I turned to Kjara and offered my arm. “Shall we dine?” She laughed and took my arm as we headed to a table.
Puc took a seat across from us and Kjara asked, “What would you recommend, Puc?”
The kid shrugged and said, “I’m not too picky, but I’m guessing the fresh food will taste a hundred times better than the scraps, and the scraps are the best I’ve ever had so… anything?”
I laughed and called over to the proprietress, “What’s on the menu this evening, Miss Maeve?”
She ignored my question and spoke to Kjara instead, probably still a bit insulted by my earlier awkwardness.
“I’ve got a couple ‘elpings o’ shepherd’s pie left, sausages, or a bit o’ roast beef. Meal comes with bread ‘n butter. Got ale, beer, mead, or even some wine if yer lookin’ to spend some extra coin.”
Kjara considered for a second and settled on the shepherd’s pie and beer.
Puc spoke up, “I want the roast beef Miss Maeve! With lots of bread and butter, and a beer!”
The woman looked to Kjara who nodded again and said, “We’ll pay for his meal,” glancing at the kid who couldn’t be more then twelve. “But are kids his age supposed to have beer?” she asked.
Maeve shook her head. “I’ll bring ‘im some watered down ale. Nice try though lad.”
She winked at Puc and turned to me. “And what’ll ye ‘ave o me ‘fine establishment', eh boyo?”
“I’d like the shepherd’s pie as well, with beer. And again, I am sorry about before, I was just surprised. You have a lovely establishment.”
She sniffed and walked back to the kitchen.
I glanced up and saw a Saa woman seated on one of the benches glancing my way. The robes she was wearing had ‘just happened to fall open’ at the front, revealing the inner curves of her bosom and a toned, tattooed stomach.
I yanked my gaze upwards and saw her bright red lips curl into a small smile, her kohl darkened eyes glinting mischievously in contrast to her golden skin.
I wrenched my gaze away and felt myself turning bright red. I looked over and saw Kjara looking at me. “What’s wrong Kheph?” she teased, looking over at the woman. “Cleopatra over there trying to make you her Marc Antony?”
I hung my head and said, “I just want to eat, get a room, and then head to the temple. Is that so much to ask? Some things are just not for me, and NPCs are one of them, regardless of how tempting the UI may be.”
“Okay, okay,” she said. “I was just teasing. The blushing is just too much to resist.”
Puc turned around and saw the woman who had been making eyes at me and waved to her. She closed her robe subconsciously and waved back at the boy with a normal smile, her seductress mask replaced with one of genuine affection.
He turned back to me and grinned. “That Lei’ti. She lets me crash in her room sometimes when she’s out for the night. She’s a nice lady, even if she can’t figure out how to keep her robes tied right.”
Maeve brought our food, and after the first bite I was hooked. The shepherd’s pie made all of the other food I had tasted so far taste like last week’s leftover tacos.
Puc practically inhaled his food, and I motioned for Maeve to bring him another plate, which disappeared almost as quickly.
When we were done, I grinned at the boy and said, “You were right kid, the food is amazing.”
Maeve came over with the bill, which was much less than I expected. Kjara and I split the bill, each handing over a gold and some silver.
“Miss Maeve, would it be possible to rent a room for the night?” I asked, and the Madam turned her gaze on me, not quite as cold as it was earlier.
“I take it ye won’t be sharin’ one with me girls?” and as we both shook our heads she sighed. “Well, I’ve only got one room that was just vacated by one o’ me girls who went and found herself a husband, and it’s only got a single bed, if ye don’t mind sharin’.”
I looked to Kjara and she shrugged and said, “Dibs on the left side.”
“How much?” I asked.
“Usually we charge by the hour, but as ye won’t be tying up any o’ me girls, or me rooms, and ye did good by the lad here, ye can have it fer two gold a night,” she said.
Kjara and I agreed, and each handed over a gold for the room and received a key.
I turned to Puc and handed him his gold coin, my heart warming a bit at the grin on the kids face as he clenched it in his fist.
“Hey Puc,” I said. “Stay safe out there, and if you hear about anything strange going on, people disappearing, rumors of undead creeping around anywhere, come and let me know and I’ll give you more of the same.”
The boy ran off, waving at the ladies as he left and getting warm waves in return.
“Bye Puc!” Kjara called.
I turned back to Maeve and asked, “Do you have place for the boy to stay? I know you said you only had one room, but an attic or someplace warm at least? I can pay you if that’s the issue…”
Maeve looked and me and I saw something shift in her demeanor, “Yer just a big softy aren’t ye?” she said and Kjara nodded. “I’ve always got a place for the boy, but this isn’t always the best place for ‘im to be.”
*** You have gained reputation with the Ladies of the Plucky Goose! Neutral→ Friendly. ***
I glanced at the clock and saw it was only a few minutes before nine. Kjara must have done the same because she cursed.
“Shit, I’m late! I have to go!” she said and ran towards the stairs that lead to our room.
I shrugged at Maeve and headed up as well, entering the room just as Kjara’s avatar faded from the game.
I dropped my pack in the corner and set my bind point for the first time, relieved to finally be free of Tael'va.
*** You have set your bind point to the Plucky Goose! ***
...
Chapter 23
I grabbed my spear and shield and tucked some travel biscuits into my belt pouch before heading out, avoiding the common room.
The temple was located at the center of the city, so finding it wasn’t that difficult. I just made my way to the main road and followed it to the temple gates.
There was a steady flow of people passing through the gates leading to the temple grounds when I arrived.
A pair of temple guards clad in bronze plated armor and wielding large war axes stood to either side, gazes scanning the crowd.
I passed through the gates and into a large courtyard, walking past a series of statues depicting the Saa pantheon.
Whoever was in charge of the world design had outdone themselves once again. Each statue was exquisitely detailed, including bases engraved with the lore surrounding each deity.
When I had some more time I was definitely going to come back and soak it all in.
The temple spire reached towards the heavens, its northern face decorated with the symbol of the god Heru-et, a golden falcon with its wings stretched in flight against the backdrop of a golden sun.
I entered the temple proper through the main doors and was once again blown away by the detail. Wide stone columns supported the ceiling far overhead, each one carved with paragraph after paragraph of ancient hieroglyphic text.
It took a healthy dose of willpower to resist their temptation and continue deeper into the temple. I had a High Priest to find.
“Can I help you?” someone said from behind me.
I turned to see an older Saa dressed in a long white robe bearing the golden falcon of Heru-et. A white stole was draped over his shoulders, with three solid golden bands near the ends denoting his place as a senior priest of the temple.
“Good evening, Hierophant,” I said as another bit of info bubbled up into my brain and provided the propper title that accompanied the third stripe on his stole.
That bubble also revealed that as a priest I should have a stole as well. Mine with a single stripe to show my rank of Acolyte.
I must have missed that seemingly critical piece of gear when di
gging through the slavers' stockpile. Or it was an oversight of the character creation process.
Either way, I found it hard to be too upset. Walking around with a billboard saying "hate me" would probably have made my experience in Tael'va even worse.
I shook myself out of my musings and turned to the Hierophant. “I am here to speak to the High Priest. Could you direct me to where I might find him?”
The edges of the priest’s mouth tightened into a subtle frown. “The High Priest is very busy, and doesn’t have time to see every traveler that comes to our temple. Perhaps I could be of assistance.”
“I am sorry, Hierophant, but I believe the High Priest is who I need to speak to, I was instructed to find him specifically,” I replied.
The Hierophant paused for a minute and then nodded, beckoning me to follow. “Come this way then. We will see if the High Priest is available.”
He led me deeper into the temple, past countless works of art depicting the story of Heru-et. His battle with the god of storms and destruction, Sett, and their eventual truce when the people of Karillia arrived on Orva’s shores with their own gods in tow.
Eventually we arrived at the temple's inner sanctum. The walls were covered in plates of gold, engraved with the collected lore of the temple.
A large statue of Heru-et stood behind the main altar, his arms spread wide. In his right arm he held a khopesh and in his left a Shepherd’s crook. His head was that of a Falcon and his gaze was directed downwards as if to appraise the Saa kneeling before the altar.
In stark contrast to the rest of the room, the man kneeling before the altar seemed out of place. He was dressed in a simple white robe with no gems, jewelry, or other adornment. If it weren’t for the fourth golden band indicating the rank of High Priest on his stole, he might have been mistaken for an ordinary parishioner.
The High Priest finished up his prayers and stood, turning to address those who had entered the sanctum.
His milky white eyes turned towards us. He was obviously blind and yet I could feel his gaze delving deep into my soul.
The High Priest was an elderly man, but his bearing spoke of strength, and he radiated an aura of power that was palpable.
His blind gaze shifted to the Hierophant. “Thank you brother Men’tep, please leave us.”
The Hierophant bowed, and headed back to the main temple hall, his footsteps gradually fading.
The High Priest returned his focus to me and I could see a series of emotions cross the older man’s face; Relief, regret, excitement, and even a little fear.
“You have a lot of your grandmother in you, Acolyte,” he said, beckoning me to follow him to the altar. “Come. Let us discuss what you have come here for.”
I was shocked by his recognition, but if anyone would be able to truly read someone’s soul in this world it was likely to be this man. He led me to stand before the altar of Heru-et and rested his hand upon my shoulder as he spoke.
“Did you know that your grandmother was once an aspirant?” he asked, and when I shook my head he smiled and continued, “When I myself was a newly minted Adept, she came here to study as do all those who hear the calling of Heru-et. She was a fierce girl, strong willed, and not willing to accept dogma for dogma's sake. She drove me and the other Adepts assigned to teach the aspirants mad with her questions.”
“She learned and grew, and I thought for sure that one day she would be a fine addition to the faithful, but the High Priest at the time was an older man who was quite fixed in his ways. Questioning traditions was almost heresy as far as he was concerned, so he made it a priority to cure your grandmother of her inquisitive ways.”
“I must admit, in hindsight it was quite a strange thing, a mere aspirant seen as a rival of the High Priest. But alas," he said with a sigh, "eventually there was a straw that broke the camel’s back.”
I listened closely, seeing a look of sadness pass over the High Priests face as he continued his tale. “Your grandmother somehow gained access to the restricted section of the temple library and discovered an ancient history tome that had been the cause of a theological divide within the temple for centuries."
"She began to research the contents of the text and started asking some very controversial questions. Eventually her questions became more specific, hinting at information that she should not have had access to, and when the High Priest heard of them…”
He bowed his head, lost in the memory. "He was outraged by her breach of the restricted library and reading of the forbidden history. The council was convened, and your grandmother was expelled. The High Priest even went so far as to bind your grandmother’s abilities so that she would never again be able to wield the gifts of the gods or speak openly of what she had read.”
He sighed again, and he removed his hand from my shoulder. “A dark day for the temple, your grandmother’s expulsion, but the High Priest’s word is law.”
Things started to make a little more sense to me, and I was amazed at the capabilities of the game AI in weaving together the whole thing to create a truly believable story. Now it was my job to figure out what it was that she had found.
“Your grace, if I may ask… what was this history? What could possibly be so dangerous that the High Priest would go to such extremes?” I asked.
The High Priest remained silent, his hands unconsciously touching the stole resting on his shoulders as he considered my request.
I held my tongue as well, not wanting to press him over the subject and potentially ruin the progression of my own personal story quest due to impatience.
“Are you sure that you wish to know?” he asked as he faced me once again. “For some, the contents are heresy and would see you driven from their temples. Some of my own Hierophants feel this way and would refuse to assist you should they be aware of your knowledge.”
I nodded. “I must know what my grandmother wished for me to learn.”
The High Priest smiled and closed his eyes as he began to speak. “The actual name of the history is lost to time, but it is commonly referred to as the ‘Book of Life’ or the ‘Codex Vitae’. It is a history that details the time of the formation of the empire when the gods themselves lived among us, the origins of the Pharaonic line, and-"
“SILENCE!” an unearthly voice boomed, cutting off the end of the High Priests sentence.
I glance up and was surprised to see my patron standing next to the altar, his eyes locked on the High Priest of Heru-et. “That knowledge is not yours to share with my Acolyte, mortal. I will not have him distracted from the task I have set for him.”
I looked between my patron and the High Priest; a bit torn on how to feel.
On one hand I badly wanted to know what the High Priest was about to say and I was pissed that Anpu was keeping that knowledge from me, but on the other hand that info was bound to be something super important if the gods themselves were getting involved.
The High Priest bowed his head. “Of course, Lord Anpu.”
My patron turned his gaze upon me. “Once you have completed your charge and return to our temple, you may read the Codex Vitae yourself and see why it is so closely guarded.”
I bowed my head in obedience. “Yes, my Lord. I will fulfill my promise to you.”
I could feel his gaze appraising me, and heard his voice speaking directly into my mind, "The task I have set for you is a difficult one. You will need to grow in power if you are to succeed."
I opened my mouth to respond but he was gone, leaving nothing behind but an updated quest entry.
*** Quest Update: Unknown Origins ***
*** After speaking with the High Priest of Heru-et you have learned the story of your grandmother’s days as an aspirant at the temple of Heru-et, her discovery of a forbidden history, and her subsequent expulsion from the priesthood. The High Priest was prepared to discuss the forbidden information with you, but your patron has decided that before you are ready for that knowledge, you must complete the task he has set you. ***
*** Updated Quest Goals: Complete the Tainted Roots Quest (0/1) ***
*** Updated Quest Rewards: Access to the Codex Vitae, reputation with the Temple of Restless Souls. ***
*** This step of the quest is recommended for Level 10+ ***
I shook my head to clear away the quest update and looked back to the High Priest who was patiently waiting.
After that excitement, my questions about any reports of undead in the area seemed pretty anticlimactic.
As far as the High Priest was aware, there were no reports of such things in Sehkem. He recommended I check in with those in the temple that handled the day to day tasks for the priesthood as it was possible that the bureaucracy believed such things weren't important enough to bring to his attention.
He bid me seek out an Adept named Valtep near the main temple hall who would be able to answer my questions and assist me in finding ways to "increase my power".
A notification appeared on my map conveniently labeled as "Temple Quests" that made the obvious instruction even more obvious.
A short time later I entered the location marked on my map. On the far side of the room a younger Saa sat behind a desk, the two stripes on his stole indicating the rank of Adept.
Along the wall to the right was a jobs board, similar to the one found in the caravansary of Tael’va.
I could see several other players lingering around the board or turning in quests to the Adept at the desk. It was a diverse bunch. Some were dressed in robes, some in armor like myself, and some were even bravely wearing some heavier armors.
I wasn’t much of a social butterfly, and time was tight, so I decided to skip the pleasantries and go straight to the meat and potatoes.
I got in the line leading to the desk and waited, listening to the banter of the players around me. I filtered out most of the conversations until the word "undead" grabbed my attention.
Crimson Sands Page 30
