The City: PuzzleLocked Book 1

They walked hand in hand over a couple of blocks to the temple. Set in the middle of a roundabout, the structure was restrained. This small temple was probably just a convenience for the city population. As they walked up the stairs, the structure seemed to grow larger as they approached it, which gave Flor a feeling of unwelcome vertigo {Is there a welcome sort of vertigo?}. That feeling passed as they crossed the threshold into the temple itself. It appeared as a generic layout of an eastern religious structure, with a large gilded statue of their goddess posed akimbo in robes and a distant look on her face, all fenced in with wood. It wouldn’t be difficult to climb over the fence but might result in ostracism. The area was empty, except for one devotee in something like a supplication.

“Uh, what do we do here? There isn’t any indication of how we’re supposed to proceed,” said Flor.

“Yeah, it’s not a tourist attraction, is it? Nobody to follow through the motions. How about this? Follow my lead.” Alastair took an abnormally large step, which was additionally comical based on his weird body structure, did a half turn toward the door, bowed, clapped, turned back toward the statue, took another three large steps, spun in a full circle, clapped again, then knelt at the statue and remained there.

Flor mimicked him as best she could but took half a step to match his distance. When she arrived, Alastair stood and clapped again, which Flor copied.

“Now we wait,” he whispered.

About a minute later someone walked out of a side room toward them. Flor didn't see much more than his red-lined white robes, although she thought she saw something like hopscotch to get to their position. Then the white-robed figure bowed toward the goddess statue just as they were.

Alastair gave it another moment before unbending to uphold appearances. Flor followed along, but the robed figure remained bent for another minute before unbending. It then gestured for Flor and Alastair to return from where it had come. Alastair deferred, and the figure seemed to bristle but flowed away from the statue into a side room. Along the way, Flor observed that this was an unnamed Cleric 2. Upon entering the side room, the Cleric led them into yet another, slightly smaller but somewhat more gilded, room.

“You have mannerisms of honoring the goddess that I have not yet seen,” Cleric 2 said, ambiguously.

Flor let Alastair take the lead. “We’re new here, and uncertain of the protections and boons which the goddess may provide, or of the rituals necessary to partake of her bounty.”

Don’t overdo it, man, she thought.

The Cleric considered, then said, thoughtfully, “She is the goddess. As such, she fills me with the answers that you seek. And based on your dance, she insists that you are unaware of the means of honoring her. However, I’m only her simple servant. Can you confirm that is true?”

“It is.”

“There is no ceremony necessary to enter this temple unless your conversations with the goddess demand them. Most enter without ceremony outside of a polite bow, and then whatever amount of prayer they determine necessary before departing.”

“So, you’re saying I can do as I want when I enter?”

“If it helps you meet the goddess, who is the goddess to refuse an offering of silliness, or seriousness, or penance? She will view them all favorably. It is the gift of presence that she accepts.”

“Alright. Cool man. So…” Flor laid an arm on Alastair’s diminutive shoulder and felt him automatically relax.

The Cleric took note of her affection. “Are you seeking marriage?”

“Already done, bub.”

“Oh, perhaps a gift to the goddess for a healthy child?”

“We’re both sterilized, by choice.”

A look of confusion. “What is sterilized?”

Alastair said, “Don’t worry, it shouldn’t affect you. How about we keep this simple? Do you keep a cat or two in this temple?”

The look of confusion deepened. “Of course, there is a cat. But are you dismissive of the goddess’s offerings?”

“No. Not dismissive. Just wanting to confirm that this goddess doesn’t abuse children or anything like that.”

The cleric went white. “She…I…” He stood up and disappeared through a door.

Alastair looked at Flor and said, “I did my best. Let’s leave before I’m smitted.”

The Cleric rushed back in. It bowed deeply and upon unbending said, “I’ve realized I am unprepared to answer your questions. The temple Cleric will be here momentarily. I suggest you bow.”

Flor looked at Alastair, who shrugged. A shadow filled the door, followed by a much larger white cloak adorned in red and blue. Flor bowed but noticed that Alastair didn’t.

“Rise, please.” Flor rose and found herself facing Amets Izar, Cleric 5. “Please be calm and welcome to the West Shilgrave temple of the goddess.” Amets looked them both deep in the eyes. “I see we have players amongst us.” Amets indicated toward another room. “Please follow me.”

Flor and Alastair followed. The room they entered was another gilded room, but Amets continued onward through another door. Behind this was a lounge with two pleasant-looking couches facing each other. Amets motioned them toward a sofa. She then went to a corner with what looked like a small kegerator. Amets poured three drinks, returned to the couches, and handed Flor and Alastair each a mug.

Looking around, Amets leaned forward, “I’m not supposed to drink before nightfall. But how can I tell in this cursed persistent rain!” She took a heavy drink. “Much relief. You are new here, players? Can you tell me your names? I can read them, yes, but I prefer your pronunciation.”

“Alastair.”

“Flor”

“Such beautiful names for such an awkward couple. I know, the skins change, but the beauty in your souls does not. You are a beautiful couple. And I thank you for joining me here in this temple to the goddess.”

Alastair said, hesitantly, “You said you know we’re players?”

“Ah, yes, it is a skill some persistent and perpetual characters have. I am one. Most of you players come to the temple on the first day; Wondering about resurrections and permanent deaths and healing potions. It’s such a reprieve to have a couple! A couple of you here that aren’t asking about such things involving death and life.”

Flor said, “Well, we haven’t said what we were here for.”

Amets looked at Flor with disbelief, then said, “You mean, you aren’t here to drink and dance!? I saw the efforts this one made upon entering the temple…shameful. But you, elegant, wonderful. Please, drink. Say you are here to drink and entertain and be entertained!?”

Alastair looked at his drink, then at Amets, and then threw his cup down. “No. We’re not here to drink and dance. WE WANT OUT OF THIS GAME!”

There was a glance toward the goddess statue and then toward the spilled beer. Then an eye roll. Amets put down a mug of beer on the table between couches. “There are things I can tell you and things I cannot. And things I can do and things I cannot.” Amets looked deeply at Alastair. “Are you ready to hear a truth?”

Alastair looked at the beer he had thrown, maybe regretfully, then into Amets’ eyes. “No. I’m not. But tell me anyway. This place sucks, and you’re not going to make it suck more or less.”

Amets looked at Flor with regret, then back toward Alastair. “You sad man. You make her sad. You are your own hangup.” Then Amets stood, took Flor’s hand and guided her toward another room.

“I don’t think I should leave him.”

“He is a shell of your man. Let him stew. He will either fester or deepen in flavor. If he festers, you throw the stew out and begin again. I bet he will deepen, but you must allow him to do that himself.”

“Where are we going, then?”

“The others call it my inner sanctum, but it’s technically just a kitchen. Do you cook?”

“Not well.”

“Can you chop?”

“Passably?”

“I’ll assure you there aren’t any mini-games this way. The developers didn’t give me that much consideration.”