From leaving Payam’s place, Farshad returned to the caravan and relieved Dhran from his beast tending duties. The group had a few hours to wait before Payam had information for them, so they decided to investigate the Temples and take the measure of the rulers of Idym. Of the group, Dhran and Jalabu would most likely to be familiar with the rites of the worship of the Cold Ones. These are not exact from place to place, as there is no central authority save for the Gods themselves, but they should know.
The Cold Ones dwelt in the Ancestral Sea, in those days the sea chilled the stars so much that they were just as embers. Ahera-Ba, the eldest of the Cold
Ones swam to the depths and found there the stars, dark, quiet, cold but with promise of life.
Ahera-Ba called the rest of the Cold Ones and they sang the song of the stars and raised them up with fire to the skies, Ahera-Ba became two, Ahera, Mother of the True Sea and Ba, Father of the Sky, Shepherd of the Stars. The other main deities are Hyyan wa Kothar, parent of the Kotharim, Smith and Crafter, Mawet, God of the Dead, Shmun, God of healing and seeker of knowledge, lover of Hyyan and Unat, Goddess of fertility, sexuality and war. There is also Lotnyas, serpent and destroyer, but only bad mortals worship that deity.
Apart from little prayers through the day before particular activities, worship of the Cold Ones is usually of the whole as a family group, with special offerings to a particular Cold One of you need help in their realm. Homes will have a small shrine dedicated to them, whereas a temple will have multiple shrines, so that groups can circle the temple, praying at each shrine in turn. Clergy of the Temple are expected to learn useful crafts and work in the community when not on Temple duty.
The group decide to split, there are three temples that they know of in the city, the main temple is farthest away, there is a temple used by the less well off and travellers and there is one used by the wealthy in the centre of the rich quarter’s houses, and so they leave the poorest area, redolent of crime, ordure and houses too close together, and set off into the better parts of the city
On the way there, moving through the Street of Art, where may be found the mages, scribes, better class of charlatan, specialist artisans and a few open areas with things for sale. Near to one of the open areas is a bakery, Dhran noticed that a pregnant woman lift a couple of loaves and secret them, winking at him as she went past. Jalabu spotted that the baker was secretly watching her do it, but did not intervene.
Jalabu spoke to the man, and found out that she was the wife of a friend, currently languishing sick and at home, unable to work, and while she was too proud to ask for help, he was happy to turn a blind eye to the theft. Dhran dropped a coin and said to the woman that she must have dropped it. She was proud, but Dhran’s silver tongue persuaded her to take the act of charity.
Meanwhile Utana got into a staring contest with a dog for no clearly discernible reason until, discomforted, the dog wandered off.
Splitting up, the groups go to their respective temples. It is a special day, a more general service commemorating the division of Ahera-Ba into the two deities Ahera and Ba, in the larger and more cosmopolitan temple, although most will celebrate in an evening service, as most of the city works in the fields outside during the day.
There were priests washing the feet of those entering the Temple on this special day and groups gossiping about work at the temple for crafters of various sorts. Dhran subtlely probed for signs of unrest amongst the peasantry, but, of course, most of the proletariat are out in the fields, the folk here are the local artisans and travellers able to attend during the early afternoon. Farmers are having lunch in the fields, miners up in the mountains.
From Dhran’s probing and ear wigging, he learned that the people at the Temple seemed happy enough, and the service, different from normal though Jose would not know that, proceeded well, singing praises in call and response. A few private worshippers also made their small acts of worship at the niches for the various gods, but in general offerings of food were made at the temporary main altar. At the end of the service, worshippers took up brooms and swept out after them, until the temple was cleaned of any dust missed by the ritual washing.
At the other temple, things were similar, though the conversation was more business oriented. Utana made a contact with a mine owner, who misrepresented Utana’s vague interest as a definite order of 1000 bars, ingots if you prefer, to Jalabu who Utana, forgetting that he was in the guise of a simple travelling caravan guard, represented as his business manager. Jalabiu made interested but non-committal noises, but the duo did manage to get the name of a potentially useful contact in the Palace, the person in charge of any trade going through the Haraxan Gate, Saram Amin.
Meeting up for lunch, the foursome decided to have a look at the main temple, to see what was what . They found that there was some old and dilapadated housing nearby, being cleared and rebuilt, apparently by the Temple who were the landlords, and they learned that the Temple in Idym, a custom is some of the longer civilised parts of the world, but not universally the case in these more modern times. In other places the Temple is supported by a tithe on the worshippers.
They have not, as yet found out what is happening in the West apart from peasant unrest and the accusation that the state of Merem is somehow involved according to gossip. As far as they can tell, the people seem indifferent to what banner flies overhead, as long as they can live in peace and get on with things. They know that although Bardij imposes taxes, they are lighter than in other places, making it attractive, especially in a place where three nations meet.
The Temple is gearing up not only to build new houses, but also goods for those and other houses which they will sell. Jose asked about healers and was told that, despite the very fortunate being able to receive healing through Divine intervention, they do have healers. If Jose had been an adherent of the Cold Ones, then he would have known more of Shmun, and the gardens of herbs that the Temples maintain, and the healers and teachers of the art at many Temples. I assume that Dhran told him.
Payam, Donya and Irash have some new information, a possibly amenable official, Shirin, a scribe working for Anaraxha in the court, if approached she seems likely to listen to the group and may be able to arrange a meeting.
Irash is relatively respectable, but can offer the information that some spears and bows for hire have travelled west, where mercenary companies are being formed.
The group now have two names for potential contacts in the Servant of the Land’s palace, a scribe working to the Servant of the Land, Shirin and the Steward of the Haraxan Gate, responsible for the market outside it and taxes for goods passing through, Saram Amin
And there we left it