Naar

I was never a firm believer in meditation until after I took my Second Breath. Now however, it has become an almost daily part of my life. We of the Chosen use it to center ourselves, to learn new ways of bending the Essence around and within us to our whims, and to increase our own mastery of our Essence. I myself have meditated for hours on end for more than three months and felt ever stronger.

A strange effect however seems to have overtaken my friend here. Honestly, in my previous life I would never have called a friend a scavenger lord such as Naar. Indeed, he would have been more of a target for my exploits in the business of wealth transfer. This man however, I've known for two years now and I knew him for almost a thousand years in another life.

We had decided to quest for some exotic ingredients in the Wyld right after we finished with Prodigal Lava Brother's problem. Strangely, the decision was abruptly made soon after Naar Kalaman rose from his morning meditation. He was muttering something about peace and justice in the West. He had this strange glint in his eye. For some reason he was suddenly impatient for Drifter to reactivate a working force of automatons in his old manse. He was also saying something about big guns.

We cross into the Wyld and Naar begins his shaping. On his first try, he attempts to make the exotic ingredients Drifter needs, but to no avail. I convince him to make Breather Plants. Something from a sudden inspiration from my ancient memories. He makes them and we pot them. On his second try he succeeds wonderfully giving Drifter enough exotic materials and re-agents to activate a full repair team within his manse.

Akira was so proud of Naar, Drifter so eager to begin his repair work, Snowstorm was grinning like a maniac in anticipation of something, but I worried about the glint in his eye. While, I for one would truly relish the upcoming slaughter of our enemies, it seemed uncharacteristic for him to be the same. He had too much compassion as it is. As a pirate, I have stayed alive noticing things and this was bothering me.

I was distracted from my musings as we contacted Azure Heart to prepare a plot of land within the city and something well guarded at that to plant these Breather Plants and cultivate them. I could foresee many uses such as mortals diving into untold depths for pearls or other items. Allowing them to work underwater to save much needed time and giving them versatility enjoyed by many god-bloods. Also, a force of amphibious marines who could hide in the water at night to ambush our enemies just excited me like anything.

When we arrived on the Isle of Enlightenment, we immediately replanted the Breather Plants into the plot of land and watched as Azure Heart worked his hearthstone. Almost immediately, we had the plot almost full of the plants. We could bring some immediately. He also toured us on some of the developments on the Dominion.

He showed us the current development on Gull Atoll. The place was shaping up nicely and a stone wall was going up the wooden lighthouse. The dominion had a few new members as apparently one of our patrols caught up to a slaver north of our island which thought that the people working the salt flats would be easy prey. No survivors among the slavers and the ship was sunk by a northern islet. Some of our own set up a small outpost there. They named the place Outpost Isle. The Purveyor of Golden Arches was also used as a mobile defense base. There were small temporary accommodations for the soldiers and they took shifts manning the place. Harvest was going according to plan, and the production of the Iron Palm Lambanog was up.

Akira went into her workshop and instructed the artisans there on the proper formula on the new concoction she just made. She wanted production to begin immediately. She even branded the concoctions "Tortuga" meaning Turtle Island.

Drifter immediately left for his manse on the Dolphin after stocking up on supplies and materials. He took with him a few mortals to tend to his needs. He seemed very intent on getting to work.

I left the priest and monks under the care of Azure Heart introducing him to them as our spiritual leader. We also identified an area for them to set up the temple to the Ocean Father. It was in the southeastern part of the city right by the bay, near the ocean so that they could perform their rituals with sea water.

Upon hearing the news however from Azure Heart, Naar once more had that strange glint in his eye. He wanted to go hunting for those slavers. While I did remind him of our obligations to the Ocean Father he said we could do that on the way back. That was the original plan but we hadn't planned for a side trip. As he would not be dissuaded, I convinced him to come with me on my favorite sport, Lintha hunting. The southeastern area of the West had those filthy pirates raiding the islands there for slaves. We restocked the Arc of First light for a voyage and some trade and had our war fleet move around our island for a while because of the slavers.

I asked if we could pass by the island of Hidden Opening in the Archipelago of Exiles so that we could collect the villagers. The elemental came with us and we brought his people to the ship. We then went slaver hunting. Once we got this load off our collective chest we could go back north.