Then let's go visit her Gondioque says. Titus, you will want to stop and equip yourself?

Bryon nodded emphatically, “Oh yes, Princess, you are the perfect person for this job. I am so glad you are willing to be a part of our adventure!” Then she just continued walking letting the others lead. Sometimes a shiny object would get her attention and someone would kindly lead her back. It was difficult to stay focused without scrumff.

When everyone went to the Ambassador and the wealthy house Druk felt uncomfortable.
It being mid day he wandered back to a hedge near an alley near the school and took a short nap snoozing until he should wake when the others return. Or whenever he feels better.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Wed 26 June 2019.

As he replies to Gondioque Titus gives Gian, who stands at his side, a significant glance, "Since we have not far to travel I will send my man and he will bring my equipment here. That means we might visit Majamri and he will have returned in the meantime and I will quickly be ready."

Gian nods and immediately excuses himself to return to Villa Mercator.

OOC: Sorry, I really wasn't trying to make a big deal of this with the equipment/prep --  I thought THIS gathering was the lead in to something that would take us outside the city.

Bryon waved at Titus, ”Hurry back, we can’t begin our adventure without you.”

"Let us be off, and quickly!"

OOC: Just to clarify -- Titus has sent Gian off to get his armor and weapons, but he is present and ready to go meet the High Priestess.

Gondioque and those going with her, along with Diantha, make a return to the home of the high priestess.

Majamri lives simply, with her family- not her children, but nephew, wife and their children.  Majamri never had children of her own. Orcs are always skeptical over the effort humans put out for the care of the elderly.  They see people who have become frail in body and mind as useless.  For humans, caring for the elderly has become something of a luxury.  Many people simply cannot afford to do it.  Majamri's status makes her one of the fortunate ones.

She's having a drink in the family's little garden, a tiny space surrounded by tiers of plants, mostly vegetables and herbs, making green screens around the garden.

Majamri smiles at Diantha.  "Welcome back.  Last time you had your students, yes?  Are they learning well?  Do they know their numbers and letters?"

She looks at the characters.  "Sit.  Do you want something to drink?"

OOC: Ben, I don't want to misread this, but is Majamri perceiving US to be Diantha's students? I ask before replying more fully.

Titus accepts the offered seat, "Thank you, My Lady. It is an honor to accept your hospitality."

Bryon takes on a very respectful tone, one she may not have used before with her new friends. ”Marthair-Mhor” (Literally Great Mother, a formal Celtic word for Grandmother) She sits as close to the old woman as she can, taking a great comfort and joy being in her presence. Celtic people don’t live that long, and those who do are held in very high regard. Bryon is rarely so attentive, and yet she seems very childlike, as if waiting for some wonderful story. ”Yes, I’d like something to drink, please Marthair-Mhor.” She got as close as possible, leaning in and giving her rapt attention. She nodded, smiling, happy to have a possible wonderful wise story. ”Will you tell us a story, Mathair-Mhor? Please?” She grinned and nodded yes, hoping to coax some wonderful story from her.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Fri 05 July 2019.

Gondioque curtsies and replies. Thank you. If I may, I'll have what your having.

The old woman perks up at the request for a story.  Diantha has someone else arrange drinks.

"A story," Majamri repeats.  "We're not story tellers, child, we are scholars.  We tell histories.  Some confuse them with stories, but there is a difference.  Histories happened.  Stories only maybe happened."

The old priestess has Bryon perform the "audience participation" part of the story that is designed to illustrate her point- hold a single small scarf at arm's length.  And keep holding it.

"I will tell of our fall," she says.  "It is the most important thing."


"In old days, people revered the gods, and the gods made us great.  They demanded so little of us, but people are people, and even a light burden becomes unbearable over time... the silk scarf, child?"

And indeed, the longer Bryon holds it at arm's length, the heavier it seems to be.

"So it came to pass, in days long ago, before I was high priestess, that Minerva revealed to us what was coming.  And the priestesses, and the priests of all the temples were afraid, and they organized to resist.  But Minerva told us, all efforts would be in vain, because the people had grown weary of the burden, and were not ready to take it up again.  We would not be able to defend the city, it would only bring about our death.  But we could make ready for better days, because all things have a time.  We had to hide some things."

"You're probably hoping I would tell you where something is hidden.  I cannot.  It is a secret I had to protect, even if it meant not knowing.  I am a forgetful old woman, and I know nothing, and the Orcs know that I know nothing, and that is good."

"You know, we have always had allies, Diantha.  Always.  Some things were safest left with them, not with us.  They do not like us, you know.  The Orcs.  They hate us, always watched us, but what you do not yourself know, no torture could ever force from you.  In this way, I saved at least a few of my clerics, didn't I?"

"But someone has to know," Diantha says.

"Well yes.  And no.  I know there are things to know, and even I do not know what they are and where they are anymore.  I could not trust myself to keep my lips shut through torture, either.  And the ones who I entrusted it to, I cannot even say now.  But... remember our owls.  Owls are there on the way.  The gate is on the hill of temples, but now, who would I pick to give such a secret to?  Who would the Orcs not suspect?"

Titus listened and could not help but respond, "Well... We of the Senatorial and Equites class have clearly proven ourselves not to have the answers...

"But what of these Owls you mention, my lady?"

Gondioque's ears are attuned to Majamri; her eyes are on Bryon, whom she stands close to.

Bryon thought the scarf was very fetching, and was delighted to hold it, even at arm’s length. She watched as it caught the colors and shone brightly. Majamri’s words became a drone in rh ears after “History.” She was waiting to be told she could put her arm down. It began to quiver as her muscles began to burn but she held firm not wanting to disappoint the Grand-Mother. As she finished Bryon was sweating, gritting her teeth, and her eyes watered at the strain but she held on even as her legs began to shake. How long did she need the scarf held out, Bryon wondered. She was forced to bolster the scarf arm with her other, and now her back too began to burn as her whole body was beginning to loose the fight with gravity.

DRAFT,depending on whether Bryon wants to modify her post above.

Gondioque, who has been  watching Bryon, reaches out as she sees Bryon (who has endured longer than expected) start to move her other arm. The Princess' hand (with her arm bent) cups and steadies Bryon's elbow.

Bryon brightened and grinned as the princess helped her. She let out a sigh and gave the Princess a “goggly-eyed” stare. She certain seems taken by the Princess. ”Thank you, Princess.”

You're welcome. You endured longer than most. We're in this together.

Diantha tries to piece together what the woman is trying to say, and it both baffles and disturbs her.

"Are you saying, High Priestess, that you do not know because of... of your own conscious choice?  Magic, causing you to forget?  Do we even have a spell for that?"

"Minerva's portfolio is the mind," Majamri replies.  "Miss... you can put the scarf down.  The point is made.  The small burden becomes so heavy, over time."

Majamri sighs.  "And I suppose... we made the burden heavier than most.  Study, practice, learn, repeat.  Discipline, always discipline.  All for a goddess who... to be honest, I can see how many people would underestimate the benefits Minerva brought to them.  Everyone drinks wine, everyone thanks Bacchus.  Everyone has a good time with Bacchus, and the only thing Bacchus ever asks is some gratitude for the wine.  We're... harder... aren't we?"

"Yes, High Priestess," Diantha agrees, not really knowing what to say about that.  In the presence of a high priestess, only the high priestess gets to be critical of the whole religion.

"Some gods don't give you burdens," Majamri says.  "But then.. maybe that is why... oh, I don't know, but some would say that such beings don't command the respect.  Or, from the Orcs, the fear.  And what Orcs do not fear, they pay little attention to.  Do you understand me?"

Bryon sighed thankfully, ”Oh am so glad.” he let the scar drop, and then sat on her bottom on the floor. When the Priestess asked if everyone understood she nodded even though she clearly did not understand.

Gondioque withdraws her arm.

So...what do the orcs around her not fear that might lead us to access the temple?

Titus holds his tongue noting that his comment was ignored as were everyone else's regardless. The two priests were talking and if there is anything he has learned it is not to intrude on a theological conversation between them!

Still, he tried to recall what he can of the area around the academy. To his mind the one thing he knows Orcs do not fear is battle. While some humans may have an affection for fighting those are actually the minority, but Orcs seem to actually need it.

He also gives some thoughts to what he knows about Orcs. While he has spent most of the past several years fighting Hunnish Orcs he grew up dealing with Goths. Having spent his entire life dealing with them he must have some sense of their character beyond the battlefield and as such attempts to come up with characteristics beyond their warlike nature that might lend themselves to a trap like this.

Bryon piped up at Gondioque’s question, ”Women. I’ve been propositioned by at least a half dozen full blooded Orc men Nd a pair of women since I arrived here.”

Titus makes some knowledge checks, based on what he knows of local history...

So...is there a temple where prostitutes might worship? She smiles. I understand that it takes some discipline to be a good prostitute; who knows? there may be a tunnel....