[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Spiritmon]

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Heart finds a docent in the library who is there to answer questions. Along the way, he sees some sizable dents in the ceiling. He's not entirely sure what could have caused that.

The docent explains. "Those are Pahar! They were imported from the Tandor region at great cost, financed entirely by donations! Their purpose? To light all the candles and lanterns of the Cathedral! These are the second generation of Pahar. We actually have a book about the Cathedral's history with them in it."

He shows you a book with pictures of a big crate labeled "Creshire Cathedral" and stamped with a pic of the Cathedral. Some beaks are poking out, and the crate is smoldering.

"Should know it. They are quite pretty. Also, aside from the Pahar, I meet a person in Star City who own a Gargryph. He say he have caugh around here in the Cathedral. There a chance it exist some type of pokemon here in this place?"

Heart was quite curious about the book. "Could I take a look in this book? To read a bit?" Depending in the respost Heart going to read that book or not.

"Gargryph? I don't know what that is. Is it a Pokemon? We mostly just get Starly and the occasional Murkrow here. Yes, all books in this library are available to read, but they may not leave the building. There are comfortable chairs in the next room. Some consider reading to be a form of worship."

This Cathedral predates Sarimanok by about two hundred years, making it 900 years old. When the League arrived, they had to force out a bunch of Ancient Unown and some ghost Pokemon haunting the place. There are crypts underneath the cathedral, not accessible to the public, where many holy men and women are buried. Once a decade, they choose someone new to inter in the crypts, a great honor. 

If you have more questions, the book will answer them!

"Yes they are. Gargryphs is some kind of gargoyle pokemon. They offten make home in cathedals like this one. They are Tandorian pokemon too. They may be mistaken as simple statues. Because of that they are pretty rare."

When reading that book Heart was quite curious. "Another part about Saminarok story....that guy was quite great. Hmmm..." Then Heart look again to windows where there the vitralls with the images of might legendaries. "Acordding to what Nathan say, Saminarok have some kind of pact with Trio Lake Pokemon and a few other legendaries. What other kind of Legendary...wait a minute..." Heart then begin to search in the books. "May have Saminarok make somehow contact with Legendary pokemon from Tandor? Or even more..." Then Heart look again. "If Saminarok was able to befriend the Lake Trio, the pokemon who is old as Arceus, may Saminarok make pact with Palkia or Dialga? Or even with Reshiram or Zekrom? I need to see a little more about Saminarok past. This may help me to understand what we might find."

This book makes little mention of Sarimanok, but Arceus, Palkia, Dialga, and Reshiram are all on the stained glass windows. 

You find a book that explains a little more about the religion of Sarimanok. It does briefly mention that Sarimanok sent envoys to Tsukinami Village to learn more about two supposed legendary Pokemon called Aotius and Mutios, yin and yang deities. 

Sarimanok was known to befriend the Lake Trio, indeed, and he often researched Jirachi and the Legendary Golems. He was also allied with a group of Legendary Pokemon called the Royal Trio, representing Royalty, Kingdom, and Knighthood. This trio had a trio master which Sarimanok had an extremely close friendship with, to the point where he could summon her (it was usually described as female in aspect). However, he kept the exact species of his Legendaries a closely guarded secret, considering their worship as a trio his own private religion. 

The only one this book can identify is the Pokemon of Kingdom, Landorus, because they eventually had a falling out and Landorus broke away from the trio into exile. Landorus planned to use his power to start a new alliance of Pokemon who would revere nature properly, as it was meant to be. Sarimanok sought to replace this natural force with a Legendary Bird, fire/ice/lightning, but may not have succeeded.

Arceus, Palkia, and Reshiram have all received adulation in Creshire, but most inhabitants are somewhat areligious or think of deities as being part of nature.

The book also surmises that Pokemon may have been more powerful in the old days. It makes mention of records on certain particular Pokemon which may refer to the way Pokemon used to be, rather than how they are today. Of course, science was less precise back then, too.

Sarimanok's fleet of religious scholars worked hard at this problem, and came to the conclusion that Pokemon's blood was now weaker, and that Sarimanok's own royal blood would weaken over generations.

I don't know if Heart is still there or not, but the description is about the same. Candles are still unlit - oh, this is what has attracted the Combee! Both of them go flitting around the white candles, sampling the wax. Each of them finds a favorite and takes a mouthful back with them. 

Morning is the most popular time for worship of any kind. Most of Nathan's family and friends from Trillium would probably hold stock in the simple spirituality that holds various Pokemon as various avatar's of nature's strength, or its caretakers. Arceus and company are the most powerful avatars, the more literal avatars, but very few people in the country have anything like a religious symbol for them, nor do they pray to 'em or swear by 'em. 

As the cultural capital, Cress City is bound to support every style of worship practiced in the region.

The Cathedral: 
 - Indoline Praetorium (Day) - Xenoblade Chronicles 2 
 - Indoline Praetorium (Night) - Xenoblade Chronicles 2
(The extended versions that I found weren't looped super well, sadly.  Day version is primarily female vocals, Night is male.  Take your pick!)

Lyrics if you are curious

Our eternal land is keeping us in warm embrace
Some must carry our cause we know

And some must face the dark
It's in Father's wishes we live
Let us come together
We must never give up

Let those people see
Guide the ones who cannot hear
Voices guide us through
Words from above, we are the chosen ones

We are softly
Hear us weeping
Safely at our hearts we
Sleep in silence
We're not fearing
I won't feel sad, while I just mind
Guardian angels they too will keep us safe.

The path we chose is cold and the dark has no place to dream
Must we go on?
Will we ever prevail and smile in peace?

(Well, @Spiritmon?  Think Nathan and Heart would run into each other here by pure coincidence?  He might be interested in hearing some of what Nathan has to say while he's here, ya know...up to you, though)

Nathan chuckles at that.  Well, so long as they aren't causing any trouble, it should be fine.  Speaking of which..."Well, here we are, Furret.  Let's take some time to relax and reflect and let Forthright regain a little energy.  We'll head to the Castle when we're done here.  Just make sure to take extra care that we don't disturb anyone who might be here, alright?  That goes for you too, Forthright."

Yeah, Nathan's a bit weird for a Creshirean, as usual.  While he shares that faith for the most part, he has his own twists on them, though they're still mostly in line with everyone else's in his family.

Nathan takes some time to meditate with Ralts, quietly reflect on things.  Orthros quietly sits nearby as well.  The bees and Forthright are free to relax however so long as they're not causing any trouble.  Furret should hopefully be keeping an eye on Forthright and keeping the both of them relaxed/out of trouble.

Heart's free to notice Nathan and approach if he wishes.  He'll get to listen in on the next thing I have planned for Nathan and company while they're here if he does.

(I think there is no problem @Dragonstrike. There might some information Heart want share with Nathan what he discover about Sarimanok.)

Heart take a few notes about Sarimanok. This information is quite good. When he was going to exit, he notices a presence. Koa, Patrat and Viktor was enjoying be out of the pokeball. He careful aproach to not startle Nathan, since things is getting a little better. Conflict is something Heart dont want. "Uh, heya Nathan. Sorry to bother you."