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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Jan 10, 2010 13:29:47 GMT -5
I stood outside Kushiel's temple, contemplating how such a simple structure could be the repository for all of the City's regrets and fears. Surely, if one wished to do penance, it would behoove them to confess it to a court of law rather than some supposed divine entity.
Strange, how I was so openly disdainful of religious matters and yet found myself contemplating a question that could only be answered by a priest.
"Why is it that they say chastisement is an act of love?" I asked aloud, as if the walls could answer me. The concept baffled me, and I was itching to debate the point with someone outside of my usual circle.
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Jan 13, 2010 22:30:26 GMT -5
I had been on one of my many jaunts to Raegan's home, my routine becoming more and more appealing to me. I had spoken with the head Priest at the Temple and spoke to him about my feelings and my conflictions. But he had been kind, reminding me that love did not go against Kushiel's will and that as long as it didn't interfer with my duties, I was free to come and go as I wished.
On this particular occasion I was met with a bit of an awkward looking man as he stood outside the temple. I say awkward because he was indeed talking to himself.
"Because it involves trust." I answered him wryly, coming to stand a few feet away from him. I bore a gentle smile as I stepped toward him. "Though I think its not so much chastisement in the strickest sense of the word. People who come to worship, or to be purged of there sins, do it because it is often necessary and brings them freedom. Chastisement suggests punishment; not all of Kushiel's work was done to punish."
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Jan 13, 2010 23:00:26 GMT -5
The sound of a man's voice in answer to my query startled me. I quickly recovered, however, and turned to face him. "Ah, but if the word does not convey the correct meaning, one may wonder why is it used at all." I was used to debate, some men and women of my acquaintance did nothing but squabble with each other over what they could not see. "And I would hardly trust one who would so readily cause me some injury," I continued. "Nor would I trust someone who does not introduce themselves before scaring me witless."
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Jan 14, 2010 16:31:02 GMT -5
I looked at him for a moment, taking in his demeanor and stance then chuckled as I shook my head gently. "Then perhaps you have a bit more to worry about then whether chatisement is the correct word or not for what the Priests of Kushiel do." I commented wryly.
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Jan 15, 2010 1:06:48 GMT -5
"Hmph," I looked away from him, turning my attention towards the building again as if I would suddenly open up and lay bare all its secrets for my scrutiny.
"I am a scholar," I said, somewhat crossly. "I do not have time to spare for worrying. What I am concerned with is the truth." I was becoming increasingly certain that I would not find what I sought here. I began to wonder if perhaps it would have been more prudent of me to seek out a fellow academic.
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Jan 16, 2010 17:00:48 GMT -5
Obviously not one for teasing I resigned myself to a more serious expression. "What sort of truth do you seek?" I asked curiously.
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Jan 16, 2010 17:41:01 GMT -5
I paused to consider his question. "I suppose that all depends on how one defines truth," I replied. I could not very well tell this complete stranger that I did not think the edifices before me served any purpose besides serving as monuments to D'Angeline arrogance.
"From whence do we come, and where are we going?" I asked, a strange singsong quality to my words. "One might as well also ask why the gods would concern themselves with mere mortals?" I shrugged. "I think, even if I did find the answers to these questions, I would still not find the whole truth, only pieces of it."
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Jan 17, 2010 0:37:30 GMT -5
I listened to him and nodded, thinking on what he was saying. "May be it doesn't matter though," I posed as I looked to him. "Perhaps its not where are we going and where did we come from, but simply being present in the moment." I shrugged softly.
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Jan 17, 2010 12:37:47 GMT -5
"Perhaps," I conceded. "But is it not also true that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it?" I scratched my chin. "At the very least, the past influences the present, does it not?"
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Jan 19, 2010 22:44:24 GMT -5
"Perhaps." I echoed his own reply and looked at him for a moment. "I suppose that begs the question though, what does the past have to do with truth?" He seemed a troubled fellow, but over what I couldn't accertain.
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Jan 19, 2010 22:55:10 GMT -5
I cocked my head to the side and closed my eyes. "Perhaps nothing, but it is a good thing to keep in mind." I sighed, there were things I wanted to say that I could not say to anyone.
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Jan 21, 2010 18:52:28 GMT -5
"Ah." I replied simply as I looked at him. "Its Darien by the way, Darien no Lothaire." I then offered up a polite but genuine smile. "So, what is it that you really seek here, simply why it is that chastisement is an act of love?"
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Jan 21, 2010 19:57:46 GMT -5
"I suppose that is why I am here," I replied. "Did you imagine that I was here to confess my sins, priest?" For surely only a priest would be so knowledgeable regarding the ways of Kushiel.
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Jan 24, 2010 16:41:50 GMT -5
I chuckled softly. "No." I said as I looked at him "Those who come to his temple don't come for my pleasure. I am here to serve the Lord Kushiel; that comes in all forms."
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Jan 25, 2010 14:54:53 GMT -5
I nodded. "Of course, how silly of me to assume otherwise..." I should have known better, but I was not the praying type. "I appreciate your sparing a few moments to speak to me, but I am not keeping you from your duties, am I?"
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Jan 25, 2010 21:12:36 GMT -5
I shook my head. "Speaking with the people of Terre d'Ange, helping those in need; those are my duties. You keep me from nothing." I said with a a gentle smile. "Would you care to walk a bit, perhaps you might be able to find some clarity with the simple act of conversation."
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Jan 25, 2010 21:45:57 GMT -5
"I expect it will take many walks before I attain the level of clarity I require," I replied. "But physical activity is beneficial to the body the way intelligent conversation is beneficial to the mind, so I see no harm in your suggestion." I nodded in the direction of the temple itself. "Perhaps a tour of the temple grounds? Well, within reason, of course..."
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Jan 27, 2010 16:10:15 GMT -5
I gave a gentle smile at his first comment; only a humble man would speak such a thing. As he continued to speak I could see that thread in which he was a scholarly man. "Oh yes, within reason." I said with a bit of a grin. "This way then." I added and began to walk forward, hands clasped behind my back as I did.
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Feb 3, 2010 15:13:26 GMT -5
I fell into step beside him, opening my senses to the portion of the grounds that I could see. Any other person would not be at fault for thinking that the grounds were quiet, somber, even, but I had been trained with a scholar's eye for detail. I noticed how the small animals which ran hither and tither always seemed to avoid a particular patch of ground, perhaps home to a poisonous plant or viper's nest. If I listened very carefully I could hear the sound of an acolyte drawing water from a well.
I shifted the focus of my awareness back to my human companion. "My apologies, I have a scholar's senses and I cannot help but use them to examine unfamiliar environments," I explained. "My mother once told me that the priests of Kushiel grew a garden of hemlock and nightshade which they put to use on naughty boys who had a habit of disobeying their parents."
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Feb 3, 2010 17:39:21 GMT -5
I listened to him as he spoke then chuckled as we walked. "Well I'm not sure about the naughty disobeying boys part of that equation," I replied with a gentle smile. "But generally speaking all the temples grow herbs of different varieties for different uses." I shrugged a little. "Some times we even grow the same items; herbs to treat wounds, to make balms. Often times we communicate with the Priests and Priestesses of Eisheth's temple."
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Feb 3, 2010 19:14:35 GMT -5
I nodded. "My mother was a priestess of Shemhazai. The temple in Siovale is not known for its herbal tinctures, but I'd wager the concoctions she made me swallow on an almost daily basis were acquired from some temple or another." I cringed at the memory of having to swallow the brews, each one more horrible than the next.
I glanced sidelong at him. It was difficult to picture him clad in the black robes and bronze mask of a priest. "You will perhaps forgive me for saying such a foolish thing, but I cannot for the life of me picture one such as yourself in a bronze mask wielding a flogger," I admitted. "I suppose I expected a priest of Kushiel to be a little more...ominous..."
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Feb 7, 2010 21:04:47 GMT -5
I chuckled softly. "We're not Mandrakes." I teased, ironic though it was that once upon a time I was a Mandrake. "Priest and Priestess's are not here to punish for our own desires, we serve our Lord Kushiel, we act as his hand since he can not." I shrugged but smiled at him. "We're not supposed to be ominous or scary, our duites are no different then one of say... your mother."
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Feb 7, 2010 21:26:40 GMT -5
"Touche," I said, nodding to myself. "It appears that Kushiel has very capable hands, then."
I gazed up at the sky, stroking my chin. "Tell me, in your expert opinion, is there any sin that is unforgivable?"
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Feb 7, 2010 22:01:48 GMT -5
"No," I replied without any hesitation. "In Kushiel's eyes, as long as you confess and are purged, there is nothing that cannot be forgiven." I looked at him curiously, wondering if the question was general or personal.
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Feb 7, 2010 22:29:15 GMT -5
I frowned. "An interesting response, but suppose a man has committed murder and seeks absolution at the temple. Is he then turned over to the proper authorities to be tried or would the temple prevent the victim's family from seeing that the offender was brought to justice?" I shrugged. "'Tis a mere curiosity, I do not think I could live with myself if I knew my hands had killed."
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Feb 9, 2010 17:18:57 GMT -5
"Hmm," I thought about his question for a moment before replying. "I suppose that would depend on the manner of the crime. Was it an accident versus some one that is truly disturbed?" I answered. "Justice must always be given, but some times it is only for Kushiel to decide such a thing when that person meets the after life." I shrugged a little. "I've never heard about some one who as commited murder coming to the temple for absolution. Its possible it has happened, but I have never known a case that was presented to the Crown."
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Feb 10, 2010 17:00:27 GMT -5
I shrugged. "Sometimes the most pious of men are capable of great evil, or so it would seem if one studies the historical accounts of various nations. But it was merely an example, I should hope you would never have to make such a decision."
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Feb 13, 2010 18:04:06 GMT -5
"Are you suggesting I'm evil?" I asked with a teasing smile as we walked.
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Post by Léandre de Guivre on Feb 13, 2010 19:16:09 GMT -5
"Certainly not," I replied. "But if I ever hear that a priest of Kushiel has suddenly succumbed to madness and taken an axe to the necks of some unfortunate temple-goers, I will have to pay a visit to Kushiel's temple to tell everyone that I told them so." Was that a jest? I was under the impression that I had lost my sense of humor almost twenty years ago.
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