Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 989: Chapter 785: The Temple District of Agleya Growing in Allure

Hill glanced at the Zholar on the giant screen. Compared to the gourd-shaped figures pursued by the Toril people from the Church of Love and Beauty, the black-skinned ladies with slender limbs, slim waists, and voluptuous chests actually aligned more with his aesthetic. He believed most of the Undead Tribe probably felt the same.

On the other hand, a small portion might truly find the gourd shape more beautiful, but they wouldn’t fail to appreciate the view in front of them... Hill felt that the Zholar ladies in front seemed to be using all their charm to outshine their neighboring peers, hence their seductive attire... At least Hill thought bikinis might cover more than this.

Perhaps because bikinis at least have a triangle shape, while what they’re wearing are merely long and thin strips? They’re long enough, but not wide enough... Especially those standing sideways, they almost look like they’re not wearing anything, yet the three pivotal spots still have some cover... Hill wasn’t surprised why the streamer kept changing angles; although he had no voyeuristic desire, when someone openly shows it, Hill never pretends to be blind out of propriety.

But he definitely wouldn’t foolishly respond to Celene’s subtly jealous words... Celene herself wasn’t the voluptuous type, she... well... in some aspects, she’s even less endowed than the eldest, second, and third daughters standing beside the Matron Zholar... Can only be described as very youthful.

Hill’s past life taught him an important lesson: even when a Wood-Earth Element senior asks if a certain woman is beautiful, the needed answer isn’t your opinion... Even if one can’t shamelessly say ”you’re more beautiful,” at least you should know to stay silent.

Offending ordinary girls may at worst leave you single, but offending your seniors and juniors might result in serious retaliation... At these times, ”as strong as a bull” isn’t just a figure of speech.

Celene, after all, didn’t expect an answer. She asked softly, ”If Deepwater City is attacked, can I send some defenseless followers to Agleya?

The combat professionals from the Church wouldn’t flee from battle, but they’ve taken in large groups of defenseless people. If Deepwater City is truly invaded by the Zholar... Although my followers can use some Divine Arts, most of them can’t cast spells without the Weave, and the more powerful ones don’t work even if it’s Divine Arts.

They can’t protect so many civilians, and I don’t think Deepwater City can offer much protection either.

I asked AO, instead of acting myself, he’d rather I send people to you... Then Agleya surely won’t have any problem.

Besides, I’ve observed this place for a long time. Your city can enable these poor people to live with dignity... instead of becoming puppets that rely on others and can’t be independent.

I believe you know, I am willing to protect women who leave their homes and aid them in learning life skills, but here in The North, having only survival skills makes it tough to actually live.

I once thought places like Deepwater City and Silvermoon City were the easiest places for ordinary women to live independently, but Agleya seems even better... My followers never only take without giving, so I think they fit in with your city.”

”Agleya City only accepts applicants from the Kind Alignment; those who don’t fit can go to Luskan... where Laila manages, and won’t oppress women.

Besides, I’ve always been watching there.” Hill thought for a few minutes before nodding, ”But there’s one thing I believe you’re aware of: in my domain, no Temple has any special status... apart from serving their own followers, they can’t interfere in other affairs.”

”I know.” Celene responded lightly, ”I know not even Coron can interfere in your territory, and I don’t need any secular authority. If my priestesses want that sort of thing, they should strive for it themselves... Deities have no obligation to accommodate their ambitions.

I merely chose to accept priestesses with different personalities. It doesn’t mean I fully support their way of doing things. If they want something, they must work hard to achieve it themselves.

Actually, when I saw you accept Lansendel’s Tower of the Dawn into your territory last time, I was slightly tempted... but my priestesses have adorable little personalities that wouldn’t quite fit... I’ll instruct them to send the more stable priests from the Temple to Agleya.”

Hill smiled wryly. Did he accept Lansendel’s followers willingly?

Who knew that the mountain descending from the sky would squeeze the Tower of the Dawn from the northeast of Agleya to the wasteland of Agleya?

Given Hill’s friendly relations with Lansendel, he couldn’t very well ask them to move their tower to the other side on Neverwinter City’s ground, could he?

After all, these followers were placed by Lansendel casually at the time, without any demands on them, and requested them to maintain respect towards the lord of Agleya... which was quite good.

At least up till now, these followers of the Lord of Dawn have behaved well, remembering to ask him if they have requests. It seems Lansendel told them if something urgent came up and they couldn’t find him, they could relay through the lord of Agleya.

It’s always hard to be friends with the Lord of Dawn, especially since he never hesitates to request things from his friends.

When the followers of Acreber tried to rebuild the Amanata faith, Lansendel’s followers wanted to thwart these followers heading toward Kalinsan and kill them, in order to help Lansendel compete for the Sun Priesthood.

It seems Lansendel’s ambition for the Sun is indeed well-known. His followers were exceptionally vigilant about these suddenly emerging competitors... And it turns out the Lord of Dawn’s subordinates truly act recklessly; so many people killed without hesitation?

Fortunately, they knew to inquire first... Hill, who was almost sweating coldly, sternly stopped these guys... directly telling them Lansendel’s focus was on another world, and if their recklessness implicated the divine authority of the Lord of Dawn left in the Divine Kingdom, all Lansendel’s efforts in that world would be doomed to fail.

When the time comes, Lansendel won’t appreciate them for striving for the Sun Priesthood for him... but will realize they sought to undermine their Main God.

Though the followers of the Lord of Dawn hardly believed Hill’s words, they chose to cease all activities, praying tirelessly at the Tower of the Dawn for Lansendel’s response.

The delighted Lansendel, after being harassed by his own followers for several days, responded with just one sentence: ”Mind your own business, listen to Hill.”

Thus now, the Towers of the Dawn across Toril have settled down... They knew well, once Lansendel takes interest in something, nothing else can take place in the mind of the Lord of Dawn... Fortunately, their Main God’s current friend has no interest in the Dawn Church, otherwise, merely from Lansendel’s careless words, the Dawn Church could have changed hands!

Therefore, Hill doesn’t mind the Silvermoon Church appearing in his territory... on this matter, Celene’s reputation is much stronger than Lansendel’s, even surpassing many Kind God Churches in the ordinary people’s hearts... She’s genuinely devoted to protecting women and children.

Wherever the Silvermoon Church is, whether the churches are richly decorated or simple, they always open their doors to women and children seeking help, even offering them free training lessons, teaching them some basic survival skills.

Just like the churches of the Lord of Dawn, no matter how bad their reputation is, they protect children... Many Toril orphans are nurtured into adulthood by this significantly unruly church, without even forcibly requiring these children raised by them to worship the Lord of Dawn.

Another church that operates similarly is Tyr’s Hand of Justice... However, their rigorous style often turns these children into reserve forces for the Righteous Knights.

This is why Hill holds the best perception on these three deities in Toril... Regardless of how flawed their personalities may be, they at least understand who truly needs divine protection in Toril.

It’s just like why Hill never takes action against Olypher... The Winter Maiden, though she often tests Hill’s attitude towards her, never goes overboard.

Perhaps this Great Fairy is accustomed to remaining within her comfort zone, but she remarkably shares traits with the White Dragon living in The North: survival comes first, and surviving well if conditions allow.

The Winter Maiden found that Hill didn’t mind her priestesses living in Agleya Town, so she merely cooled things down without any extra fuss... Previously, during the Dead of Winter, snow demons and other creatures often descended from the Arctic Circle, but none have appeared in recent years, and in spring she timely retreats, allowing planting during the equinox, which only happened since Hill came.

Hill isn’t the type who abhors evil... who would attack the Winter Maiden’s priestesses, relying on killing chickens and cows to get through the ”Day of Slaughter”... especially since this Winter Maiden genuinely recognizes even such a practice as murder.

Of course, priestesses engaging in such practices would never advance on her side... But for these ordinary girls who were once merely human, this is a lifestyle they’ve struggled to achieve.

Hill sometimes even senses the last hint of warmth within Olypher’s icy heart... Becoming an Olypher priestess inevitably involves a struggle against death, only the most resolute girls can earn the Winter Maiden’s recognition from the brink of freezing.

Just as she evolved into this cold and evil Winter Maiden after losing love, her heart burst, relying on a final survival instinct to transform from a neutral Great Fairy.

It’s the crime perpetrated by Azuth, who, in knowing the fairies’ love is passionately eternal, still shifted his affections to Mystra.

Therefore, Hill never cared about Azuth’s fate... He might not deserve to die, but there’s nothing to lament about his death.