The Church of Waukeen

Northwind Keep, the Steel Dragonwing Palace. Sherwin Montero looked around at the opulent decor, pushed up the silver-rimmed spectacles pinching the bridge of his nose, bowed forward, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty Cassius, I must say, your taste is exquisite. I am certain you will find much to like about our Church of Waukeen." "We can bring you every fine, luxurious commodity this world has to offer." Sherwin was dressed in an excessively gaudy silk shirt, leather vambraces, and boots, with various small implements tied to the hem of his garment by silk ribbons, topped by a heavy, gilded crimson cloak—his entire ensemble flaunted a brilliant, extravagant design. This was standard attire for members of the Church of Waukeen; their appearance was always dazzling, ostentatious, and boastful. Reclining upon the Iron Throne, Cassius tilted his head slightly and asked with faint disdain, "Oh?" "Everything?" "So long as you have enough gold coins," Sherwin added hurriedly, once again adjusting the glasses on the bridge of his nose. Cassius knew the nature of these people all too well. They worshipped Waukeen, the Goddess of Wealth, and would stop at nothing for profit; when the stakes were high enough, they would even wager their lives. With people like this, blind lenience would only encourage them to push their luck. A stick followed by a carrot was the only proper way to handle them. The red dragon opened his eyes, fixing his pale-golden pupils directly on the merchant as a nearly tangible dragon fear rolled outward. "So... are you questioning the wealth of the empire? Or are you questioning my wealth?" "Uh..." Sherwin panicked for a moment, cold sweat beading on his forehead, but he quickly reined in his nerves and forced an ingratiating smile. "O-of course not, Your Majesty! Who could ever question the wealth of an Emperor? Especially when that Emperor is also a magnificent dragon." "A bishop once said that mortals should never presume to fathom a dragon's wealth, but simply strive to serve them to the best of their ability." "Your Majesty, in the eyes of our Church of Waukeen, you are unquestionably among our highest, most distinguished clients." True to his role as an envoy of the Church of Waukeen, Sherwin was remarkably sharp and articulate, never short on polished rhetoric. Had Cassius been an ordinary red dragon, he might genuinely have been flattered into good humor by such sycophancy. Sherwin felt the burden suddenly lift from his body as the invisible pressure dissipated entirely. Cassius chuckled mockingly. "Are all of you from the Church of Waukeen so glib?" Sherwin squeezed out another smile. "Of course not. Only when facing such an esteemed client as yourself..." "I have no patience for pointless drivel," Cassius interrupted impatiently. "Yes, yes, Your Majesty." Sherwin nodded repeatedly in agreement, flustered as he pulled a gold-embroidered silk handkerchief from his pocket to mop the sweat from his brow. Bracing his massive body on all fours, Cassius rose slowly, spreading his broad wings until their shadow nearly engulfed the entire Waukeenar delegation. Fixing his gaze on the trembling crowd, the red dragon asked, "Then let me be blunt—do you and the deity behind you seek cooperation?" Sherwin could not help but lower his head, steadying his spectacles with a trembling hand. "Your Majesty Cassius, the empire's frequent commercial activities in Anzeta caught Our Lady's attention. The great Goddess Waukeen has recognized your empire's tremendous potential." "Lady Waukeen believes that trade is the finest path to wealth. If we can facilitate greater economic circulation across the world, every civilization will flourish further, bringing happiness to all sapient beings across the globe." "Therefore... the empire is an exceptional partner for us." After finishing his speech, he stole a glance from the corner of his eye and saw that the red dragon's expression remained unchanged, allowing him to exhale a long breath of relief. Cassius grinned. "Free trade, is it..." "That is a universal value, to be sure. Our Cinder Empire has always adhered to such principles and encourages all manner of free commerce," he said. "Your Majesty, your perspective is truly enlightened! It aligns perfectly with our Church of Waukeen." Sherwin was pleasantly surprised, seeing a glimmer of hope for a partnership—an opportunity that could yield immense profits for the church and for himself. Cassius maintained a calm expression and asked once more, "Then... what kind of cooperation do you envision?" Sherwin grew excited, speaking with newfound vigor. "We followers of Waukeen travel across the world, assisting merchants in their trade." "We can construct temples of Waukeen in the empire's cities free of charge, serving as local centers for financing, currency exchange, and safekeeping vaults. We will help you amass even greater fortunes, fill your treasury to overflowing, and allow you to possess—" "Out of the question." Cassius interrupted him coldly. "All financial and commercial activities within the Cinder Empire must remain under the control of the Imperial Bank and the Imperial Ministry of Commerce. No outsiders will ever be permitted to meddle." The red dragon sneered and took several paces forward. The sulfurous fumes practically blew right into Sherwin's face, making him tremble like a sieve. Sherwin realized he had gotten ahead of himself. "Heh, do you think I am blind to your little tricks?" "If this is the extent of the Church of Waukeen's sincerity, then there is nothing left to discuss." "This is an insult to the empire!" By the end, his voice rose into a near-draconic roar, carrying terrifying pressure. The envoys of the Church of Waukeen could barely keep their footing, and some even fainted on the spot. Only Sherwin, as a high priest, managed to remain conscious. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" "Wait—I believe there is still room for negotiation!" Sherwin pleaded frantically. With the experiences of his past life, Cassius knew the Church of Waukeen all too well. Temples of Waukeen spanned the continent. On the surface, the church appeared above manipulating trade through rumors, monopolies, or hiring bandits, loudly decrying such underhanded methods. Yet in secret, they required their clerics to employ those very tactics with the utmost discretion. In his previous life, many players had been swindled clean by the Church of Waukeen, saddled with crippling debts. Eventually, tens of thousands of players who suffered similar fates formed the "Alliance of the Bankrupt" and waged war on Waukeenar temples everywhere. "The bold find wealth, the careful keep wealth, and the timid squander wealth." That was their true creed. Allowing the Church of Waukeen to establish temples within imperial borders would be tantamount to handing the economic lifeblood over to a cabal of cunning speculators. And that was something Cassius would never permit. He demanded absolute control over the empire—politically, economically, and culturally. Even within this cooperation, he intended to hold absolute dominance and squeeze every drop of value out of the Church of Waukeen in return. Wiping the sweat pouring down his face, Sherwin asked with lingering dread, "Your Majesty, then let everything be as you decree..." "I will do everything in my power to secure the finest terms for you, so that we may forge a magnificent and glorious partnership." Sherwin's voice trembled with every word. Which bastard told me red dragons are all muscle-brained brutes who only care about immediate gain? He cursed inwardly, wishing he could beat the person who had drafted his initial proposal to death.