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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PieAndDragon" data-source="post: 3397514" data-attributes="member: 18108">Priest of Fire is for HireMy morning started much as most others, with prayers to Our Radiant Lord at dawn and duties around the temple. Ours is a temple which takes its duties seriously, and all members of the flock are expected to do their duty to the fullest, be they lay member, initiate, priest, rune priest or rune lord. I am no exception, working hard and constantly look for ways to make work more prominent in the eyes of my superiors.So when a higher-ranking priest commanded me to report to the Cult of Issaries and make myself available for a caravan heading deep into the troll lands, I did so without question. Why it is was urgent for an initiate of Yelmalio to join onto an expedition funded by the god of Commerce, I did not know, but if I had needed to know, then no doubt I would have been told.Ready in my full armour, armed with composite bow, bronze-tipped longspear and a quiver of javelins, I approached the Issaries temple, a large, grand structure shining with expensive metals, filled with art and rich finery, displaying the wealth of their cult to all and sundry, granting a glimpse of the gains one could find from such as they. Finely dressed acolytes ushered me into a busy temple room, where warriors such as myself were greeted by a small group of Issaries priests.Most of those gathered were heavily armed and armoured, with a wary, worldly stance which belied experience beyond common mercenaries. Some had the symbols of other cults upon their person, although none shared the Sun of Yelmalio. We were light on conversation, and generous with glances and weighing looks. Being hired onto the caravan among such warriors would not be an easy task.A richly dressed man in his mid-twenties spoke to us, explaining the details of the journey ahead. Those the temple chose to employ would be heading into troll lands, paid a thousand lunars each for the work of two seasons, and more if longer was required to complete the expedition. I have been paid more, but not for caravan work. The man introduced himself as Munias, an Initiate of his cult, and organiser of the wagons which would make their way along the spider silk trade route. One man left in disgust at the amount offered, leaving the rest of us to hear the priest out.“We have more warriors here than we need, and will therefore make a test of it. You will be split into two groups, which will fight one-another, with the winning side winning the contract. Once we know who is coming with us, you will be told more about the journey and what it entails.”At this, a few more left in disgust at the games being played. Normally, I would have been among them, for there are better ways to deal with such things. However, I was under orders, so battle I would, doing my best for victory. Each side would choose one of their number as their tower, for wont of a better word. The task of each side was to protect their own tower, and eliminate the other side’s from the test. If a sides’ tower fell in battle, they would fail in the test, and the other side would be hired for the journey ahead. Munias went on to detail the battleground, a large warehouse with stacks of boxes, with both sides starting at opposite ends. We were to avoid lethal blows where we could, and a temple healer was on hand to deal with any serious injuries. Although reattaching limbs was within their power, restoring the fallen to life was not. I was unsure how to avoid lethal blows with arrows, spear points and javelins, but thought that unwise to mention to the Issaries priest.</blockquote>

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