Prayer of Thanks (Day 4, Early Afternoon, Open)

[Jayant Utpal]

Trailed by an increasingly more nervous and simultaneously annoyed heimin, Jayant makes his way up the steps of one of the many temples that fill the Temple District. The progress is slow with his limp and cane, but the Rhuumali continues on none the less. He has prayers to complete and offerings to give to the gods for delivering him safely back to the mainland.

[Rixy]

Far from the only penitent, Jayant finds himself surrounded by a press of others, most especially at the House of Durga. Though the people smile, there is worry in their eyes.

[Jayant Utpal]

Jayant quietly works his way through the crowd. Moving towards the temple of Indra with a slow but steady pace. There is little fear in his eyes, mostly mixtures of determination and resignation.

[Rixy]

Here, too, there was more activity than a city of such size would ordinarily see outside of a holy day. The Brahmin alone seemed serene as they tended their flock, though their protectors all seemed unusually watchful. Their weight shifting restlessly from foot to foot in readiness and even as Jayant watched, one lashed out a foot to viciously drop a hapless petitioner that had dared tug the robe of an elderly priestess in hopes of a personal blessing.

[Jayant Utpal]

Jayant didn't pay much heed to the business of brahmin and their protectors. They were higher station than he, and certainly justified in defending themselves from those of lesser station. He won't get the quiet prayer he may want, but he must pay his respects to the gods for their part in returning him to land.

He manages to force his way through the crowd and get to the front where he kneels in supplication with the rest of the penitents. He begins his prayers, precise and long as he prays for deliverance, and vengeance.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Looking for information about the state of the locals, rather than blessings from the heathen gods, Nobuyoshi walks about the temple district with the embassy provided interpreter.

Prayers to false gods may not be answered, but I know people often take solace in religion when they lose faith in their mortal leaders. Maybe Daikoku will grant me a bit of luck in learning something here. he ponders.

He watches the various goings on, trying his best to stay apart from them.

[Rixy]

The people, it seemed, were happy to flow around him as water flows around stone. Only those who, were he at home, looked like Togashi seemed to do otherwise...they watched Nobuyoshi with clear suspicion, the intensity of which only rose as he didn't make his way to one of the temples but stood about loitering instead.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi turns to his translator.

"Am I correct in assuming that I'm not allowed into a temple? I wouldn't think that just looking at the temples would be forbidden." he asks the translator.

[Rixy]

His 'aide' was a woman of indeterminate middle-age, plump and rather winded from the (to her) unaccustomed amount of walking. "Well, -sama...I'm sure I don't know...I don't go...into heathen temples. Want...that I should...ask?"

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods.

"Though if you can make it clear in your questioning that I'm simply interested in the artistry of the temples, rather than anything else, that would probably be best." Nobuyoshi instructs.

[Rixy]

With a bow, the woman waddled off to the nearest Temple, carefully skirting the edgy-looking warrior types in favor of some of the better-dressed patrons. She spent a few minutes moving from one to another until finally one of them brought her to one of the robed figures who, after looking where she pointed, nodded very slowly. After a round of incredibly obsequious bows, the woman returned to the Scorpion, slightly less out of breath but more flustered than before.

"The Lord Priest there says that you may enter but you may not wear your mask. Only villains do such, villains and criminals, and he wants none of those in his sacred place."

[Jayant Utpal]

Finishing his prayers, Jayant stands and moves over to one of the areas where the Brahmin are conducting mass blessings, wielding blades of Kusha grass to ward away bad spirits and purify the supplicants. From there he moves on to what almost looks like a lake of candles, where he bends down and offers another short prayer before lighting one of the hundreds of ghee filled lamps.

Finally, Jayant makes his way out of the temple of Indra. He looks briefly at the black temple and shivers slightly before he starts moving again, spotting the Rokugani in the midst of the throng of people. With a determined purpose he starts making his way through the crowd towards the Scorpion.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Hmm, well he may be a gaijin and a heretic, but you can't fault this High Priest's logic. Nobuyoshi ponders. I could take off my mask, but would I find anything more useful out inside there? Or I could just leave. But all I've learned here is 'People don't like foreigners.' Like that one there who seems to be heading this way with a determined purpose. Well let's stall a moment more and see what happens.

Nobuyoshi turns back to the translator.

"What are the areas that surround the temple district again?" Nobuyoshi asks the translator, doing his best to portray lost foreigner.

[Rixy]

If the woman noticed Jayant, she gave no sign.

"This is the finer part of town, -sama. Nearest to here are the homes of the Kshatriya, the equivalent of samurai, as well as their places of training. The path trod the other way would lead to the Market district."

[Volsung]

Jayant gets to the duo of Rokugani and performs a namaste to the pair. He speaks directly to Nobuyoshi, and lets the translator do her work. "He asks if you're from the fleet that rescued him. He wishes to thank you if so."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

To be thanked by a piece of driftwood...Still, orders.... Nobuyoshi considers.

Nobuyoshi bows politely.

"Yes, I am Bayushi Nobuyoshi, hohei of the Half Moon of the Fourth Flotilla of the Ninth Imperial Legion" Nobuyoshi offers. "I will be sure to pass on your thanks to those who pulled you out of the water and those who treated you in the Sick Bay."

"I assume you're here to offer your thanks to those above for such a fortunate rescue." Nobuyoshi says.

Nobuyoshi looks around at the many petitioners.

"Is it always this busy here?" he asks.

[Volsung]

Jayant smiles and then looks around the temple complex slowly, his smile fading slowly until he looks back at Nobuyoshi. He speaks and the translator does her job. "He says, yes, he is here to give thanks. He says that while his people attend temples regularly, this many is strange and indicates they suffer the sin of Fear."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi looks back at the translator.

"Did he say they suffer the sin of fear, or that they're afraid?" Nobuyoshi asks her. "I know that translations are not always accurate, but it could make a difference if he said the sin of fear, or if you're adding that for my own comprehension."

[Rixy]

The woman had the grace to look sheepish as she said, 'They are afraid, Bayushi-sama. My apologies, I am accustomed to softening things for the children of the Empire."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods.

"In normal times that would be appropriate. But if we're to learn what's really going on here, please translate what they say, and add explanations that make things more understandable, not more pleasant." he reminds the translator. "Although making what I say more pleasant is acceptable. I'd rather not start a fight with an entire gaijin port. "

He turns back to the gaijin.

"I'm sure you intend to inform the Captain of everything that's going on, out of gratitude for the rescue." Nobuyoshi says. "I would like to know what it is that has gotten so many afraid, however."