Homecoming

The crowd stayed a respectful distance while they followed me curiously to the temple. Just a few moments ago they were screaming for blood in the temple. Now, they follow timidly. From the conversations I overheard, it seems I'm either some sort of monster, or really lucky, and all sorts of contradictions. They flinch when I glance their way for some reason.

How long have I been an Exalt? It's been barely two years but it seems now it's been more than a lifetime. I'm having difficulty understanding mortals now. Are my goals so esoteric that they move beyond their ken? There are so many things to do now but what drives me is the elimination of those maniacs I just threw into the loving jaws of the siaka.

My brooding is interrupted by Raging Snowstorm who appears from the crowd to rejoin me in my walk. I stand before the large coral decorated doors. I place one hand upon either and with a heave for dramatic purposes, since it would not be wise to show people how strong I am, I push them open and enter.

When I entered with Raging Snowstorm, the temple doors were quickly shut by waiting priests and the left crowd outside. I was escorted by a rather timid priest towards the central altar which looks to have been made with the powers of my hearthstone. The entire room was one of solid sea water with coral and ship motifs. It looks like it was grown rather than built. All this surrounded by what looks like an almost drab coral building.

I see the high priest and gave a bow greeting him, "Greetings Father, remember me?"

"Of course I remember you, Knife. But enough with the pleasantries, the Ocean Father has a message for you.... and your Circle..." the High Priest intoned. A stiff and formal mask covering the face of my old teacher when I studied in the temple schools.

"Oh...? That was quick. What is it? Oh... I trust in your discretion regarding our status." I replied looking at the trio of under-priests around him.

"That goes without saying, you do know he fully supports your efforts and is thankful for your actions during the last Wyld Incursion." he said quickly but still formally. "To the message, one of his sons, of which you are aquainted with, Fisher-of-Many, has perished of mysterious and brutal circumstances."

I remained silent nodding at him to go on. He appeared well informed. Does he know more than Akira, I wondered. It appears I don't have to ask anything.

"It appears he was eaten, and it appears not by an animal, it looks as if he was cooked first." the high priest continued. "This happened a few weeks ago near his home in the Neck."

"I remember him, Wavecrest, Calibration. He and some representatives of the tribes were there. This confirms the message from one of my friends at around the same time given to her by her companion. I wanted to ask you about that first as I already knew you and you do know the propensity of the tribes towards foreigners so visiting Solid Shell would have been a waste of time." I said talking half to myself and Raging Snowstorm.

"Yes, yes, and the Ocean Father asks your Circle to investigate." the high priest said.

"Ah, yes. I thought that was why you brought it up so quickly. Allow me to confer with my Circle." I reply.

I bow my head and in an almost prayerful position, activating the tattoos Akira put in with her Fateful Ally Spell.

"The Ocean Father requests that we investgate the rather gruesome death of his well-endowed son. The one with the blue schlong." I said to the Circle without pre-amble. I then filled them in on the details.

I felt rather than saw their nods of assent and Akira's low growl. Naar spoke up, "We shall do it then, inform the priests we shall investigate this as soon as we can."

"I shall, let's meet somewhere posh tonight. The Diving Sea Snake affords very good accomodations as well as the God of Gambling himself. Send a message to Nuada, our warriors and the ships where we'll be. Knife out." I sent my reply breaking off the link.

I look up at the High Priest and say "Our Circle agrees to this. Have your scribes fill in the details and draw us some maps to the tribes we're to visit. I don't want to dock at Solid Shell and be turned around in 8 different directions. I might miss something if this is all just verbally transferred. Also, a letter of introduction to the temple there might help."

"That, what you did is very... useful. Yes, right away. Good idea." nodding at an under-priest who ran out.

"That out of the way, I'd like to ask how the school is doing? And if you have any more like me?" I asked the high priest.

"The school is fine.. like you? Surely, you don't think that I or the Ocean Father have any say on who will be Chosen---" the high priest says almost shocked at the prospect.

"Haha, no, no, I mean like me-- graduates of the temple schools, I have some ships commissioned and I want to train some new crews." I replied laughing.

"Oh... most of the recent graduates were already taken by other captains but I do have a few I was saving for the temple. I was going to turn them into monks. Maybe you want to set up a temple on your island?" the high priest grins.

"Why not? I'm a firm believer in the Ocean Father, and he has been supportive of our endeavors in making sure that the West is once more prestigious and clean of it's enemies. He supports my Patron as well. I will take them under my wing. They will still undergo harsh training however." I reply grinning as well, seeing once again one of my old teachers within the stern mien of the high priest. "I'd appreciate it though, if you could save some of your next batch for me, I need crews, although I could still make use of thaumaturges and clerks as well. You might have some suggestions in a curriculum as well for the people."

The priest nods to another of the under-priests and he goes running off to get those mentioned. "I'll be sending a young priest with you as well, one of the more promising thaumaturges. He should get you started. That's quite an enterprise you have going."

"Thank you, father. You have no idea, though I do trust in your discretion. I'll be in the Diving Sea Snake to meet my friends. If you could, please send the men, letters, and documents there. I'll probably leave with the tide tomorrow." I replied, genuinely grateful.

"May the Ocean Father guide you on your journey. Oh, and happy hunting." said the priest with a gesture that it was alright to depart.

I bow and toss him a bag of jade obols. "My donation, train the children well. I may send something your way too." I say as I turn to depart.

The crowd had thinned considerably outside as I left the temple. I could hear them whisper wondering how long I'm going to live. I headed to the Diving Sea Snake thinking that to get the sharks, I need a bit more blood in the water. I'm a curiosity now, I need to demonstrate this again to cement myself as a scourge of the seas. Maybe I should take out one of the First Age Transports that the Lintha are reputed to have. They are far south however and ply the slave routes. I feel better now. Plans whirl in my heads as I enter the Diving Sea Snake.

Entering the posh gambling hall, I note that plenty of people actually whooped and groaned. I think me going here was part of some elaborate bet as well. I also groaned inwardly when I saw a tally board betting on my chances of survival against the Lintha. Then, I grinned to myself, these idiots have no idea what I am, Plentimon will have the last laugh on this one.

I climbed the stairs and entered the door to the private room where I was to meet the rest of my friends. The others were already there with a few casks of the Iron Palm Lambanog. Raging Snowstorm and I were the last to arrive. I had barely taken my seat when the doors opened once again.

Plentimon himself, in all his Celestial resplendence appeared. Although I have no idea how, I could almost feel the Essence touching the cores of our very souls gently. The God of Gambling lit up, if a face composed of celestial bodies can be said to light up.

"Ah! Celestials! Welcome to the Diving Sea Snake! It's been a while since I hosted one of your kind. What are we playing today? Tell me, ladies and gentlemen, what can I do for you today?" Plentimon boomed, not bothering being quiet behind the privacy veils that surrounded the room.

"I'm here to relax and enjoy your accomodations. As for a gamble, I'll think about it. I almost lost too much here last time." I answer grinning, taking a glass of wine with me to chat with some of the patrons downstairs. I leave the room leaving my coat there to watch mortals gamble their lives away.

As I leave, I notice that Naar Kalaman has an eager smile on his face, Drifter is groaning inwardly but steeling himself for something, and Raging Snowstorm has a maniaical smile on his face. The ladies look on.

As I walk down the stairs, I think, it's good to be home, at least for a while. A sudden jolt rising up from my behind all the way to the base of my neck makes me think that maybe I want to re-asses that last thought.