Charity

JP with Omni and Lorem

Gonyaul took Voah by the hand and led her on a casual stroll down the corridor from the edge of the docks towards the temple. Along the way they would run into the market. They were both fully covered, which was common to see of many of the locals, so it raised no alarms to those they might pass by.

Out of habit, Voah kept a vigilant eye out or anything untoward, her eyes shifting from person to person, down sunlit streets and shadowy alleyways. The possibility of being hunted by the dark robes still lingered. The pergolas above this particular strip of road, though only sparsely covered by plants, still provided them some necessary shade from Kupen's kiss. She had decided that while they were out, they could inquire about the Skara. She brought the egg along in one of their smaller packs.

When they arrived at the market place, Gonyaul received a random wave or cordial greeting from people in the area that were just going about their business. Gonyaul had built a budding rapport with several individuals through small acts of kindness and charity over a period of time. He did such things on his way home from work, so this was the first time that Voah had seen him being shown favor by supposed strangers.

He knew where he was going and went to a local butcher. Like many others so far, the man seemed to be pleased to see Gonyaul; even though he had never actually seen his face. It was the man Gonyaul helped on a ladder the night Voah went missing. Gonyaul greeted the man in Ozaniae and with a vauxian sign. He then order a series of humble items from the butcher, mostly with gesturing.

When it came time to pay, Gonyaul produced coppers from what he earned that day. It taking the entirety of them to make the purchase. He bowed in thanks to the man and said goodbye with a cheerful tone in his voice before taking Voah by the hand again and leading her onward to another shop.

“Do we have enough coin to maybe stop at baker?” He inquired of her in a whisper. He always gave what money he brought home, minus any charitable giving, for Voah to store away.

As they continued to walk along, Voah checked the small leather pouch in which she kept his previous earnings. There were only a few copper coins remaining. A large loaf of bread would cost them at least two.

“There isn’t much left…“

It was a bit of a sore subject for her as she had been frequently turned away by many of the locals whenever she hung around too long in one place, wasn’t buying anything, or asked too many questions. Her accent was quite good, the problem was she didn’t have much of a vocabulary.

Voah hoped that the increase in population might help her find some way to earn coin in addition to Gonyaul's.

“It seems you have been very generous lately… I will need to find a way to earn money…” she said, trying to subtly hint that maybe he should cut down on his charity.

Her stomach agreed loudly and she started considering that maybe she should try to trade her pearl or the Skara egg, though she didn’t really feel like parting with either. Maybe Gonyaul would have an edge helping her find more information or a job with one of the individuals who seemed to recognize him.

Gonyaul completely missed her subtle hint to save more money for themselves instead of giving it away. He was raised in a culture that did not use money, or even a barter system. When he first entered civilized Helian society he had a rude awakening and learning curve to the financial scene.

After seven years, he had grown aware of how to cope with finances in order to manage daily living, even though he still doesn’t understand why people enslave themselves to it. In addition, he had witness it do quiet a lot of damage to peoples behavior and others, apparently the love of money could cause all kinds of unfavorable things.

He decided if he had to deal with it, he would use it in ways that could do the most good to those around him. His process was to live off the least he could, or the land itself, and save as much as he could. Then he would typically give it all away to those in need; sometimes a little here and there, and other times large amounts amassed over time. This even transferred to other material things, like the expensive shield he tried to give to Alexis without thinking twice.

Voah didn’t say no, so that must have meant a yes. At the bakers he got a modest size loaf of bread. And then he picked up a very small treat from the shop next door for the two kids; they would have to share.

Voah wouldn’t have said no to giving charity, unless it was becoming a detriment to their survival. Their situation regarding funds was starting to border that. She had grown up in a system of unstable wealth bordering a mendicant lifestyle. The Grand Revelry provided entertainment for the people of small towns as well as large crowds of the Shrine Cities, sometimes being paid well by hosts and other times relying on donations of the attendance, but the traveling lifestyle certainly did not guarantee a stable income.

Had it not been for the charity, her life would be vastly different. The Pillars often gave alms the poor, and was funded by its followers, many of them from wealth and nobility. She had skills but without charities at that pivotal moment of her life, Voah may have grown up as a street urchin.

Being an acolyte and even an Arbiter of the church was not a lavish lifestyle, but it at least afforded the necessities for survival; lodging and food, a stipend for travel and expenses. The other benefits came with the territory of providing a service to the people.

People in rural areas could do other things to provide for their own survival like forage and hunt but city folk needed steady income or charity. There seemed to be a disconnect with Gonyaul that Voah didn’t understand. She would be sure to question him about it.

Now, walking through the streets of Gra'akast, their hands were heavier with the purchased items, and their purse was lighter. Gonyaul next led them to the home of the widow.

After knocking, the door opened cautiously and a woman’s eyes peaked at them and asked a questioning hello. Gonyaul responded cheerfully in greeting. The woman, recognizing him because of his uniquely framed doe-eyes, relaxed the door from a defensive position to a welcoming one. Gonyaul displayed that they brought a meal, which started to bring tears to her eyes along with a smile of disbelief. She permitted them to enter and upon doing so Gonyaul and Voah could see her two young children peaking out from behind their mothers robes.

Voah greeted the widow and her family with a quiet and humble gesture as the she followed Gonyaul with the bread.