The hall is unusually full tonight; the Temple has many preachers, but this evening's, Killian Threadar, is a relative newcomer among them. He appears to have gained a reputation as being a more interesting speaker than most, and many have come out of curiosity, as well as, of course, devotion to the Temple and the First Ones. The murmuring of the seated crowd dies down as the robed priest enters the chamber, and ascends to the podium.

A Lapi shopkeeper makes his way through the crowd, trying not to get squashed. Aaron can easily hear the sermon from just about anywhere, but tries to get closer to see the new priest that people are talking about.

Shortly after the Lapi enters, a winged coyote follows not far behind, pausing to look around. He spies a few Vartans congregating in one area, and navigates his way through the people towards them.

While the remainder of those filtering in settle down, the priest lays a few sheets of paper on the podium and waits. When all is silent, he begins. "I want to thank all of you for coming this evening." The priest, a bay Rhian, projects his voice well, reaching even the distant corners of the great Temple hall. "Tonight I am going to talk about Saint Varcharius Kelsie.

"Varcharius was born a Gallee, to the House of Kelsie, some two thousand and four hundred years ago. Then, as now, Kelsie was a distinguished name. I believe this very evening we have a few members of that venerable line among us." A high-pitched child's giggle comes from one of the front rows, quickly hushed by his nanny. The priest gives a somber nod and a small smile in their direction, the look returned by the German Shepherd parents, then continues.

"He was an officer of the Temple, a Navy Captain, who proudly served beneath Rephidim's banner. All who knew him commended his loyalty, his devotion, and his honor. But that devotion was never truly tested until the War of Wind and Gold, when the Golden Realm took arms against the people of Rephidim.

"Hostilities were fierce and bitter between the two countries of sky and land; the Golden Realm was a rich country, where metals were said to run like rivers straight to the forges of their smiths. They envied the wisdom and technology of the Temple, convinced that this knowledge was something they could buy … and if they could not buy it direct, they would buy fleets, instead, to seize it. Captain Varcharius and his fellows repelled onslaught after onslaught of attackers from the Realm. Their mercenary hordes tried many strategies, from assaults on the Rephidim docks where our fleet was stationed, to attacks on our merchant vessels, to bombardment of our countryside and people, and even to one foolhardy and futile attempt to raze the Temple itself.

"Though Rephidim emerged victorious from these battles, still they took their toll on the men and women of our military. Then, the Golden Realm implemented their most cruel and devious strategy yet.

The equine paused, leaning against his podium, watching the audience. "They hired Darkside thugs to abduct the wives and children of a number of key Temple officers. The Inquisition, by the grace of the First Ones, learned of this plan, and through their diligence, they were able to capture many of the criminals in the act. But three of the abductions succeeded. The wife of Captain Varcharius Kelsie was one of those taken.

"The Golden Realm sent their demands to the men whose kinfolk were captured: Turn over your ships, or we will torture and kill your wife, your son, your daughter.

"At the same time, the Inquisition discovered where the hostages were held: a fortress in the deep south of the Golden Realm.

"Captain Kelsie cautioned his fellow officers against rash action. Together, they brought their troubles to the Captain-Astromancer, and asked for his guidance.

"I am sure it will come as no surprise to you that he forbade them to turn over their ships to the Golden Realm." Priest Threadar gives a small smile as he says this, and a few muffled chuckles sound in the hall. "But he also forbade them to attempt a rescue of their loved ones, either.

"The Captain-Astromancer told them, 'I am sorry for your loss. Would that I could send my entire fleet to this distant fortress and recover your children, your wives. But we have a greater duty: to protect Rephidim and win this war. The fortress where they are being held is too far from Rephidim's position, and the island's current path will only take us further from it, and closer to where the Realm has the majority of their fleet stationed. Further, the fortress is surely a trap – the surrounding mountains are treacherous to fly through, and surely an ambush will be planned. A fleet powerful enough to overcome such odds will vastly over-extend the Temple's resources. To send anything less would be to sentence the men who went to certain death.

"'I cannot permit either undertaking.'" The hall is silent as the Rhian recounts these words, his rich voice heavy with the regret of the Captain-Astromancer.

"Horrified, angry, grieving, the men bowed their heads to the command of their leader, and swore they would do as he bid.

"But rage filled Varcharius Kelsie's heart, and love for his captured wife. They had been wed but a year, and she was expecting their first child. Captain Kelsie refused to resign himself to her death. He turned his back on the Temple and the Captain-Astromancer, and returned to his ship to order them to plot a course for this distant fortress. Fiercely loyal to their captain, the crew agreed.

"It was just as the Captain-Astromancer had said: they flew into a trap. Varcharius Kelsie's ship was destroyed, and nearly all of his crew were killed in the ensuing battle. Yet, though he had turned his back on the First Ones, They had not left him. Through Their guidance and his great skill, he was able to fight his way to the chamber where his wife was held.

"There, he found only her corpse; the noble woman had strangled herself with the sheets of her bed, rather than allow herself to be used as hostage against her husband and country." Threadar sighs quietly, the end of his muzzle drooping for a moment before he raises it to continue. "Insane with grief, Varcharius slaughtered the Golden Realm guards who came for him, and soon the remaining mercenaries fled, declaring that a demon spirit had come to possess the stronghold, and no victory could be achieved against it. And perhaps they were right."

Lochinvar fidgets a little on the seat he found, glancing over at the Vartans near him, since he couldn't get that near them. Finally managing to get to a point where his wings are comfortable, he looks back up and tries to listen to this sermon.

Aaron feels a bit stunned by the sermon, since it plainly talks of a Noble disobeying the word of the Astromancer. He nervously glances around for Temple Guards, and hopes he won't be arrested for attending.

"When the Captain-Astromancer learned what Varcharius Kelsie had done, he branded the man and his crew traitors for their disobedience. But the wisdom of the First Ones guided him to sentence them only to exile, and he forbade any of the Temple to pursue or threaten the former captain.

"Years passed. Varcharius remained at the fortress he had taken from the Golden Realm, for weakened by their long struggle with Rephidim, they lacked the forces to re-take such a difficult and strategically unimportant holding. Refugees gathered to the fortress, seeking to escape the war, and Varcharius permitted those who would work to remain. But his heart was cold, bitter, and filled by grief for all that he had done, and all that had happened.

"Eventually, the war ended. To solidify the new peace, the Captain Astromancer pledged the hand of his Chief of Security to a princess of the Golden Realm. All of the Bridge went to the wedding to celebrate the occasion.

"But the truce was a sham, and the wedding an ambush by the treacherous Realm. At the feast, they turned upon their guests and their honor guard and attacked them. All seemed dark indeed.

"Then Varcharius Kelsie, like a messenger of the First Ones, rallied the people of his fiefdom to arms, for he had suspected a trap and brought his men to the feast in the guise of servants. Courageously, they battled against the treachery of the Golden Realm, and through the grace of the First Ones, they enabled the Bridge to escape. But Varcharius was mortally wounded.

"As he lay dying of his injuries, he begged leave to speak to the Captain-Astromancer. When the Astromancer came, Kelsie told him, 'I am sorry.

"'I was wrong. I was a traitor and a fool to disobey your command, to turn my back on my country, my Temple, my commander, and the First Ones themselves. Even if had I been able to save my wife, I would still have been wrong … and I know now that she would never have forgiven my betrayal.

"'I cannot undo the wrongs of my past. Yet I am glad that the First Ones have shown me the truth of what I did, and that by their grace I was granted a chance to redeem myself. I will not ask your forgiveness, my Captain. It is enough to know that I die as my wife did, in the service of my country.'"

"Then the Captain-Astromancer answered him, saying, 'Though you do not ask it, you have it. I forgive you, old friend. May the Star guide you to your place in the Procession.' And so it was, for Varcharius Kelsie was elevated to sainthood for his courage and his deeds."

Lochinvar arches an eyebrow a little. It's not quite as preachy as he expected. Still, he'd rather not be here, though "encouraged to" by his superiors.

Ah, betraying and bloodshed, Aaron thinks. No wonder this priest's sermons are so popular.

Priest Threadar lets the silence linger for several moments, letting the story sink in while he shuffles the pages he has set on the podium, though he has not been reading from them. At length, he resumes. "As with all things, we have much to learn from the story of Saint Varcharius. What lessons do the First Ones have for us in his life?

"A common question is: Was Saint Varcharius truly in error when he tried to save his wife? After all, he was able to capture the fortress. He defeated the Golden Realm forces.Had his wife not committed suicide, he might even have rescued her.

"And yet, he would still have been wrong. It is our duty to obey the Temple and the Captain-Astromancer, for they have all the accumulated wisdom of the ages to draw upon, and access to resources we cannot imagine. Sometimes we may not understand their reasons. Sometimes the Temple may not be able to explain it to us in a way we can fathom, for we simply not have the inspiration and the understanding of the Bridge. We must accept that they know best, and do as they command.

"Does the fact that he defeated the Golden Realm change that? Does that mean the Captain-Astromancer was wrong to forbid him to try? No. If I waged a shekel against a shekel that I would score a thousand points in the first round of a game of Airships – and then I did so and won my bet – that would not make my wager wise. Unless I was using loaded dice." A little ripple of laughter goes through the audience, and Killian Threadar smiles, too. "The Temple has a responsibility to go with the odds. Chance may make events turn out otherwise than they predicted … but that does not mean the Temple was wrong to issue such a command. And it will not make a traitor right for disobeying." He delivers these words with a solemn earnestness, watching his congregation closely.

"Now, if Varcharius Kelsie turned his back on all that was right – turned his back on the First Ones Themselves – and betrayed Them, why did the First Ones preserve him? Why did They guide him, against odds so impossible that the Captain-Astromancer would forbid even the attempt, and let him succeed?

"Because the First Ones were not done with him. Saint Varcharius thought he was done with Them. He felt that They had betrayed him, by letting his wife be captured, by guiding the Captain-Astromancer's mind against a rescue. But no matter what we may think or feel about the First Ones, They are always with us. We may rail and cry out 'Why?'… " And here the Rhian lifts one fist above his head, looking upwards and shaking it. "… and we may swear that They do not exist, that They are cruel, or unjust, or hateful. But the First Ones are none of these things. They want us to succeed. They want us to understand Them, to find joy, and happiness, and satisfaction. In our folly, we may not realize these things. We are but mortal, and we misread Their signs. We disobey the Temple. We fall away from Their grace.

"But still, in Their divinity, They will work with us and through us. That is why, when Varcharius turned his back, the First Ones stayed with him. For They knew that he had once been a great servant of the Temple, and that even as far as he had fallen, he could yet be redeemed. For he was at heart a good man, though stubborn and wrong-headed. That is why the First Ones guided the Captain-Astromancer to spare his life, when others called for his execution. In time, the First Ones knew, Saint Varcharius would realize his wrongs, and he would come again to his place as defender and protector of the Temple, one last time."

Priest Threadar smoothes the front of his robe with one hand, squaring off his stack of paper. "Now, I would ask of you to remember the lessons of the Saint Varcharius Kelsie as you go about your daily lives. Not just to be dutiful to the Temple, as I know all of you always are – " He looks around as if in reprimand, but with a smile, and there's a little nervous laughter. " – but also to remember that mercy befits you, as it befit the Captain-Astromancer when dealing with Saint Varcharius. If your servant or friend or loved one has wronged you, even if you are certain they were the one in error – even if your betrayer has been unrepentant … remember all that they have done for you in the past. Remember that they may have reasons for the wrong they did, and while that is no excuse, still may it temper your judgement. And last of all, remember that your friend, like Varcharius, may yet have an important part to play in your life.

"Thank you again for your time, and may the First Ones guide and protect us all." Threadar bows, taking his sheets from the podium and stepping away to let a Technopriest take the stand and lead the congregation in a holy chant.

After the conclusion of the service, many people remain around, in small clumps, some of them discussing the sermon amongst themselves. Others look for a chance to talk to the priest, while some just schmooze or gossip with their own social circles.

The winged coyote pauses for a moment after the sermon ends. Common sense stuff, mainly, he thinks to himself. You don't need these First Ones for that. He wanders over to the Vartans again, hopeful in that some of them might be heading to a tavern.

Standing nearby, Aaron watches the groups and people around the priest. His main curiosity lies in which merchants try to catch the Rhian's ear … although of course he watches for any secret signs or coded messages. There's no telling what sort of conspiracies take place under the cover of piety after all.

One of the female Vartans seems quite taken with the espoused theology, and is in the process of trying to convert the somewhat less dogmatic cluster Lochinvar approaches. Kiltan, a dock worker and acquaintance from earlier times, edges away from her, trying to be inconspicuous. At spotting the winged Hekoye, he waves energetically and moves to intercept him before he can get caught in the theological discussion.

Lochinvar notices Kiltan making his way through the crowd towards him, smiles, and waves back.

The cluster around the priest is an eclectic group, ranging from nobles to merchants to common folk – even one Savanite – and Threadar doesn't seem to show especial attention to the nobles or the merchants. He listens to each in turn – which seems to unnerve and annoy those of higher station, accustomed to deference. One poodle lordling stalks off, petulant, as the Rhian explains some point to a poorly-dressed rat.

Aaron can't help but grin at this. He respects the Nobles … at least, the ones that earn their keep by actually defending the city … but doesn't mind seeing them humbled either. And the sermon was certainly humbling, in his opinion. He moves a bit closer so that he can see what the Savanite asks, and if Threadar can understand it.

Kiltan beams at Lochinvar. "Hey, great to see you again!" He chuckles, and adds more quietly, "Wouldn't've expected it to be at a place like this, eh?"

Lochinvar chuckles back at the Vartan and nods. "Yeah," he replies. "I wouldn't have expected me to be here either. What brings you here, though?"

He shrugs. "Keepin' up appearances. At least it wasn't too bad as lectures go, but I think I've had enough for one night." Kiltan glances back to the Vartans, where the light-beige female is still going on. "Some people take this just a little too seriously, y'knowhattamean?"

The winged Ranger looks over at the other Vartan too, and nods. "I kind of gathered that," he replies. "I didn't think it was too bad. The message at the end was something anyone could have figured out, though."

The Vartan beside Lochinvar nods in agreement. "At least he ain't telling us to go out and kill our mothers for the cause or anything," he concedes. "Still … I'm ready to go. Wanna come hit a tavern with me?"

Lochinvar chuckles and pats his old friend on the shoulder. "I've been hoping you might say that," he says. "Let's go."

The Savanite doesn't seem bent on catching the priest's attention – she merely hovers in the circle around him, watching him with eyes that seem to glow with admiration and devotion. Threadar attends to the questions of the vocal members among the cluster, and as Aaron nears them, his sharp ears catch one ask, " – think Captain Rockmore will be sainted, too?"

Aaron's ears both shoot up as he overhears Rockmore's name mentioned. Anything to do with Boomers always gets his immediate attention … and raises a few uncomfortable feelings of guilt as well.

The Lapi sidles a bit closer to hear more of the conversation about Rockmore.

The Rhian blanches at the mention of Rockmore's name, looking taken aback. "That – no, not at all," he says, trying to recover from the surprise. "I mean … I am only one priest, and I cannot say all that the Bridge and the First Ones have in store for us. But the Temple's position on Captain Rockmore has been firm since his crime: death. He was no Varcharius, bent on the rescue of a loved one from a known foe. He is a traitor who killed thousands of innocent civilians in a country Rephidim had newly made peace with. There are bounds on what can – and should – be forgiven."

A priest with an actual sense of morality, Aaronthinks as he hears Threadar's reaction. Must have been trained at some out of the way outpost, the Lapi figures.

Aaron makes his way into the circle, deciding to introduce himself to the priest after all. If he's from somewhere else, then maybe he misses some odd vegetables or spices from home.

The one who asked about Rockmore – a Rottweiler and a noble, by his appearance, tries to protest in defense of the captain, but Threadar has turned away from him to listen to a clerk. As the Lapi edges into the circle, a finger from behind taps on his shoulder.

Aaron nearly jumps at the tap, but manages not to squeak. He glances over his shoulder to see who wants his attention.

A white-feathered Korv-girl that Aaron knows as the waitress at an inn not far from his shop stands behind him, beaming at the Lapi, her beak parted. "Hi Mr. Lightfoot!" she chirps. Her name, if he recalls correctly, is Yoe, and she's an incurable gossip.

Aaron turns to face her, and smiles. "Oh, hello there … Yoe. Did you enjoy the sermon?"

"Mmm-hmm!" She bobs her head diligently, glancing to the priest from the corner of her eye, then back to the Lapi. She has that look of a person dying to bring up some especially juicy tidbit. "What did you think?"

"It was quite different from the sermons I remember from when I was a boy," the Lapi says. "A bit more … down to earth, I suppose. Practical. What did you think?" he asks the Korv, hopefully giving her an opening.

"I was just … entranced," she says, glancing to the priest again, who doesn't seem to be paying the two any attention. Yoe makes a small jerking motion with her left wing, indicating a cleared spot away from the crowds. "The message was so … forceful. Don't you think?" The Korv gestures to the same cleared spot with her beak, as if beckoning Aaron away from the others.

"Oh yes," Aaron agrees, nodding to the girl. "Very charismatic," he says and starts to move in the direction she's been pointing to. "Oh … since you're here, there's a new batch of herbs in you might want to tell your employer about. Come on over here and I'll tell you about them."

"Oh, of course!" the Korv says enthusiastically, hopping after him. As soon as they're clear of the crowds, she ducks her head conspiratorially and chirps, "Could you tell what he was really talking about?"

Aaron blinks at the odd question. "Oh … well … I assumed the story was meant to urge people to not be so quick to judge others for succumbing to … well … themselves."

Yoe waves her wings around in dismissal, then hunkers down further, putting a wing around his shoulders to whisper to him from behind its shelter. "No, no, I mean the real message. Well, maybe he meant that, too. But I'm betting this isn't just your standard preaching-to-the-masses lesson," she says, shaking her head emphatically.

Lowering his voice, Aaron whispers, "You mean … about how Nobles can still be traitors? Maybe reminding them that forgiveness comes at a very high price?"

"I mean about the Knights Templar!" Yoe says in a triumphant hiss, then glances quickly around before ducking her head again. "Knights ex-Templar, that is. You know how the Temple kicked them out, right, with nary a good-bye much less a thanks-for-everything?"

Aaron blinks at this. "Well … do you mean he's saying the Knights should … forgive … the Temple?" The Lapi's brow furrows as he tries to work this out. The Knights were always such distant figures to him, fighting and dying decently far away and keeping to themselves otherwise, except when they were busy fighting Plaguebringers and such.

"No … I think he means the Temple needs to be less, you know, hard on the Knights." Yoe wiggles her wing-finger,looking at Aaron for confirmation. "Way I figure it, the Knights probably did something bad to the Temple. I think – they may've even been helping Babel!" She claps a wing over her beak, realizing that she said that more loudly than intended, and she looks around worriedly.

"Helping Babel?" Aaron wonders, still whispering. "You mean that rumor that the Babelite Princess was in cahoots with Rockmore to drop the boomer on Babel? You think the Knights gave them the boomer?"

"Maybe! After all, wasn't it the Knights who rescued the boomer in the first place?" Yoe's eyes glow feverishly. "Plus, I heard that one of the Champions helped a Babelite Death-goddess escape from Temple custody!"

Aaron waves a hand, "Oh, that has just got to be nonsense. If a Goddess were in Rephidim, I'm sure everyone would have seen her. They'd be selling icons and stuff in the Bazaar. But the Knights have to be a bit crazy anyway, don't they? I mean … they're Knights, after all, with all those strange rules and whatnot."

The Korv pouts at Aaron's dismissal of her rumor. "Well … any road, I think there must be more to the story than we know. Like maybe the Knights had some reason for whatever they did, and Priest Threadar wants to make sure we don't end up just tossing them onto the Scrap Pile when they can still be of use to us."

"Well, I'm sure the Temple isn't just throwing them away," Aaron says. "But the parable does fit. I figured it was alla cover-up so that the Knights could rebuild their numbers in secret while Rephidim's enemies discounted them. Then they could strike when least expected … "

And so it goes, as the priest's sermon has prompted all sorts of conjecture about just why this was deemed a fitting message at this particular time…