Prayer - Draven/Harlowe/Ke'lal

When it came to the topic of faith down here in the beneath, Harlowe had done what overhearing he could regarding who the Haedians prayed to, and found a stark contrast between the Empyreans and them. Oris or Empyria— Harlowe had no idea. He wanted to do his part and bring any offerings the Haedians required to make their prayers; carrying any valuables, lighting candles and braziers, making whatever good impression they could for Oris’s adorned shrine. A menacing god, Harlowe could only think at the sight of it all, but he said nothing aloud. He figured he would offend more than one angry head if he did. Ke’lal seemed utterly devoted, and admittedly frightening with his intensity, so Harlowe kept closer to Draven, though not even he welcomed his presence. 

Nevertheless, Harlowe kept his head high enough and put one paw in front of the other as he followed along Ke’lal’s instruction on decorating and showing his faith to Oris.

__

Ke’lal was devout. He’d been devout from the moment he’d been plucked from his mother once his eyes had opened, young and impressionable to be molded into the ideal Order member. Or in his case, Guard. He’d had their history drilled into his head, the way Oris had offered them salvation when they were trapped and cut off. How it was thanks to his mercy that they still lived to this day. So really, there was no question or doubt on who he would be praying to for aid once more. It was exhilarating going through the steps of the ritual, lighting the large braziers and procuring the most lavish and expensive of gold and offerings. 

Draven was… not as devout. In fact, he was wary of praying to Oris. He was not blinded by faith, and could see the very prison the god’s help had turned into for their Matriarch. Ke’lal had taken the charge, though. Trying to pray for Empyria while he had the almost crazed flame in his eye would simply turn the other haedian into a very real threat to him and Harlowe both.

“Do not blindly agree to anything,” Draven warned as he lowered his head to speak quietly to the vayron, eyes on Ke’lal as the Guard poured an aged wine over some of the gold. “Not if you value your life. Oris demands a high price- ritual battles and sacrifice are amongst the offered items. I will refuse for us, should he pose the question of a fight. Control your alarm when he returns bloody, though.”

He would help Harlowe with making the altar and offerings look proper while Ke’lal went off to participate in his ritual battle. Something he doubted the vayron would want to witness.

—

It was a dizzying thrill, not a pleasant one, when Harlowe got the run down of Ke’lal and Oris worship whispered to him. Compact and to the point, Draven made his point and Harlowe could only internally agree to his advice whenever Ke’lal would look their way. Harlowe finished putting his brought offerings on the shrine, before sitting back and waiting for the Order guard to leave for his ritual fight. When he was out of the immediate area, the duve leaned to Draven, voice still quiet in case Ke’lal has superior hearing and catches him talking through the walls. 

“What of Empyria, then? I hear many praying to her down here now, mostly thanks to the Empyreans. Would you rather pray to her?” His question was as genuine as an inquisitive child, so lost on all the deep details of Vitalus’ history. There wasn’t a shrine here for the other goddess, that much Harlowe could expect from the Oris devotees, but were there any erected somewhere in the clans now?

—

Draven’s eyes widened a fraction when Harlowe suggested they pray to Empyria… while in the Order territory, before a lavishly displayed altar to Oris himself that was simply missing the final touches. The Watcher knew the vayron didn’t fully understand the gravity of the conflict between the gods, but… to suggest such a thing here? Now? 

“I would rather keep my head upon my shoulders,” Draven responded back just as quietly, ears straining for the sound of Ke’lal’s return. “If Empyria is who you wish to pray to, then I suggest you keep quiet and follow the path back the way we came. There are more than just Ke’lal here who are devoted to Oris with the same intensity.”

“… If you wish to try praying to both, perhaps I can help you find others of like mind to assist you later. After Ke’lal has gone off to complete his patrols.” Draven added after a moment of thinking and listening, able to hear the distant sounds of fighting even from where they were at. “The Druids and Tranquil will likely be much more to your taste than the Order.”

It was not much longer before Ke’lal returned, sporting new wounds but clearly victorious as he placed a… bloodied something upon the altar. Draven did not look too closely to figure out what, but the almost crazed look in the Guard’s eye paired with the heavy scent of blood and death told him everything he needed to know. Ke’lal had been successful, and would waste no further time before starting the prayer.