#elsewhere

the knights nod on guard

When they reach the door, August rings the bell.

The decor is rich, lush, decadent, a cross between victorian and Hefneresque

Well, the door was opened for them by Boris. (Sorry, still want to ring the bell? I thought you'd gone in)

(I thought they were inside, too.)

(I think we proceed inside.)

OOC Nope! I'm good with being inside.

INSIDE: August looks around as well, kenning and observing.

(Okay. No bell rung) the place has high ceilings. Kennnig reveals much...

cantrips are laced through out the place... ones of lust, worship for one in particular, and worse... a terrible apathy for past loves.... but forunately, it is all keyeed to Sons of Adam.

August is relieved on one level and infuriated on another.

Coradel is looking for the quickest route to the room where August had indicated the bare-chested man had stood by the window.

August looks around to see who is nearby, taking in the situation.

"We should hurry," Coradel murmurs to August. "We have the advantage of surprise."

He nods, still seeking to find a way to identify the culprit.

there are men here and there in decent number , from middle age to college. They have paled marks on ring fingers where once wedding bands sat. their outfits are somewhat revealing, and now and then ridiculous. they clean, they cook, a few practting music or art, but there's little true creaion in it

Coradel takes in the scene and quickly identifies them, "Pets," before tugging August in search of this Goddess.

He nods and goes with her to search.

There are, Coradel realizes, no women. Huh,some sex cult to be so lopsided. Whoever is behind this, if it's a Fiona, it's not a good one

in either sense of the word 'good'

August finds a library, it's an abomination...what's trending, rather than whatt's dear. Books not as bringers of knowledge or joy, but to satisfy prestige or ego

Only one book in it stands out, a rather plain brown tome flickering with gglamour

Well, I suppose there's no accounting for preference, she allows silently. She leans close to one of the pet-men they pass. "You know where She is, don't you." It's more a statement than a question, more like a test.

The man coradel finds is dressed in a maid's outtfit. No harm in that but she suspects he's an object of mockery rather than personally delighhted by the feel of what he wears. "the goddess? Of course, but she has not summoned me so I do not go"

August lingers a moment on that book, looking more closely before he touches. But touch, he must.

"You know your job," Coradel says with gentle approval to the man. Her attention is drawn by August's attention to the book.

He glances at her, then back to the book.... and unless he's noticed something that argues against it.... reaches out to take and hold the book.

the book, to touch it is to touch glamour, forr it is a rich repository of dross.... opening the book , pagess unfold... at first the story seems full of love- the search, the learning, growing beyond desire... but then the story changes, a woman's pain , fear of losing her love, and self loathing she could not keep it. This is not glamour from the husbands , but from the wives left behind! itt is chronicled ravaging turned into a book, each chapter a different wife who has had her man stolen from her by magic

As Coradel realizes what this is, August can almost feel her rage radiating off her.

August is a reserved man, not given to public displays. He is temperate, even-keeled. In this case, however.... 'white-hot ice' would be a fitting description.

"Bring it with us," Coradel says in a dark whisper. "We will use it against this fiend when we find her."

"I will make whoe er is responsible eat this." he vows.

this is an offense to Liam and Fiona alike. this goddess collects the men not for even mere lust's sake, but because of the pain it causes.

She looks to the kept-maid-man again. "Bring us to her. Now."

The look in her companion's eyes promises a Very Bad Time if her order is not obeyed.

"No, Wait..."

"What is your name?" she asks the maid-man.

"No. I obey only the goddess. All other women are..."But then he notes the fury in their eyes. One does NOT gaze straight at impassionned sidhe and not feel it "I.. I a.. she calls me Cosette." A swallow

"The name you had before she renamed you," she clarifies impatiently.

"Victor" he says

"And the wife you once had? Her name?" she demands.

he shrugs "She means nothing anymore... I was told never to speak it unless the goddess says so"

"Take us to her, Victor." he speaks in frozen tones.

Coradel frowns, but turns to look at the book, flipping pages with her free hand to see if she can find Victor's name.

"Just a second...."

And she finds the story, the story of Victor and Antonia.... how loved he made her feel.

Victor mutters "Only to obey the goddess"

Without pause, Coradel tears the page out of the book, and uses her teeth if she must to rip it to pieces, watching for any effect on Victor as she does so.

gllamour flows and cascades about them...love and pain of loss mingle!

Whether tthey want to drink of this is their business