Chapter 2 - Set, The City of Gods

You pass a few hours in the tavern eating and drinking and resting your feet after trekking up one side of the city and down the other. Enimpi is a pleasant and informative guide. She tells you about Set's origins as a small fishing village during the Dark Times of the Witch-King's reign and how a few years after his downfall. When the Order of Light, the religion of the Kalasan liberators, grew more fervant converts, other faiths became unwelcome and priests and priestesses by the thousands were cast out. Then-autarch Principillia seized on this and sent messages far and wide accepting all faiths to her city. The discarded faithful answered and thus Set became the City of Gods.

She then gives an overview of the current autarch, Wise Father Justin, and his mysterious origins and how a quiet and unassuming man with no political connections and no obvious wealth was able to take the position left many in the city surprised and wondering just where exactly he came from. The autarch has so far kept quiet about his past, becoming evasive when questioned too closely. She then describes how the Council of Faith advises the autarchs in order to keep the peace with so many religious factions. The current Council is made up of Mother Aguile, The Gray One, Dark Father Marcus, Bjorgun the Troll-Killer, Cassandra, Argus, and Mad Robin.

Using religious law in such a diverse city proved impossible so they created a secular law. As one might expect, murder, theft, assault, and other violent crimes are illegal and earn severe punishments, such as flogging, hanging, slavery, and exile. There is a permanent ban on the summoning of demons, the creation of monsters, and the use of certain forms of magic. Finally, the city doesn’t tolerate violence driven by religious differences, as all faiths are welcome. This law is enforced by the All-Faiths Company, who've you run into earlier today arguing with the jotun.

She also rattles off recent events happening through the city: A rash of unsolved killings in New Paradise, a sinkhole opened up a house in Red Roofs and a handful of demons escaped ravaging the neighborhood for several hours, and militant cultists of the one True God settled in the Sprawl and are causing interfaith violence to break out.

Finally after all of this several people enter the tavern who Enimpi points out. She nods to a dwarf with a shaved head and tattoos on his neck and face. "That's Gruphenter, head priest of Oceanus. He'll be the one you want to talk to. I suggest quickly since it looks like the sun will be setting within the hour," she says looking out a window at the orange and purple sky.

Enimpi looks at Arkemon in some surprise. "Yes, in face they did have their tongues cut out. Are you familiar with these murders? As for the demons, the most likely explanation was that whatever caused the sinkhole likely summoned the demons. Perhaps a summon gone wrong. The strangest thing is that nobody knows who lived in the house. The sale and deed records were missing or never filed. Thankfully the guards killed the escaped demons but did suffer a few losses themselves."

At Theodore's suggestion Enimpi nods and gives a small smile. "Just don't say anything about their customs and you should be fine. They are a persecuted minority so are used to hostility and prejudice. Try not to show any of that and you should be fine." She gets up and goes to the dwarf and his fellows who have taken up two tables in a back corner of the tavern. She speaks for a short while, indicating your group with a slight head motion. He looks you over, analyzing, judging. Finally he nods and stands up, following Enimpi back to your table.

"This is Wavemaster Gruphenter. Wavemaster, these are my clients for the day: Theodore, Mortemier, Arkemos, and Hargrac. As a I said, they wish to speak to you about your recent troubles with your temple."

"So's you say," he grunts. "Well I shan't look a gift horse in the mouth. Truth is we don't get much offers of help."

The dwarf grunts and nods his head. "'Animosity' is a gold crown word but aye, you've got the right o' it. Us Oceanus followers've been trying to set up a temple for a bit now but they denied us wit' every opportunity. Council says our preferred site's been claimed by some other group, but won't say who and I ain't believe 'em anyway. We've been here decades and our plans've been known for years we'd be buying this spot as soon as we'd saved our money. Then the temple witches all vanished so we offered to buy that but denied again. We are simple priests, not employers, but maybe's we could work out a deal. How're you thinkin' o' helpin' us?"

Wavemaster Gruphenter chuckles. "You lot've got spirit, I'll give ya that. I think yer underestimatin' the power of the Councilors however. They're the highest leaders of their orders and powerful to boot. I don't doubt yer skills, but if ya think ya'll be able to get close let alone 'smash some heads' ya'll be wearin' yar intestines fer belts! Also we dun wanta attract any mo' negative attention to ourselves. If any violence is caused in our names, the entire city'll be on us like ants onna picnic basket. If yer wanna help us, discretion be the word o' the day. Now then, I think a Councilor is most likely bein' bribed or blackmailed against us. If ya find who that is, that'll be a start. Interceptin' dispatches is indeed a good method o' doin' that. If ya can track down this fella ya heard in the church, that'd be a solid lead indeed."