Fahren al-Heit - The Road of Sin and Corruption

My ego reigned in I cannot bring myself to fight any longer. Kage, my Sho mage brother illustrates to me that there are other ways of taming the vitae curse.

Not since my first days learning as Ighazaqa Talina have like such a neophyte! I wandered the beaches slaying the lowly drudges and wasps there. Most of my confidence had gone, buried as a stick on a dune. The slowness and lack of challenge made me chafe at my self imposed situation further. Bah, this is not how a mage of the 20th level of power should be! I stomped towards the town and the tavern. I had neither the patients nor stomach to fight my way up anymore.

At the end of town Kage stands, he is swarthy in looks, a bright eyed sho mage who’s life view is more akin to a game to be won then a path to go down. I wonder if ‘the poet’ had ever met his type. He has always treated me with dignity and respect as such we have become close friends. He is more then a guild mate, he is a friend. As such he was quick to notice the funk I was in and he inquired the reason why.

After my sorry tale he beckoned me to follow him to the gambling place of the Sho, the casino. He asks another guild mate to summon forth a portal and we are whisked via the amethyst swirling tunnel.

The moist wetness oozes into the seams of my boots. A sulfer smell hangs heavy in the humid mist that is the air. We are in the swamps that embrace the river. Kage is already running and I follow. We are passed by several people all of differing races and dress, this tells us we are indeed headed to the correct place. Soon the bog gives way to solid land and the walls herald we have arrived. Some tables and various game bosses provide the makeup of the Casino. It is rather unassuming save for the large golden chest in the middle and the throngs of people. I overhear the excited voices condemning the games or basking in their own fortune. Its curious how the nature of man blames others for misfortune that is their own. I am a bit Leary of this place. Yasif the poet showed us that one should Avoid that which is corrupt and sinful and take pleasure in that which is pure. I feel I tread between these two roads of the Ghayaraqa Yadina and I place my mind into a state of caution.

Kage, as it turns out is funding this venture. I cannot loose. This does allow me to focus on the game itself rather then the loss of hard earned pyreals. I purchase the tokens from a man and head to one of the tables. I will try the middle stakes. The cash stipend so graciously given by my host is slowly changed into foodstuffs. It’s curious that the reward would be food. I find a red taper and some hyssop. All in all my luck here seems as bad as it was in the mountain pass. As the dwindling pile of blue tokens nears its end I suddenly receive a green triangle. This is the prize I have sought! The giving of these curious objects can help to reduce the death penalty. Soon a golden pea, and a diamond scarab, followed by a pyreal nugget! I suddenly feel the cash was not wasted upon me. Kage again showers me with pyreals and I quickly make another stack of tokens. Many more triangle join the first.

Dispite the turn in fortune It strikes me as a very mundane way to spends one time. I am a mage bred for battle, pitting myself against a greater foe and through mana and wit emerge triumphant. Although this place is not corrupt or sinful I can see that it is corrupting and tempting. The sin would be letting it control you. This is not the place for me.

Kage summons the Town of Samsur and we head into a nearby dungeon. Soon we are standing at the fierce visage of an undead. Slowly I hand him the triangles and in return my awareness of my abilities grows and my vitae penalty drops. Soon I am whole again. The hour is now very late. I could have regained my strength quicker hunting. Although there is the chance I could have met another death or two along the way. Still an experience expands our understanding of the world and thereby ourselves.

I decide to run across the desert to Al-arqas to meet the Gharu’n Archmage for the first time. I hear his prices are as good as the mage in Mayoi.

Original Thread : The Road of Sin and Corruption.