Chapter One-Hundred Eighty-Two
Rezlar
The young noble isnt certain how he feels about paperwork. He certainly prefers it to peoplework, but thats not really saying much. He feels more confident about getting back in the ring with Rocky than he does with talking to people, generally. His acting at being one of his own guards is helping with that a bit, but hes long come to terms with the fact that hell never be the boisterous, outgoing type.
On the other hand, he is feeling less fond of paperwork as of late, probably because theres been more of it. Requests for funding for the small hold, financial reports for the proposed financial incentives to delve Thedeim more over the winter, so as to help with the problem the Southwood is having, complaints from the masons guild about certain members being barred from participating in building Hullbreak's lighthouse
He has to smile a bit at that particular letter. He had even gotten some catharsis by penning a reply telling the guild that, if they have a method to force any dungeon to allow a member to join, let alone Thedeim, hed love to hear it. Of course, he tossed that draft into the hearth and wrote a lot of words that come to the same sentiment, just much more diplomatically.
He should see if Rhonda and Freddie would like to go see the lighthouse being built. They still need to do the followup delve in Hullbreak for whatever it was Rhonda needed. Bubble kelp? Bubble weed? Hes pretty sure its bubble something, and hes positive itll be on her shoulders for them to get the correct ingredient.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.
The pleasant thoughts of delving with his friends fade as he looks at the letter he received from the crown. He doubts the king himself wrote it, but he may as well have for all the power Rezlar has to stop it. At least it probably wont be too much trouble, its just a basic audit. In hindsight, he probably should have expected something like this. Tax revenue this year was up sharply, thanks to Thedeim. That kind of change in money is going to draw attention, even if everything is fully legitimate.
Which, as far as Rezlar can tell, everything is. Oh, hes sure theres some minor embezzlement and other financial wrongdoing going on, but whatever people may be doing it, theyre keeping it subtle enough for him to not need to worry. He wouldnt even put it past Miller to have, if not a hand in most of it, to at least be keeping an eye on it. Much as it irks his sensibilities, that kind of thing simply cant be fully snuffed out, so its better to keep it manageable and not let it get obvious enough for a real audit to be called.
Still, he should probably put into his schedule some time to check the books himself. He cant rely on Miller to do all the work, and being able to spot accounting oddities is one of his duties as Lord Mayor.
But he should have plenty of time. If its secretly a deep audit, itll look better for him if they dont show up in a week with him tearing through his ledgers. No, hell take a look in a few weeks, probably after the Hullbreak delve. Any potential spies can see hes not worried, and hes more than happy to waste the time of imagined onlookers.
For the rest of today he actually would like to visit the Church of the Shield. Hed like to hear their opinion of Thedeim and the fact he has worshipers, and what Rezlar should actually do about that. Not that he intends to interfere, but that he doesnt want to accidentally upset someone like Thedeim, even as a dungeon, let alone as a potential deity.
He misses when he could stay out of theology altogether, but at least getting involved with Thedeim earned him his two most dear friends. He can step out of his comfort zone to ensure he doesnt somehow make a mistake that turns Thedeim against them, let alone the town as a whole.
It seems pretty unlikely, but hed rather know too much than not enough. He had sent out a message early in the morning, asking if he could have some of High Priest Torlons time, and received a reply not long ago that he would be more than happy to receive Rezlar after lunch, or even during, should he desire.
Hed prefer the informality of a meeting after lunch, and so sent the reply. A luncheon is always so weighed down by etiquette and formality. A lunch between friends is one thing, but he doesnt think he quite knows the kindly priest well enough for an informal meal.
Is the young master ready to go? asks Miller as he enters the room, tidying and organizing the mess that it tends to get into when Rezlar is attending to the duties of his position.
I think so, Miller. Is my horse ready? If he were just going as Larrez, hed just walk, but nobles are expected to walk as little as possible. He remembers asking Miller about it when he was much younger, and getting a smirk with the reply that, should a noble be in the rough position of not having a cushion upon which to rest their rear end, one should have enough padding to make do. The memory still brings a smile to his face.
Nobody knows why they dont answer it, either. Some gods are more than happy to answer various questions, but they all ignore that particular one, which only raises more questions. Personally, I believe it has something to do with how faith magic works.
Rezlar looks lost, but stays quiet to let the priest continue.
Most people think it must work like arcane magic, or even like martial magic, but just like those two are different, so is faith. Arcane magic is about understanding the world and how it works, and how your affinity works in the world. From what I can tell of martial magic, its about understanding yourself and exemplifying your affinity in yourself. Faith magic is
He trails off for a moment, looking for the proper words, or maybe to see if Rezlar is following. The elf noble is leaned forward on the couch now, listening to every word, and Torlon smiles as he continues.
Faith magic is more about accepting and striving for an ideal. Not everyone finds their ideal in a god. Even here in the church, it could be more accurate to say some peoples faith is more in a concept than the Shield. But gods are the most common ideal of faith, because they encompass so many domains. That the Shield is protection is no surprise, and many paladins of the Shield may be placing their faith more in that than in the Shield itself.
Rezlar is back to looking confused at that, and Torlon laughs again. It sounds a bit heretical, doesnt it? But I think that the Shield provides guidance not just in how to protect, but why to protect, and placing ones faith in a specific aspect of the Shield doesnt lessen anyone involved. Which brings us back to your question about Thedeim.
I dont think hes actually a god, though as a focus of faith, the difference is a bit academic. I think hes handling it rather well, especially with how he seems to be trying his best to handle it as little as possible, heh.
What? escapes Rezlars lips before he can stop it. Hes handling it by not handling it at all? How does that make any sense!?
Torlon just smirks. What would you do if it were you?
What? says Rezlar again, confused to have a question aimed at himself.
What if you were suddenly the focus of someones faith? If someone believed so utterly in what you do that their magic is focused by it. He laughs again as the elf blanches.
You cant even tell them to stop it! Someone with that kind of faith in you, theyd think they had done something wrong! he continues. So now you have quite a lot of control over someones actions, and I think as a noble, you might understand the weight of that responsibility better than most, and the temptations of abusing that responsibility.
Rezlar slowly nods, and Torlon nods as well. Yes, something like that can cause a lot of trouble. Dark cults and more happen when someone misuses that kind of trust and faith. But Ive talked with both Aranya and Larx, and Thedeim has set really only one rule, and I think he could have done a lot worse.
What rule?
To love. To care, honestly and deeply, about the well-being of others. Torlon chuckles and shakes his head. A simple command and yet not a simple command at all, really.
