View source for Crossroad Coil

Crossroads Coils are a group of small gods, existing by the thousands as functionaries within the Directorate of Bribery and Finance of the Bureau of Humanity's Department of Universal Human Affairs, in the Office of Commercial Exchanges. Though they have variation one on the other, they share the general appearance of snakes, two feet in length, with smooth bodies of cold ivory and faceted rubies for eyes. Their tails are dextrous, wielding fine brushes to carry out their paperwork, and their tongues bear an acid which can irritate the skin of mortals, but is most useful for wiping still-wet brushstrokes clean from a page, allowing immediate correction of errors. As they are small, and do not work from desks, the sight of their communal office in [[Yu-shan]] is said by some to be a thing of beauty, as thousands of snakes and thousands of scrolls intertwine and move about each other coiling and writing.


The Coils are gods of commerce, each responsible for a local market. This means that there is great disparity across their number, with some having purviews which are massive and prosperous (such as '''Iwaku-coil''' of the [[Imperial City]] Western Market or '''Gashu-coil''' of the [[Nexus]] Big Market), adorned with [[Orichalcum]] rings and crystal spectacles, others (such as '''Mudru-coil''' of the [[Lord's Crossing Dominion#Geography|East Orchard Village]] Solday Market) are quite poor by the standards of Heaven. Crossroads Coils seeking to secure or grow their positions are often eager allies of local city gods, cults which encourage trade, and [[The Guild]]. Crossroads Coils will also sometimes elicit worship through their own cults, manipulating their purview in exchange for prayers. Even in areas where the [[Immaculate Order]] holds sway, many merchants greedy for fatter purses or desperate after major losses will offer up prayers in an attempt to gain success within the Coil's market. 


Across much of Creation, the connection between Crossroad Coils and prosperous trade is seen reflected in traditional omens of financial fortune. The sight of an albino [[:Category:Snakes|snake]], superficially similar to the commerce gods in appearance, is often said to herald great success or generous windfalls in one's upcoming financial ventures.


[[Category:Spirits]] [[Category:Gods]] [[Category:Gods of the Bureau of Humanity]]