<div class="floatright">(http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/071/9/4/the_courtyard_by_manfromabora-d3bgtth.jpg)</div><br/>While Doxi got plenty of looks and many admiring glances, she also walked with a purpose.  She passed several strangers to the town of Blackpeak, but none were bold enough to stop or proposition her.  The locals of course recognized her and a few called greetings as she passed, but didn't stop her.  The temple of Shoni was busy as usual for this time of day.  Passing through the front gates she entered the courtyard.  The main courtyard often also focused as the main center for worship when the weather was nice.  But when services weren't in session, several people often gathered here.  It was serene and beautiful and a wonderful and safe place to gather and socialize.  All that was required of any who wished to come to the courtyard was that they were clean and behaved themselves.  The temple ran a bathhouse with very low prices, but Doxi knew that anyone who truly wished to worship would be cleaned for free.<br/><br/>Doxi couldn't resist a smile as she walked through the courtyard.  Five of the town's women were currently pregnant.  The temple of Shoni was celebrating the event by having a painter capture the five beauties.  Several people were standing around the courtyard socializing as well as an old man who was apparently taking some problem with the artists use of certain colors.  "No no no, you're using too much yellow in those flesh tones!"  The old man criticized, "More reds, more reds!"<br/><br/>Smiling Doxi left the courtyard and continued on deeper into the temple.  The temple proper was empty at the moment.  The soft cushions spread across the floor and the raised platform with the leather bound book of Shoni's word were lit by several dozens of candles.  But Doxi continued on past the scented and incensed temple floor into the more private quarters of the priests, priestesses, and whores of the temple.  Along the way she bumped into a few people that she knew, and they greeted her, but again didn't stop her.  So it was in short order that she arrived at her mother's private quarters.<br/><br/>Pushing into the quarters she found her mother sitting in a large overstuffed chair.  She must have known her daughter was coming, because the high priestess Pas, Doxi's mother, was nude.  In fact truly nude that only a changeling could be.  Not only was Pas wearing nothing, she was also in her true form.  Her white hair, while lank as was standard with their kind, gleamed with the inner light of the faithful.  Her skin, a pale pale grey likewise seemed to glow.  Her eyes, featureless and white seemed to shine as she saw her daughter enter.   She stood up and moved to embrace Doxi.  Her skin, hairless other than the lank white on her head, was unmarred by scars or blemishes, but did show the simple wrinkles that came with age.  Despite this, Pas still looked fantastic for a woman who was in her early fifties.<br/><br/>"Daughter," she said as she moved to embrace Doxi, "I'm so glad you could come on such short notice.   Come give mother a hug and then sit with me, I've important news for you."