A Phenxian and a Shield walk into a bar

[Wolfman2006]

Sitting down at one of the unocupied booths, and turning once more to face Paster Talbot
"So you mentioned catching me up on the coming and goings or some such? Oh and on a side note please tell me that man was Mad, or Simple, It seems prudent I ask before any misunderstandings befall him."

[Ethan Talbot]

*Ethan stretches a little going over his notes before addressing you*

"He seems to be new to Greyhook i've not had the luxury of meeting him but I believe he is with the Volksgradian contingent that has joined our cause."

"Our entrance to Greyhook was a might... shaky, we had some of the researchers trying to leave and the officals of the town in conflict and all sorts of commotion about. Although we haven't see much more in the way of feral dorr we've all sorts of new strange beasts to contend with that roam the night in this place day and night. Things that move like they live but are as alive as the table between us, along with strange little horrors of all sorts. We also have had a slight issue involving a theatrical performance that... would be best explained by all involved it was and is a developing affair."

"There is a Phenexian preacher in town, Father Carmichael but he is without a church, in fact there is no church or any kind in Greyhook, which I am trying to remedy personally but there are a number of matters to sort among that. The people don't go to service and the mines have been destroyed upon discovery of all sorts of horrors lurking within. This place is truly in dire need of a commitment by the faithful to rekindle the flames within to bring this place to where it should be especially without an income to speak of..."

"The chapel aboard the airship, of both Chayodyne and Church doctrine I feel was a step in the right direction, combine dour resources and draw could do exactly what we set out to do. Through charity, compassion, and education we can free this place of its demons mentally, spiritually, and physically..."

[Wolfman2006]

Absorbing what the Minister says, Father Sahaal is quiet for a moment, before he addresses the man across from him.

“You are a fool Pastor Talbot, albeit a well meaning one. You truly believe that we can cleanse this world as the Almighty has tasked us without bloodshed don’t you? I am not against leading Greyhook’s citizens into the light, I am not against bringing them hope to comfort them and give them strength in a time of crisis. But you may do far more harm than good with your “alternate” and twisted beliefs. You could do all as I have spoken, only to damn them for eternity by embracing your heresies.”

“I will not stand in your way as you seek to do good for the people here, but know that I will not sit idly by while you taint their souls with your lies of brotherhood and acceptance. You want to combine resources to accomplice more? Charity, Compassion, and Education are all well and good. I will also bring to the table Fire, Steel, and Zeal. Fire to cast light and banish the shadows, to comfort the people who live in dark times. Steel to cleanse the ranks of such horrors and demons, to smite them in Phenex’s name. And Zeal to never waiver in my task, to give the people something of meaning in their lives, something greater than themselves: the Almighty.”

“You keep your lesser faith and teachings, and one day you will rue the day you choose to turn your back on the Church’s doctrines. But for now as long as you keep your heresy to yourself you need not fear me, as I have a more important task ahead of me than redeeming the likes of you.”

“Although I am reluctant to share any such sacred location with you heretics, perhaps it would be appropriate for Father Carmichael to receive aid in funding and other necessary resources to build his church. A central location of worship may serve as a bastion of light that will garrison Phenex’s worshippers and attract new ones. Details I think would need to be arranged and your access to preach alternative ideals shall be discussed on a later time."

[Ethan Talbot]

"Lies? "

"He scoffs for a moment at Father Sahaal's comment"

"What have we all more than brotherhood? Phenex created Adephon from tainted earth and angelic blood and from which we are all descended. In that sense we are all brothers and sisters sharing the blood of the divine, it's an integral part of us, of you and I brothers of his blood. Those of partial dorr descent still have it, the returned have some of it, even the dhampir still possess it as much as some would like to think not."

For those who do not possess the blood our fire can do more than scourge the land... we are the torch bearers to righteousness, the embrace can only happen when the world is made good and holy and humanity will usher it in, by leading all others out of the dark. Truth will reach a few, it always does and they will grow and tell others, from there the righteous beliefs will rise as others dwindle, and all that shall remain are the believers, and it will be good... I must commend you on your acceptance of both the Dorr and Thek amongst your ranks, perhaps the church's doctrines are seeing the light so to speak."

*He smiles resting his elbows opon the table and putting his hands together*

"As for the issue of the church I believe it will be our own to create and make Father Carmichael is... without the resolve or faith in humanity to continue his preaching with any conviction. He's... he's like an actor reading lines only because they are in front him, that is why I look to our numbers for this, I have my fellows of the Order you have your retinue of fellows and together, with cooperation we can bring this place back to good, it will become apparent when you have the chance to walk around and see things as they are."

[Wolfman2006]

Brotherhood? I think not. That the wretched bastard children of humanity and the animals, or the spawn of demons do share angelic blood may well be. However their taint shrouds and overcomes their holy heritage. Just as in society, when the son of a countess is fathered by a commoner; that child’s nobility is revoked. His pure heritage is tainted thus he forsakes any rights to his class. It is the same with mixing the decedents of Adephon with lesser creatures. Is it their fault? Did they choose their parentage? Of course not, but the damage is done and their evil remains, an abomination to Phenex’s blood.

Father Sahaal smiles darkly, and he leans in almost whispering as if sharing some secret

“You commend me for my acceptance of lesser races in my service? It is true I am something of an enigma amongst the Church for doing so. The day will come when such creatures will no longer be tolerated on Ayos, when humanity will throw off the yoke of tolerating their unholy existence. But for now, the day has not yet come and I don’t see why they should not put themselves to some….use first. They have no salvation waiting for them, when the last of their kind’s blood runs dry, and humanity is rewarded for our service by the Almighty, they have nothing to look forward to but the fires of damnation. So they have nothing to loose by aiding me in hunting heretics, heathens, and even their fellows and kin. I may be a priest, but I make no claim to insight on how the almighty may respond to such a damned creature performing his sacred work. Who knows? Perhaps the Almighty may take pity on such a creature, perhaps he won’t, it doesn’t really matter. Once the possibility lies in front of such a desperate creature, he will embrace it fully on the off chance it may come true.”

Looking troubled at the implications of Father Carmichael

“Hm I have not met the man as of yet, but regardless of his lack of conviction it may not be suitable to exclude him in the plans of a Greyhook Church. He is the local preacher as you say, and the goal is to gain the people’s trust in order to show them the light. To leave him out of such a project and works may only alienate them further: having a group of foreigners show up to tell them how to live their lives. Having him involved even loosely in this project may ease the transition.”

[Ethan Talbot]

"Well that is where we can agree Father... I've no idea what the All-Mighty truly believes and make no claim to, I may be wrong in thinking those not of pure blood may be embraced should they believe so truly. It is a question that has sent the Church on Crusade more than once, made Chayodyne lead his faithful into the wilderness, and has left us talking of it to this day a Millennium after our inception as a people. However should I perish and be judged by his All-Mighty Righteousness, I shall take comfort in that the path I have chosen trying to bring all together in his blessed name than simply destroying all those who may not, yet...

"What merciful diety would cast aside those willing to look above their heritage and fight for a truly righteous world? Many of their gods and kin are fickle, violent, alien, and often downright evil. To stand against that and centuries of stagnation, to face it without shirking duty is more than admirable. The Dorr who leaves the wild as they did fighting the Betrayer, the Dhampir who forgoes taking life and by proxy destroying his own, the automaton who seeks to know if sentience means they has a soul. Phenex is still speaking to us in our hearts and I will not close my ears to these possibilites."

"Ohhh, and to be frank I hold no fear in my heart for your actions dear brother. Only that this schism will become an issue to divide, rather than an opportunity to bring forth the light into this dark corner of Ayos. Let us agree that saving Greyhook is above such concerns for now and an equal partnership in creating a church to save all believers from the alien influences of this place, what do you say?"

*He looks expectantly towards the robed man, the gravity of his voice more than evident in his desire to stabilize this situation.*

[Wolfman2006]

Father Sahaal’s eyes glitter dangerously during much of Pastor Talbot’s passionate speech. A long silence passes before the brown robed monk replies. When he finally does speak, he does so perhaps a little louder than necessary, as if to project his voice clearly for any possible eavesdroppers.

“Your lack of fear while commendable may prove costly one day Brother. I cannot sanction nor take a direct hand in creating an equal opportunities chapel. The Church of Phenex will never stand for it. I will not only mostly likely be revoked of my priesthood but may also be declared a heretic myself.

The Priest pauses again as if to reconsider. When he again continues speaking, his voice drops dramatically to a near whisper.

“However, if I sanction and aid in the funding of a chapel for Father Carmichael, and happen to receive further funding and aid from anonymous donators… and part of their condition was the right to use the chapel themselves… Perhaps the Church leadership may not be so keen to have me flayed and excommunicated. As long as it appears to be a legit Church of Phenex, than you can harbor my support. What you and your little heretic friends do on your granted “meeting days” or whatever is up to you. Thus we may “share” the chapel, both raise the funds for its creation, and I get to keep my priesthood and skin. Does ths both answer your question and sound reasonable?"

[Emily Alice Thatcher]

From a few tables away, the sound of a glass hitting the table particularly hard can be heard. The glass, though not broken, is held tightly in Emily's hand and is empty. She has a sour look on her face and is getting redder and redder as the seconds pass. After the sound, she grows dangerously silent.

[Wolfman2006]

Rapidly looking around with a penetrating hunter’s gaze, Father Sahaal seems almost… nervous. Eyes coming to a rest on the clearly drunken young woman a few tables over. He addresses her with a far more empathetic and kinder voice than he has used all night.

“My dear, it appears to me that you have had quite enough I should think. Would you like an escort home? While I cannot speak for Pastor Talbot, I am sure that even he has some manners.”

[Emily Alice Thatcher]

Emily turns slowly to fact the robed man with piercing eyes. She is not drunk, but she is leaning toward it, as is evident from her slight slur. She narrows her eyes as she begins in an icy tone.

"Don't you use that tone with me, sir. It would be wise to be a little more aware of one's surroundings when one is..." She grabs the edge of the table to reground. "...in a public place. Nowhere is safe, after all."

She casts her eyes on the pastor for just a moment before looking back toward Father Sahaal. "And anyway, Pastor Talbot here has more manners than you could ever hope to display, from what I've seen tonight."

She turns back to her glass, evidently done with the conversation.