Haas part 6
Travelling south along the Tamin river, Haas and his retinue came to Messada and Castle Gemblade. Unsure of what sort of welcome he would receive, he had intended to go right to the great arena-temple in Messada, but as the Castle came into sight, he found a large pavilion tent flying the royal standard and the banner of the Church of Stasis. Waiting to greet him were Buld Mountainmagic, the Herald of the Church, and Michael, the Steward (High Cleric) of Habololy. With them was a Vishtoo, armed with Horarian swords and wearing leather gye and kilt, with a reddish tint, who, based on Haas’ recent experience, appeared to be nearing old age. The clerics greeted Haas warmly and promised to show him the temples in Messada. The Vishtoo, bowing deeply said to him:
“Greetings Father Haas, I am Eda’Kera. I am sorry I was not in the Badlands during your time there, but many of the Waywatchers have been called here to fight Sutyr and Dresta. The High King hopes you will dine with him and other guests in the Castle.â€
Haas spent two days as an honored guest in the Castle and was shown many works of art depicting the Graplores held in Icefia, the great competitors and even Stasis’ defeat as runner-up to Vrokikke the Doomed. He was gratified to see the royal family continued to follow Stasis’ example and taught their sons wrestling. After he departed, as promised, Michael and Eda’Kera, showed him all of the great temples of Messada. Haas was pleased to find that Stasis’ paladin school, the military academy and the constables academy all had small shrines to Tyrogatore within their unarmed training gyms. He was introduced to the chief instructors, from the constables a bespectacled man named Robert and from the legions an Intorian woman named Miaj. The arena-temple of Tyrogatore was an impressive sight, one of only a few to host multiple Graplores. Its high cleric, Cole Breakneck, an aging half-Orc, was moved to tears at Haas’ arrival and introduced him to his best students.
As he crisscrossed the country, Haas observed that the Kingdom was almost the opposite of what he had found in Yellowia and the Empire. Despite Iott’s ascension and the plagues, he found a united nation, given purpose by the challenging times. Still, there was a wariness and he quickly realized Michael and Eda’kera were not merely hosts but bodyguards. Haas and his company bid Michael farewell after visiting Phiam and Colonye. Eda’kera continued with them and Haas was aware that they were being shadowed by clerics and knights on the road. As this annoyed Haas, Eda’kera explained to him:
“You have no power over the undead and the Empty Men seem to fear only holy and radiant energy. It is unlikely that they could overcome you, but it would be a great humiliation for the Kingdom if there was an attempt on your life here.â€
The company spent two days at Oneash, where Haas received a welcome intended to outdo any had previously experienced. There were contests of strength and the high cleric of the city, Lorc, asked Haas to consecrate their temple that had recently been elevated from a shrine. They continued on, stopping to rest at Eda’Kera’s ancestral estate, Battlestone. Ingeniously concealed in a deep forest ravine, the buildings were carved into the cliffsides. They spent one night there with Ukko, Eda’kera’s son, the head of the high noble family. The journey to Cape Tolya took weeks and as they traveled, they saw more signs of plague and war. More than once they came upon an abandoned village, or one cordoned off by the clerics of Stasis or Hemator. They also encountered the legions, on the march north to fight. Still, there was no sign of Iott and the journey was pleasant.
Cape Tolya was far different from the cities of the east. The plagues had struck hard and repeatedly in the great city. The subjects of the city made their way home before dark and knights and soldiers patrolled the streets with the constables. Here the battle against Sutyr and Dresta was being fought every night. Despite this, it was still more orderly than Undrile or Magenthia. The company made its way through the great city to their destination, the ancient temple of their lord. The second temple to host a Graplore off the Main Continent, the temple of Cape Tolya was a reminder of the time when the city had been the wealthiest in the world. It was fitting that its master was also seemingly from another age: Aavass Vassenture, the ancient Vass Jaagenklar was the only known Master of the Art in the history of Icefia. He had been high cleric of Cape Tolya for nearly 70 years. He greeted Haas warmly and escorted him inside. Awaiting them, filling the floor of the arena, was a host of warriors, constables, faithful of Tyrogatore and Guardians. First to greet Haas, in hearty, but respectful, dwarven fashion, was Boram Firepeak, the Guardians’ chief unarmed combat instructor. Easily the largest dwarf Haas had ever met, Boram had fought in the last three Graplores, 800 most likely his last. Aavass had arranged a week-long tournament in Haas’ honor. Fought day and night in Graplore style, it stopped only for prayer and feasting. For the final matches Aavass and Haas were joined by Escalon and Adux Steelsun, the Equinal of the Guardians. Adux had long wanted to meet Haas and thanked him for all he had done to thwart the plot against Stasis and Tyrogatore. Their attendance was not only to pay respect to Haas; by the third day of the competition, it was clear that Boram’s disciple, Sundral the Battle Shard, a tall bugbear Feyali, would most likely prevail. As they watched, Haas heard of the struggles in the Protectorate, the horror of the Day of Dust, and that his old friend Roland had left the Kingdom to hunt those responsible. At the end of the tournament, Sundral prevailed, and all assembled, faithful of Tyrogatore and not, saluted Haas.
Though there were only shrines to Tyrogatore in Fortress Whiteknight and Portet, Haas and company took their leave and journeyed west. Here they found a nation truly at war. One in three villages were abandoned, animal life was sparse, and as they drew near Portet a company of wraiths and wights set upon them. Though none of the company was killed, it was eye opening to the danger of daily life in the west. Once in the city, Haas was moved to find that before Roland had departed, he had founded an orphanage, watched over by his wife and servants of the goodly churches. Haas preached for a week in the city, exhorting the residents to stay fit and disciplined against the forces that surrounded them.
From there, Haas begrudgingly boarded a ship and headed to Kathow-tio-Horari, where a meeting with the high cleric of Quan Yin would prove most interesting.