01-18 to 01-19 963: Art in the City of the Gods

As night was falling, the party arrived in the city of Stenbalan. Walking across the massive central square to the Temple of Avandra, Father Ilatris led everyone to meet with Laren Albis, Bishop of the Changebringer. Laren thanked everyone for ensuring Father Ilatris' safe arrival and offered them lodging at the Priest's Quarters. With a promise of payment the next morning, everyone found their way to a much needed rest, which was aided for some by a pillow beneath the knees.

After a mostly uneventful night under a solid roof and a on a nice bed. The ever-vigilant Dr. Venma noticed an orange glow coming from Nexus's chest in his sleep and woke him abruptly, only for Nexus to explain that it was a natural thing for him, and that it was part of his connection to the earth.

Once morning came, Nexus began preparing his spells while Sinata showed Chedvah his favorite restaurant in the city and Dendra and Luci returned to the Temple of Avandra. Venturing out into the Rittens, town outside the eastern walls where many middle/lower-middle income people live, Sinata led the way to The Dive. Over a meal of deer meat and cold fish soup, Sinata and Chedvah talked about why they each were travelling, their goals, and whether they would each continue travelling after their current tasks were done. Chedvah shared that she was just trying to make a living and make the world a little bit of a better place, which was a sentiment Sinata shared.

Meanwhile, Dendra and Luci met with Bishop Albis and learned what was going on with the new Bishop of Pelor. Albis spoke about Bishop Hugh Torrannes and his recent campaign against the wealth of the church and the decadence in its hierarchies. Because of this, he has gained a growing following among the city's poor and downtrodden. Albis also mentioned that ever since one of Pelor's Clerics was seen to go mad and disappear into the unexplored wilderness of the Westerlands during the Thondrin Expedition, the prestige of Pelor's clergy has been somewhat dampened. Albis feared that if this new Bishop continued to undermine the Church that it could cause serious damage to the Twelvefold Sanctuary and the clergy of Pelor. Answering Dendra's questions about the previous Bishop, Albis recounted that his passing was anything but peaceful, with severe fever, delusions, and night terrors. After bidding farewell, Luci and Dendra collected their payment of 300 gp before returning to the Priest's Quarters. Along the way, Dendra revealed that she is in contact with celestials in service to Pelor, and that they had been acting strangely lately, which Luci was understandably confused by at first.

Once everyone was together again they visited Arcane Good & More. The proprietor identified Nexus's Toe Bone of Galmatrinox the Cruel as nothing more than a bone with Nystul's Magic Aura cast upon it, a discovery for which Nexus vowed revenge on Luxus Brucavion before buying paper and ink. Dendra stopped by Morr Metalwork looking for a better set of swords, and also ended up at Arcane Goods & More. She had the proprietor identify the ring given to her by Mattathias, and it was determined to be an object made purely of magic, rather than an object which was imbued with magic.

Before going to get some lunch at The Dive, Sinata visited Bishop Albis to request a cleric see him that evening. On the way through Ritten, a beggar approached the group looking for charity. Luci gave him a gold piece, and asked what there was for entertainment in the city. Though a bit confused as why this apparently wealthy young man was asking him what he should do for fun, he pointed out the Theater District and alluded to some fights which happen in the east end of Ritten.

After lunch, everyone headed to the Temple of Pelor to speak with the Bishop and check out what was going on. After a brief discussion with some priests, during which Luci went off with one on an art tour, the Bishop arrived and saw them in his study. Dendra informed the Bishop of her mission and inquired what he had been doing. According to the Bishop, the wasteful opulence of the church is a dereliction of their duty and he is merely carrying out the will of the Dawnfather. Meanwhile, Luci was actively engaging with Priestess Berna's art tour. Berna proved very enthusiastic about the art of the Temple, and seemed reservedly frustrated that the Bishop took his campaign of poverty to the Temple's art collection. Luci caught up with the party outside the temple after setting up a 'date' to look at the art of the and a brief conversation on the meaning of art was had. before Sinata returned to Berna. In his typical intense fashion, this masked man inquired why art has value and was brought to the conclusion that art and religion give people reasons to live.

As the party headed back to the quarters they were staying at, Luci purchased some painting supplies and a Mask of the Muse of Comedy