Naes Inuus ushered Bob back into the Temple of Beauty, making small talk in an engaging fashion that had Bob’s head spinning. With Naes on his arm, the environs of the Temple of Beauty seemed to hit him as if for the first time - a pleasant herbal scent of spice and steam, a variety of scents - sandalwood, vanilla, rose, sweet pea, passion fruit, and just the slightest hint of amaretto - that enticed more than overwhelmed. The soft plucking of stringed instruments and the occasional chime provided an ambience that was disarming. Naes steered Bob towards the kaeth bar that occupied a section of the temple’s frontage. Soon he and the First Heartwarder were sitting at a prominent table reserved for clergy, each with a cider mug full of fresh-brewed kaeth in front of them. These particular mugs were crafted by acolytes while in the throes of passion with a partner at the potter’s wheel, and were said to be infused with the spirits of star-crossed lovers during the firing process. The skilled baristas had created sensual latte art in the foam atop the beverage that made Bob blush. Bob knew Naes by his reputation, which preceded him as far east as Kirkwall. Naes and his twin, Tiberius, were born in the city of Waterdeep to one of the city’s most powerful noblemen. He abandoned the twins when their mother, a cleric of Sune, died during childbirth and so the children were taken in by the Church of Sune. They were raised in the Temple of Beauty in Waterdeep and grew into pious men who were favored by the goddess of love. When they came of age, the twins set out to spread the love and beauty of Sune across the Realms. In the history of the church, none of Sune’s faithful have ever been responsible for establishing as many new temples as Naes. As the high priest of Sune’s faith on Faerûn, Naes left most of the evangelizing work to his twin brother, Tiberius. However, if there was an opportunity to convert a significant number of people to Sune’s faith, Naes was known to leave his offices in the Temple of Beauty to join his brother on campaign. Bob knew that Naes was firm in his belief that Sune was a goddess for all beings of the realms, and his ultimate dream, written in sermons published and delivered at temples and shrines to Lady Firehair, was to have a temple devoted to Sune in every city and village from the Sword Coast to the Sea of Fallen Stars and beyond. As with every leader, there was a healthy amount of rumour and gossip that swirled about him. Bob had heard that Naes’s devotion to Sune had led him to be intolerant of other faiths, believing that that Sune represents civilization’s best chance to survive in a world that is filled with monsters, evil and ugliness. His sermons on the virtues of Sune can come across as condescending to those whose faiths differ. Naes was self-aware enough to recognize how he can be perceived and tones down his rhetoric when dealing with potential allies. Bob also knew that Naes had a reputation for falling in love easily, and if he met a man or woman that he took a fancy to, he was known to strike up a friendship with the hope of it leading to something more. Best be on my guard, then, Bob thought to himself. He does seem quite friendly. Indeed, Naes appeared to be very interested in Bob’s background and wanted to know about his journey westward. Bob also reflected that Naes’s vision of spreading the Gospel of Sune to the far reaches of Faerun was a religious mirror to Siegfried’s political vision to unite every town, settlement and city, be they human, orc, goblin or any free-thinking society under one rule and these two could be put to work together with terrifying efficiency. The Sunite Faith as the primary religion of the Alagondar Empire? Bob thought. I must introduce Siegfried and Naes. Naes’s handsome eyes were boring into Bob, who felt as though he was caught in a spotlight. The First Heartwarder was hanging on his every word. In spite of himself, Bob felt a little intoxicated by the attention. “I’m very keen to hear how the Church fares in Kirkwall, so far to the east,” Naes was saying. “And how you came to travel so far west.” “It’s a long story, but I guess we’ve got some time,” Bob replied. He gave Naes the abridged version: the visions that led his westward, his fellowship with the Champions of Phandalin, and his entanglements in several adventures since his arrival on the Sword Coast, culminating with the cleanup at the Temple of Beauty. Naes blushed. “Yes, I suppose our conversation does have to turn to that issue,” he said. “What led you and your companions to come to the Temple of Beauty with such a mission?” “We made it a point to visit the Temple to Sune in each town we visit,” Bob said, “and in Neverwinter’s Crystal Cathedral my companion Varien had a vision from Sune regarding the plight of the Phoenix Arcetalos.” “Ah, yes, this Cult of the Phoenix business,” Naes said. “I would like to see this glorious creature if I could.” Bob called for an acolyte to summon the Arcetalos from its holy berth elsewhere in the temple. The acolyte trembled. “The Phoenix…in here?” she stuttered. “Yeah, why not?” Bob smiled and gestured to Naes, who nodded assent and snapped his fingers. The acolyte rushed off. “So, your friend Varien received a vision from Lady Firehair,” Naes said between sips of kaeth. “About freeing the Arcetalos. But I’m not sure where the notion of where there was something fiendish afoot.” “Ah, that came from Varien’s sword Fiendsbane , a magical weapon intent on slaying fiends, particularly a group known as the Sinister Seven of Nessus,” Bob said. “After acquiring the crystal panes of the Arcetalos we came to Beauty’s Temple to find out where what we should do with them, and Varien’s divine sense detected a discordant evil hidden within the beauty of the temple. Indeed, we were attacked by cultists in Manycats Alley when we were attempting to learn more about the Crystal Panes and their properties. Varien was actually kidnapped by Levistus for a time, but my friend Siegfried and I managed to free him from the fiend’s icy clutches. Around that same time, my other companions were investigating the ancient frescoes in the hidden corners of Beauty’s Temple dealing with the Frozenfar and the sword Abaddon. Abaddon was Varien’s father’s sword, you see. He joined the Order of the Sunrise in Lorelei and helped elevate the shrine there to new heights. We also gained access to Sune’s Glory Vault here in the temple and met Nero of the Garden, who gave a blessing to Varien, and while we were exploring the vault we were attacked by a mimic hiding within the Grey Portrait. We realized that the portrait could only have been placed in the Vault by a high-ranking member of the Church, which led us to suspect High Lady Ssaeral Shadowstar and High Exultant Iseriasha Darkeyes of heretical activity. My companion Siegfried, on a hunch, used dispel magic on the High Lady, figuring that she was concealing her identity, but rather it turned out she’d been using the Gray Portrait to unnaturally extend both her beauty and her life. She turned to ash immediately and as violence erupted, Varien discovered that High Exultant Iseriasha Darkeyes was in fact the succubus Vashi, a member of the Sinister Seven, in disguise as a human. She’d enchanted members of the clergy with devilry. Fiendsbane recognized Vashi via the fiendish creature’s blood, and Varien quickly dispatched her to the Nine Hells. After briefly leaving the temple to take care of some business at sea, we returned to investigate the frescoes and gained access to the hidden crypts and basements of Beauty’s Temple, where we encountered Belapohoss the Balor. We slew him, freed the Arcetalos, and pretty much saved the day.” Naes blinked. “That’s quite a tale, Bob Trevelyan. This is of course very concerning news about both High Lady Ssaeral Shadowstar and her secret shame, and the High Exultant Isheriasha Darkeyes.” “Yes indeed,” Bob said. “My understanding is that you and Tiberius were leading a campaign abroad and left High Exultant Iseriasha Darkeyes and High Lady Ssaeral Shadowstar to run things at the Temple of Beauty?” “High Lady Ssaeral was the High Priestess of rank in Beauty’s Temple,” Naes said wistfully. “How did things get to the point of the High Priestess succumbing to vanity and the High Exultant being a succubus?” Bob asked. “The High Lady Ssaeral Shadowstar and I have a long history,” Naes said. “Indeed, she took Tiberius and me in as foundlings and she gave us a place in the Temple of Beauty to begin with. I grieve her passing, even as now I recognize that she was keeping a very dark secret. Her secret sin was ultimately her undoing, though it does not fully diminish her accomplishments over her long tenure at the Temple of Beauty. Now that I think about it we should give her a proper Sunite funeral according to the rites and customs of Lady Firehair.” “I believe Nero handled the, er, cleanup,” Bob replied. “Speaking of which, what is the connection between you and Nero?" "Ah, Nero of the Garden,” sighed Naes. “Nero is of course a temple fixture and insider, and his skills and beauty are top notch, and he found favour with Sune and was promoted to a higher plane of existence, having received his reward from Lady Firehair, that moment of pure beauty and introspection that he is allowed to live out over and over again. He has foregone the pursuit of earthly gratification and leadership to pursue this endless moment of inner peace beyond this Church. He actually reminds me of you, in a way.” Naes reached out to trace a tear of evergold down Bob’s cheek. “You have been granted favour by Lady Firehair, and there is room in our church for venerated members such as yourself who have achieved a transcendent form of beauty and blessing and thus do not necessarily need to wear the heavy chains of office and duty.” Bob noted that Naes was evading anything to do with Iseriasha while trying to compliment Bob into a sinecure on the sidelines within the church hierarchy. “Naes, I think we need to focus on the matter and hand,” he replied forcefully. “Rather than speculate on what my place in this temple might be.” He bowed his head as if in prayer and cast sending to Siegfried. Siegfried, your diplomatic skills are needed in the kaeth bar. Across the sanctuary, Siegfried’s eyes locked on Bob. He turned to Adanja Feranos and patted her cheek. “Duty calls, my dear,” he said, and stalked directly towards where Bob and Naes were seated. He approached Naes with more confidence than reverence, taking a stool near the First Heartwarder. “If it isn’t First Heartwarder Naes Inuus! I understand I killed your foster mother.” “Oh!” Naes glanced up and was immediately entranced by the fires of Neverwinter that burned in Siegfried’s eyes as the handsome half-orc stared him down. “S-Siegfried, is it?” “That’s Prince Siegfried,” Siegfried said smoothly. “Well, much has changed since I’ve been on mission abroad,” Naes said. “Of course, and we are happy to aid in Sune’s missions,” Siegfried replied. He put a hand on Naes’s shoulder and gently rubbed his thumb on the man’s shoulder blade. Naes sat up a little straighter on his stool. “I must say that Bob and Varien have been wonderful companions,” Siegfried said. “For serving what is good and protecting civilization.” “Siegfried has played an integral role in setting things right,” Bob added. “I’m sorry for rudely interjecting,” Siegfried said. “What were we talking about?” “Oh, you know, mainly about how these things came to be,” Bob said. “Right, Darkeyes the Succubus,” Siegfried said. “How did she come to work at the temple, Naes?” His thumb made another circle. Naes was still looking at Siegfried in a new light, likely re-evaluating their previous social encounters as members of the cream of Waterdeep’s society. “Lady Firehair seems more interested in speaking to my friends than she does to me,” Siegfried said. “Though I have had an encounter or two with Her.” “All that could of course change,” Naes replied. “Yes, I’m sure she could be very-” and at this Siegfried circled his thumb yet again- “persuasive. Now, how did this Darkeyes thing happen?” Naes’s mouth had suddenly gone dry, and reflexively he reached for a glass of ice water, which Siegfried handed to him. “So, when Tiberius and I saw the need for a Crusade in central Faerun, we had to interview and select a High Exultant who could attend to the High Lady’s needs, while ensuring that the business of the church continued to run smoothly with my absence, so yes, there was a process and Iseriasha Darkeyes was the leading candidate, who emerged from a field of High Exultants in waiting, and was a relative newcomer to the Temple of Beauty, and she, uh, distinguished herself during the interview process.” He took another sip of water, the barest hint of a blush on his cheeks. “And was it your discerning eye that selected her from the field of candidates or was this done while you were on the road?” Siegfried asked. “Was it carried out under your command?” Siegfried noted that he’d cracked Naes’s defences just enough for him to let the truth slip. Siegfried hugged Naes and stroked his hair gently. “It happens to the best of us,” he murmured. Bob shifted in his seat to give the two some privacy. Naes collected himself quickly. “Nobody’s perfect,” he said with a shrug. “It’s clear that, as you said, there was already something going on in the temple’s basements with regards to the Phoenix Arcetalos,” his eyes lit up. “Oh look! There she is! Isn’t she amazing?” The Arcetalos was indeed in the building, spreading her fiery wings. “Ahem, well it is all to the good that you and Varien, who I feel I should make acquaintances with,” “He might be more your brother’s type,” Siegfried said. “Quite,” Naes said. “You have obviously done a great service to the Church in Waterdeep by setting right what was set wrong and freeing the Phoenix from fiendish clutches is something to celebrate.” “Well, I’m not sure Varien will be celebrating for long,” Siegfried said. “He has designs on liberating Lorelei.” Naes looked thoughtful for a moment. “Lorelei, yes. I believe we had a shrine there of some renown, though no pilgrims have made the journey of late.” “Yes, an army of the dead washed over it and Varien is one of the last sons of Lorelei,” Siegfried said. “A what?” Naes replied. “An army of the dead,” Siegfried repeated. He realized that Naes and Tiberius likely could be steered towards the liberation and reconsecration of a lost shrine. “Varien has been empowered by Lady Firehair with the zeal and the power to take it back. And I believe Her Hand has been instrumental in leading him this far south to meet both you and you brother.” Naes glanced over to where Varien and Tiberius were swapping war stories, wheels turning behind his eyes. “I only hope that Varien isn’t forced to go it alone,” Siegfried said. “Well, well, that warrants further investigation I would say,” Naes said. “And we recently reconstituted a shrine of our own,” Bob said. “Ah, Dragonspear Castle is indeed a feather in your cap!” Naes said. “Thank you but it was a team effort,” Bob said. “Such modesty!” Naes chuckled. “We couldn’t have done it without Siegfried,” Bob said. “He punched a pit fiend in the face!” “Is that so?” Naes said, looking at Siegfried anew. Bob took this opportunity to thank Naes for the conversation and work the room a little. Siegfried engaged Naes in a conversation about his ideas for linking the major cities of the sword coast by something called “fixed rail.” “Imagine, fresh fish in Silverymoon,” Siegfried said. “Why not just use a portal network?” Naes replied. “Ah, because portals lead to flying cities and Karsus’s Folly,” Siegfried said. “The gods have made it clear that they want us to work by our own hands, and by our own hands will we build Heaven on Earth.” “Such poetry!” Naes said. “There is beauty in civilizing this world, in working together with other men, when the true enemy are the forces below,” Siegfried said. “Poverty is the enemy of beauty.” Naes began to warm to the subject at hand as Siegfried gave shape to the economics to go along with the politics. “And clearly Sune is a fan since she’s steered Varien as a paladin of vengeance,” Siegfried continued. “But the big obstacle is, as you know, Dagult Neverember,” he said.