The Thousand Isles - Loosing My Religion
Market Street in Haven Towne was one vast warren of buying and selling. The wide, crowded boulevard was not only lined with bustling shops selling everything imaginable, but each tributary street seemed to be more of the same. The street stretched away in front of them as far as they could see. And every available nook and cranny that wasn't a building seemed to house a stall or cart. The press of people and carts was immense, making forward progress would have been difficult if The Sturg hadn't been leading the way.
"Did you see that?" giggled their Native Guide, temporarily forgetting to pick his nose. "The Sturg picking up that donkey that was blocking the street and just moving it aside. And he didn't even hurt it".
"The Sturg likes animals" said Dakhir. "Never seen him intentionally hurt one. People on the other hand..."
The Native Guide (who also was the ten year old son of the innkeeper of Black Alice's Brew) looked at The Sturg, radiating hero worship.
"I think The Sturg has a fan" laughed Whisperleaf.
Lightbringer, was experiencing sensory overload and didn't notice the exchange as he looked down the street in awe.
"My da' says that everything that's grown, mined, or made in Valoria, Mbo, or the Isles can be bought here." the Native Guide pronounced proudly.
"I believe it young one" agreed Lightbringer. "I thought the Market District in Valoria impressive but it pales in comparison to this."
Billy grinned. He was thoroughly enjoying being on loan from his dad, for a ten year old boy, tromping around the city with a group of exotic strangers sure beat chores around Black Alice's Brew any day.
"Such commerce, my brothers. Surely there will be someone here who can help me repair my armor." Radiant looked down sadly at his much battered and abused splint mail. It had certainly seen better days. Radiant Lightbringer was not easy on armor, despite the meticulous care he took of it.
"Repair, my good cleric I think that armor has passed the point of repair." laughed Whisperleaf. "We are well into 'bury with a funeral and then replace' territory I am afraid."
"Alas I have no money for such luxuries, brother" replied Lightbringer sadly.
"You should be fine, Radiant, we've accumulated quite a bit of gold over the course of our adventures and you received your fair share." said Dakhir.
"That money is gone my brothers. It was needed."
"Radiant. What in the world did you do with all that money?" asked Dakhir quietly.
Gave it away apparently. A gold piece at a time. To cripples, beggars, widows, veterans, orphans, at least one cat lady and a farmer that needed new cows. And from the sound of things, Dakhir was reasonably certain, to various charlatans and con-men pretending to be all of the above.
"I had no need of such riches brother, Mithras teaches us to help and give succor to the poor and oppressed."
"You succored away over 800 gold pieces all right" said Dakhir sourly. "Those have got to be some fat and happy widows and orphans. And cats and cows. How are you going to afford new armor now?"
Lightbringer looked despondent.
"Well, we just have to all chip in" said Ricmo cheerily. "We have done quite well for ourselves after all"
"The widows and orphans are the ones who have done quite well for themselves. And the con-men" muttered Dakhir.
"Shush" said Whisperleaf. "Ricmo is right. Lets go shopping!"
-------
Lightbringer stopped suddenly in the middle of the street, turned and pointed.
"There brothers!"
"You've got to be kidding me" said Dakhir.
The shop was small, but several suits of what looked like high quality armor were on display in the windows. Lightbringer practically danced through the door.
"He's so excited" murmured Ricmo to Whisperleaf. "He's like a little kid. It's cute."
The store did not fail to impress. It was simply furnished but the merchandise made up for it. Beautiful armor was everywhere, and dominating a plinth in the very center of the shop was what was probably the most ornate and beautiful set of full plate any of them had ever seen. The chest piece was dominated by the Mithran holy symbol, inlaid with what looked like rubies. Finely inlaid script virtually covered the rest of the body.
Lightbringer circled it in awe. "Look brothers it has the seven precepts and twelve maxims inlaid in silver script. On the back the entire saga of the Journey into Shadow. It's...beautiful"
Ricmo whistled. "That can't be cheap"
"'Cheap is, as cheap does' as my father always said" replied what could only be the proprietor, approaching from the back of the store. "All my items are fairly priced, and of high quality. We stock a range, it all depends on how you want to spend your money."
The proprietor was most likely the smith himself, based on the size of his arms and the smiths apron around his waist. He was short and stocky, close cut greying hair, powerfully built but with a ready and engaging smile and an open face.
"Oh hell why not?" sighed Dakhir. "He never asks for anything after all. How much for the fancyness?" he asked pointing at the centerpiece.
"Well before we move on to haggling perhaps we should check for fit?" asked the smith. "After all, it could be moot. Though" looking at Lightbringer with a practiced eye "I would hazard it may fit rather well."
While Lightbringer and the smith began the tedious process of donning the armor, Dakhir activated the special senses that had been granted to him by his patron. His jaw dropped.
"This whole place is soaking with magic" he whispered urgently to the rest of the party. "That's the first magic I've sensed today. This street has many fine goods but no truly magical ones. Up until now."
"Perhaps these items are blessed or consecrated in some way?" hazarded Whisperleaf. "It is holy armor after all. It's not possible that ALL these items could truly be enchanted."
"That makes sense" replied Dakhr. "I wonder how lasting such consecrations are?" Whisperleaf shrugged.
"You look magnificent" observed Freddy approvingly.
Lightbringer's practically glowed with a huge smile, as he looked down at the finery.
"Fits like it was made for you" remarked the smith. "A few minor adjustments and it will be perfect."
Dakhir nodded. "The price?"
The smith named a price. A high price, but not an unreasonable one. Lightbringer blanched
"Sweet Mithra" he breathed. "That could feed a family for a decade. That could buy a herd of cows".
"It's ok, Radiant" said Dakhir, "That's just the asking price, we haven't done the haggling yet, and we can afford it."
Radiant hesitated, his countenance deep in thought. Then he squared his shoulders and replied softly.
"No brother" he answered, his voice becoming more decisive. "This is not for me. Beautiful as this is, our way is not one of such extravagance. We are instructed to live simply, in humility and to give our excess to those who have need. This is His way"
"You need armor Radiant, that stuff of yours is falling to pieces" said Ricmo. "You won't do Mithras any good if the next monster we run into eats you."
"Indeed. This is true, we are also instructed to choose good tools for the job we are set to" replied Radiant. He turned to the proprietor.
"Smith, my friend, do you perhaps have something equally functional, and yet simpler, and more affordable?"
The smith nodded, smiling in an almost approving way, then gave a half bow. "Indeed, my friend we cater to all needs here. I have just the thing"
And a little while later Radiant Lightbringer had a new set of armor. Not jewel bedecked admittedly, but well made, clean, unblemished. And at quite a reasonable price.
"One final word of caution my friend" said the smith in parting. "Your views on Mithra and extravagance will not make you popular with the local temple, should you choose to share them."
"Indeed?" said Lightbringer. "How so? The scriptures are quite clear on the subject."
"Nonetheless, I speak the truth" said the smith sadly. "The great temple is not far from here and if you choose to visit it, I would be careful with your words perhaps"
"The great temple is close!" exclaimed Lightbringer excitably. "I have heard of this temple even in far Valoria my brothers. It is the motherhouse of my faith, it's beauty and holiness is legend. Can we perhaps visit it?"
He looked at the party pleadingly.
"Lovely, looks like we are going to church, how wonderful" said Dakhir drolly.
Ricmo laughed. "Look at it as an opportunity to confess your sins Dakhir"
"It wouldn't help" said Dakhir. "That ship has sailed".
It was really more a temple complex then a temple, and it was impressive. One massive cathedral in the front, with four towers, all marble and gold leaf, and then three other secondary churches around the rear lawn. In the front a great cobblestone courtyard with a huge statue and flowing fountains. In the very back of the complex was a huge platform filled with bells, dozens of bells, some larger then a house, bells being sacred to the Mithrans.
The statue of Mithra that dominated the courtyard had to be at least fifty feet tall. The green lawn was immaculate and the palm trees swayed in the warm breeze.
Well-to-do citizens, and priests bustled in and out of the temple, mostly ignoring the beggars covering the entry courtyard.
"Well there goes the last of Radiant's money" murmured Dakhir.
You have lost the way my brothers. You have lost the light. Look around you, at the wealth you deck His temple in while beggars plead for food on his very doorstep. Did he not say “mine is not the kingdom of gold nor silver but the simple light of the sun that all may partake in. Did he not entreat us “if thou hast two coins and needeth only one to buy thy daily bread, then give the other to the poor? Did he not beseech us to “not seek the approval of the rich nor the powerful but of the weak and downtrodden”
This is not the way my brothers. This is not his way. You must turn from this path, this very day, or loose his light
I am but the least of you. I am neither wise nor strong. However I am but a messenger. These are his words not mine”
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