Helas looks nervously towards the front door of the shop and then holds out the palm of his hand. There is a flicker and suddenly there is a golden symbol there. It looks like a Mithran sunburst.

"Are you of the faith?" Helas asks, as he closes the fingers of his hand.

[[Make a Religion check.]]

Religion: 11

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Religion: 11

[[It looked like the Mithran sunburst symbol Brand has seen the priests wearing, but he doesn't understand why Helas is being so secretive about it.]]

[[ Brand tries to remember the symbol, looking for ways it may differ from the normal sunburst ]]

Brand looks a little confused, then cautious, and says "You will understand, I hope, if I am a little circumspect. But if you are asking whether I am an ardent follower of the Temple of Mithra in Engle...I can only answer that in recent years and months...and even days...I have seen much that makes me question, at the very least, the wisdom and purpose of those who claim to serve the temple. Other...aspects...of my life have also opened my eyes to a much wider and richer cosmos than the temple has ever acknowledged. Is that a sufficient answer? I do not know you well, sir, so have to be cautious in what I say."

Brand ponders for a moment [[ as did I in the shower ]] and continues even more cautiously, searching for a reaction, "I am going to take a chance here, and I will deny saying this should you repeat it, but I have the gravest doubts about every action the temple has taken in recent months. Their actions are abhorrent to me, and damaging to the empire. You, as a man of learning, must also see this, which is why I am willing to make such a statement to you."

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Brand tries to remember the symbol, looking for ways it may differ from the normal sunburst ]]

[[Make a Wisdom check.]]

Brand looks a little confused, then cautious, and says "You will understand, I hope, if I am a little circumspect. But if you are asking whether I am an ardent follower of the Temple of Mithra in Engle...I can only answer that in recent years and months...and even days...I have seen much that makes me question, at the very least, the wisdom and purpose of those who claim to serve the temple. Other...aspects...of my life have also opened my eyes to a much wider and richer cosmos than the temple has ever acknowledged. Is that a sufficient answer? I do not know you well, sir, so have to be cautious in what I say."

"A well considered answer, Sir," says Helas, looking slightly less nervous. "Things have not been as they were in the last little while, especially in the Temple Ward, and there are some of us that have great concerns over recent events."

Then, after a moment's hesitation, Helas says, "You are clearly a seeker of knowledge of the unworldly. I am a member of a group that seeks such knowledge for its own sake, unfettered by doctrines of either Temple or State."

Once again he looks to the door before continuing, "Would you be interested in finding out more about my group? But I must warn you, the Temple does not look on us kindly, and so there may be some danger involved... And not only to you. You should think of your mother as well. Despite her interests in the arcane, it is clear that she is devout in her worship of Aieda."

Wisdom: 7

Brand sighs, visibly relieved. "Your words are as music to my ears. I have been away from they city for a few scant months, and what I see appalls me. In the current climate, what the temple dislikes may as easily be a source for good as for evil. And you are one of the few people who seems to see this as well."

"So, I would most definitely be interested in knowing more. My interests are indeed as you describe. As to my mother, I love her dearly, but we have not always seen eye to eye in matters of religion. She has, however, a very capable intellect and I expect her beliefs are more nuanced that one might give her credit for. At least I hope so".

"What can you tell me? But bear in mind I have dealings with the School, so if they replace Minton with another mind reader there may be risks... Though I think he was unique."

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Wisdom: 9

[[The symbol was only visible for a brief time, and as far as Brand can remember it was a sunburst symbol, the symbol of Mithra.]]

Brand sighs, visibly relieved. "Your words are as music to my ears. I have been away from they city for a few scant months, and what I see appalls me. In the current climate, what the temple dislikes may as easily be a source for good as for evil. And you are one of the few people who seems to see this as well."

"So, I would most definitely be interested in knowing more. My interests are indeed as you describe. As to my mother, I love her dearly, but we have not always seen eye to eye in matters of religion. She has, however, a very capable intellect and I expect her beliefs are more nuanced that one might give her credit for. At least I hope so".

"What can you tell me? But bear in mind I have dealings with the School, so if they replace Minton with another mind reader there may be risks... Though I think he was unique."

"You are associated with the School of Occult Studies," says Helas anxiously, then he stops and considers what Brand has said.

"Replace the Gate Keeper? What are you talking about?" he asks.

[[But I'm afraid that it's for me tonight. See you tomorrow.]]

[[ Looking forward to it! ]]

"Regarding the school, I have a friend and mentor there, Master Nathaniel. And I may need to have dealings with them in a broader sense. I am not beholden to them, however."

"With regards Minton, he is leaving. He believes a manifestation of the goddess granted his wish to lose his power, and is now set to leave the school, quite soon I believe. I am a little sceptical about the means of his deliverance, but it seems undeniable that his  power is gone."

"A manifestation of the goddess Aieda?" queries Helas. "And Minton losing his ability and leaving? I have heard none of this. When did it happen?"

[[ Brand tells him the time, then: ]]

"It coincided precisely with the abduction of a student, which is why I am a little skeptical. As I understand it, the temple is also skeptical. Neither are common knowledge, so perhaps best to keep it to yourself."

Brand ponders a moment longer, then says "And if it were a genuine manifestation, you have to ask why at the school rather than the temple?"

"This is all very strange," says Helas. "But it doesn't explain why the king suddenly declared all other religions anathema. The king is a patron of the School. Have they been keeping secrets from him?"

"These are questions I would like answered as well. My thinking is that the Temple are using such incidents to weaken the power of the school, and thus increase their own. It smells of a very human thirst for power. The anathema declaration is simply nonsensical. It is as if they want to ferment resentment, unreast, and rebellion. There must therefor be something else happening of which we are not aware."

"We can only see the shadows of its consequences."

Brand smiles, "But I do have a tendency to see plots, where others see innocent coincidence."

"The Mithrans have always wanted religious purity here in Engle," says Helas in an exasperated tone. "Just as they have it in most of the rest of the Empire. But the king has resisted their calls up to now. I suspect it has something to do with the recent death of both the warlord and a seeker of the Temple of Donai."

"Yea, perhaps it's only a bid to change the balance of power, but that does not explain the anathema declaration."

"Tonight," he says, after once more looking at the front entrance. "Are you free tonight to meet with some people?"

[[Iirc, meals are done at 6pm local equiv at Brand residence? If so: ]]

"I should be free by 8pm [[ 8 candles??]], or is that too late?"

"That is fine. Meet me here by the second candle," says Helas, just as the front door is opened by an older gentlemen.

"Are you open?" the man says, "It's just that the sign is confusing... And what's is this about a rat?"

Brand glances at the man, then back at the book, and says "I'll have to think a little more about this one, perhaps you can at least arrange a copy."

Then he turns back to the one he found earlier and peruses it further.

[[ He will wait a couple of minutes to see if the other customer is likely to leave soon... ]]

Helas picks up the book on the counter and puts it carefully away somewhere out of sight behind the counter. 

He then goes and sees to the new customer and the man leaves soon after with a book on the bird life of the king's reserve, which was apparently written by one of the current king's ancestors: Oran Maxwell Rafael II.

Helas now comes back the counter.

 [[Nice to catch up earlier, but I'm afraid that's it for tonight. Ciao.]]

[[ Indeed. It's a pity my weeks are usually so full-on ]]

Brand glances at the door and waits for the man to leave, then says "2 candles it is...and while it is a great relief to find people who are similarly concerned about the state of the city...will this also help in my more immediate concerns regarding possible magical means of reading the book, or should I seek other advice on that?"

[[ Listen to answer ]]

"With respect to the book -- I think I would still like a copy -- and perhaps we can discuss if I also need a translation, after tonight? My main interests are in understanding means and methods of detecting latent sorcery and the best and simplest methods of testing. I met a man today who needed to be in contact with Iron...poor fellow. I would like a to be able to assess if I might have something that triggers such abilities in me, and how I might tell."