Armella contemplates her desire to go to Lenova, the Holy City, for some time. She ponders about going on a pilgrimage, to help encourage new enlightenment and get back on track. She wants to get away from all the chaos of running, and enjoy being back in civilization again.
Now the 1st of Readying, she takes a day or two to prepare her things, being rather private about it and not wanting to draw too much attention to herself. She silently makes her way through Forest Rend toward the nearest city east of the forest. She comes to the Barony of Arhau, where the cavalry came from initially to join and pledge themselves to their ragtag band at Castle Rend. From there, she is able to consign an airship to take her to Lenova. The very next day she departs, heading on a three-week journey to the Holy Land.
On the airship, there are several large clockwork automatons milling about, performing their various tasks with precision. There is a crew of about 12 men and 15 automatons total. The captain of the ship sees Armella, an imposing Paladin of Tarj, and approaches her respectfully. "Aye there, lass. Ye be headin' ta tha Holy Land, I see?"
Armella nods, "Yes, it's been too long since I've been there. It is nice to finally have the time." She responds politely. The last time she had been there was when she was still in training and that was at least 3 or 4 years ago.
"Well, ye picked a right good time to travel there! Wind's in our favor, see, and we have a good amount of luck on our side." He taps his forefinger to his temple, indicating his apparent smarts. "Customs is going ta be a nightmare, tho'," he notes with some apprehension. "So you say you've not been ta tha Holy Land in a while, eh? A strong seemin' paladin such as yerself has a lot on yer plate, I imagine."
Armella sighs, "Yes it has been quite a trying time. I am hoping that things will start to turn around for the better for everyone. I imagine it's hard to get around everywhere nowadays." She pauses, rubbing the back of her neck thinking of the last time they were able to move freely. "It does seem nice to be able to go around places though, have you seen interesting things on your travels?" Armella inquires.
"Sky whales! I've seen them a-plenty o' times," he remarks. "I've seen the tides a changin' in this world, but one thing does not change: the see and the sky. Always there!" He takes a step forward, and offers his hand. "I fear I've been a bit rude, not introducin' m'self proper. I'm Capt. Jans Merckels, and this here airship is The Cloud Prancer." He smiles, revealing a few missing teeth and some golden ones in his grin. His beard is scraggly, and his eyes are sharp.
"Ah, Armella Kolbe, It's a pleasure to meet you Captain. You have a fine ship," She smiles back accepting his hand.
He shakes her hand steadily and firmly. "The pleasure be mine, Paladin Armella Kolbe! Now," he says, breaking the handshake, "our heading's due north of here. We'll be flying through Krussin aerospace, and finally to Lenova. We be needing to have our best behavior on!" He smiles and winks, and turns to head back to his post. "Oh! Miss Paladin, do ye think ye could offer a prayer of safety and blessin' to the great Tarj on our behalf?" He rubs the back of his neck. "I uuuuh...well, I reckon Tarj wouldn't hear out a scallywag like m'self, but He would definitely hear out one of His esteemed Paladins!"
Armella smiles warmly, "It would be my pleasure to do so. Though I'm sure Tarj would listen to anyone who requests His assistance."
The captain chuckles at that. With that, he calls his crew together. "Gents! Here be an honored guest on our vessel! She be offerin' the Great Tarj a prayer of safety and good will--a blessing for our trip to Lenova. Gather round, and let's have reverence while she prays!" The crew gathers in a large circle around the captain and herself. All have their hands folded and heads bowed.
Armella takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, bowing her head. "Great Tarj, we ask that thou wilt bless us on our journey that we may have fair weather and to arrive at our destination in safety."
With a quiet, resounding 'amen,' the crew disperses and returns to their various posts and jobs about the airship. Capt. Merckels smiles broadly. "Always a pleasure to be party to a prayer from one of Tarj's own!" With that, he excuses himself politely, heading out to other parts of the ship. After that prayer, sincere and guileless, her armor and weapons seem to shimmer more, as if they'd been properly polished.
She take it easy on her journey, dabbling in the Sacred Lodestar, seeking to be at one with her God. His words are comforting to her as she reads them, and she finds solace in their messages, both direct and hidden.
The days go by, the sun rising and setting peacefully to mark the beginning and the end. It's interesting...everything has its beginnings and endings, and all things are ordered according to the mind and will of Tarj. She can't help but marvel at the beauty and glory of this disjunct place called Terra, with its wars and warring nations, strifes, grief, heartaches, sorrows...Yet there is so much of good and light in this world as well! She'd just happened to be the unfortunate recipient to the woes of this world, in more ways than she could count. But count she does as she ponders on the beauties of this Terra. The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful...it's all one eternal round to Tarj the Wise, as He sees all things before him as one eternity.
Armella finally arrives at the Holy City of Tarj in Lenova.
She organizes her things for the day to get ready for customs and to make sure she hadn't misplaced anything on the trip. Once ready, she goes onto the deck to find the Captain to thank him for the safe journey.
"Miss Paladin, I take you have everything you need then? We'll be landin' soon, and you'll not want to forget yer effects." With that, he deftly maneuvers the airship down into Lenova-space, and brings the machine to a standstill in one of the many aero-docks in the city.
Lenova is HUGE! It is beyond the wildest dreams of anyone wishing to travel the world. It stands with its bastion-white towers and sun-bleached walls, a massive monument to the Holy Tarj. Hundreds of thousands of people dwell here, and hundreds of thousands more dwell outside the walls. The Holy City dwarfs even the most densely populated metropolitan centers of any one of the great nations of Terra. To the average first-timer to the city, it is overwhelming to say the least! To anyone who has been here before, it is like coming home. Armella departs the airship, and heads into the city proper.
At customs, she is stopped and asked to produce identification, papers, emblems, or other material possessions denoting who she is.
"Papers please," calls the customs agent, his nose buried in a newspaper, slightly distracted. He looks up at her and smiles wide. "Aaaaah! You look official!"
Armella silently hands him her church identification documents, slipping back into her old imposing Paladin-self.
"Oh...Oh! Paladin Martial 3rd Class! I should've known one of the great Martial Classes was arriving in the Holy City today! My, my! I may have a missive for you, Paladin Kolbe, hold on..." The scrawny customs agent pads around his desk for a moment and produces a slip of paper that is folded neatly, and has the Holy Symbol wax-sealed onto the back side. "An officially unofficial missive from the Church, if you will!" He chuckles slightly.
Armella tilts her head just slightly before moving to accept the letter. "Thank you, do you require anything else?" She asks calmly, not wanting to seem in a rush to move on.
"No, not at this time. Welcome to the Holy City, Paladin Armella Kolbe!" With that, he leans back in his seat and motions for the next patron to come along. Armella nods and moves out of the way to go into the city.
Armella wanders along the main roads for a bit before stopping at a tavern. Once at a table she orders something to eat and open the letter. It reads:
"To Our Most Esteemed Martial Paladin:
Your voice is a rallying cry; your strength, a beacon of hope. We sincerely wish for all the greatest blessings Tarj has to offer upon you, and hope you have found yourself to the Holy City in peace, whenever you decide to come back.
Herein this missive is an unofficial summons to the Grand Temple of Tarj by the Wise Triumverate, for it is time you received your due awakening.
The awakening is a process by which a Paladin must prove his or her undying loyalty to Tarj the Wise, and must complete a great mission or task set out before him or her.
Upon arriving at the Holy City, please find your way to the Grand Temple.
Always Yours in Tarj the WIse,
The Holy Trium