Dragonspur Churches
"Greetings. I'm Edmond Ack-David. The subject of this walk is the famous churches of this lovely city, the largest in the West: the great Dragonspur, or just the Spur as we locals call it. This here 'burg is the seat of the mighty Green Throne, or was before his cursed Deadly Lordship came on the scene. But don't worry, he got his comeuppance, if you know what I mean. Still, they say that he is back. Well, let's talk of brighter things. If you follow me, you'll learn quite a bit today. Dragonspur is famous for its churches, which reflect over 2000 years of the city's turbulent history. Over the years, they have been fought over, ransacked, razed, and rebuilt. Many are still being reconstructed after the Dark Occupation. They stand as centers of the community, places of reverence, and bastions of culture.
Let us start as the Overgate. Don't worry, the toll is included in the price of the tour. Now let's walk out down the Overway, heading East. No, sir, don't give any beggars anything or you'll have a mob following us. Ah, here we are at our first stop. This unsightly little building (Thranton forgive me for saying so), on the corner of Smith Street and the Overway, is the temple to Thranton, called Hawsfit Temple. Yes, it used to be "Hawk's flight," in honor of his Lordship's Lordship, Kantor, but we Spurites have a way of shortening names. You'll notice the telltale lightning streak above the doorway. This little temple is the newest one in the Spur. This used to be a market square less than five years ago, but after the Dark Occupation the temple was quickly rebuilt. Besides those facts, it doesn't yet have much to remark on. Let's move on.
We'll make a right here onto Smith Street. This is what the locals call the Temple District. Most of the famous churches of the city are located here. Watch out, gov'ner, here comes a troop of Spur Elites, and they don't stop for people in the road. That's better. On your left you'll notice the Church of Bestra, called Our-Lady-in-the-Field. Course there aren't many fields here in the center of the city. This church is a grand old building. It survived the occupation, although it was looted pretty severely and served as a warehouse for about 50 years. Yet it is a good thing that the building stands, for they say that it is one of the only examples in the city of actual Elven-influenced architecture. Notice the flowing lines of the walls and doorways, and the intricate leaf carvings. I don't know if Elves themselves actually did this or not, but they say they had a hand about 1000 years ago in building this great church. It has recently been revamped with money from the great temple at Bestraville. That's where they got all that new green stained glass. This is number 24 on your map.
A little way down on the right is the temple of Neltak. This is called the Farwalk Church, because they say that it was founded by Farlandish priests. Notice the scaffold out front. This here is where they execute the petty criminals of the city. Neltak, of course, is known for his temporal and spiritual justice, and the Green Throne has always relied on the temple to carry out much of the petty executions. Of course the political executions are carried out behind the walls of the Spur Fortress, and the worst criminals get executed at Irongate. The Church is also known for its mercy, however: they bury all of the executed in hallowed ground under the floor of the church. They say that over one thousand bodies lie under them slabs. This temple has been destroyed about ten times since it was first built, sometimes by fire, sometimes by displeasure of the king, and the last time by the Deadly Lord. Let's hope it has more luck this time. Neltak be praised, and keep us all from trouble. This is number 23 on your map.
Up ahead on your left you will see the Temple-Library of Dekk, called the Edgwar Monastery. Yes, it too is a new building, and very austere indeed. Of course it too was destroyed during the occupation, but most of the temple's vast library was saved, hidden, they say, in a near-by manor house and guarded by a few ever-faithful monks. You can get access to the books, but first you have to swear an oath, declare your intention, and make a contribution to the church of Dekk. If you fancy reading, that is. They say that some of Keler's writings are here, as well as many of the proverbs of Seldorius. This is 25 on your map.
Okay, let's make a left turn here, onto The Walk. Up here on your left is one of the most famous temples in the entire Spur, the Temple of Kantor, called Old Holborn Church, after the first High Priest. Notice the soaring architecture. All around the upper edges are frescoes and figures, mostly of sea creatures and hawks in flight, although you need pretty good eyes to make some of them out from here. This is one of the few temples that was relatively untouched by the Lord of Lust's foul minions, although it remained empty. You see there was a legend that any evil creature that crossed the threshold or did damage to the outside of the temple would die a horrible death, and it was true, too, they say. The ground is certainly holy, here, and that's a fact, as any priest with a detection spell will certainly tell you. The church somehow remained in pretty good shape, too, for sitting unoccupied for 300 years. Don't know why that is. Because they didn't have as much work to do, the Temple of Kantor is one of the richest and most powerful in the city now. This church is also known for having a sacred relic-the holy mace of the ancient High Priest Tomkin the Good. They say if you touch the mace your soul is assured entrance into the holy isle of Kantor. This is 22 on your map.
Okay, there's not much further now. Yes, sir, I will point you towards a good pub at the end of the tour. But you'll want to pay attention, for this next temple is the other big one of note: the Temple of Heshtail, called St. Quentin Church. See the great spire? Tallest point in the city west of the river. This is the oldest church in the Spur. For the first thousand years of the city's history this here temple was favored by the monarchs, and many of their bodies lie entombed in the crypt below the chapel. During the latter half of the city's history, the royals came to favor the temple of Kantor, but they weren't buried there. No, many of them lie in the Chapel Royal, inside the walls of the Fortress of the Spur. No, we won't be seeing that church sir, for they don't let you into the Keep without a good reason. That Temple is interesting, though, as it has shrines to most of the gods. But back to St. Quentin's. They say that King Stephen Lanfranc himself is buried in the crypt. You know, the mighty hero-King who reconquered the city after the Great Barbarian Invasion of 6201. Some claim that King Stephen defeated Wodene himself, but if the truth be told, the great barbarian general was already dead by then. Still, King Stephen was a great man. No, sir, I don't believe they will let you see his tomb. They wouldn't think it proper. This church also made it through the occupation. It wouldn't seem to catch fire for some reason, and those bloody orcs tried to burn it, right enough. This is 20 on your map.
Here we go crossing Keler's bridge. There's only one more church I want to show you. This here small but striking building at the corner of Dragons Street and the Overway is the newly built Temple of Reeanan, called Maybreth Church. It used to be Maiden's Breath. This temple is closely allied with St. Quentin's, and it is pretty close location-wise as well. This church is sacred to paladins, and it is famous for its sculptures of those holy warriors. There almost isn't an inch of the walls inside that isn't taken up by some beautiful piece of sculpture. Most of them have been done in the last nine years or so, too, by the now-famous sculptor Lady Elizabeth. Lord Osbern himself awarded this church with its sacred heirloom, a silver javelin. It's on the main altar under the nave, inside. See it if you get the chance.
Well, this concludes our tour. Of course there are many churches we didn't see, such as the Temple to Calbran, called Southwalk Church, the place of Aknor, called the Temple of Labor, and the temple of Janora, called Westny. There are lots of other little churches to Kantor, Heshtail, Bestra, and the other blessed gods too, but they are quite small. Why didn't we see these places, sir? Well, we don't have all day, now do we? What's that? Silver and Tin, you say? Aye, 'tis a famous nursery rhyme invented by the children of the city about these here churches. It runs dark, though. But then again, so did the time. Sure, I'll recite it:
Silver and tin,
Say the bells of Quentin's.
I see trouble afar,
Say the bells of Edgwar.
Din of drum and war horn,
Say the bells at Holborn.
To the Lords of Sin submit,
Say the bells at Hawsfit.
Or the fate of you and of me,
Say the bells of Westny.
Is dark conquest and death,
Says the bell at Maybreth.
Obey your dark master and work for your bread,
Lest the Lord of Lust chop off your head!
Chip chop chip chop the last free man is dead.
And there you go, sir. Well, the lyrics do change, but that's the way I learned it. And we've finally made our way to the good pub you wanted. Here we are at the Wolf & Lamb. They brew a good ale here sir. Ask for the Rock brew. No need to tip sir. Well, on second thought, I guess it doesn't hurt. Fare thee well."
