Hodierna's commune walkthrough

	SPOILER ALERT!
	This article reveals in-game secrets, spoilers, walkthroughs, or other information not intended for general knowledge in-game.

Given by: Esuin upon advancement to 12th circle.

Go to Hodierna's Solace which is located near the southern docks of the Crossing to Leth Deriel ferry.
From the southern Leth Deriel side of the ferry docks: Go South, South, South, South, Go Path, Go Clearing, Go Arch.

Open the book, and READ book. After you are done with the last page, CLIMB the stairs, and GET flame.

If you get the message "Your learning so far does not include the means to read and understand the holy words written here." when you try to read the book, simply skip it, CLIMB the stairs, and GET flame.

> read book

You focus your eyes upon the text of the book and begin to read.

Upon the first page is written in a faded script:

Some things we know by understanding, and thus accept as truth. Some things we know as truth, and thus by our acceptance come to understand.

Within the central heart, there are some born for whom truth burns bright by their unquestioned acceptance of the gods and the divine word that they know in their hearts. I spent some time with a community of such individuals, in a land far from my home. This community painted and sculpted, sang and recited, and danced their truth.

By this they brought answers to those that feared and wished to know before they would accept the great truths of the universe. So among them I journeyed and studied, and bring with me now such an example, as brought me to see as they know.

Roundtime: 40 seconds.

You carefully turn the pages of the fragile book to read upon the second page:

A sound stirred earth warmed droplets formed like thoughts upon a harsh dark cold nothing moved across the slate and there in motion come spark and fire hope, desire longing, reaching the spiral bridging nothing and all a thread of soul silk spun of light all colors dissolved and mixed and weaves the substance of raptured Life.

Roundtime: 40 seconds.

You carefully turn the pages of the fragile book to read upon the third page:

With the immutable form of unicorn gallops forth the soul her horn of life-sound held before to connect the spirit and the ground where as metaphor she steps and bows her shape and essence fills and flows 'til in the dreams of mortals born we behold an impossible truth, the Lady's form.

Roundtime: 40 seconds.

You carefully turn the pages of the fragile book to read upon the fourth page:

Not to be caught or ever held the myth of planes and worlds agree but Innocence's belief in what cannot be makes the unicorn pause to stay and lay her head upon the knee in gift of trust that mortals value such a fragile shift of motion, that in a fracted glance may come and go the resplendent pleasure of our knowing in Abiding the tenacious, but tenuous, "Be."

Roundtime: 40 seconds.

You carefully turn the pages of the fragile book to read upon the last page:

By my hand, recorded, for those of us in the plane of Abiding, so lives the waking spark, and thus the knowing our breath fans the flame of spirit to life, whilst Hodierna grants it so.

Roundtime: 40 seconds.

Upon concluding your reading, you carefully close the fragile book.

You sense that you are as pure of spirit as you can be, and you are ready for whatever rituals might face you.

You feel that your gods have smiled upon you for your attempts to please them.

> climb stair

You begin the long trek up the stairs, step by step, stair by stair. The ground below recedes far away as you climb, higher and higher and higher....

You finally reach the top, and flop down from exhaustion.

[An Ancient Tree, Hodierna's Solace] More a platform than a room, the leafy crown of the tree spreads overhead, creating a natural canopy of green that insulates the chamber from the wind and elements. All around you are tiny niches in the side of the tree that look as if they were sculpted out of the living wood. Candles, flowers, and tiny trinkets fill them, token memories for those who will not be forgotten. A circular staircase -- also sculpted out of the tree -- leads back down, winding so far that you cannot see the bottom. You also see a glossy obsidian symbol and a small carved stone. Obvious exits: none.

...wait 30 seconds.

get flame

You reach out and quickly snatch at the flame. Expecting searing pain, to your startlement you discover instead that, while your left hand is engulfed in fire, it is not burning, nor does it hurt. You hold in your hand the living light of Hodierna!

The sweet scent of the flowers in the niches fills the air.

An expectant air fills the room.....

The soft chime of ringing hooves fills the tiny chamber, and a unicorn suddenly appears, leaping out of midair! It lands gracefully, shakes its mane, and then directs its gaze at you.

The unicorn turns to you and directs its gaze upon you. You feel the weight of its presence on your shoulders and hear a warm voice intone into your mind: **Greetings, Erzren. As you have summoned me, so I, the servant of Hodierna, come.**

> look flame

The flame is a shimmering silver color that shifts and changes like the glinting surface of a lake at noon, burning brightly with a cool, heatless light.

The unicorn continues, **Hodierna, whom I serve, is the goddess of the light, healing, and the morning. She is the granter of favors and it is she who you must please for resurrection. Her positive aspect is Berengaria, who is the mother of all that is good in the world and the protecter of children. As I am Hodierna's symbol, a cow is Berengaria's. Asketi, who is the negative side of Hodierna, is the hag -- a sower of barren fields and the master of the North Wind. The black unicorn --** the unicorn shakes its mane **-- is her steed. An adder, however, is her symbol.**

The unicorn says, **Now, let us cut to the chase. You have arrived because the Elders have told you you must come here in order to learn. So shall you learn. A gift does Hodierna grant to clerics. This is the gift to stop the flow of blood from your wounds. It will not restore your health save what time can mend while you do not bleed, but it will give you time to seek an Empath to aid you.** The unicorn's eyes burn into you.

The unicorn looks beyond you and intones, **To call down this blessing, annoint yourself with holy oil and holy water and commune. As with all things, this spends the favor of the gods you may earn.** The unicorn stamps its hoof and shakes its mane. **As you have asked, so have I come. As Hodierna ordained, I have taught you. Go in peace, and let not the light dim in your eyes, Erzren.**

Suddenly, the flame in your left hand flares into brilliant life and then extinguishes!

The silver unicorn shakes its mane and then turns and leaps down from the platform, vanishing in midair!

The field of silver-blue light dissipates from around you. The sense of calm focus leaves you, and your joints feel strangely stiffer than before.