B3 Chapel of Zilchus

This large chapel/commercial building is located in the heart of the business district. The priests here are involved in business and politics, and conduct deals above or below the table. When one enters through the large ornate arches on the ground floor, you are immediately struck with awe by the large amount of wealth here. Gold statues, silver trimmed mirrors and stained glass, finely carved oak roof with gem-studded chandeliers.

Chapel of Zilchus in Verbobonc

The Chapel of Zilchus rises from the very heart of the Business Quarter, its open arches facing the Trader’s Market like a promise and a warning. More than a simple house of worship, it functions as Verbobonc’s premier bank, loan office, vault, and political brokerage, embodying the god’s domains of Power, Prestige, Money, Business, and Influence.

Zilchus’ symbol—hands clutching a bulging bag of gold—is carved over the main gable and painted on banners within, reminding all who enter that prosperity itself is a sacred act.

Appearance & Atmosphere

According to the illustration on page 3 of the chapel article, the building is a tall hall of white stone with gilded arches and a great cut-away front: three massive, pointed arches open the ground floor to the street, revealing rows of pews, jeweled chandeliers, and the flicker of golden light within.

Inside, visitors are immediately overwhelmed by conspicuous wealth:

• Gold statues of Zilchus and allegorical traders.
• Silver-trimmed mirrors catching lamplight and candlefire.
• A finely carved oak roof overhead, from which hang gem-studded chandeliers in many colors.

Every surface reflects coin and contract. It is meant to awe—and to remind supplicants that success is the truest prayer.

The Market Square: A Narration

Relationship with the Folk and Nobles

• The Common Folk: The Chapel of Zilchus maintains a complex relationship with the citizens of Verbobonc. While some view it as a bastion of prosperity and divine favor, others are wary of its deep entanglement in commerce and politics.
• The Nobility: Among the nobles, the chapel is both respected and indispensable. It serves as a crucial ally in their endeavors, offering financial services and divine support to those who can afford its offerings.

Security Measures

Upon entering, visitors are immediately enveloped in luxury, but accessing the chapel's inner sanctums requires passing through rigorous security:

• Guard Detail: Twelve guards, clad in full plate and wielding scimitars, stand watch at the entrance, ensuring only those permitted can pass.
• Magical Protections: Wards and alarms are in place to prevent theft, with additional magical security measures guarding the treasures and secrets within.

Zilchus & His Clergy in Verbobonc

Zilchus is revered here as The Great Guildmaster, the Money Counter, patron of merchants, guilds, and anyone who equates profit with divine favor.

His clergy follow a strict hierarchy: Neophytes, Holy Clerks, Prefects, and finally Patriarchs/Matriarchs, rising in rank as they prove their ability to grow the church’s influence and wealth. The Chapel of Zilchus in Verbobonc is led by Patriarch Abrac “Adre” Fillmyer, with his brother Vester Fillmyer managing much of the financial arm.

Zilchite doctrine teaches that every profitable, law-bound deal is a sacrament. To let coin lie idle is to waste the god’s blessing.

Security & Wardens

The chapel’s riches demand serious protection:

• Twelve guards in full plate armor, armed with scimitars, control entry and patrol inner corridors.
• Magical wards and alarms protect both the main sanctuary and the vault levels below.
• Deeper in, additional magical security guards the most valuable treasures and secrets.

Outside, the Vigil Wardens of Verbobonc keep the peace in the surrounding streets, while Zilchus’ priests oversee the fairness of trade. The two forces together ensure that commerce flows freely—but always under watchful eyes.

Notable Figures

Adre Fillmyer: The head priest, overseeing worship and spiritual matters.

Vester Fillmyer: Adre's brother, a shrewd businessman who handles the chapel's financial dealings.

Services Offered

• Financial Services: Loans, banking, and secure vault storage are available, with terms that reflect the chapel's emphasis on profit.
• Insurance: A unique service offering protection against theft, employing magical means to safeguard and recover valuables within the city.

Political Influence and Relationships

The Chapel of Zilchus does not merely exist within Verbobonc's political landscape; it actively shapes it. Through strategic alliances, financial support, and the influence of its priests, the chapel asserts a significant presence in the city's governance and decision-making processes.

Political Influence

The Chapel of Zilchus is deeply entangled in Verbobonc’s politics:

• Offers loans and campaign backing to powerful nobles and merchant houses.
• Uses its network of allies to shape policy, especially trade laws, tariffs, and guild charters.
• Acts as a mediator among gods and mortals, often finalizing agreements first conceived by the temple of Rao or other faiths.

To anger the Chapel of Zilchus is to risk not only spiritual disfavour but frozen credit, closed doors, and a sudden lack of willing partners.

Adventure Hooks

• The Broken Compact: An insured item has been stolen and not recovered—suggesting either powerful magic blocking the chapel’s divinations, or treachery within the Thieves’ Guild’s agreement. The Fillmyers hire the party to discreetly discover who broke the deal.
• Debt of the Devout: A PC (or allied NPC) has taken a substantial loan from the chapel. When they falter on payment, Abrac offers “alternatives”: escort a high-value caravan, investigate a rival temple’s finances, or quietly sway a noble vote in council.
• Vault of the Pocket-World: Rumor says one of the ultra-secure extradimensional vaults holds a relic prized by another faith—or perhaps a dangerous artifact tied to the Temple of Elemental Evil. The party must infiltrate a sanctified, magically warded vault complex without turning the entire church of Zilchus against them.
• The Price of Fair Dealing: A major dispute in the Trader’s Market threatens to erupt into violence between gnome merchants and human guilds. The Chapel offers to arbitrate—but only if the PCs investigate who is falsifying ledgers and planting cursed goods to sabotage trust.