AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

Late at night, when only Dima and perhaps a few other patrons, behind closed doors, lurk with in the new temple of love, a strange event takes place. A ghostly figure, dressed in tight dark clothing, uses darkness, which engulfs the center of the main room for a number of moments. As it subsides, it reveals that the person is gone and a gruesome sight is left in its place. On the Western side, blood is splattered on the floor, forming words that read:

//
Cutting ecstasy
Deep, into skin
Red pearls flowing
Seep, from within

Comforting feeling,
Enjoying flesh tear
True pleasure,
For those who dare
//

Off to the Eastern side, the blood splatter reads:

//
True knowledge to ascertain,
Real pleasure is found in pain
And only through this domain,
Will you pertain
And find the Maiden of Pain
//

Nothing more is left in the persons wake.

// This was done in game and is DM approved.

At that hour, the Temple is typically occupied only by a few south Cordor girls relaxing after a hard day's night and the occasional drunken and dissolute ex-noble or footpad. Though many of these folk would be no strangers to violence of one sort or another (and may even enjoy certain practices related to the Maiden of Pain), the sudden appearance of the darkness and the use of blood as a writing material would likely discomfit them enough to cause most of them to end their sojourn early and rapidly.

Depending who is on duty (Dima, a bored hired watchman, a passing guard checking on the sudden exodus from the Temple), the writing would be recorded and washed from the walls within a few hours at most and the information communicated to Xaviera the following morning.

Upon hearing of the occurrence, the High Priestess sighs deeply, leaning on her desk and closing her eyes, resting her face in her hands in sadness. Only hours before, the Temple had been blessed by the presence of Sharess herself - is this the start of some sort of conflict, she wonders? She immediately sets out to bless the entire Temple using incense, holy wine and water, and fervent prayers.

A few days later, a small gilt-edged and framed placard is attached to one of the walls where the bloody letters were scrawled. It reads as follows:

Quote:

Life brings pleasure and brings pain
First one, the next, then back again
That both can teach is no surprise
But too much hurt brings your demise
And though the flame-forged blade is stronger
It weakens if you hammer longer
We do not grow through pain and strife
They are the enemies of life
So if you must raise one above
Best choose the path that leads to Love.

Many days and many nights elapse and nothing more occurs. Perhaps it was simply a message this person felt compelled to express. Or, perhaps not. The good thing is that all is calm.

For now.

[Temple of Love] A Gruesome Scene

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