A sneeze destroys a magical civilization

Neither Zuo Si nor Jaheira made any announcement about the discovery of the Talona Altar in the ruins of Tessel Castle.

Because hastily announcing this information without identifying the enemy will only cause unnecessary panic and turmoil.

After all, most ordinary people regard Talona, ​​the goddess of poison and disease, with awe and fear.

She was afraid that her priests and believers would spread the plague around her, causing large numbers of people around her to become sick, and then die in pain and despair.

However, just because there is no announcement, does not mean that nothing happened.

Through the druid's ability, Jaheira placed a large number of birds, mice, squirrels, rabbits, snakes and other small animals around to closely monitor everything happening around her.

Zuo Si also ordered the Shadow Legion to use its powerful shadow hiding ability to turn the entire area centered on the caravan within a radius of five kilometers into a "forbidden zone."

Whenever a humanoid creature approaches, he will know it immediately.

Not only that!

Zuo Si also personally tested the water and food sources to ensure that they were not poisoned.

After all, he himself is very good at doing this kind of thing. If he was poisoned by others, it would be a big deal in the world.

Under this operation of tightening inside and loosening outside, night soon fell.

After dinner, the slaves who had been traveling all day lay down near the carriages they were responsible for, closed their eyes and began to rest.

Those who were not sleepy yet gathered around the campfire in twos and threes, imagining the wonderful life of freedom after arriving in Amn.

To outsiders who don't know the real situation, Amn looks like a country of miracles.

Although its name is an empire, it does not have a supreme monarch. It is more like a country ruled by a huge business alliance.

Even noble titles can be purchased with money, instead of relying on ancient bloodlines and family inheritance like other places.

Whether you were a lowly beggar or a slave, here you have the possibility to transcend class, change your destiny and become a superior person.

The most important thing is that this country is so wealthy that it can even be called the richest country in Faerûn.

It is often heard that a poor person came to Amn and quickly earned a large amount of wealth through doing business, thus becoming a member of the upper class.

However, these slaves with dreams don't know that Amn is actually the country closest to the capitalist system in the entire Faerûn continent.

It is true that it does not value family and lineage. Anyone who can accumulate enough wealth has the opportunity to climb up.

But similarly, there will be no mercy for those at the bottom who have no use value.

This can be glimpsed from the huge slums of Ascatra.

Zuo Si had already learned the truest situation about Am from the mouth of businessman Bernard.

So whenever he heard someone among the slaves shouting that he must stand out, he would look at these guys with a little pity.

Because this group of illiterate people who don't even know how to read, if they honestly obey Bernard's arrangement and work in the manor owned by the Chamber of Commerce, they may be able to spend their lives safely.

But if you are restless and work for two years to save some money, quit your job and go to Ascatra to make a living, you will probably soon be reduced to struggling to survive in the slums.

As for starting from scratch...

Sorry, they are all prepared for a very small number of geniuses and lucky people. Ordinary people should just go to sleep.

Just as Zuo Si was sipping pheasant and mushroom soup and listening with great interest to the truest thoughts of these people at the bottom of Faerun society, Ailuolin suddenly came over from a distance and asked nervously: "What about poison and poison?" Talona, ​​goddess of disease, what do you think?”

"What do you think?"

Zuo Si was stunned for a moment, not understanding what the other party wanted to express at all.

Seeing that the communication between the two was once again blocked, Ailuolin could only sigh helplessly and explained: "What I mean is that you have a certain attitude towards the doctrines preached by this goddess and the actions of the church under her. What kind of attitude.”

"My attitude is it doesn't matter."

After figuring out the paladin's intention, Zuo Si smiled and spread his hands.

"It doesn't matter?"

Ailuolin obviously did not expect such an answer, her eyes were full of doubts and confusion.

Zuo Si answered straightforwardly: "It doesn't matter, it means that it can neither be recognized nor denied. No matter what Talona and her followers preach, as long as you don't provoke me, I will pretend that you haven't seen anything. In addition, if you are worried I will regard her as my own belief, but that is not necessary. I have no intention of believing in any god, and I will not become a believer in any god."

"What?! You are a faithless person!"

Ailuolin opened her mouth in shock, with an expression of disbelief on her face.

"No, strictly speaking, I agree with some of the views and teachings of many gods.

For example, Ilmat, the god of suffering, advocates helping the weak and protecting children;

Another example is the concept of Ogma, the god of knowledge, respecting and protecting knowledge.

But equally, I hate the parts of the former's teachings about endurance and suffering, and the irresponsibility of the latter in spreading dangerous knowledge anyway.

This kind of personality and way of thinking determine that I have faith, but it is almost impossible to become a believer in any god.

As for a god like Talona who gains influence by spreading fear and death, I don’t feel that I have any similarities or commonalities with her at all. "

Zuo Si straightforwardly expressed his philosophy on faith.

In the continent of Faerûn, belief is not like some religions on earth. You talk about belief in words, and then secretly do a lot of immoral things that violate the teachings. In the end, you only need to repent and donate some money to pay back the debt. Can continue to consider himself a devout believer.

Just the opposite!

It first requires heartfelt recognition of the teachings and ideas of a certain god, and then practicing what these gods want you to do in your life.

Only in this way can one be called a believer, and his soul will be picked up by the god he believes in after death.

The real unbelievers often refer to those lunatics whose thoughts, consciousness and values ​​are extremely confused.

In Faerûn, where gods are everywhere, it is actually quite difficult to be a true unbeliever.

Ailuolin was visibly relieved to hear that Zuo Si was not a faithless person.

You must know that in Faerûn, since there is no god to pick up the souls of the unbelievers after death, they will be stuck on the "Wall of the Unbelievers" by the God of Death and allowed to be plundered by devils and demons.

Just when the paladin was about to say something, Zuo Si suddenly put down the soup bowl in his hand and stood up from the ground suddenly.

At the same time, Jaheira, who was listening to the cooing of an owl not far away, also shook Khalid awake with his eyes closed.

"What happened?" Ellen asked nervously.

"Get ready to fight! A large number of strangers of unknown origin suddenly appeared in the forest on the left." Zuo Si immediately gave the answer.

Just when he was about to take the initiative to attack, a panting little werewolf ran back from the direction near the Surdas River in front, and reported out of breath: "Master! Coming from the direction of Zhazesibo from the other side of the river to the north. There is a group of riders, about a hundred people in number. They are crossing the river and will arrive in fifteen minutes if nothing else happens."

"Two groups of people? Are they together, or..."

Jaheira raised her head and stared into Zuo Si's eyes, as if asking how to handle this situation.

"We can't control that much anymore! Let's deal with the group of people who came out of the forest on the left first."

Zuo Si made a decision immediately after thinking for a while.

He planned to use his own advantage in magic to create a time lag, and take advantage of the fact that before the second wave of riders arrived, he would kill the closest ones first.

However, just in case, Zuo Si still left Wilmes and Qiwu behind to guard the camp.

Just like that, before the rest of the caravan could react to what happened, he led the team as quickly as possible to the left to meet the enemy.

Only a group of mercenaries and Bernard, who had just woken up from his sleep, were left at a loss in the night wind.