Radiant-001

Resplendent Earth

• Different cells of the Cult send the potential Illuminated they've rescued to the sanctuary in the Dehennen Mountains.
• 12th Day: The Solars enter the mountains, each of their own accord. They are told to seek the light in the mountains that can be seen from the highest places in the mountain range, and are given a blanket, rope and five days of food and water. They set out.
  • Dolorous Distich summons the ghost of an old mountaineer to help guide him through the treacherous passes.
  • Starfish draws on old stories he's read about prospectors in these mountains.
  • Both Sun's Red Hand and Kyrra rely on old tracks to show them safe routes through.
• 13th Day: After a frigid night, they continue their trek.
  • Dolorous Distich's prayer to the Unconquered Sun is answered, and a gleam of light even during the day carries him through, getting ever closer.
  • Starfish and Kyrra encounter one another along the way, and after some hesitation, continue on together. They are eventually met by one of the Vale Rangers, Rightful Envoy, who indicates that he was out following up a report regarding demons, which roam this area of the mountains. He takes them to a small hamlet in a secluded, sheltered vale, where they find hot food, cheery hearth and warm beds awaiting them.
• 14th Day: Sun's Red Hand and Dolorous Distich continue their trip.
  • Starfish wanders out into the hamlet and helps tend to simple repairs that they need help with. They look on in awe as he does so.
  • Towards evening, Dolorous Distich encounters a Vale Ranger, Winter's Arrow. She guides him to the hamlet as well, where he shares a meal with Starfish and Kyrra.
• 15th Day: Sun's Red Hand continues his trek.
  • While Starfish continues to tinker while they wait, Dolorous Distich inquires if there's anyone who needs the services of one of Sijan's Morticians. There are two families with recently-deceased family members, who are appreciative of his services.
  • Finally, toward evening, Red encounters a Vale Ranger, Swift Dawn, who takes him to the vale for rest and warm food.
• 16th Day: Winter's Arrow greets them in the morning and takes them through the Vale. It is a beautiful place, well-sheltered from the worst of winter storms, with plenty of hot springs.
  • They are greeted with awe and reverence by adults of the villages they pass through, and by excitement from the children.
  • Arrow explains to them that these are all people of the Cult of the Illuminated - few of them were actually born here. Most of them came here from elsewhere, when membership in the Cult became too dangerous, and they had no other place to go.
  • Halfway through the Vale, they can see a massive gold and white marble edifice on a sheer cliff that overlooks the end of the Vale. This is the Sequestered Tabernacle.
  • As they approach, they can see a zig-zagging staircase cut into the side of the cliff. At the bottom, two figures await them: a scruffy blonde young man and a seven-foot tall man made of granite.
  • They introduce themselves as Venerable Silk, the Seneschal of the Secluded Tabernacle and Defiant Eminence, the God of the Dehennen Mountains. They exchange pleasantries, and begin the staircase climb.
  • As they climb, Silk tells them of the place of the Solar Exalted in the Cult of the Illuminated - not all Solars are considered Illuminated, but those who might be are desperately needed as heroes.
  • The training of the Cult is hard, and he would not blame them if they left - which they are free to do at any time. But if they stay, they have much to offer them.
  • Halfway up, a monk greets them with a platter of spicy, frothy milk drinks in earthenware mugs.
  • At the top of the stairs, they are greeted my monks in black, brown, red and blue robes, who all bow.
  • Silk then formally asks them if they will accept the training and entry into the Temple, and they accept. They do so, and are stripped and given simple black wraps and then ushered into the Temple.
  • They are taken to a bathing chamber, scrubbed with cold water and lye soap, and then given some time in a hot bath, drawn up from springs beneath the Tabernacle, along with wine and a platter of fruit and cheese.