look fount -- Once a refreshing waystop for visitors, this stone water fountain stands between the ruins and the monolith. Rising on a pedestal from the center of the fountain is Tamsine, goddess of hearth, home and habitations. Her lovely countenance gazes down upon a cat sleeping at her feet. In one hand she holds a sealed scroll, and about her waist is a sash fastened by a ring of keys.

[Tamsine's Rest]
A shady clump of sicle saplings cluster around a large, moss-encrusted fragment of pink coral. Carved into a hollow in the center of the coral landmark is a crude yet moving image of Tamsine, one of the patron goddesses of the town. Before the simple shrine is a low limestone bench, where the weary traveler might take some rest in the shade, leave offerings of flowers or food, and contemplate matters of the soul and spirit. You also see a low gate and a flat rock.

look coral
The hunk of pink coral must have been brought to this spot by devotees of Tamsine from one of the reefs off the eastern shore of town.

go gate
[Tamsine's Rest, Memorial Tea Garden]
Water burbles over rocks to fill a shallow stone basin, conveniently positioned for visitors wishing to wash their hands upon entering the garden. Thick cushions of green moss soften the stones and carpet the ground underfoot. Red azaleas, deep purple irises and white chrysanthemums add vibrant touches of color against the velvety moss. At the center of the garden, ribbon-tied parchment scrolls flutter from a red maple tree, celebrating the memory of loved ones lost. You also see a low gate and a simple bamboo stand with some stuff on it.
Obvious paths: none.

The tree stands nearly forty-five hands high, its spreading limbs graced with lacey dark red leaves that create a delicate interplay of shadow and light on the ground below. Fluttering about its trunk and lower limbs are a collection of tiny ribbon-tied parchment scrolls, each inscribed with a remembrance by those who have lovingly placed them within the tree's protective embrace.

look basin - A single pink lotus flower floats within the water of the basin.

look blossom - Its petals nearly translucent, the lotus is such a pale shade of pink that it brings to mind the color of the sky at dawn.

look altar
The altar is carved from lightly veined white marble to resemble a thick slab supported by climbing rose vines. Along the base of the altar roses of all sizes are scattered in full bloom, their petals sparkling with silver, gold and coppery dust. Sheltered beneath the slab is a small ivory dove lying among the roses, its head tucked in sleep beneath one wing.

[Tiger Clan Home, Old Church]
Some rows of wooden pews are set before a simple altar. A symbol carved in the shape of a dove rests on a dais, and a quiet peace fills the space in tribute to Albreda's blessing. Candlelight casts a tranquil glow over the walls and pews and gives the space a safe and warm feeling at any hour of the night. You also see a wobbly ladder.

[Temple of Light, Alcove of Albreda]
The floor is inlaid with a massive seven-pointed star. At each point, there is a small stone table with a statuette representing one of the seven races. In the middle of the inlaid star there is a large sculpture representing all races, their hands reaching towards the heavens. From the ceiling, a painting of Albreda smiles down at the figures. Padded benches line the walls for those who wish to rest here. You also see a silver arch.
Obvious exits: none.

The silver arch is embossed with the images of stylized doves.

{{only 7 races? guess the 4 new ones aren't embraced by the clergy of Ilithi...}}

[Temple of Darkness, Harawep's Alcove]
This alcove is almost completely entombed with strands of sticky white cobwebs. A draft ruffles some of the webbing, which all but covers the statue of Harawep huddled in the back of the tiny room. Peering out from behind a veil of spidersilk, the hunched goddess glares and clutches a set of knitting needles. The uncomfortable presence of shadowy movement near the back reveals a nest of black widow spiders who keep the walls and ceiling well-shrouded.
Obvious exits: southeast.

A hag in tattered clothing, the face of the statue is covered in cobwebs. There is a certain disturbing fluidity to the statue, a frightening sense that it is waiting to stand and strike when you have your back turned to it.

A tabby cat lies purring before an open hearth in a charming painting of a young housewife resting in a rocker. A half-finished tapestry of consummate craftsmanship is shown threaded on an upright loom beside her, while a spinning wheel, churn and various other domestic implements are neatly stored in her tiny cottage. In the cavern, wooden tables are piled high with homely gifts of ale and butter, bolts of cloth and spools of thread, humble offerings to a gentle goddess. You also see a white arch and a black arch.
Obvious exits: none.

look painting -- The tabby cat, emblem of the goddess Tamsine, looks back at you with lazy golden eyes as the young housewife's hand gently scratches his head.

A white arch reads:
Albreda send us peace and prosperity, and grant long life to our beloved Ferdahl. May her gentle blessings bring healing to our lands.
Your vision blurs as you pass through the arch, and you see...
A gentle woman kneels by a blackened stone bridge, comforting a weeping child as his mother slowly crosses over the bridge, an infant in her arms, to disappear into the void. A dove coos sympathetically. With a heavy heart, you continue on.

A black arch reads:
May my life not be tangled in Harawep's weaving, and her wrath not sweep like fire across the lands.
Your vision blurs as you pass through the arch, and you see...
An ugly crone cackles as she weaves a twisted pattern of pain and despair upon her loom. Twin swords hang upon the wall, close to her hand, while a black widow spider gazes thoughtfully at you as you hurry past.

Books:
The Tale of a Cleric (BrtTC) Shard temple library
Tale of a halfling chosen by Tamsine

Excerpt from "A Book of Anlasaen" (MelBA) Aesry library:

Tamsine's Toil -- The time of the evening meals approaches with the gathering home of loved ones. The devout would take this time to wash the altars of the sacred sites and temples, home to us all.

Festival items:

• an ivory cat charm (look) An ivory cat charm reads: Tamsine I honor thee, and as I touch thy tail, touch my home with blessings, let my faith not fail. - Web Festival - Pyff's tent

• an oaken icon of the goddess Tamsine (look) A middle-aged woman sits at a spinning-wheel, holding a bobbin in one hand. Her gaze is level and unsmiling, but benign. A cat curls at her feet, playing with a ball of yarn. - Fest Of Eluned - Iormethani's Godly Objects

• a gold medallion symbolizing dedication to Tamsine (look) Etched into the face of the medallion is the image of a warm-looking woman. She is standing over a kettle, a huge smile on her face, stirring the contents. In one corner of the room a tabby cat playfully bats at a birdcage holding a white dove, while a black widow spider hovers menacingly above in its web in the corner of the ceiling. - Ice Fest - Gods Tent

• a scrimshawed ivory pendant hand-etched with the image of a lazing tabby cat -- Carefully etched into the ivory is the likeness of a plump furry cat lazing in front of a golden fire, a heavy pot hanging from a blackened hook above the dancing flames. - Jaal Jeraya - Altared Visions

• a silver-dusted cambrinth orb etched with the image of a pampered cat curled up on a fireside cushion - Arthe Dale Mini-fest - Bunglefoot's Tent

• a golden silk prayer tapestry embroidered with a lounging grey tabby - Temple Re-opening Fest - Sputkin's Splendors

• an oaken icon of the goddess Albreda (look) An elderly and handsome woman with silvered hair and wearing black robes reclines against a pillar. About her feet are strewn the tools of war, and the skeletons of victor and defeated, alike. - Fest Of Eluned - Iormethani's Godly Objects

• a crystal-dusted cambrinth orb etched with the likeness of a dove enfolding its mate beneath the protection of its wing - Arthe Dale Mini-fest - Bunglefoot's Tent

• a plain linen prayer cloth fringed with soft grey dove feathers - Temple Re-opening Fest - Sputkin's Splendors

• an onyx-dusted cambrinth orb etched with a black widow spider advancing on a webbed prey - Arthe Dale Mini-fest - Bunglefoot's Tent

• a deep ebony prayer tapestry embroidered with a spidery web of lightning bolts -- The outline of a black widow has been embroidered in silver thread upon the web, completed by a tiny garnet hourglass sewn into its back. - Temple Re-opening Fest - Sputkin's Splendors

Altered Items:

Misc:
Misenseor Abbey, High Altar Chamber Columns
an alabaster Harawep carving (sold in Temple of Darkness in Shard) will have the same look as this column
You tap the Harawep column. - The artist portrays what at first seems to be a pleasant scene but upon closer inspection reveals more. In a quiet wooded glen a small party celebrates the happiness of a young couple's wedding day. Bride and groom look upon one another with the purest of love as they drink a toast to eternal happiness. At the edge of the clearing the best man stands alone admiring the beauty of the young bride, a small vial of poison cupped in his hand.

Crossings Cleric Guild Monk: An affectionate grey tabby slinks up to the monk and rubs against his leg, purring softly. The monk squats down and strokes its fur gently and whispers quietly to the small beast, "Tamsine's fire burns within your eyes..." With what you could swear was a sly wink, the cat slinks off, continuing on its journey.

prayer
You see: You roll your eyes heavenward and murmur a soft prayer to Tamsine, asking for patience.
Others see: Mellisandre gazes heavenward with a long-suffering look and murmurs a prayer to Tamsine for patience.

Constellations:

The Cat, symbol of Tamsine, goddess of home, hearth, and civilized settlements, is a tight cluster of fourteen stars which bear a striking resemblance to a sleeping cat.

Companion and symbol of Albreda, the dove sits upon a starry branch in the Springtime skies to peer down on the world below.

The Spider is a huge mass of hundreds of stars which form a web across the entire sky, in the center of which is perched a large arachnid with two bright red stars for its eyes.

[Tamsine's Rest, Herb Gardens]

Brick walkways, laid out in a herringbone pattern, criss-cross the walled kitchen garden at the back of the Abbey. The garden, originally planned by Meralla al'Tresnith, the founder of the abbey, maintains a balance between fresh vegetables and neatly tended beds of herbs. At the center of the garden is a sprawling patch of catnip surrounding a statue of the gentle goddess Tamsine seated at her spinning wheel.
Obvious paths: southeast, west.

look statue -- The bronze statue depicts the goddess Tamsine, seated upon a low stool, at work on her spinning wheel. At her feet, a cat pounces playfully upon a fallen ball of yarn.

Low boxwood hedges have been carefully trimmed into precise geometric patterns in this tiny knot garden behind the abbey. White gravel crunches underfoot as you move along the paths which wend their way through the hedges. The paths wind about in all directions, yet all finally lead toward a central medallion, an intricate knot of roses surrounding a white marble statue of the goddess Albreda, holding a dove on her outstretched hand.
Obvious paths: northeast, south.

look statue -- The statue depicts a comforting, motherly-looking woman dressed in flowing white robes. A snow white dove perches upon her outstretched finger.

Hidden deep within the maze is a rocky grotto, cool and moist. Spiders spin their webs undisturbed at the base of a bronze statue of a grotesque crone, poised with two gleaming swords against a silver lightning bolt. A tiny garden flourishes in the dim green light, filled with lacy white hemlock, bobbing purple monkshood and scarlet nightshade blossoms. The beauty of the delicate flowers belies their poisonous nature.
Obvious exits: out.

look statue -- The statue depicts the negative aspect of the goddess, Harawep. Shown as a grotesque crone against a backdrop of lacy silver lightning bolts, she holds two razor sharp blades at the ready.

Suddenly, there is a blinding flash of light and you find yourself engulfed in a glowing flood of warmth, like that of a great hearth. You open your eyes to see yourself elsewhere....

[Tamsine's Home, Fireside]
This room is huge and made of a beautiful, warm golden stone. A large hearth is set into the westmost wall, and a fire flickers within it, keeping the room warm and cozy. A cat is seated before the fire, and watching you carefully. You also see a curled-up fat cat.
Obvious exits: none.

The cat gazes sleepily at you, and then, amazingly, speaks! "Greetings," she purrs. "Welcome to the home of my mistress, Tamsine."

look cat -- The cat is a splendid fire-point tabby with white socks and a white and ginger mask. Her eyes glitter a warm topaz color, and a constant purring emanates from her immense form. Her eyes track you wherever you go, and from time to time you see her tail twitch back and forth.

The cat continues, "Tamsine, as you may know, is the sweet goddess of hearth and home. She has three aspects -- Tamsine, her primary one, Albreda, her bright one, and Harawep, which is a face mortals rarely see, or wish to see."

"Tamsine's symbol is the cat, Albreda's is the dove's, Harawep's the black widow spider. Tamsine's favor is often called upon when blessings upon a house would be granted. Albreda is the bearer of peace, her gentle ministrations bring treaties and help to watch over orphaned children. Harawep seeks only to destroy, and those who do not offer things unto her will find the appeasement of her rage a hard thing to do."

With a negligent shake the cat uncoils her tail. "Now then," she mewls, "you have been sent in the name of guidance. Very well. Guidance you shall receive. Blessings of the gods you would call, and these things I will teach you. If the power of Tamsine's blessing you would have, simply sprinkle some holy water on yourself or another and commune for her grace. But be warned. Asking for the gods' favor is not something taken lightly, and after doing it you will find that you cannot do so for some time longer. In addition, the gods will turn some of their favor aside from you, so to use your powers you must not only have faith, you must be dedicated to those you serve."

"Blessing others is more difficult than blessing yourself." She eyes you studiously. "It will exact more from you, and it will also not be something you can do until you are a bit more experienced. But you will be able to do it. Never fear." The cat chuckles to herself. It is an odd sound, coming from a feline.

"Now then," the cat says, flicking her tail. "I hope you understand. Now that you have come here, you can never return." The cat looks sorry for a moment, then cheers up, purring softly, "Practice and prosper. The gods only have as much faith in you, as you have in them. Farewell, my child."

You feel a wave of drowsy warmth sweep over you and find that the ground beneath you is sinking. A moment later everything is plunged into a warm golden glow that seems to stretch endlessly all around. Peace beyond words fills you, so complete that you know you will carry a touch of it always. When it fades away, you find you are back where you started....

The guild leader smiles at you, eyes dancing. "You have pleased Tamsine with your prescence, and been graced to sit by her fire. Now you must greet another, but not by a fireside, oh, no...." Esuin's leans forward, close to your ear.

The Cat and the Cleric - By: Sher Sureshot

There was a young cleric
Whose first name was Erric
Who worshipped the goddess Tamsine.
A goat bore his load
As he wandered the road
On the way to the shrine of Tamsine.

A thief at an inn
Stole his money within --
He grew wroth with the goddess Tamsine.
He went outside and sat,
And he spied a sleek cat
Like the pet of the goddess Tamsine.

His hands made a bee-line
And snatched up the feline
For revenge on the goddess Tamsine,
In his sack went the critter,
But he called down the bitter
Wrath of the goddess Tamsine.

Then Harawep hastened,
And Erric was chastened
For provoking the goddess Tamsine.
Harawep, fierce and fright'ning,
Let fly with her lightning
To serve the great goddess Tamsine.

Erric's tears dropped and drizzled
For his goat (who was sizzled,
the revenge of the goddess Tamsine).
He took the scared tabby
From the sack, old and shabby,
To placate the goddess Tamsine.

He served the fried goat
On a bun made of oat
To the tabby so dear to Tamsine.
The cat filled its belly,
Finished up with mint jelly,
And purred the song of Tamsine.

The song ends with a purring noise.

Tamsine's Fire - A Song of the Goddess - By: Kithria Dustdanser

We come in the dark of night
With torches in our hand
Carrying the burn of Truth
In song throughout the land!

Listen to our voices,
By the grace of Faenella's gift,
Sharing the bright white Light
Which can make the Darkness lift.

We come to praise the Goddess
Who shared that first-lit Flame,
From home to field to neighbor
We sing bright Tamsine's name!

Never again shall winter's face
Drive us to our knees,
Our hearths and hearts warmed by
That first Spark Tamsine seized.

Stand steadfast, oh my fellows,
Warmed by Tamsine's Fire,
Shielding us from winter
And its weather, oh so dire.

No less a flame She gave us
For shielding our mortal souls.
Bright Tamsine will await us
When Meraud's last bell tolls.

The last note sounds.