Matthais rubs at his chin thoughtfully. "I confess, Basileios, I have never been more than a few miles north of these gates, and there was nothing there but the barren rock and snow of the mountains themselves. If you have never been to this place, can I ask how you came to know of it?"
"I saw it in a vision," you reply, "sent by the gods of the Great Steppe. They told me that it would be a place of sanctuary for my people, where we would be safe from our enemies."
"Perhaps that is your problem," muses Matthais. "Please do not be offended, Basileios, but it is written that only the Eight are worthy of veneration, and other deities are nothing more than the superstitions of less educated people." He holds up his hand. "However, as a Brother of the Eight, I must do all that I can to help guests within our home. I have a map of this area. Please, join me later, and we will look over it together."
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