Ruin: Corellon's Revenge

"Corellon's fleet grace! You're him -- Ruin! I was hoping to find you here." Young, Ruin thought, though by Elvish standards he was not a great deal older than the bard in front of him. "I'm Aldareis." He stepped forward, extending his arms for an embrace, and Ruin automatically took a step back. He had, at least, managed to hand his son off to Anica before the bard accosted him.

The elf hesitated, and his smile faltered for a moment before he brightened again. "Right. So... you might not believe this, but I've been sent here to sing of your exploits and extol the virtues of Corellon Larethian. It's a high honor for both of us."

Ruin just stared at him. He hadn't known what to expect when Grandfather had told him that there were other ways to make the god's influence known, but he wasn't at all ready to deal with... this. 

The silence drew out. Ruin just stood there and stared, waiting for the bard to grow uncomfortable and go away.

Werendril sighed and stood up, stepping around the dining table. "You're not going to get anything more out of him," the paladin said, stopping beside the bard. "Not until he's ready to talk."

"Oh! Hello!" said Aldareis, turning to the second True Elf. "Oh, you're--"

Werendril nodded. "Werendril Al'veLithulrei, of the Order of the Golden Bow."

"Aldareis nav'Edelvorn, of the Order of the Golden Chord."

Werendril nodded. "I recognized the sigil." It was a bit of Elvish musical notation, embroidered in threads of gold on a white background; to anyone unfamiliar, it probably just looked like a collection of lines and dots. "And you've been sent--" 

"By the god himself!"

"--to tell everyone of His glories, by way of Ruin's efforts."

Werendril was trying his best to keep his tone soothing, but even so some of the sarcasm slipped through. Aldareis didn't seem to notice, though. "Yes, exactly! Oh, it's so good to know that we have other worshipers here."

Werendril sighed. "Walk with me, Aldareis. We need to have a talk..." 

"--but--" He looked at Ruin again. 

Ruin just stared at him, stone-faced. 

"...About basic courtesy, and why you shouldn't preach the glories of our god in another god's temple, even if it's only in the dining hall."

"But... Corellon..." 

"Basic. Fucking. Courtesy." 

Werendril's face had hardened, and Aldareis swallowed. "Oh. Oh. I guess I really screwed that up, didn't I?"

Aesa leaned over to Ruin and whispered, "Aren't you going to say anything?"

Ruin glanced at her, and pointedly did not say anything. 

Werendril sighed. "It certainly could have been worse. But... well... walk with me, Cousin."

"I... um... Yes, as you wish."

Werendril started for the door, and Aldareis followed. 

"Okay, so what in the world was that?" asked Anica. 

Ruin sighed and sat back. He considered for a brief moment, then said: "Amun has a single, unified religious order. The priests and paladins live together, work together, share duties and resources. Corellon's worship is... less organized. The primary priesthood is the Order of the Budding Leaf Green With the Coming of Spring, but there are others -- at least three that I know of. His paladins belong to the Order of the Bow Made Golden by the Touch of Dawn... most of them, anyway. And, well, he also has an order of bards, the Order of the Golden Chord That Carries Wisdom." He paused to draw breath, then added: "I'd honestly forgotten they existed until this moment."

"But this is because you prayed to him, isn't it?" asked Aesa. 

"You did what?" asked Anica. 

"I didn't pray to him," Ruin said. "I went up to the Chapel of All, and touched the altar, and told him that there was a lot going on and it involved his people and he really should be paying attention. That was it."

"Ruin..." Anica shook her head. "That's praying."

Ruin scowled, because he was pretty sure she was right but he didn't want to talk about it at all. "Anyway, he asked me what I thought he should do, and I told him to make up his own damned mind, and then he offered to make me his Avatar and I told him I didn't want that. And then he said there were other ways to 'make his influence known' and, well, here we are."

Aesa was frowning thoughtfully. "Do you think he's going to want to come along with you and chronicle your..." She hesitated, then settled on: "...achievements?"

Ruin scowled darkly. "He'd better not."