555. Temple I

555. Temple I

Omen: 6, 12

Adam awoke early next morning, stretching out his entire body. He had thought more about his business, and the manner in which he wanted to proceed. After his morning bath, spending far too long relaxing in the hot water, he made his way down for breakfast.

He found some of his companions together in their own corner, though noted the lack of Iyrmen, as well as Nobby and Brittany.

“Morning,” Adam said, dropping down beside Vonda, who he had spent some time thinking about.

“Good morning, Adam,” Vonda greeted. “Did you sleep well?”

“I did, and yourself?”

“I did.”

Adam slowly nodded his head. “Are you enjoying East Port?”

“I am.”

Adam continued to nod his head slowly, and Vonda waited for him to continue. “You, uh, you know, the business?”

“Yes?”

Adam glanced around and whispered, doing his best to make sure no one could see his lips either. “You’re still willing to join?”

“I am.”

“With a shrine to Mother Soza and all?”

The Priest bowed her head slowly. She had to make plans for retirement since she was an Expert. Chances were, she’d retire within the next ten years, after she’d learn Fourth Gate spells, due to the laws surrounding those who learnt greater spells. Adam’s offer was perfect.

“I will teach the workers and those who wish to become Priests to the good mother will learn our magic, and the business must not send them to battle,” Vonda said, quietly.

Adam slowly nodded his head. “That’s all good, still?”

“Yes.”

“Good, good.” Adam had wanted to make sure, just in case Vonda had changed her mind. However, it would take many years to train anyone to learn magic, and they wouldn’t be able to start until next year anyway. However, having the name Sir Vonda of Life’s Rose attached to his business would lend it some credibility.

Food was brought out as the Iyrmen returned. The group prayed before eating. Adam prayed too, lightly. ‘Baktu, thanks for all you’ve done. I thank all the gods for what you’ve done too. Unless you’re evil, then no thanks to you. Actually, thanks to you too, since I don’t want you to bother me either. Thank you.’

“I should visit a temple,” Adam said, rubbing his stomach once he was done with his meal. ‘Being a Priest sure is easy, knowing all those spells without having to...’

Vonda smiled, before noticing the look on Adam’s face. Jurot, too, noted the look on Adam’s face.

‘Bell?’

“We should go pray too,” Jeremy said, looking to his cousin and nephew. Since they had managed to earn some coin, they should probably thank the divine.

Rick looked to the farmers, who nodded. It wouldn’t do for them, peasants who earned very little coin, not to pay respect to the divine when they came into coin, especially since they gave so little compared to the nobles.

Adam wondered how much gold he should take with him. ‘I suppose I should take enough to drop at least a gold to each god, but also a few more to my favourites?’ However, he wasn’t sure how many gods there were, nor if minor gods would be included. Adam decided to break some of his gems down so he had more coin to spend to the gods. ‘Just you wait until after the tournament, I’ll be flush with so much coin.’

“You should leave your weapons behind,” Vonda said, noting Adam had returned with Wraith at his side.

Adam looked down at Wraith. He blinked. “Oh. Right.”

The group, once they had placed their weapons aside, made their way towards the temple, with Vonda leading the way. They passed over various bridges, and though several districts, before making their way towards the sea. Vonda led them to a long wall, with several archways dotted along it, going further and further away. Clusters of people shifted through the archways.

Several guards stood outside the gates, each wearing breastplates, and carrying blades at their side. They also wore amulets, with the symbol of a star within a circle.

“Halt,” a guard said, stopping the group. “You cannot bring your shield.”

“It is my holy symbol,” Vonda said, unstrapping it from her back to show them the symbol against the front. “Sir Vonda of Life’s Rose.”

The guards pat their chests, greeting Vonda, before allowing the group inside.

Adam had expected to find a large building within the wall, but realised he hadn’t seen anything too large, save for the trees. This place was not like the temples he was used to, as rather than one large building, Adam found something more akin to a village. Dozens of colourful buildings, and a great number of fountains and stalls. Adam could spot a priest no matter where he looked, finding them swarming around the place, adorned in their fine garbs, each muted or monochrome in design.

The commoners moved through the area, wearing their most colourful attire, following the flows of traffic dictated by the pathways, which were separated by greenery, all leading to a place where they could admire something. They would be greeted by statues, religious artefacts, stalls, or priests who would speak sermons and old tales. People would place down a copper for each attraction, which was enough for the entire family to partake.

“This is a temple?” Adam asked, finding it seemed more like an amusement part, eyeing up the area ahead where people were buying food from the stalls. However, it didn’t end there, for the entire area, which was already quite wide, as much longer, and disappeared behind distant buildings. He wondered how many people there were, and assumed the number reached well into the thousands.

“This is the temple district,” Vonda confirmed, before leading them forward.

They passed through the attractions, and Vonda led them towards the first temple of many, which was formed of black stone. The priests were adorned in black garbs too, and carried at their side small daggers. They were currently cooking large pots of food, and were pouring food into metal trays, and were handing out the food to any person walking past, seemingly for no coin. Many only spent moments within the dark temple, quickly praying before the statue of a young child sat upon a throne of bone, though many of the older generation spent more time sitting at the benches around the temple, speaking eagerly with one another, and the priests.

Adam eyed up the statue, which was intricate and detailed, save for the face which was vague and nondescript. Adam tried to recall how Lord Sozain looked when they had last met, but found it difficult to find any details. ‘I should have expected that.’

The farmers and the porters placed their coins at the long box at the foot of the statue, where the silver coins clinked, and dropped to a knee. They began to pray quietly, muttering to the God of Death.

Adam placed down an obsidian gem into the box, before dropping to a knee. ‘Hey, Baktu, how are you? It’s been quite a while, how come you never call? Did you find a new chaotic little Half Elf? I’m just letting you know, but I’m the best little Half Elf. Think about it. Who else has such adorable children? That’s right. Don’t forget my cute little sister, neither.’

Adam cleared his throat, shaking his head. ‘Sorry. You know how I am. I hope you’re well. If you need anything, I mean, not that you need anything, but if you would like my assistance you can just send me a message. I was hoping that I could pray to you, but I was looking at the Forge Priests. Is there any chance we-,’

“Adam,” Vonda gasped.

Adam threw a glance back over his shoulder towards her, shocked she’d disrupt his prayers, but followed her eyes to the statue. Lord Sozain’s eyes were glowing, but they faded slightly as the glow shifted to the donation box.

Adam remained silent as the priests quickly darted towards him, clutching at their blades, while checking the donation box.

‘Baktu damn it.’

Surely Adam isn't going to start bother with the gods...