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Pater Coal is an NPC and the High Cleric Supreme of the Emberus High Temple of the Ending Sun, Emberus's secret temple inside Club Vanquisher.
AI Description
The AI’s description was strange. It started normal, but its voice got more and more excited as it went on, and I wasn’t sure why.
Pater Coal – Hobbledehoy High Cleric Supreme of Emberus. Level 101.
This is a non-combatant NPC.First off, this guy is a Hobbledehoy. In case you haven’t figured out what that means, it’s a generic term for a small human. They don’t have the hairy, oversized feet of halflings, or the pointed ears of elves. Everything about them is proportionally smaller to Earth humans, except their egos and their tempers. They tend not to survive long in integrated cities because they’re always starting fights and getting themselves wiped out.
Pater Coal is, for the most part, an exception. The even-tempered high cleric is in charge of the Emberus shrine(s) here in Club Vanquisher. He is one of the few mortals who is in constant contact with the deity. As a worshipper of Emberus, you’ll be required to kiss his ass. But first there’s a custom he must perform on you.
Oh, yes... a custom.
Oh, yes.[1]
Description
Pater Coal stands at 4' 6" tall and looks like a shrunken-down regular human, but walks and talks quickly despite his size. He appears older, has the long white hair of a fantasy wizard, and wears long red robes.[2] His subordinates refer to him as "your excellency."[2]
Story
Book 6
Emberus instructs Carl to seek out Pater Coal in the Find Out Who Killed My Son Quest.[3] Although Carl received the quest on the Fifth Floor, he doesn't get around to visiting Club Vanquisher until after Asojano inflects him with SlugPox on the Eighth Floor. Pater Coal retrieves Carl from Potsy, and ushers him through the club and into the High Temple, where he summons a boiling marble fountain and a smoking charred-black tree stump from the molten floor.
He instructs Carl to sit on the stump and to place his feet in the water, then goes to his knees to administer a foot massage. When the dozen praying men around them groan, Carl protests, and Pater Coal explains: “I am washing your feet, Carl. You are a martyr of Emberus, and I am paying respect. Now put your feet back in the water."[4]
Pater Coal mentions that other gods cannot eavesdrop on them, and a second later, Zev messages that Carl has disappeared from the feed. As the foot massage grows more intense, Carl asks if Pater Coal is the System AI. Pater Coal's eyes have gone milky white. He mentions that they all have their roles and limitations, and tells Carl that he needs the Memorial Crystal, the Enchanted Repeating Crossbow of the Scavenger Mother of Mothers, and the Enchanted Anklet of the Fallen Oak to solve the mysteries of Apito and Geyrun. And then he sticks Carl's big toe into his mouth.[2]
Afterwards, Pater Coal's eyes regain color (presumably as the AI relinquishes control), enough footage makes the feed to give viewers context for the quest (and a shot of Pater Coal licking Carl's foot), and Carl gains the Martyr's Path floor boon.[2] Pater Coal escorts Carl to the Blessed Sun Enchantments Shop, where he issues Carl an interest-free* loan and Carl commissions the Enchanted Paupers Ring of the Steadfast Emberus.[5]
References
- ↑ Dinniman, Matt. The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Chapter 18) (pp. 188-189). Dandy House. Kindle Edition.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Dinniman, Matt. The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Chapter 18)
- ↑ Dinniman, Matt. The Gate of the Feral Gods (Chapter 32)
- ↑ Dinniman, Matt. The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Chapter 18) (p. 191). Dandy House. Kindle Edition.
- ↑ Dinniman, Matt. The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Chapter 56)
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