ꙮ The stoa in front of the Temple. There’s a small tide of people leaving the Temple, stopping for a bite to eat from one of the carts and stalls lining either side before they’re properly under the Sun’s light again. But you two are heading towards the Temple, aren’t you?
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#saint
#hunter
#yazhn ravhi
certainly was not about to let Salme go dig around in their grave yard unsupervised after those last few messages, so temple bound it is indeed.
ꙮ A reasonable precaution, to be sure.
probably doesn’t actually need supervision because she isn’t actually an idiot, but she’ll take it. “(Thanks for coming, Aury),” she whispers under her breath.
: “Uh-huh.”
ꙮ There’s a row of carved pillars depicting some of the first events in Mu’s history - the planting of the First Field, the raising of the walls. And then beyond that, a door into a hall big enough for, it feels like, half the City’s population to walk through at once if they needed to; hallways going off in either direction, leading to other grand halls for hymns or meditation, and then one archway - deceptively small - across the grand foyer in front of you.
loops her arm through Aurelius’ and looks between the huge door and the small foyer. “Any thought on which one is the Gallery?”
pulls out his map, nods to himself, then walks in the correct annotated direction
ꙮ You think you’re going in the right direction, at least. You’ve Cartogrix’d your way around the City well enough, but the Temple’s still a bit of a mystery, but- you know you’ve been down one of the side paths, and it didn’t lead to the Gallery, so straight ahead it is.
looks up, as he’s walking down the hallway you’re about to head down past the archway, and sees you, and whatever expression was on his face softens and lightens as he sees his honored guests. “Shade and comfort, Salme, Aurelius. Are you looking for something?”
tilts her head at him a moment, considering, before she says, “Zvahr Yhjrn,” and fuck yeah she has the pronunciation down now, “suggested we might like to see the Gallery.”
inclines his head to the side, gracefully, and turns around. “Then let me lead the way, I can spare a moment.” The hallway goes on for a short while, and there’s a double-door at the end of it. “I only ask that you try to keep your voices low while in the Gallery; many come there to pay their respects to an ancestor or a friend who has gone to their Rest.”
nods. “Is there a way to find someone by name? An … index, perhaps?”
ꙮ And he opens the double-doors, when they get to the end of the hallway - really, it was a straight shot - and holds it, for both of them. The doors open on to an absolutely massive space, one that seems so large it’s almost hard to imagine that it fits inside the core of the Temple, as large as the Temple is; internal mirror-walls and tricks of the light make it feel and seem infinite, but you know it can’t be. Row upon row upon row upon column upon column of stelae studded with little fist-sized rubies, inscriptions by each one; each stela embedded in the floor of the space in such a way that it can extend upwards towards the ceiling, possibly even indefinitely. ⁂
ꙮ Or, well, there’s a ceiling up there, as hard as it is to precisely see. You watch as someone quite a distance away extends a hand, and the stele they’re in front of slowly rises out of the ground, until they find the gem they’re looking for, and begin to pray, solemnly. In balconies lining the upper walls of the space, there’s the God only knows how many blue crystalline statues of Kin, mostly in solemn prayer; for all of them that there are, it looks like the Gallery has room for an unimaginable number more, both statues and gems.
nods, in slight surprise. “I’m afraid it may not compare to the Boundless Fathom’s, but yes, of course you can. Whose rest would you honor?”
looks at Aurelius, and then back to Yazhn Ravhi. Then shrugs. “I’m not sure if he ever made his way here, but … a man called Zosimos?”
gestures, and walks down a wide path lined with stelae on either side, motioning for the two to follow.
follows after.
does as well, because their arms are linked.
ꙮ At the heart of the Gallery is another pyramid - much smaller, not much bigger than a large room or appreciable hall itself, plated with bright gold.
does not take you there, although he pauses when it is in reach, and bows his head momentarily. He does take you to a sheet of blue crystal between two gold pylons - there are a couple of them, scattered about, you can see, this one’s the closest, and he puts his claw on it, and carefully pronounces, “Zosimos.”
ꙮ The crystal sheet shimmers, around his claw, for a moment or two - and then dims, with a soft chime.
frowns softly, and turns his head towards Salme. “Is it possible that he was an apostate?”
: “Yes.”
’s face falls, under a sudden weight.
: “If that is the case, then he would not be at his rest within the Gallery, I’m afraid. I’m sorry. Did you know him, or…?” He’s a little perplexed as to how that could be possible, but his guests had a question, and he has a duty as a Yazhn.
: “No, just someone we’re trying to track the movements and history of.”
: “Ahh, I see. And Zvahr Yhjrn could not find records of him within the Fathom, and so suggested you come to me.” He nods. “To my knowledge, there have never been any travelers like you in the history of our world. So either he was born of the City and died an apostate, or he came here and somehow evaded our Eyes’ notice.” And he snorts, softly, to give his thoughts on the likelihood of that.
: “He would have been here at the start, were he recorded at all. Though, capital-Eyes?”
looks a little amused at the idea of audible capital letters, and it lifts some of the weight that settled on him earlier. “A playful term for our Zvahr. All those of the First Cohort would certainly have been recorded in the Grasps, however, so…” He shakes his head, slightly apologetically.
nods slowly.
: “It was a longshot, really, and we aren’t sure he ever was here.” She looks up to the Kin on the balcony. “Why do Kin stay as statues, and humans turn into small rubies?”
looks up at the balconies, and then back down. “The short, unsatisfying answer is that that is how the God ordained our rest. The longer answer, which I hope will be more substantive, is that when humans go to their rest, here, they are administered the last rites; the result of the last rites being a crystal, purified of all that which rendered their body ill – usually, the Sun-Sickness – which can be kept in the Gallery until the God arrives, and can awaken them to Day Everlasting; we Kin do not receive the last rites. We… experience an awareness of our need for rest, we settle our affairs– and usually, we come here for a final meditation before we await our awakening.”
: “I’m guessing, then, when a human … goes to their rest, their body doesn’t turn to crystal, then? It takes the Last Rites to make it so?”
nods. “That is correct.”
: “Are we allowed to visit the Kin on the balconies? Our—several of our friends ended up turned to crystal in a similar way, and I was curious about. The process. I saw a drawing in one of Yhjrn’s books, but I don’t know if it’s the same up close.”
nods, solemnly. “Of course you may.” He motions towards a little gold-and-crystal cage some distance away, big enough for a few people to stand in, and this time, mercifully, it does have legible controls.
glances up briefly, before stepping into the elevator.
: “The golden pyramid in the center of the room—what is that?”
lowers his voice softly, accompanying the two to the elevator. “The Holy of Holies, where the last rites are administered.”
ꙮ There’s no visible mechanism, but there’s a little dial to tell it which balcony to go to, and when you do so, a crystal atop it glows, briefly, and it smoothly lifts up into the air and drifts up to the appropriate level. The balconies are more organised than they looked from the ground floor - neat rows of Kin, almost all of which look profoundly at peace, kneeling or standing.
peers at the statue nearest to her. Is there a name?
ꙮ There is - Vehru Ririu. The corners of the mouth are turned up in one last mischievous smile.
nods her head to Vehru Ririu then glances at Aurelius. “Does this seem anything like what happened with Solei and the others to you?”
glances at Ravhi. “Do you come here to visit anyone?”
: “Yeah.”
nods. “Often, yes. Humans whom I ministered to. Kin I was close with in my youth. I look forward to the Day when we wake again together.”
walks around the statute—the body—of Vehru Ririu, and then asks, “Are all the status placed chronologically? I’ve been trying to get a handle on your culture. It’s seems very egalitarian in some ways, but Qarina called you the … top Yazhn? Does that confer any special privileges once you go to sleep?”
lets out a small, soft sound at the mention of Qarina. “The Yazhn to the Yazhn, the teacher of the teachers. I administer most of the last rites, I lead the songs and the festivals. Although young Dyu is coming into his own rather swiftly as a teacher, I am told?” He glances at Salme, and there’s the faint hint of a smile. “But, when my rest comes, it will be here among my Kin, wherever my feet take me. The waiting-wall will tell anyone looking for me where to find me, I’m sure.”
nods. “Dyu did an excellent job teaching Archie and myself. It was greatly appreciated.” She does spare a glance at Aurelius, but only a glance. “And Qarina is a delight. She took me to have … gulab jamun. It seems the cultural exchange is going very well? You and Wolf seem to be getting on great.”
’s eyes are very big and very innocent and her voice is appropriately low.
ꙮ Did you know that a Kin’s scales can very slightly grow darker, under certain circumstances? The more you learn.
knows that now!
: “His traditions– those of your… plane, if I am not mistaken? They bear much I would learn from, while we have the chance. And he is an excellent conversationalist.”
grins brightly. “He said precisely the same thing about the quality of your conversation. Indeed, it seems like you were up very, very late together the other night,” here she pauses just long enough, meaningfully, “talking.” ⁂
rolls his eyes, for those not present to do so themself.
ꙮ Did you know that a Kin’s scales can get even darker than that? His expression stays calculatedly neutral, though. But there’s a faintly amused glint in his eye, because of course Qarina and this girl are getting along well. Of course.
: “And, yes. Wolf and I are from the same plane, that of Almachadta. Indeed, he is the brother of my heart, if we do not share a bond of blood. He is a good man. One of the best I’ve ever met. I am certain you already appreciate that, but I hope you continue to do so.” 🙧
makes a note to herself to bite Aurelius as soon as they’re out of the Gallery.
does give Salme an appraising, and– not proud, because that would be patronising and it’s not his place, but something faintly clicks into place about the conversation, for him, and he lets out a soft puff of breath from his nose. “He is, and I very much look forward to our next meeting,” –and something about his tone says that he has not had things to ‘look forward’ to in long enough that it’s a novelty. “Can I help you with anything else about which you’re curious?”
: “What is the name of your God, anyway?”
does not raise her eyebrows, but. But she does consider doing so.
takes the question in stride. “The God’s name is the God. Much like the City’s name is the City. Had we more than the one, I’m sure things would be more complicated.”
looks up and to the left, then back. “Okay.”
shrugs and then asks, “I’m guessing random outsiders aren’t allowed in your sacred pyramid. That’d be my last question, I think. Pretty sure I know the answer though.”
nods, carefully. “The Holy of Holies is only open to the Yazhn of Yazhn and that Yazhn which accompanies him, and only when the last rites are being administered, yes.”
: “Kind of you to treat a nosy question I had no business asking with dignity, but I do suppose that’s your job.” She nods. “Thank you for your time, Yazhn Ravhi.”
absolutely deadpans, “We’re in the Gallery, you are honored guests, and I am the Yazhn of Yazhn. I shall conduct all of my business with dignity.” And he bows, solemnly, to her, and when he rises there’s the corner-twist of a smile. “Thank you for your curiosity, Salme, Aurelius. It was an honor to show you our place of rest.”
bobs a small little curtsy, and when he’s out of earshot she does murmur, “He reminds me of Wolf. Not. When we met him in the Architect’s Sanctuary, but before. When he and I first headed into the Tangle at the Palimpsest-King’s request.”
: “Obvious not when we met him in the Sanctuary.”
: “Also Zosimos is their ‘god’ here.”
: “That’s my working theory too, yeah.” She looks at him, and goes back and loops her arm in his. “What makes you so sure though?”
: “Important figure at the beginning of known history that sets the tone and pacing of everything to come after, having sacrificed himself for that same thing as well.” He makes check marks in the air.
: “Might’ve split into different aspects with the world, but he’s the same person at his core.”
looks at him and nods. “Qarina’s brother—her shade—recognized the Architect, you know. When I showed him to her via methexis. I think. I think he might have been here since the very beginning. I think all of the shades might’ve. I’ve been going back and forth on if the Architect and Zosimos might be the same person, but I’m thinking it’s increasingly likely.”
: “Mmhm.”
forces out a slow, intentional breath. “Okay. Well. I don’t think we’ll have much luck finding the previous head Yazhn without a name to go off of. Is there anything else we should check out here?”
: “No, we should probably respectfully leave them in peace. Dead men tell no tales.”
shrugs. “Not unless you can use the voice of God to wake them up.”
: “Do not.”