Moonday early evening, Fireseek 3, 591 Common Year

A servant directs Indranil to the chapel of Heironeous, the patron deity of Prince Prospero and a majority of the Keolanders in Westkeep. It is of blue veined white marble, with stain glass windows depicting Heironeous’ victories over his evil brother Hextor. They are set up so that the rising sun shines through them illuminating the room, though of course now they are darkened as the sun is setting. Rows of pews fill the center of the chapel. The back of each pew has slots that contain books. The altar area is on the west side of the chapel across from the entrance. Upon it is a very lifelike painted statue of Heironeous holding his longsword aloft and gazing to the heavens. Engraved on the wall behind the statue is a hand holding a silver lightning bolt. Votary candles are burning upon it and on various other tables and shelves. The smell of frankincense pervades the air. Next to the altar is a door leading to a vestry presumably. On either side of the entrance on the east side are booths with closed doors. Indranil hears the murmuring of people talking quietly from the booths to the left of the door as he steps into the chapel.

Inside the chapel, Indranil can see that inscribed on the marble walls, except the west wall, is the Code of Heironeous.

On the north wall is written, “Duty to the People: Always strive for courage, justice, mercy, valor, protection of the weak, and faithfulness to church superiors or officers of righteous law.”

On the east wall, above the entrance and the booths, is written, “Duty to the Arch-paladin: Always strive in obedience to Heironeous himself, devotion to the church, generosity, championing good against evil, putting the needs of the church and the faith above those of mortals.”

On the south wall is written, “Duty to a Lady: Always strive in the arts of courtly love, devotion to one’s beloved, and respect toward all women in general.”

Indranil pauses at the entrance of the chapel of Heironeous and touching his right fingertips to his forehead, lips and heart bows deeply. He then approaches the altar and lights a candle and incense offering a prayer to Heironeous for the hospitality and sanctuary of the palace, for safe passage of their scouting mission and for the continued good health of his travelling companions, family, and King.

As Indranil is praying, he hears the booths open behind him. It is a man and woman and the man is saying, “Go in peace my lady.” The woman, whose voice Indranil recognizes as Lady Sedara’s, responds, “My thanks, Paragon Muire. I feel like a newborn babe once again.” Then she leaves by the main entrance. The other, Paragon Muire, walks up the aisle between the pews to check on the altar. He fusses for a bit over the altar, spares a glance in Indranil’s direction to make sure that he is not waiting for him. Seeing that Indranil is praying alone in peace, he exits quietly through the vestry door.

A thought flashes into Indranil’s quiet still mind like a radiant silver rainbow trout breaking the surface of a mirror smooth lake, water sending rainbows of dazzling light sparkling across the water, I must follow her. Indranil quickly and smoothly gets up and follows after Lady Sedara. He respectfully approaches her and says, “Lady Sedara, may I walk with you to your destination?”

“Oh. Hello Indranil. I saw you in the chapel praying and didn’t want to disturb you. You may certainly walk with me for awhile. I was just heading to the great hall to make sure that all is in order for supper. So, are you a follower of Heironeous?”

Indranil replies, “No milady. I follow no single path. I consider all the deities that do good and lead to the light as worthy of my respect and worship. Perhaps my ranger nature applies to religion as well? I find exploring all the noble paths fulfilling and enlightening. Some say it is wanderlust, but I think it more a dance and exultation in the beauty and wonder of the universe.”

Lady Sedara nods at this and smiles warmly in understanding.

Indranil continues, “I think the deities are more concerned with their own matters than our worldly affairs, and it is dangerous to call their attention down upon oneself. We do so at our own peril.”

Lady Sedara says, “Oh, but Sir Indranil, that is not the case, at least not with Heironeous and the other goodly deities. They are very much concerned with our doings. Heironeous and his colleagues are very much waiting for us to invite them into our lives through prayer and contemplation, so that they can send us their power and assistance in times of trouble.” She touches the silver lightning bolt pendant she wears and continues, “I know, for I led, shall we say, a wilder life in my youth. But Heironeous saved me for something greater than I could have dreamed.”

Indranil continues, “I came to the Chapel of Heironeous this afternoon to express my gratitude for a safe journey on our recent scouting trip and to pray for the continued health and safety of the King, the Prince, and my fellow travelling companions: Ragnbjorn and Lorindel. It seemed the most appropriate choice of chapel in the city given that Heironeous is the Prince’s chosen deity. I also wanted to thank Heironeous and his priests for their gracious healing of my ghoul bite. I was anxious about it. It was a nasty bite and no telling what vile disease they might spread.”

“There is an example of what I was saying,” says Lady Sedara. “The gods have seen fit to give some of us their power to heal, to drive back the forces of darkness, and to make their power felt here in the mortal realm. Unfortunately, there are other darker gods who also have their agents here in what the sages call the Prime Material Plane of which our Oerth is but one of many worlds. The gods have agreements among themselves that prevents them from interfering directly here, though occasionally these agreements are stretched and subverted. But they do fight proxy wars among us and through us. Heironeous, at least, fights for our happiness and salvation, but others like Hextor only aim to spread their malice and misery. There are others, for instance Obad-Hai and his followers, who struggle to preserve what they call the Balance. For myself, I have chosen to fight for the higher realms because they have chosen to fight for me and for all that I love.”

Indranil is quiet for a bit, comfortable in their silence as they walk through the palace halls. After a few dozen paces he turns and looks at Lady Sedara, bows his head and says, “Lady Sedara, I am awed with your faith in Heironeous. There are times I wish I too had such faith in a god.”

“Perhaps in time,” says Lady Sedara.

Indranil muses, “I believe that we are all – even the gods – part of the One and subject to the natural laws and inherent powers within all life. We each choose our own destiny, to do good or do harm and to reap the harvest we sow from our own actions. While the gods are far stronger and more powerful than us they channel the same forces in their magic and healing as we do. You diminish yourself thinking it was Heironeous that saved you. I believe you saved yourself by your own choice and actions by choosing the Noble Path. You are one of the strongest, intelligent, and powerful humans I have ever met and I believe you would win a battle against most forces, natural and supernatural, internal and external.”

Lady Sedara laughs gently and says, “Well, I certainly hope that will not be put to the test anytime soon. I will grant that the gods save those who save themselves, but just as in our more worldly endeavors, sometimes the right cause to make is to know when to ask for and then accept assistance.” She smiles.

Indranil responds, “I am not quite as sanguine about the motives and intentions of the gods, even ones as noble and good as Heironeous. As you say, they do use us in their proxy wars from time to time. Certainly a noble one, such as Heironeous, is a worthy ally in the fight against evil. I welcome and even have been known to seek their aid in times of great battle against evil forces much the same as the King uses heavy cavalry to smash a line of pikemen or a fireball to blast through a battlement.

“I pay my respects to the gods and seek to live harmoniously with all beings that chose the light. But ultimately I feel I can only rely on myself for salvation and enlightenment – I was born alone and will walk through the final door alone. ’To thine own self be true,’ a wise person once said. I believe we must hold faith in ourselves first and foremost and be responsible to ourselves to do good. That is what makes us strong and allows us to evolve and ultimately live free from the shackles of others who seek to enslave us, if not in body then in mind and idea.

“Lady Sedara, please forgive my forwardness and candor. I hope I have not offended you and that you do not despise me for such views. I am startled I have spoken so freely to you. I know not why, but I felt compelled to walk and talk with you in frank conversation. I fear my social defenses were lowered after the warm bath, gentle massage and time of meditation.”

Indranil pauses in his walk, bows and makes to back away fearing he has said too much.

Lady Sedara smiles at Indranil warmly and says, “Just a moment, please. I am not at all offended. My but you rangers are certainly a high-minded sort. I don’t suppose you have met Ragnbjorn’s son, Fingol, yet? He holds us all to a higher standard than even the gods I think; or perhaps he is, unbeknownst to himself, a messenger of the gods reminding us that we have become too complacent. Who knows?” She shrugs.

“I will say this, Sir Indranil. Others may not agree with me, but I think in part you are right. The gods rule over many domains, the forces of life, love, growth, death, honor, justice, sickness, and healing. There have, however, been those who have proven able to tap into these forces directly, even some priests have chosen to do so – drawing upon the divine power through their own intuitive connection with all that is, but it is a harder path. The gods make things easier for us, for they are mighty patrons, living personifications of our ideals or at times our naked ambitions and even rawest fears, and it is undeniable, at least in this world, that they make their power felt through the power they lend us and occasionally through actual manifestations of their servants the angels of the higher realms and the devils and demons of the lower. Ponder this, in the meantime I must take my leave dear Indranil and see to the preparations in the great hall.”

Indranil says to Lady Sedara, “May Heironeous watch over you in good health and fortune Lady.” He then bows deeply to Lady Sedara and holds it while she walks away. Indranil then makes his way back to his rooms to meet up with Lorindel and Ragnbjorn for dinner.