home intro one two three four five six seven eight nine 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 appendix
The church was quaint, centuries old, and built in a stark, rocky, mountain pass. It should have been an artist's and poet's inspiration, but it was not. Somehow, it was in the wrong place for everything artistic: it was on the wrong side of the road for a good view, it was too close to a black shaley cliff to be picturesque, and the structure was... well... small and homely. The Baron was not the only one to feel so.
"Oh, by the gawds." said The Dandy, "MUST we stop here, again? This place won't inspire, it will DRAIN me."
"Stop your prattle." snapped Johanne Porter, "Inside, all of you." The party went inside.
The antechamber of the church was just as homely as the outside. There was a small fountain in the center and a modest size passage leading to the main church area. On the far side of the antechamber were curtains covering a hallway. The hallway was nondescript, it attracted no attention. In fact, The Baron noticed, it was designed to be, somehow, extravagantly dull and prosaic.
At a no-nonsense pace Johanne lead the party into the hallway, to the second door on the left, and walked through. That doorway lead to stairs down, and those stairs lead down to a large, elaborate, inspiring nave.
"What?" exclaimed The Dandy, "A pearl under a drab shell?" Here was an impressive centries-old edifice. Here there were cathedral-like columns with stained glass windows. Here was the religious architecture designed with inspiration in mind. Inspiring it was, but it was inspiration of a sort that stood hair up on the back of one's neck, and The Dandy said little more.
Johanne led the party to a large room off the nave. This room was also richly decorated, and it was furnished for a formal meal. After the "guests" were seated, they had a chance to analyze what was thrilling them.
The effect was coming from the decorations and their surroundings in general. At first the effect was mild, but the more time members of the party spent looking at the rich furnishings and architecture around them, the more thrill they felt. It was a chill, actually. The ornate stained glass depicted religious stories, but the stories weren't traditional catholic or traditional orthodox. Christ was there, being crucified, but his suffering was overwhelming him, and his crucifiers seemed smug. Likewise the proportions of the columns and the choices of colors -- themes of deep crimson, purple and black -- did not set a person's mind to thinking of the triumph of angels.
Johanne clapped his hands; teenage serving maids with modest uniforms, white skins, long straight hair and striking features came in from another room. They uncovered serving dishes to reveal a midday meal that was modest in size, but spectacular in quality. They ladled out a fragrant consume to start the repast.
As the maids were serving, The Dandy found voice once again, "What is this place? Have you restored the Temple of Nazadlan?"
Johanne chuckled in a forced way. "Hardly, you foppish fool. This is a shrine outside the gates. We Kalnichov's began restoring this soon after the destruction. This shrine manifests our dedication to recovering what has been lost. Now, please, help yourself. I assure you the food is quiet delicious."
Johanne moved the spoon between cup and mouth mechanically while Bob and Sarah ate as gustily as formal good manners permitted. The Baron quietly signed his people not to eat. His people could not see, but he could see, imps sitting atop each soup bowl, and with each mouthful a human was taking they were caressing the eater's soul... almost copulating with it. At Johanne's place the imp was much more circumspect, he would touch Johanne, but only tentatively, and not his soul.
Bob looked up, "It's really quite good, you know."
"I'm sure it is, Bob, but we must be going. WE ALL MUST BE GOING!"
From his pocket The Baron pulled a small pouch and whirled it over his head, scattering a dust over those assembled at the table. The imps scattered in terror, Bob and Sarah screamed as if their very skins were in flames; Gunther, The Dandy and his men looked on quizzically for a half second, then bolted for the door. The Baron finished emptying the pouch and moved to follow.
Joahnne Porter was fast, impossibly fast. He slipped from his seat and moved to the serving room door as The Baron's pouch made it's first half circle. Once there, out dust's way, he began and incantation. As The Baron moved from his seat, Johanne launched a mystic bolt in his direction, and The Baron dropped in his tracks.
The Dandy turned back, but Gunther grabbed him and pulled him on, "MOVE! There is nothing you can do for him now."
The party rushed up the stairs and outside again, leaving behind a hideously wailing Bob and Sarah, serving maids cowering in a corner, The Baron in a lifeless lump, and somewhat shaken Johanne Porter ordering the maids, "Clean up this mess, then bring them all with me."
home intro one two three four five six seven eight nine 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 appendix