Book 11: Chapter 54: The Lucky Gold Coin

What Great Sage Laini called the Lucky Gold Coin was also known as the Unlucky Gold Coin. It was about the same size as a common gold coin, but it did not have the face of the Goddess of Wealth, Waukeen.

On its front side was the Goddess of Luck, Tymora, holding a rod. On its back side was a black deer horn on a blood-red background, which was the holy symbol of the Maiden of Misfortune, Beshaba.

When Qin Lun got the Lucky Gold Coin, the Shattered Starry Sky gave no hint information, so he did not pay much attention to it.

After being sent to the underground cave and knowing that Miryrm could no longer take this coin back, he finally had time to ask Great Sage Laini about the coin.

According to Laini, this coin was rumored to be not made by Sapient Races, but formed from the mixed god blood that fell together when the Goddess of Luck and the Maiden of Misfortune fought.

The number of Lucky Gold Coins that dropped to the world was unknown, but clearly, they were extremely few and very rare.

The Lucky Gold Coin, because it was made of the blood of two goddesses, gained a small amount of godlike power from both.

For a while in Faerûn, there was a craze for finding the Lucky Gold Coin, because those who had it swore that it brought them luck.

These people seemed very smooth in everything they did, as if the Goddess of Luck was always watching them and blessing them.

However, everything has two sides, and these people, who thought they had the Goddess of Luck’s favor, after some time, their luck turned very bad.

They not only lost their earlier good luck, but seemed to be haunted by the Maiden of Misfortune, making all their efforts backfire or go worse.

For example, they could step on dog poop while walking, get hit by a car when going out, or choke to death just from drinking plain water.

Only then did people realize the Lucky Gold Coin could bring you both good luck and bad luck.

They were not noticed by any goddess; the coin just changed smooth luck into a wavy line, creating a peak of good luck and a valley of bad luck.

The Lucky Gold Coin did nothing in the hands of the ignorant, for after good luck, bad luck would follow fast.

But for some wise people, the Lucky Gold Coin had value that could not be replaced.

For example, if two countries suddenly went to war and one king used the Lucky Gold Coin in a big battle.

Then his army won the fight, but the king was killed by a stray arrow.

Another example, an adventurer met a monster he could not beat while exploring, and was about to be eaten.

But at the key moment, he put on the Lucky Gold Coin.

Then the monster slipped and fell off a cliff while chasing him, saving the adventurer.

Yet after coming back, he was filled with bad luck and could not recover for years.

Clearly, both stories showed how it could risk a little to gain a lot; that was the value of the Lucky Gold Coin.

It let the user gather all their luck to get past a hard moment at a key time, then spread the bad stuff over later days or a few people, making the harm small enough to bear.

After hearing this from Great Sage Laini, Qin Lun’s Death Notice finally gave a hint.

Before, there was no hint because the Lucky Gold Coin was an unknown treasure that had not been identified.

But Great Sage Laini was seen as an expert by the Shattered Starry Sky, so her talk about the coin worked as identification, turning the Lucky Gold Coin into a known treasure with the right description.

The coin’s description was mostly what Laini said, but Qin Lun was still afraid to carry it on him.

He did not know the coin’s pattern yet; only after several tests with small risks and knowing the pattern would he really use it.

“Oh, that silver dragon really gave something good. Too bad its power comes from gods in this world and won’t work in the Shattered Starry Sky or other worlds, or it could match a Divine Artifact.” Hill touched the coin softly, got the info, then left it alone.

Nothing big happened that night.

The next morning, Mastashia went out, saying she would pass messages to other Harpers and check on the Zhentarim in the Silver Marches.

At noon, Mastashia came back.

The Highland Elf looked happy, waved her small hand, and took them on the road again.

“Let’s go, I got some news. We’re heading to Silverymoon now.”

Nesmé City was next to the Silver River, and there was a small port north of the city.

This port mainly shipped minerals, but since the Silver River passed many areas, and Silverymoon was over a hundred miles east, there were some small passenger boats.

Mastashia, after seeing the Harpers, now had money and proudly rented a big ship that could carry fifty people.

She led them up the river against the flow to Silverymoon.

The trip was easy, so they reached Silverymoon earlier than expected.

For two days on water, by the second day at noon, they saw the huge shape of Silverymoon.

Silverymoon sat on the north bank of the Rauvin River, which was a stream off the Silver River.

The city walls curved like a crescent moon along the river, lying on the bank like a felt hat.

A small part of it was also on the south bank of the Rauvin River.

Between the two banks was a wide dock and a magic bridge named “Moon Bridge.”

This bridge could only be seen under moonlight, and the middle arch could disappear with magic into the sky.

That way, enemies attacking from the south bank might fall into the river, or tall-masted boats could pass under.

Silverymoon was the main city of the Silver Marches.

Among all surface cities in the Northlands, it stood only behind Deepwater City.

Because of old buildings from the Netheril Empire left in the city and the city’s riches, it was called the “Jewel of the North” by many Northlands races.

Its wealth had long been watched by the Zhentarim.

Silverymoon was a busy and happy city where folks loved trees, music, and art.

Tall oak trees and pretty stone buildings covered the city.

Many thousand-year-old giant oaks even matched the city walls in height, which was unique for a surface city not of the Elven Race.

Other cities would likely chop trees like that to make furniture.

Thin, pointy tops of old buildings lined the city streets.

The buildings had smooth curves, and lots of shop windows and roof rooms glowed with colorful glass.

This style went back to the times of the Eaerlannian Elf Empire.

On each side of cobbled roads, stone paths were shaded by trees.

Here, balconies and winding stairs were everywhere.

Window ledges, railings, and pillars were decorated with plants and vines in carved wood bowls, a habit of the Elven Druids.

Many folks in Silverymoon could play the harp, blow pipes, or sing poems.

The art feel sometimes made it seem like a perfect peaceful place.

The most respected in Silverymoon were scholars and artists.

Most people were proud of being good at at least one art skill.

The people here were mostly humans, elves, half-elves, and dwarfs.

They read ballads, poems, and love stories, talked with humor, and shared happy jokes, knowledge, and music.

For most in Silverymoon, besides art and music, their other big hobby was holding and going to lively parties and dances.

This city had likely more such events with fancy names than any other on the continent.

Stores in the city had unique styles, packed close and cozy, full of lovely handmade and magic items.

As surely the top spot for learning and culture in the Northlands, Silverymoon welcomed nearly all Sapient Races to join.

The city’s safety came from the many strong mages and druids of the Silver Marches, plus lots of rangers.

They stood by “Lady Hope,” who shaped the city, the chosen of the Goddess of Magic, the god’s daughter—Elastor Silverhand.

She started many feast banquets and big parties.

By pleasing lords from all cities in the alliance, she slowly won their trust and grew the whole Silver Marches into a united country.

In fact, this was why the Zhentarim planned murder during the big festival.

In a way, such lively events created the calm feel of Silverymoon.

If blood and killing stained the event, the damage to the forming Silver Marches nation could be huge.

Elastor’s palace melted into the east city wall, east of the open market.

It was guarded tightly by spellcasters loyal to her and expert fighters.

Lady Hope wanted laws of kindness to give folks a hopeful life.

But she knew tricks, lies, and evil acts would come, so she built and trained private teams long ago to fight these bad groups, especially the Zhentarim to the east.

For its many festivals, Silverymoon had lots of famous bars and inns on the continent.

For instance, “Waving Bright Blade,” “Dancing Goat,” the dwarf tavern “Hammer and Helm,” “Golden Oak,” and so on.

Most cozy spots were on Sunset Street, Moon Path, and High Axe Alley north of the Rauvin River.

Silverymoon had many key places, like the Moon Bridge joining north and south banks.

The magic barrier under control of the Six Sisters of the North in the inner city.

The Palace of the High where Elastor lived.

Star Court where alliance lord deals were made, and others.

People in Silverymoon liked some kind gods who watched over the city, especially the Forest Goddess Mielikki and the Unicorn Goddess Lurue.

They cared about god lessons, always seeking help from Priest types of the good order and natural druids.

Huge temples were found all over Silverymoon.

Older holy places and sacred woods included Hall of Inspiration, Hall of Heroes, Silver Star Temple, and Mielikki’s Glade.

Hall of Inspiration was for the Knowledge God Oghma and the Singing Goddess Milil.

Hall of Heroes was for the Guard God Helm.

Silver Star Temple was the land of the Literature God Deneir.

This temple sometimes bickered with Hall of Inspiration over god duties.

The most fun of all was Mielikki’s Glade, an open forest spot where Mielikki followers gathered.

It had ferns and berry plants all around, with green moss in the center.

A hollow old oak tree had a portal inside linking to Mielikki’s Temple on the north side.