[D0 MA, Eilistraean Temple] The Sound of Worship

[Fyne]

In this temple, Fyne feels more comfortable than anywhere else in Sigil. The atmosphere reminded him of the time before he got lost and twisted around, thrown on the waves of time, only be thrown back to the shore where he started with only a lingering feeling of what he had experienced. It was comforting to him, the familiar scents of wildflowers coming from candles and burned incense. He has no way to get back to that time in any real sense, but he likes to come here and pretend that he hasn't lost everything. His eyes are a juxtaposition of joy and longing, and it's hard to tell if he feels either of them fully while he sits with his instrument.

He taps away on his dulcimer, focused on the sounds and smells of the temple. Visitors seem to appreciate the music, and truthfully there's almost always someone playing something here. Just as often there seems to be someone dancing to what's being played, but right now it's just the sound of Fyne's dulcimer and the occasional clapping when he finishes a song and moves to the next. If he can't feel true joy himself in this moment, he seems to be doing his best to spread it to others.

He has the appearance of someone new to the city, and he may just be hiding from that fact in the temple of Eilistraee. His clothing is not local, marking him as from the Sword Coast in Abeir-Toril for those familiar. Many of his markings are silvery moons, making it clear that he chooses to belong in this particular temple.

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A Little Dulcimer Music

[Lalia Yuu]

A woman of a peculiar air glided into the hall. The music with its waxing and waning movements called to her from the street. She'd been around before... nothing new or interesting seemed to be on the docket today, but then there was a chord played on a dulcimer that rang just a bit different.

Her eyes closed briefly as she let the cresting waves of tonality draw her in. She felt her head swaying and sifting through the sounds before she opened her eyes and entered into the temple to check its origin.

A Drow sat at the strings... one who was fairly new by the look of him. She drew near to listen with whoever may have gathered as well. She checked the room... recognized the iconography... made some connections in her mind and waited while he finished his tune.

When he was done she smiled at him... much like a Cheshire Cat in human form and said bluntly, "You are new. You are good. What brings you here fine sir?"

[Fyne]

Setting his hammers down next to his instrument. "I'm guessing you mean in Sigil, since the little moons on my stuff make it pretty clear why I'm in the temple. And I don't have an answer for that because I'm asking it of myself. I just know my patron wanted me here."

A small white pseudodragon pokes it's head out of his coat and looks around. "The Dark Maiden and The Moonmaiden... seems we both follow goddesses that love the moon," he continues looking pointedly at her amulet. "And I'm okay. There are much better here in the temple."

[Lalia Yuu]

Lalia smiled at the little creature that popped his head out.

"You're different. Which to someone like mean often means good... You get the best of the best out here and the worst of the worst... Both are mind numbingly boring. You hear one, you hear them all." She stuck her tongue out and fake-wretches.

"Patrons... deities... fate... bad luck... None of them hand out a full manual of what to do while in interdimensional donut land do they?"

Lalia plops herself down cross-legged next to the man. "So was it a bampf, or a whoosh, or a 'aaaaargh'..."

She paused and looked excited, "Or maybe a 'NOOOOOoooooo'!"

Then immediately her expression changed to faux-boredom, "Or... 'let's walk you to the gate'."

[Fyne]

"It started with a bampf whoosh aaargh noooo, all in one go. But getting here in the city was more of a gurgle. The portal I used to get here went through water," he explains, shaking his head at the memory of the experience. "And a manual would make things boring. Better to explore on your own. Unfortunately, most folks around here like sticking it to the new person in a less than pleasant way. You looking for an angle to do so? Easier if you get the sticking out of the way early, I say."

[Lalia Yuu]

“Not much of a stickler…? Sticker…? Stick-it-to-er.” She said amid spouts of mild confusion.

“Been stuck a time or two. Number of different ways. Once in a gelatinous cube for a few seconds. It’s just as unpleasant as you might assume. I wouldn’t recommend trying to eat your way out either… No matter what your eyes tell you it it’s not tasty.”

She smiled.

[Fyne]

With a wry grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, Fyne leaned back and surveying Laila with the same bright, inquisitive amber eyes that were a stark contrast to his pale skin.

"That's a unique set of experiences," he mused, the dulcet tones of his voice carrying an almost playful undertone. "Though, I must admit, I'm curious why you chose to learn that a gelatinous cube wouldn't taste good."

His gaze didn't waver from her, filled with the same unabashed curiosity that seemed to define his persona. "Despite all the engaging anecdotes and tales of adventure, you've neglected to share one detail," he said, a note of challenge entering his voice.

Fyne extended a hand, the skin scarred but kept meticulously clean, much like the rest of his appearance. "I'm Fyne. And you, the brave survivor of gelatinous cube encounters and interdimensional exploration, would be...?"

[Lalia Yuu]

“I’m Yuu. Not ‘you’ Yuu, but Lalia Yuu. Spelled ‘Xzyuck’. Not really but that would be pretty cool right?” She said with a smile.

“So many weird spellings around here. Lalia is pretty boring in contrast.” She bustled up and down once from her seated position.

“My story is too wonky and long to adequately describe. Been a fair number of places. Met a lady once who gave me this amulet. Turns out she was a really cool chick who wanted me to go around helping people and experiencing stuff.”

She turns the amulet over in her hand.

“Never been one to learn from the experiences of others. Bounced around a bit from this place and that. Then I heard about this whole ‘No gods allowed’ place and figure I’d see what it was like.”

She looked around, “And except for the craziest of the crazies around here…”

She leaned in and tilted her hand to the side of her mouth while lowering her voice for affect.

“That’s only like 80% of the people who live here…”

She straightened back up, “Except for them it’s pretty neat up here. All sorts of things to step your foot into.”

[Fyne]

He offers a hand for a handshake. "Good to meet you Yuu spelled with an X."

He looks warmly at the amulet. "Always nice to help people out when you can and they need it," he says before shifting subjects.

"And what do you mean by experiencing stuff? You try a lot of hobbies or food and stuff. That's a group here right? I don't remember what they're called. I've mostly been haning around the Free Leauge since I got here and found a place in the Guildhall Ward. Them and the Harmonium. What are you guys called again?"

[Lalia Yuu]

“Yeah, I’ve been hanging out with them for a while now. Some are rather lame… too refined and elitist.”

She continued after a moment.

“The Society of Sensation, they’re called. All about learning about the universe by experiencing it with the senses. I don’t go much for deep philosophical discussions, but it seemed to be closest to my own personal journey so I figured I’d see what was available for people in these ‘factions’. Not a bad set up to be frank.”

She tilted her head, “Though I’m not Frank, I’m Lalia… like I said earlier.”