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The religious community of Gate Pass is diverse, owing to the interaction of cultures flowing through the city. Eight major temples represent the religious core of the community, and though each religion has its own interests, they share common ground through the annual Festival of Dreams, during which the temples all briefly work to provide for the greater good.
Numerous temples of smaller religions dot the city, and though they lack the same sway as the major eight, they still put a lot of effort into New Year’s festivities.
Major Temples
The Saraswatin
Library of the God of Knowledge
Located in Summer’s Bluff, this four-story building is the central repository of knowledge for the city. Along with stacks and cubbyholes full of tomes and scrolls, the building has an art gallery and a five-hundred-seat theater. Researchers using the library are expected to offer 1 gp to the god of knowledge, as well as give generous tips to the many librarians who keep things organized and easy to find.
Mercineum
Temple of the Healing God
This temple is a small, twenty-foot circular building of ancient design. Once there were multiple temples across the city, many quite large that served as hospitals and clinics for the citizens, but this simple building was considered the holiest of all those. Its veneration is related to the miracle of Tench Marber, an event that took place forty years ago during the Ragesian occupation.
Coaltongue declared the predominant Mercinea Church a heretical cult and attempted to replace the sect with the Ragesian Hospitalers. Within a month of the invasion, all the temples were converted to the Hospitalers, with the exception of the small Mercineum.
The head priest of the Mercineum, Tench Marber, was unwilling to relinquish control to the Ragesian clergy and simply sat on the center altar as the Hospitalers demanded he leave. Tench declared that he would not leave; instead, he would stay on as a reminder to all that the Hospitalers were not truly blessed by the gods. The Ragesian healers, outraged at his insolence, tried to rush inside the building and attack, but they were mysteriously blocked at the door. No magic or any other power could gain entrance, so the invading priests decided to wait until Tench either left or died before they took possession of the temple. Seizing an opportunity, the besieged priest made a proposal: if, after a year and a day, Tench was still alive within the temple, the Ragesians would acknowledge the god’s blessing on the Mercinea Church. They agreed, and the bargain was struck.
For a full year, Tench sat, neither eating nor sleeping, but he lived, and on the last day, the frantic Hospitalers waited until the sun set, which would mark the end of the agreed-upon time period. As the last rays of light slipped beyond the horizon, Tench stood up and walked to the exit, the bargain won.
From that day on, the Ragesians grudgingly recognized the church, and acknowledged the god’s blessing. It is suggested by historians that the downfall of Coaltongue’s control of the city started with this miracle. A few living resistance fighters agree, noting that the Mercineum provided a safe haven for the resistance to gather and plan, free from the probing eyes of the Ragesian priests.
Today, there are no priests of the Mercinea Church in Gate Pass. A new order, the Aquiline Cross, has been around for a decade and uses all the facilities of the old religion. There are differences between the old church and the new order, but most folk don’t notice.
Stronghold
Temple of the Strength Goddess
This medium-sized temple is located one district in from the western gate. Helda Claearcall, the priestess, also serves on the City Council. She preaches that “Strength is Saintly” and that people must choose their own way in life. Once a rallying cry for the occupied city, the phrase is now sneered at, as Gate Pass’s cultural attitude leans towards government direction of individual lives.
The Bacchanal
Inn of the God of Revelry
This is one of the fastest-growing cults within Gate Pass. The temple is styled like a huge beer hall and worship is a rowdy affair with dancing, drinking and song. Once a week, the building opens and for a few coppers tithe, adherents can enjoy limitless food and drink. Many tavern-keepers have seen their profits drop as a result and have voiced their opinions to the city council.
Shakur Biggs, the head priest, is currently the master of ceremonies for this year’s festival. He was apparently planning to head a large musical performance, but his plans have been dampened by the threat of a hostile Ragesia.
Dassen Stone
Temple to the Dwarf God of Ancestors and Temple to the God of Battle
Second only to the Saraswatin in size, this temple serves as two temples now that the dwarf population is almost completely gone from the city. The large edifice also houses the public works offices. Lessons in fighting and leadership are regularly offered and the city guard is often seen training there. Rumors that the dwarves keep treasures mined from the deep during the construction of Gate Pass abound.
Shrine to the God of Sorcery
Located across the street from Gabal’s School, this shrine is a holdover from the Ragesian occupation. Its existence is a sore point with Gabal, who hates the warlock and sorcerer philosophy, so it is frequently the target of “stray” spells. It is uncertain how many sorcerers live in Gate Pass, but they have considerable influence on the City Council, largely through the actions of the Shrine’s President (no one is sure what that term means within the council), Gratanus Helicomb.
Fertile Fields
Temple to the Goddess of Hearth and Home
Simply constructed, this building is a favorite meeting place of the farmers and ranchers of the outlying area. The city council almost always bows to the wisdom of the temple elders, especially after the food riots of twenty years ago, when a gate tax was imposed on all people and animals (even dead ones) entering the city. The farmers revolted and stopped delivering goods and supplies. A week later, the situation within Gate Pass was so desperate that the townsfolk rushed the council and deposed them. The tax was instantly repealed. Since then, a temple elder has always been assigned to the council to represent the population outside the walls.
