The temple of Slustya

Figuring that the temples and the large amount of magic wielders that they house would be the ones most able to assist her without any delays, Lillian decided they were the way to go.

And since the priestesses of Aphera could be insulted by her request, while the priests and priestesses of Glaron would probably lack the specialization required to give her a quick answer (which apart from wasting her time would also waste her money, for priests charged per hour in Tabriz), Lillian decided on the priestesses of Slustya.

She was a former harlot, after all, and it wasn’t exactly upsetting to her to be made to perform a sexual favour in return for information.

And if it was too bizarre, or if they demanded a large economical prize aside from the sexual one, she could always turn around and leave.

Shortly after deciding where to go, Lillian had reached the large five-story building downtown that was home to the priestesses of Slustya.
Stepping into the temple’s entrance, Lillian once again stood in front of the 10 foot statue shaped like an erect penis, with testicles and all, that greeted visitors to the temple.

While not exactly a tasty piece of decoration, it was very effective in giving new
arrivals a sound grasp of what the temple of Slustya was all about.

Strolling past the statue and up the wide marble stairs that in stood in front off, Lillian thereupon entered the proper greeting hall of the temple; a domed space built in marble and filled with pillars.

There, young priestesses walked around, some of them leading “benefactors”, most often older men from the absolute top of society, to private sessions.

This was due to the fact that besides donations from the brothels in Tabriz, the temple’s main source of income was gold and artefacts donated from the extremely wealthy and powerful, in return for sexual favours of a nature so exquisite that not even the most exotic acts at the best brothels could compete with them.

“May I help you?” A soft voice asked Lillian.
The voice turned out to belong to a curvy, blonde little thing in a skimpy white dress.
An expectant smile on her face, the young priestess awaited Lillian’s response.
“Yes, I suppose you could,” Lillian began, “I’m seeking information concerning a certain artefact. I’ll pay for it, of course.”
“Yes, I’m sure you will.” The blonde responded, a smile still on her lips, and then showed Lillian the way through the temple to a small study.

After leading Lillian inside, the young woman stepped out and closed the door behind her.

Inside the room, that was filled with parchments and tomes that were stacked all the way to the high ceiling, stood a human woman in her thirties, reading a tome that had been placed on a small marble pillar.

The woman was as curvy as the younger priestess had been, and her auburn hair was tied up in a bun at the back of her head. She too wore a thin white dress, though this one had golden threads sewn into it.

“Yes?” She asked as she looked up at Lillian.
“Pardon me, priestess, but I have been led here after asking for information concerning a certain artefact.”
“Then speak your tongue and I will answer, for a price.”

Lillian did just that, describing what little she knew about the artefact, her suspicions about it being able to enslave people from afar. Of course, she did all this without reveal her identity, or that of Ivy. Nor did she tell the priestess about who currently held possession of the item.

“Yes, I do believe that we will be able to help you. But of course, it will cost you.”
The priestess said, once Lillian was done speaking.
“Oh, and what will that price be?” Lillian inquired.