Dionysus Aftr a little while, you find the temple disytrict

Dionysus The buildings here are all three storey affairs, painted the colors of their faiths.

Dionysus Except the dragon temple, which is huge.

Dionysus The celebration temple is boarded up & closed.

• Avery_C blinks.

Jack_C "Well fock."

Dionysus People in the streets are grumbling around various temples, unrest evident like in other places.

• Jack_C speaks quietly to Avery, "You know, the serious faiths I can understand, but what did Celebration ever do?"
• Avery_C nods in agreement. "Aye."

Jack_C "This is not good."

Jack_C "We gotta find out what's goin' on here."

Jack_C what temples are open?

Avery_C "I'm with you."

Dionysus One sec

Dionysus First, there's no evil temples here at all, & only three good temples: healing, music, & vision. Of those three, music is closed. The other two are open, but not doing so well.

Dionysus Neutral temples are all here, but only some are open:

• Avery_C looks a bit sad that the music temple's closed.

Dionysus Dragon, cosmos, moon, fire, earth, war, water, knowledge, death, silence, weather, air, time, fate, wealth, travel, & change.

• Jack_C mulls this over. "Alright. Way I figure it, this is all a change from the norm, so I say we ask the change priests first."
• Avery_C nods slowly. "Mother was change-faithful...it makes sense to me."
• Jack_C nods once, and goes in.

Dionysus A priest approaches as you enter, "If you're bringing a complaint, we have a box for that."

Jack_C "Actually, we're just lookin' for information."

Jack_C "Way I figure it, the state of the churches right now is a change from the norm, so we figure that's in your area."

• Avery_C nods.

Dionysus He looks relieved, "What would you know?"

Jack_C "Why are all the temples closed?"

Dionysus "Oh. Well..."

Dionysus "It's hard to say, exactly. Mostly, we think their gods stopped answering at all."

• Avery_C looks a bit stunned.
• Jack_C looks concerned. "I saw the celebration temple closed. You're tellin' me--" alarm. "Wait. the music temple was closed."

Jack_C "They're not answerin?"

• Avery_C has gone from stunned to anxious.

Dionysus "It's complicated. Do you know where the gods reside?"

Jack_C "Not offhand."

• Avery_C shakes his head.

Dionysus "Well, they reside in a variety of places, but the closed temples here in town all serve deities residing in the Summer Country."

Jack_C "Oh."

Jack_C "so what's goin' on there?"

• Avery_C nods slowly. "...you think something might've happened to it?"

Dionysus "I wish I knew. The deities of the City of Mists seem to vary in strength, depending on where the faithful is at the moment. The deities of the Havens seem as strong as ever. My god..." He shrugs, then looks to the altar, where a large orange book sits.

Jack_C "Yeah?"

Dionysus He walks over to the book & opens it at random, then reads, "This Change is not to be abided now."

Dionysus He shakes his head, "That's all it has said for the last year or so."

• Avery_C looks down, slightly thoughtfully.

Jack_C "Huh."

Jack_C "Alright. Well that makes me feel a little better."

Jack_C "I don't know why..."

Jack_C "Alright. I only got one more idea." I signal to Avery and go to the vision church.

• Avery_C shrugs. "No tellin'..." he nods and goes with.

Dionysus The priest waves goodbye.

Dionysus The vision church is a white stone building.

Dionysus A heron sits in a pond out front.

Jack_C I wave to it. "Yeah, how you doin'."

Dionysus The white robed priestess inside smiles as you approach. "How may I help you?"

Jack_C "I need to see what's happenin' in the Summer country."

• Avery_C looks hopeful.

Dionysus She blinks. "To attempt such would be... difficult in the best of times. Now? Sir, you must understand, the High Priestess here will have to be the one to attend such a thing, & as such, given herbusy schedule..." SHe pauses, giving you a significant look.

Jack_C "Yeah. Right. How much?"

Dionysus She frowns, "No less than [ten thousand dollars]."

Jack_C I look to Avery. "Am I that lucky, mate?"

Avery_C "...should be. I oughtta check first and be sure, though.

Jack_C "I'll follow you."

• Avery_C nods and looks at the priestess. "be right back." and he goes to check his account.

>Aurelia< The guitar playeris an ender

>Aurelia< And his sword is Tainted. The sword at his side belongs to your father.

Dionysus The wealth church is just down the way, busy as ever.

Jack_C "So, honestly mate, it's your money. Is this worth it?"

Dionysus Inside, people are doing normal bank-stuff

• Avery_C looks at Jack. "If we can find out what the hell's goin' on with the temples an' the gods? You bet your bass it's worth it."
• Jack_C laughs. "I knew you was a friend."
• Avery_C grins at him, then finds someone available and checks the state of his account.

Dionysus Your account is about half full. Apparently, the Belthines have used it.

Dionysus So you have half a million in it.

Jack_C ("Oh no! You're down to have a Mil!")

Avery_C 's why I wanted to check. he nods to Jack. "We can do it."

Jack_C "Alright. Let's get this show on the road."

• Avery_C nods. "Right with you."

Jack_C back to vision church.

Jack_C I wave at the heron on the way in again.

Dionysus The priestess says, "You have the donation?"

Jack_C "Yes ma'am."

Avery_C "We do." and I hand it over.

Dionysus Presumably, it's in the form of a banknote. She looks at it, then smiles, "Impressive, good sirs. Come with me."

• Jack_C follows.

Avery_C it is. he nods, bows slightly, and follows.

Dionysus She takes you into another room, behind the main hall. This room is covered in crystals, one of which glows brightly. She bows before it. "Revered Mother, these two seek a vision of the Summer Country. They have brought a generous donation to our coffers & earnestly seek our aide."

Dionysus The glowing crystal flashes blue, then green.

• Avery_C listens and watches.
• Jack_C watches, interested.

Dionysus Then the crystal shows a pure white field. It takes you a moment, then you realize that it's a field covered in snow.

• Jack_C looks around.

Dionysus Black thorns dripping what looks like green water protrude from a few places in the tundra.

• Avery_C blinks, then stares in shock.

Jack_C "Ice."

Avery_C "An' thorns..."

Jack_C "Is any place not covered?"

Dionysus The crystal goes blank, then returns to the plain white glow.

Dionysus The priestess stands & says, "I'm afraid that's all the Mother could show you."

• Jack_C nods. "Any idea what to make of it?"
• Avery_C bows. "Thank you, very much." he looks at Jack, worriedly. "I dunno...maybe Arlie or Miss Aurelia'll have somethin' to add."

Dionysus "The Summer Country is no longer eternal Summer. Something has gone terribly wrong. The thorns probably indicate what thorns usually indicate."

Jack_C "Whazzat?"

Dionysus She frowns, "Envy, of course. She also resides in the Summer Country, though in her own area of it."

• Jack_C nods. "Oh yeah." (Out of character, that was my first thought, but Jack would have asked)

Dionysus [Noted]

• Avery_C nods as well.

Dionysus She says, "I think we should let the Revered Mother rest now, sirs."

Dionysus She gestures for you to step out of the crystal room.

Jack_C "Yeah...Alright," is guided out, "Well thanks for the help."

Avery_C "Yeah...thank you again." he follows Jack.

Jack_C "We gotta get back to the others. This is big."

Avery_C "Way ahead of you. Let's go."

Jack_C we go.

Dionysus As you enter the main cathedreal, you see Aurelia entering.

Jack_C "Aurelia! This is big!"

• Avery_C pauses and blinks. "Miss Aurelia..."
• Aurelia stares at Jack with wide, blank eyes, then shakes her head. "Arlie is... near the healer. An inn."
• Aurelia starts towards the altar.

Jack_C "Good. we gotta tell him, too. And the others."

Dionysus The priestess looks at Aurelia, but says nothing. "Thank you again for your kind donation, sirs."

Avery_C "Yeah...You ok, Miss Aurelia?"

Jack_C "oh fock! Isn't dionysus related to the god of music?"

Dionysus No.

Aurelia Goddess

Dionysus Goddess, & no, he's not realted to her.

Jack_C (or is that out of character--nevermind. strike that.)

Jack_C (unless it's a mistake reasonable for Jack to make)

Jack_C (which I doubt)

Aurelia "Yes. Fine. I only... I must pray."

Dionysus [No, I have no idea where you got that idea.]

Jack_C (I thought he was the son of a demigod of music or sommat.)

• Jack_C appears confused about whether to wait for Aurelia or go back to the others.

Avery_C "...kay. you want me to wait for you?"

Aurelia "No."

Dionysus [Dionysus is a harpling, which is a kind of halfling, & it has been insinuated he might be a living saint, but other than that, he's not special]

• Avery_C blinks, then nods. "Right...take care, then. Jack?" he indicates they should go on.
• Aurelia starts towards the altar again, fingers twitching arythmically.
• Jack_C follows.