Temple Servant
The temple consists mostly of a large hall, painted black, with a mighty golden obelisk rising up at its center. The hall is full of people, who, judging by their dress, are at least upper middle class. In front of the obelisk stands a man in black and gold robes, talking in a form of plain song. The language used is completely foreign to you.
All the while, a temple servant has been passing through the neat rows of believers, handing out slices of bread. A second servant follows him with a cart. In it he gathers plump little bags offered by the recipients of the bread. Upon reaching you, the temple servant smiles and says: “As you are new among our congregation, the Golden One proffers his bread and blessing without expecting a sign of veneration.”
- “Can’t be worth much then.”
- “In that case, let’s have some!”
- “Say, who is this magnanimous god?”
“You are very much mistaken, my friends. This bread shall give you the power and the strength of the Greatest of all Gods.”
- “Try that on someone else.”
- “Thank you, but we’ve already got it.”
- “Well, no harm in giving it a try.”
“There you are. You will not regret it.”
“He is the Golden One, who appeared to my lord Ektor Gremob one day and revealed the true religion unto him. He promised him the fulfillment of all his dreams in return for spreading the faith, and the wealth of my lord has constantly grown indeed. He now is one of the most prominent citizens in this town. Whoever feels lost and forlorn comes to my lord, eats from the divine bread and is saved.”
- “We will have some bread after all.”
- “Let’s have some. It can’t hurt.”
- “Say what you will, it’s blasphemous!”
“If that is how you feel, you better go now.”
The man nods to you in recognition and hands you each a piece of bread. You each hand him twenty ducats in return, and he moves on.
Ektor gremob
There is a very fat man, probably about 50 years old or so, sitting on the floor of the large, empty hall housing the obelisk. He is humming a soothing tune but when he hears you enter, he turns around and gets up awkwardly.
“Oh, new ones, and outside the appointed hours. Do you want a taste of the divine food offered to you by the Greatest of all Gods?”
When you see the light in his eyes, you find it easy to overlook his unpleasant appearance. Those eyes have you in their thrall; on some undefinable level you know your lives have taken a decisive turn.
- “Yes, please!”
- “I beg you, give me the divine food!”
- “Yes, oh yes, yes!”
As soon as you look into the eyes of the man, you know there is nothing holy about him. There is nothing but greed shining within those tiny pig eyes as he stares at you and asks:
“New ones? At this hour? Has the call of the new god finally reached you, too? Here, take and eat all of this. This divine food will bring the revelation you have been searching for all along.”
- “Forget it! What is that stuff?”
- “Well, I guess it won’t do any harm.”
- “All right then, in the gods’ names.”
“Twenty ducats from each of you would be an appropriate offering.”
The man looks over his shoulder and whispers:
“Keep your voices down! See me at my villa tonight and I’ll explain everything! Really, everything you want to know!”
“Ah, the new ones again. I know what you want. It is so hard to estimate the effect of the divine bread at first. Well, that will be a sacrifice of twenty five ducats per head for the sake of our god.”
“There they are, boys! Do them in!” the high priest shouts, as you enter the temple, and sets four armed men on you.
- “No thanks!”
Do you want to make a donation?
A female cleric
The temple of Phex is larger than any you have seen before. This building would honor any god (or goddess) valuing appearances on this plane. Two large, multi-story main buildings are connected by low side wings, making the whole complex a closed rectangle half the size of an Ioman ground. Despite the city’s pious name, though, this magnificent building looks about to collapse. Of the main buildings, only the ground floor appears useable. The upper stories are in ruins, the roof is leaking and the large portal is open. Behind it, you do not see a sanctum, but the tools of a roper and a tavern entrance. To reach the actual chapel, you have to pass both. On doing so, you notice there is not much pious prayer going on in this temple building.
Right at the back of the main building, you finally come upon an open door and a small chapel. A few seconds after you enter, a woman comes from the back of the room towards you. She seems unperturbed by the calamitous state of the temple. In her eyes burn the fires of fanaticism.
“Phex be with you, strangers.”
- “He doesn’t seem to be with you…”
- “Yes, once you’ve found him.”
- “And may he prove magnanimous.”
“You are mistaken, strangers. My god had indeed forsaken me for a long time, but now he has returned, and I’m doing all I can to regain for him the position he deserves in his own city.”
- “Good luck.”
- “I can certainly believe that.”
- “May the gods smile on your endeavor.”
The woman smiles.
“Indeed he loves to move in mysterious ways. Yet I hope to restore at least this temple to its former glory within a short while.”
- “Does he have a penchant for the impossible?”
- “I hope you brought a lot of time.”
- “We are certain you will succeed.”
“He already has.”
- “Not much to show for it so far.”
- “And about time, too.”
- “You are to be envied.”
“You are not welcome here. The time for such as you has passed in this city.”
“You should express your hope and prayers with a small donation then.”
“What does time have to do with it? This is about a higher cause. I would gladly offer my entire life to it.”
- “Not much of a sacrifice, I’m sure.”
- “You are a fanatic!”
- “What I wouldn’t give for such devotion!”
“You will regret this! I am not a fanatic! Don’t you know the difference between fanaticism and true belief? Begone, and do not sully this divine house any longer with your presence!”
“Admittedly, the building is in a pitiful condition. All the more reason to welcome any donation.”
“Indeed. His appearance came not a moment to soon. It also saved the lives and souls of some pitiful people who knew not what they did. These misguided strayed from true belief and had been plotting with an orcish chief. These poor souls had seriously underestimated the consequences of their behavior, yet now they are saved. But I’m sure you are not as interested in that as I am in your donation.”
“You are quite right, but only very few people notice. Most just see the shabby outside of the temple, but even those doubters shall be awestruck by what is in store for them.
I do need every donation I can get for that, though.”
The chapel is locked. There is no light to be seen, and you hear nothing but the noise from the tavern next door.
Apparently, the priestess has gone.
Alrik Derondan
A man comes over to your table. Judging from his appearance you don’t trust him for one second. He looks you over and says:
“I am Alrik Derondan. I heard that you are looking for me.”
- “There must be some mistake.”
- “Could be. What’s it about?”
- “Quite right. Do sit down and have a drink.”
“Pardon me, I appear to have mistaken you.”
“It certainly looks that way.”
- “It happens.”
- “No, no, you’ve come to the right place.”
“I thought you would tell me?”
- “Why should we?”
- “You think we’re going to tell just anybody?”
- “Of course. We’re looking for Hyggelik.”
“Glad to hear it. Now, how can I help you?”
- “You could get your face out of our sight.”
- “Where can we find Hyggelik?”
- “Can you give us a clue?”
The man shakes his head and leaves the table.
“I’m not just anyone. I’m the man you’re looking for.”
“Hyggelik? He hasn’t been seen around here for a long time. Maybe I can remember where he might be…”
“You are quite daring, to act like that in my territory.”
With those words, the man leaves your table. Before he leaves the tavern you see him exchange a few words with its keeper who comes over to your table shortly afterwards.
“Time to pay up. You are no longer welcome here. Please leave. Right now.”
“Sure I can. The price depends on how important it is.”
- “All right. What do you want?”
- “Anybody can say that.”
- “Have you got proof?”
“Be that as it may. Where can we find Hyggelik?”
“Why should anybody do that? Who in their right mind would be seen with someone like you? I’m starting to wonder why I’m bothering with you. My mistake. Enjoy yourselves.”
“Sure I could. But I don’t have to. Phex help you with your quest, you poor, demented fools.”
- “That would be very nice of you.”
- “How about five ducats to help me remember?”
- “You better.”
“Because you’re asking so nicely: I heard he moved to Hermit’s Lake. Its anybody’s guess if he’s still alive, though.”