Getting Weapons from churches

When Marie-Jeanne followed Henri and his mentor Alexander to a Church,as she stepped inside, a wave of cool air enveloped her, along with the smell of stone and candle wax. Dim rows of pews stretched toward the altar, and a bank of candles glowed like a bed of sparks against the far wall.

They moved forward, their voices echoing off the stone walls.

Alexander knelt down in front of the altar, and she thought for a moment that he was praying. The altar itself was high, made of a dark granite, and draped with a red cloth. Behind it loomed an ornate gold screen, etched with the figures of saints and martyrs, each with a flat gold disk behind his head representing a halo.

Marie-Jeanne whispered to Henri"What is he doing?"

Alexander placed his hands on the stone floor and was moving them back and forth rapidly, as if searching for something, his fingertips stirring up dust and said"Looking for weapons."

Marie-Jeanne was confused asked "Here?"

Henri explained"They'd be hidden, usually around the altar. Kept for our use in case of emergencies."

Marie-Jeanne being curious asked"And this is what, some kind of deal you have with the Catholic Church?"

Alexander was the one to answer"Not specifically. Demons have been on Earth as long as we have. They're all over the world, in their different forms—Greek daemons, Persian daevas, Hindu asuras, Japanese oni. Most belief systems have some method of incorporating both their existence and the fight against them. Shadowhunters cleave to no single religion, and in turn all religions assist us in our battle. I could as easily have gone for help to a Jewish synagogue or a Shinto temple, or —Ah. Here it is."

He brushed dust aside as Henri and Marie-Jeanne knelt down beside him. Carved into one of the octagonal stones before the altar was a rune.It could be recognized by any Shadowhunter, almost as easily as if they were reading a word in English. It was the rune that meant "Nephilim."

The Nephilim do not conform to any mundane religion as they have allied themselves with every mundane belief system. Also, individual Shadowhunters are allowed to believe what they choose. Some Shadowhunters see their own lifestyle and beliefs as a separate religion. Mainly, they have their own beliefs about angels, demons, Heaven, and Hell, and they worship the Angel Raziel as their creator.Still, the Nephilim acknowledge the truths in mundane religions, mythologies, tales, and legends, and often integrate this into their real-world knowledge.

Every mundane religion is also partly aware of the ongoing battle against demons, having been affected by the Incursion themselves. However, since mundanes would not be capable of fighting demons, they merely incorporated their existence and the battle against them methodically into belief systems as different evil entities. Their leaders instead opted to help by assisting the Nephilim, who are equipped to battle the demons, in their mission, as long as Shadowhunters do not cleave to a single religion.

Contacts and relations were established between the Nephilim and the more mystical orders of the world's major religions, with a small group of chosen leaders acting as the representatives of each religion, signing secret treaties that promise the continued provision of havens and weapons for Shadowhunters in exchange for protection. Their end of the bargain is upheld by allowing the Nephilim access to their different religious communities, holy buildings, or places of worship as havens, or for their numerous hidden caches or reserves of holy tools and equipment for Shadowhunter use

Alexander took out his stele,whose tip lit up and touched the the light end to stone and gave twist.As the etchings on the stone lit up and with a grinding noise it moved back, revealing a dark compartment underneath. Inside the compartment was a long wooden box;Alexander lifted the lid, and regarded the neatly arranged weapons and potions lined up inside with satisfaction.

Alexander was examining a vial of of liquid mixed with Letharia Vulpina, a species of lichen known as "wolf lichen," is a neon-green moss that has been used for centuries to poison wolves, foxes, and coyotes by mixing it in with their food. Though thr lichen is not fatal to Werewolves, Werecoyotes, and Kitsune, it does seem to weaken them considerably for several days until it wears off.

Alexander then slid the vial into his pocket.Alexander then lowered his hand and picked up a blade, examining the hilt.

Marie-Jeanne was given a normal bow with arrow forged with wolfsbane and mountain ash.

But she wanted an ace in hole,which was pike forged similar to arrows,but she forged with her blood under the light of a full moon.