<div class="floatright">(https://66.media.tumblr.com/f3546832a357189691e0526058f74756/tumblr_ok5iomuzwf1ublox3o1_640.jpg)</div><br/><<Mina i anto i narmova>> Arala nodded.<em>Into the mouth of the wolf</em>, a phrase for both entertainers and hunters to wish good luck.<br/><br/>Out in the metropolis, the streets, pathways, and tree-bridges were all busy with elves going about their business, bringing in wild game, or moving building supplies for the never-ending construction and beautification projects that might span years of tinkering to achieve “spontaneous natural beauty.”  While Kyonin was surrounded by unstable human kingdoms and the southern reaches of the Fierani Forest were corrupted by Tanglebriar swampland, here in Iadara the elf citizens were secure and safe, and felt free to chat and share with one another, whether bartering with green grocers, sharing afternoon tea, or even while engaging in more intimate activities.  One woman complained that her sister—Oparal—had joined the clergy to support Kyonin’s rebuilding, but had been sucked into this clique and spent all her time supporting one priestess: maintaining her home, doing her shopping, washing her laundry.  While it was one thing to be in training and work to maintain the church, Oparal apparently rarely visited her family now and had seemingly forgotten her previous ideals.<br/><br/>Closer to the temple was a bathhouse-brothel, though not directly run by the church of Calistria.  There an off-duty guardsman relaxed with wine and conversation while Alice flirted, and became more talkative as she knelt down between his legs.   “There was this priestess of Calistria, you know the type, yellow and black, always carrying a whip.  She was looking for something, looking for answers, though she wasn’t so polite and accommodating as you, miss, sitting and talking like civilized people, relieving a guard’s—mmm—aches.  She just asked questions out of nowhere, and if your lips weren’t moving, she’d give you that evil eye and you find it all pouring out of your mouth despite yourself.  I don’t even remember what she was asking about…”  With that it was Alice’s turn for him to uncontrollably fill her mouth instead.  He thanked her for the company and left into the evening air.<br/><br/>It was dusk now, and Alice had uncovered some of Sylia’s activities and methods, apparently building a cult of personality among some low-tier acolytes, and wasn’t above using straight-up compulsion to get her way.  The temple wasn’t far from here, and the priest residences would be higher within the same surrounding trees.  While there were more traditional temples in Iadara, the temple of Calistria would also serve as a sort of thieves’ guild and hub of services, focusing on the more practical needs of her worshipers and still busy throughout the night.  The Wasp Queens would certainly have some presence there, though one would have to see if Sylia was in attendance or would have retired to her private residence by now.