Writings of Rion the Scholar - 2nd Entry

This note is found in the Remnants of Korvan City. I arrived today at the heart of Korvan City after a grueling three days of travel, a journey which began on a high note as we traversed the lush oasis just beyond the walls of the Cairan Docks. The Korvan capital is something else entirely. Lush stands of palms grace the shores of flowing streams fed by subterranean springs, which bubble up from the depths with an irrepressible ferocity. In the midst of a stark desert it is truly a sight to behold.

I've been told that this one source provides the cleanest of waters to the region. Apparently an entire class of water merchants exists, with the sole duty of collecting the life-giving nectar from there and distributing it throughout the land.

This is also where I had my first exposure to the curious and deep-rooted faith of the region. My traveling companions, the daily caravan from Cairan Docks to Korvan City, insisted that we stop at a temple, known as the Sanctuary of Horran, positioned in the heart of the oasis. It was apparently crucial that they stop while the burning sun was at its highest point, the prescribed hour to observe a daily ritual in which they give thanks to their god for his mercy and pittance.

I can understand why a culture surrounded by such harsh and unforgiving lands would be grateful for whatever it is that has graced them to create such a stunning civilization. However, I quickly learned to be wary of these rituals as the prescribed hour for worship is not one but several a day. I know now why the journey to Korvan City takes three days.

On the second day of our journey we passed through a smaller city on the outskirts of Korvan. This was truly an unusual locale. It appeared to be more temple than practical residence. I surmise it is a center for religious practice, perhaps where the local faith's most devout followers can go about their various rituals unhindered by the bustle of Korvan proper. Just beyond the temple city lies a vast network of tombs. I was told, by one of the caravan's drivers, that previous Korvan leaders and powerful devotees of the Korvan faith are buried there along with countless precious relics. Apparently the valley was chosen as a burial site because the roiling hot blood of their god flows close to the surface there. I suspect there is an ancient magma flow passing beneath the valley, perhaps the remnants of a long dormant volcano.

These revelations are quite curious and worthy of further investigation. I shall hope to learn a great deal more about this faith, its practices and practitioners during my time in Korvan City.

See also:
 * Writings of Rion the Scholar - 1st Entry
 * Writings of Rion the Scholar - 3rd Entry
 * Writings of Rion the Scholar - 4th Entry
 * Writings of Rion the Scholar - 5th Entry
 * Writings of Rion the Scholar - 6th Entry
 * Writings of Rion the Scholar - Final Entry