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Grave Saint	The sunset is now replaced with the gentle darkness of night and yet in a field of red spider lilies, there is a celebration as if it's another of Great Forks many extravagant festivals. Colorful red lanterns glow contrasting a shrine in the middle of a higanbana field. In fact, it happens everyday here for when the sun goes to sleep, this little religion celebrates the coming of nocturne as if it's Calibration day. There are tables near the shrine serving food that is only associated with autumn and winter which is an odd choice. Most people here are from Great Fork's impoverished and yet, they have simple yet decent black clothes as if they are provided by a benefactor. Then, the high priestess appears at the shrine's entrance, wearing an ebon kimono with flowers associated with her. "Now, let us begin this feast in the name of the forest god of the East, the Great dragon of bounties and decay, warden of the cycle of life and death, and the Herald of the coming Final Harvest. This feast only serves to emulate that promised day and it shall be pale in comparison"
Ignis	He's not one for religious ceremony - which is bizarre if you consider the fact that he's spent much of the past few seasons as a resident of Great Forks...a city that is nothing -but- religious ceremonies, festivals and the like. Not that he's secular per se.. its just that..his mind has wandered and settled on matters that extend beyond the normal perceptions and knowledge of the average mortal cult, shrine and ceremony. In short. Ignis knows too much. He knows of the gods. Their ways. Their powers and their personalities and while he respects them.. he knows too much where the old ways and the Mandate of Heaven was concerned. And thus he nows things are borken. This doesn't stop him from pausing his travels back to Great Forks to observe the festival from the nearest road. He's normally have taken a slightly different route but some meandering has sent him this way. He eventually draws nearer, curious and more curious, until he's close enough to hear the words of the priestess as she engages those gathered. He frowns lightly, eyes hooding abit as he considers if this is familiar to him or no but for now he makes no effort to interfere or join the festivities.
Grave Saint	As Ignis approaches the cult's shrine and steps in the flower field, he can hear a slight crack. It doesn't sound like a mine nor stepping in a bark of wood. It sounds more like the breaking of bones alongside some crumbled stones but then the sight confirms that it is a femur bone while the crumbled rock is once part of a grave stone. There are tons of these in this seemingly innocent flowerbed. It seems this vibrant red spider lily field was grown atop an abandoned graveyard as the lilies envelop this death drenched field. The faithful attending the priestess's ceremony clapped as their dinner finally begins. "Enjoy! For it will be a reminder of the shining path to the coming days." She says with a smile to her followers
Ignis	The tall, sturdy blond allows a frown to crease his features as he lifts his foot up and takes note of what lies upon the ground. His eyes then sweep over the entire area as it dawns on him the nature of hte location. "This...isn't ideal.." he muses before finally drawing up the nerve to begin moving a little faster and into the gathered group..heading for the priestess. He delays his movements out of some respect so as to not barge right in as she finishes urging her adherents to eat..but once it seems as if the food has been properly dispersed he starts a swift approach. "Greetings! Pardon me. Excuse me." He offers as he passes by those present, taking only a brief second to glanve over them and take in their disheveled appearences. "Forgive my intrusion, but, I can't help but have overheard some of your sermon as I was passing by. The..Promised Day? I can't help but be curious. What...who..exactly are you and what faith is this?"
Grave Saint	"Ah, someone whose curious about our faith." She then takes notice of the stranger approaching the shrine. The "wood dragon" then lets her followers continue their dinner. "Promised day you say? Ah, it's part of my doctrines called the Four Inevitable Truths. This truth is the 4th, even ends has an end for there will be a day where there will be eternal serenity. No more suffering, no more injustice and no more wars." She says with enthusiasm despite the subject's morbid topic even if a little vague. "Our feast is a reminder that day will come when the Great dragon of wood shall finally end this treacherous and meaningless cycle while we are greeted with th Final Harvest. The last celebration in Creation before the promised day shall come." She then gives a warm smile but the words that will come out of her mouth contradicts the expression "Do not worry, even if it's the last celebration, the gentle eternal peace is worth it"
Ignis	"The Dragon of Wood? ... Sextes Jylis?" Confusion is clear on Ignis face although there is one thing he's not confused on: It's clear to him the subtle meaning of her words. The location of this feast. Words of her sermon and blessing of the ceremony.. She may be vague or elusive but he seems to be honing in on her meaning. "..I was not aware that Sextes Jylis promoted...the premise that all things must end for good. In fact..I understand that he rather loved Creation and sought to uplift it and make things ever green.." His words are a slight challenge but he peers at her curiously, interested in learning more. "..Though I must admit that I know that there are many branches and interpretatios of the Immaculate Faith.. That is what..you're referring to..is it not?" His eyes track over the faces of the adherents before looking back to Grave Saint for more clarity.
Grave Saint	Grave Saint says, "Ah such naive interpretations of the great dragon of wood. Where do I put this" She then gives out the cult teachings regarding this strange aspect of Sextis Jylis. "An apple can provide good health that you can make a doctor or medical sorcerer go away, yet even the most delicious fruit can poison you to death. A beautiful black flower in the garden can be an eye catcher, yet if you inhale it's pollens it will kill you. And finally, mushrooms are beneficial to mankind yet there are species out there that can even zombify plants to it's thrall. Sextis Jylis is no different, they are both provider and destroyer like nature itself. Even the other elements are no different. Mela can blow cool breeze to a village in a summer day, yet the dragon's wrath can breath tornados which can rend towns asunder. Danaad may provide one of the most important resource no living thing can deny, yet the water dragon's flood can drown all beneath it's body. The stones of Pasiap can be used to build wonderful architecture while it's markings in Creation such as the Imperial Mountain is breathtaking to watch, yet her wrath beneath Creation can create maws which can devour entire cities and it's quakes cause despair. The glories of Hesiesh warms those in the cold and his greatest gift of fire used to forge metals and cook food. Hesiesh is just as destructive like Sextis Jylis yet unsubtle for the hubris of those who wield his flames can burn entire forests and kill many. Like how assassins use my dragon's poisons to kill, his gift can be weaponized such as flaming arrows and ballistas that can kill thousands" It seems most of her followers are undisturbed by her strange interpretation except for a few like children as they wonder why the dragons can be like this. "The dragons may be the foundations of creation yet their wrath can cleanse Creation. But since you noticed we are an immaculate subsect, you are correct for we are a deviation of another Immaculate heresy called the Intou which reveres the ancestors themselves." "
Ignis	"I see.." Ignis is neutral in his tone. Calm. This is their belief. Their cult. Their territory even. He simply does not seem to agree. "You speak truth." he finally acknowledges. "..A drink of water meant to nourish can as easily choke someone if there is lack of care or just an unfortunante act of chance and circumstance. I would suggest that, as you say, life and death is part of the cycle but that cycle is, nevertheless, part of Creation and Creation moves on. The Daystar rises and sets. The Silver Chair chases. The maidens wheel overhead and the cycle continues on. Even in death there can be and should be rebirth.. and tha tincludes the elemental fury for a burning forest fire can soon pave way for an even more glorious forest to follow." He pauses for emphasis and then says, "..It sounds rather lke what you were talking of when I first arrived was oblivion. An end to that cycle. A journey to nothigness when the cycle turns no more. That, I am afraid, is a new one on me.. Unless I am mistaken.." His eyes drift over those nearby, concern now in his gaze as well. "..The sort of thinking that someone whose hardships have led to them wishing an end to the journey..might gravitate towards..."
Grave Saint	As the guests are finished eating, the wood aspect urges them a command. "Would you please return to your homes? I sadly am preoccupied. Even gods are distracted by affairs that may hinder their daily obligations" She commands to one of the faithful's elders to pack up for privacy reasons although half have yet to leave. "Why would my faith care for the Daystar and her silver lover? Their movements above mean nothing to me as well as the stars. The only meaning I see above is the darkness between them. There is rebirth but my faith resists it for it is only another cycle of suffering we shall escape from. Even if there is happiness after suffering, it will not last for a forest fire may bring tragedies again and again. A sunrise only heralds another meaningless cycle" There is notably spite whenever she mentions the sun but whether it is the association with anathema is unknown. She then realizes Ignis arrived at the conclusion it's oblivion. Annoyed at first, but slides it off. "Oblivion? What scary words to describe the eternal serenity of the promised day. I discourage those words among my followers as it is such an exaggerated description to defame my faith"
Ignis	His eyes narrow slightly and he frowns. This isn't an arguement he's likely to win but he's also hardly not going to let her words stand unchallenged. "I see.." says Ignis, tone even. "..That you think this way is tragic..to me at least. "That we must deal with suffering and hardship defines us. Strengthens us.. Yet sorrow abides and suffering continues and so we should strive to be our best selves and to help those in need to stop the suffering and alleviate it. To make a better world, not wish for it's ultimate destruction. I can't say that I agree with your perspective and I'm sad to report that the Daystar has no intention of ceasing to rise again.. Your perspective on what Sextes may or may not do aside.. Your feelings on the Incarnae seem clear enough, though.. I simply wonder if your adherents have had a proper perspective offered them beyond just nihilism.." He shakes his head and then adds, "I must confess that an Immaculate offshoot oblivion and death cult seems difficult to accept..." The under current of his words is clear. He's unsure if he believes her. "It flies into the face of everything taught about the Perfected Hierachy and seems more appropriate for something tied to The Underworld but... If it is as you say then it is as you say. Perhaps you can direct me to some texts I can review to study more on your ..teachings..?"
Grave Saint	There is irritation in her eyes yet at the same time sorrow as if it reminds her of something. "I once had those naive ideals before I took the second breath as a Wood Aspect. Believing I can go to the Blessed Isle as a pilgrim, yet one dispossessed who fled here claimed its a country of oppression. I even once dismissed him as a liar yet he is correct. Despite his escape to find new opportunities in the Scavenger Lands, I expect he still died out there anyway" She does not specify why she thinks this dispossessed she meet before is dead. "Many dreams of opportunities and ambitions, yet they all died anyway. Even if we reach our ideal lives, sorrow and despair follows. Even if I was successful at arriving in the Blessed Isle, I will still see suffering even in its subtle forms like slavery such as what that dispossessed experienced." She wonders why this mortal has knowledge on the Incarnae. She assumes he's a scholar or "The Incarnae just sit there in Heaven doing nothing but curse people into becoming Anathema. I wonder why you know of these Anathema deities but I can't blame you for Great Forks is rife with all sorts of religions including mine" She doesn't agree with the texts although she does speak on something. "The Four Inevitable Truths are only shown to those who join my faith. If you really want to see something similar, you will have to travel up North. Once you read it, you shall be convinced"
Ignis	"I doubt that very much. Furthermore..Creation is vast and knowledge abounds. Do you truly believe it so strange that the names of the Incarnae are known to some? Especially here? In Decadence?" He does seem to consider if he may have tipped his hand a touch to much there. He does look well dressed, travelled.. knowledgable so far as his lack of concern for being out on the road but.. "I am a Scavenger Lord of sorts. Well..I should say my father was a signfigant one. I leave the business now to those he trusted well and use it as I see fit but through it I've learned and seen much, milady, and one thing I can say for certain is that while suffering is everywhere, hope also springs forth eternal. I simply reverse your words. You see where you see suffering come I see hope emerge in its wake and that, I think, is something worth being niave about and worth fighting for. I suspect so do many others. I do not doubt you will find more converts though but unless I read or am told something truly life changing beyond 'the world is terrible' then..It may not be me. Strange, though, that you will not even afford me the opportunity to see your texts for myself in case it might change my mind...." His tone grows more steeled now, eyes narrowed as he says, "Almost as if your primary targets are the vulnerable and despairing..those less likely to question your words." He has tried to be cordial..somewhat..but something about this truly bothers him. He's not even heard other immaculates speak with such open spite of the sun. "And I do know of the anathema, obviously, though I had heard that the power was stolen. Not given..."
Grave Saint	"I am new here and I have heard there are still hardliner Immaculates within the city plus Lookshy is one of Decadence's neighbors. Even cults such as those may be frowned upon even in a city of little gods" Even with such bleak outlook, the words of the stranger has given her some hope even if she does not admit it. But why does she still persist in nihilism. "I admit those words are encouraging yet I am still adamant in my faith's message" There is hesitancy in her tone even with a macabre facade. She then finally tells a hint even if it may reveal the true teachings of the Four Inevitable Truths. "I still cannot reveal it stranger yet the words that may lead you to it's meaning is the Shining Path . I do not care whether you search through a library or actually go to the North for you may be enlightened by its truth. You may also encounter an elderly bodhisattva with a warm smile if you do search in the North" Despite her description, it sounds rather more than a concerning warning instead of instructions on where to go especially meeting this elderly man. "Oh how unlady like of me. My name is Bleeding Higanbana, priestess of this faith. We may not see eye to eye but you are welcome as long as I'm not busy or my followers are present"