Characters: Cynis Hrath, Mnemon Koal

Cynis Hrath saves Mnemon Koal's soul from following a path of darkness and suffering.  "The road to the Underworld is paved with good intentions."

     Mnemon Koal is found in a bunker of rooms in the barracks at Garrison Heights that he requisitioned for use in the investigation using his DragonLord status, a constant frown of concentration leaving crevices in his brow like pock marks on the face of Luna. The investigation obviously wears at him and his normal proper uniform is stained in patches with grave dust and incense. Papers with notes are spread all over haphazardly and clay models of GreyFalls with people at different positions are arrayed therein in painstaking detail...lots of them...you can tell it is local Sandy Rivers clay that he purchased in /bulk/. Koal had sent a runner previously to the Temple to inform Hrath where to find him if Hrath found anything out and the guards are expecting to let people through with information on the investigation. Although, who would stop a monk coming to talk over the scriptures with the soldiers.

          Hrath marches down the halls to where Koal is, his heavy jade grieves echo loudly down the corridor with perfect rhythm. He aproaches the door and it sqeees open slowly, where he sees Koal sitting in concentration. He walks over to Koal, gives a slight bow and sits in a meditative pose before him. "I have been hearing rumors, I am disappointed that they seem to be true" he says with a calm cool voice, he glares out from under his hood, his face is emotionless and distant.

     Mnemon Koal sighs with relief and also assumes a meditative pose, natural calmness resurfacing. "Greetings Brother Hrath, it is good to hear that you have news. It seems that I have hit a wall I can't pass and need a keystone to strike to solve this riddle. Perhaps you have the clues I need. What have you discovered?," He awaits calmly in unsuspecting anticipation.

          "I have not discovered anything new alas, but I am not here for that, I am here on a matter of faith, do not worry I don’t mean you any harm, I simply wish to talk" he says matter of factly without breaking eye contact "Now let us be honest with each other, please tell me if the rumor that you have been talking to the spirits of the departed is true."

     Mnemon Koal seems surprised at the question. "Of course, I didn't know if this was something sent through the ether from Thorns. I took it upon myself to face the ancestors of GreyFalls and hold them accountable if they were involved in this in any way.

"Most of this city does not have proper warding." Koal says this very seriously as if it should be a stain on GreyFalls record."

          "Communing with the dead is neither wise nor tolerated by the order, do you know why they are spirits and haven’t passed on? Because they refuse to leave their ties with our world, and contacting them only makes the problem worse, it is best to leave them be or send them on, and if people left them be they would pass on." he says with a stern look as he sits unmoved.

     Mnemon Koal 's eyes and posture remain fixed with yours, the blackness around his eyes so deep it has almost become a permanent stain. He answers calmly an straightforward, "I understand what you are saying, I'm not part of an ancester cult. But the ghosts are there, whether we want to admit it or not. I couldn't risk the chance of some deathknight from Thorns waltzing in to conquer Greyfalls in our moment of division and weakness. Our troops are thinned in the territorries and in continueing conflict with Deled as we speek, although I do not know the details. It looked so much like anathema magic. I swear to you, I didn't know it was poison, there was no evidence for that. The ghosts turned out to be the only witnesses.

          "You missunderstand me, I know ghosts exist, we are not ignorant" he says as his eyes narrow a bit "You look drained, you need rest, but please, there are other ways to investigate. What you do only reinforces the bonds the spirits have to this world, and stops them from passing on, causing more suffering for everyone involved, the ghost causes unnecesary grieve with thier families and suffer themselves. I strongly suggest you quite this practice, for the good of all the living, I am not accusing you on anything, just humbely asking that you stop perpetuating the suffering of people, suffering which anathema may wield as weapons.

      "I have no intention of speaking more with spirits. I only did what I did because I was desperate and ignorant at the reality of the situation. As it stands, there was a grave danger that much of the Blooded could have been wiped out in this city if I hadn't acted so quickly, and Kyrie still isn't sure...we have what may be a little bit of antidote, but not enough, and it has to be administered immediately as the person begins to die. If all the Host fall at once..." a shiver like a mini-avalanche travels up his spine. Hrath knows Koal faced an anathema directly in combat and almost died without flinching. What ever he's seen must have truly terrified him."

          Hrath stares at Koal for a short while "Well it seems we agree then, I dearly hope to never discover such rumors to be true about you again, although I see the good intention in your actions, might I remind you the road to the underworld is paved with good intentions" he says as he gives a slight sigh "Now I ask you to please come with me and pray at the temple in pennance for your actions, so we can cleanse your body and spirit.

      Mnemon Koal nods in aggreement.,"Of course. I can't proceed further at the moment and I'm having trouble thinking clearly as was made evident by your having to come here to counsel me. Thank you for your efforts and your concern. A mountain cannot stand on a foundation of sand. I would only ask whether you were able to find anything out about possible anathema that may use supernatural poisons. We still don't know where or in what specific fashion the crime was perpetrated, so subtle and terrible was it."

          "I am afraid I have no leads, sorry" he says, then after a long pause he stands up and offers a hand to Koal, "Please come join me in prayer"

     Mnemon Koal accepts your hand warmly. A comfortable silence enfolds the two as they walk to the temple.