoner Pews.

Lethe pays close attention to the sermon. She says little, but her eyes look around whenever the bell rings.

Theron is paying close attention to the sermon, toying with the sword hilt of a two-handed broadsword as he does so, contemplating the priest's words. He utters a quiet Lycene prayer as the bells ring in warning, something meant for protection.

Percephon, looking pallid and quiet from his most recent winter illness, steps into the grand Cathedral. He takes pains to make his way unobtrusively to a seat, settling with an exhaled breath.

Seymour is a late arrival, attempting to muster in to find a seat quietly as he can.

Seymour has joined the Commoner Pews.

The three children stand still with their banners held up as Driskell finishes his sermon at the high pulpit. "I've mentioned that the world reflects the situation of our hearts, that within each of us are the aspirations and dreams such as honor, growth, charity, dominion and responsibility. We also have within us hatred, greed, ignorance, lies and more. When I say be the change you wish to see in the world, I mean this. Look to tend your garden that is your soul first, see where there are issues and judge yourself as you judge strangers. Look to uplift one another, not use another's misfortune for your own gain, to offer forgiveness willingly, to exercise restraint and control instead of losing yourself in the moment. Master your emotions, do not let them guide you to your folly. Master them before they master you, and learn from the good and bad choices of the past so you might become wiser for it. When an emotion pulls you to react, understand you are losing control. Never allow yourself to react without thinking and pondering the choice you're making, your choice is the strongest power you have to wield in this world and life, it will send ripples of consequences far into the future and the price may not be fully realized when you make it. Master your passions, do not be enslaved to them, do not let them be the master of you."

Driskell lifts his arms up as he prays over the faithful that are gathered. "Gods above, I ask that for those who go to fight against the incoming threat of the fiend who is enslaved by his pride and ego, I ask that you give them all strength. Let the faithful be able to turn their anger, rage and hatred into the hammer of the smith that smashes that white hot fury and molds it into a useful tool so that it strengthens their arms when their body desires to rest as they protect the weak, the young, the rail and those who look to them for leadership. I pray that the enemy of the Compact can find his heart opened to receive the guidance of the gods and stop his continued folly, that he does as a king should and put his people before his own selfishness. May through his act of redemption create a path of forgiveness and healing that the gods can grant."

"I pray that the faithful can turn their hurt, grief and sadness so it drives their hearts on as they remember all those who have fallen before them and that they remember they live on. When the faithful are at Setarco, Stormwall, Darkwater, Arx or other places fighting against the enslaved king's forces, I pray not for victory to be given to us. I pray that our forces live. I pray that they do not die in vain, and that the culmination of our choices help make the world a better place than that which we've been given. Strengthen us, let us seek wisdom and counsel and may we become the change which we desire to see in the world. May each of the faithful gathered here act as beacons of light to guide humanity, may we see each other as members of the greater family that we are a part of rather than enemies."

The choir behind lift their voices not in a somber dirge, but instead sing a hymn of praise and adoration of thanks to the Pantheon as Driskell steps down from the pulpit and moves to thank the young children helpers and the faithful that attended.

Duarte rocks back and forth, nodding his head emphatically with eyes close. "Preach it, brother! Come on!"

Vanora bows her head briefly and appears to be whispering, but it is quiet enough that even those close to her in the Noble Pews cannot hear. The reverence in her eyes implies prayer, and she remains thusly engaged as the next few minutes pass by.

Vanora is overheard praising Driskell for: As enlightening as ever, I am proud to learn from him.

Isabeau is overheard praising Driskell.

Sabella is overheard praising Driskell.

Calypso is overheard praising Driskell for: Examples of the past illuminate the paths before us. Excellent sermon.

Vano gauges the crowd's reaction to all this preaching. As for himself, he doesn't really have a lot to say on it. It's...something, he seems to express that much from the look on his face.

Bianca is overheard praising Driskell.

Percephon is overheard praising Driskell.