Two times the charm?

The group enter the Hall of the Vigilant and immediately feel out of place as many other curious eyes drift to them. Though, as soon as they spot Garrick they turn away as if trying to avoid the attention of a streetside beggar.

Garrick seemingly ignores this and takes off his helmet before turning towards Michael and the others, causing them to freeze. They could now see why folk were wary of the man... Garrick was a Nord with short, thin brown hair and thick stubble. His face was marred with many scars, most not looking like battle-wounds, but something more heinous. The thing that drew the most attention was eyes however, as they seemingly stared into the group's souls...

They were bloodshot, which contrasted harshly against his bright blue eyes. The unique thing though, was the red scars above his eyes, where his eyelids had previously been... Someone had cut off his eyelids.

Garrick just lets out a sigh and waves his hand across his eyes again, leaving them less bloodshot and more... Moist-looking than before. "Take a long look, not every day you see a cripple like me." he remarks, causing the group to sheepishly shift their gazes.

"A spell to replace your eyelids and moisten your eyes?" Michael questions, wondering if it'd been specifically designed for Garrick's problem, or if there was for some reason a president for this kind of injury...

"Aye, a friend at the College made it... Were it not for him, I would have gone blind." Garrick confirms, not seeming too bothered about the subject, despite how some would take it.

"Is it not... Annoying to constantly cast it?"

Garrick shrugs, "Well, it's either that or having my eyes rot, the answer is obvious..." he shakes his head, "Let's continue, my ailment doesn't concern you, nor should you concern yourself over it."

Garrick led the group further into the building, eventually showing them to a shrine, not all that dissimilar to the one they'd visited in Riften, though, the obvious presence of weapons and other militaristic things made it obvious that love wasn't in this Temple's vocabulary.

A woman called Keeper Carcette introduces herself, and after a short explanation of the situation, allows Charlotte and Maria to pray at the Shrine of Stendarr. While this occurs, Michael and Tiffania make small talk with Garrick, probing him for things of interest in and around the area... Vigilantes of Stendarr were some of the most well-travelled people due to how they operated, so if anyone were to know something, it'd be them.

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Again, Charlotte finds herself praying to an unknown god which she knows almost nothing about. Despite this, she continued, believing more in Michael and his promise than whatever this world's gods could provide.

Their failure in the Shrine of Mara had only made her tenser. She'd abandoned her original world for a chance to heal her mother, yet the more failures she encountered made it difficult to reconcile with what she'd given up.

It was the logical decision, yet, it felt as if she'd betrayed a part of herself. She might not have been loyal to her country, people, or even her friends as her actions had shown. But the one thing she was sure of was her dedication to her family... Well, just her mother at this point, everyone else had either betrayed or forgotten her... The latter of which could also sadly be applied to her mother...

"Please, grant me just this one thing. I'll do anything you want, just heal my mother!" she mentally intones, eyes squeezed tightly to assert her will.

Unlike last time she'd prayed however, a familiar buzzing makes its way to her ears... She thought that strange voice would begin speaking again, but it remained silent, the buzzing remaining. There was no sign of this 'Stendarr', so once she heard Keeper Carcette's voice telling her to open her eyes, she found herself feeling more helpless than ever.

She turns to look at the woman, and Carcette just sadly shakes her head, "It seems... That Stendarr has decided to remain silent. I don't know why this would be, but perhaps he has something else intended for you." she offers but Charlotte just feels an angry blush beginning to rise.

The Priest of Mara had said essentially the same thing, but what they don't realise is that if they did truly have plans for her mother, Charlotte would fight them at every corner.

Letting out a huff, Charlotte takes Maria's hand and gently escorts her outside and back to the carriage. Leaving everyone else behind.

Michael just stands there with crossed arms, looking at Keeper Carcette with both pity and irritation. "For someone in this position, you sure are lacking tact. We've just come with the Temple of Mara where the Priest had said the same thing, to her it probably felt as if you were spitting on her and her mother's face."

The woman frowns but doesn't deign Michael with a response, not even an apology. Instead, she just gestures towards the exit, "What I said wasn't wrong, Stendarr wouldn't withhold his mercy unless there was something stopping him. Your friend and her mother might be keeping secrets from you, secrets that would see her ailment just retribution."

"You... How dare you say something like that!" Tiffania can't help but say, anger rising in her chest, "Charlotte has been through a lot, but she is still one of the best people I know! If anyone deserves help, it's her! I don't care what god you say you serve! If they refused to help her, then they aren't worth the worship they garner!" she exclaims causing a few of the Vigilants to send angry looks her way.

Michael was momentarily impressed but how well she'd said that, wondering if she was already fluent in this language, but quickly realising the trouble they were about to get into... He sheepishly wraps a hand around her shoulder and sends a calm glance at the glaring Vigilants, "Tiff, you probably shouldn't anger a building full of fanatic demon hunters... I'm not disagreeing with you but, there's a time and a place." he whispers before turning her around, looking over his shoulder at Carcette and Garrick, "We'll see ourselves out... I'd say thank you for your time, but, that'd be lying in a house of God." he says sarcastically as they leave.