Divine Introspection Of Trust & Time

To my lovely lifemate, Chieftain Laval’liere Lightbringer,

I believe it was just over a fortnight since my last missive. It is my continued hope that the tribal “Exodus” back to Fort Etrinan is on schedule. Hmmm, how are you doing? I’ve got to admit there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I don’t find myself wondering how to honor you. I came to the stark realization though that I’m guessing at best. I actually don’t know you well enough yet, but I want to! We’re lifemates afterall, so I will attempt to lay myself out bare for you to try and know me through these letters.

Despite how many of us are now gathered and forged toward the light. Among the whole of our kin we are still incredibly small as a creed, or is it community, perhaps both apply in this thought, hmmm. When this reaches you could you please make sure twice a day the tribe gives prayer for heavenly Apis. She, and the Pantheon of Ra are embroiled among a large scale conflict against the Pantheon of Taut.

I wonder if it would be to much to ask for a small shrine built for me only after everyone gets settled. I don’t think asking for a temple would be right as I am only Demigod, and work directly for the Lawgiver as the “Oathkeepr” under him. I think someone or some group among our clergy need to include a temple though for the Pathfinder. He is known among the humans as Khonsu. Being the god of travelers at night he also looks over the races thought lost to evil but seek to be good. Our enclave of light could use all the help it can get.

I was surprised to find out I would be required to have multiple lifepartners, and I was a little intimidated by it. You’ve read the Books of CrIsis and you are bonding with Saraph so you have its memories of my mother, my childhood crush – whom became by brother’s wife. The point is you know how sheltered I grew up as A’zad’s apprentice away from everyone I used to play with. Needless to say social graces are sometimes difficult for me to grasp and get right. So even if I get it wrong the first time please be patient and I will endeavor to get it right and remember lessons from my mistakes. I hope greatly that your days are going well and things moving as smoothly as possible. Say hello to your younger brother for me. I hope my father is healthy and whole as well.

Well now lets see about my current progress along with the rest of CrIsis.

The Revenant of Khonsu went out to change some coin and acquire a bunch of weapons from merchants in the dock district. He was on his best behavior after a stern discussion from a number of us concerning some recent errors in judgment. Among the purchases were bundles of arrows for, Master Silent Dream, the Kankoran, or walking fox you met when we left the caves.

Just after sunlight I awoke to fanfare as a large portion of the city of Credia had turned out to wish us well on our maiden voyage! King Guy the First and the Seeker of Isis gave speeches and smashed the “temporal” and “spiritual” christenings to the tallest ship ever built! We sacrificed some of our cargo space in order to make the ship floor ceiling heights tall enough for Kom’var and myself!

Bishop Tutu then presented us with a complete set of new statues for our altar room we had set aside for the faith of the crew and ourselves. There was a statue of me amongst them and that was very surprising to say the least! I had Attel bring up the old statues and asked Bishop Tutu if he would make sure these statues were distributed among the temples of the Timiro Kingdom. In hopes the grace they provided us would help others as well. He said he would make sure that happened personally. Next, he took Father Indaris down below to consecrate the ship and altar room.

Afterwards I directed the ship out of port and when we had been at sea for about an hour I turned over the helm of the ship to Acting Captain, Jershon. I have been studying a spell in the Book of A’zad that will allow me to banish Dyvals and Demons back to their nether realms as many Holy Weapons are capable of! Master Dream has been rebuilding trust not only among the rest of CrIsis but the crew of the Shield of Light as well. He has been able to understand the functions of the ship through his mental powers as well as most of the veteran crew. He was able to use yet another power to help increase our speed by a one-fourth more than what we could achieve normally! That first night we ran across four pirate ships flying flags. Between Master Dream’s increased speed and Master Jershon’s amazing piloting we avoided them completely. Studying in my cabin I didn’t even find out till after the fact.

Upon the morning of the 2nd of Majestic, I used Magos to help me double the speed of a Magic Pigeon Spell. I sent word to warn the Timiro Kingdom of pirates in their waters so we might advert transgression against those that have taken our group in. Father Indaris was kind enough to paint a copy I am sending to you because it has my Sigil upon it.

Everything was really rather pleasant till the night of the 8th of Majestic. I had been learning that spell while Master Dream had continued to make sure we traveled at our increased rate for at least eight hourglass turns each day. We were rounding the Wyndglade Marshes on our way to New Crests. When I get a chance to see you once again please remember thank Father Indaris for painting this little map to give you. Well I was eight days into my figuring out the spell from the Book of A’zad when the ship began rocking hard in the storm. Given our height adjustments made for Kom’var and I my concern about capsizing (tipping over) was in the forefront of my mind. When I heard the call for all hands on deck and Sea Serpents I began to make my way up.

You and future book readers need to understand why I seem reluctant to involve myself.

1. I have been regaled with the tale of the Battle of Bletherad Bay and I must learn to trust my crew to handle issues when CrIsis is not around. Acting like an over-protective mother does not help them grow.
2. When CrIsis gets going in full swing we have a reputation of “blast it and check later” we are only just beginning to shake off. Again, it boils down to trusting those mortal CrIsis members to help and work with our veteran crew to deal with the issues.
3. When I involve myself I find a number of times I become the fall back plan when our initial strategy fails to survive contact with the enemy. This only increases the amount of time for the rest of CrIsis to join me as Demigods.
4. I have seen how much damage I wreck on my own sometimes I wonder about the collateral effect I have upon the world around the enemies I destroy.

Hopefully that explains why I did not rush to the deck. Not to mention that we have just over eighty additional people on board and I still take up the whole passageway when I walk though it. As bad as that storm was rocking the boat it was not the only source of the disturbance. Apparently 17 Sea Serpents called Horned Ramrods were trying to pierce the ship and get all of us inside. While I helped to damage a bunch of them, it was Master No Name or Khonsu Reaper’s dropping a Magical Wall of Bones upon half of the Sea Serpents that was the turning point in the fight. It would also seem my younger spell-born brother, Kom’var, was bringing up the second place by causing three of the Sea Serpents to fall asleep and drift below into the dark waters.

After the battle I felt pangs in my heart and brief glimpses of the Ma’ip and the war raging there! I reached out place a hand upon on Father Indaris and whipped him around and explained I needed his help to reach the the Gods of Light. He took all of CrIsis down to the Chapel altar, where he led us in a Prayer of Communion. We were given a bird’s eye view of the ongoing battles! I saw all of the gods as well as Master Tyvernos! Heavenly Apis was in the rear as a brigade of Tautons made a flanking rush against her. Just when one was about to land a killing blow with a wicked weapon of dark magics a lion-maned Ramen dove in front of her taking the fatal blow.

I nearly begged Father Indaris for another of his Contagious Scriptures in hopes I could try and use Magic Pigeons and spread the Scripture through verbal pigeon messages. I have to admit I was more than a little curious if I could direct one of the pigeons to New Crests. Then I could see if this was a valid way to spread the Contagious Scripture to so many more of the faithful. I will try and remember what he said, “Osiris, may your Daughter be healed by our faith with you. May we all bow our head and show thanks for all she has done.” Well, with energy taken my friends I was able to send a total of 19 Magic Pigeons to New Crests and 18 other cities in Timiro.

Master Dream was able to use his psychic powers to assess the damage to the Shield of Light within grains of an hourglass! Master Jershon continued to have the crew verify and they all agreed with the little fox. It warms my heart to see him slowly growing his confidence back and forging the trust that comes with time and perseverance. As every day before he managed to do his psychic boost pushing the speed of the ship. It was a little after highsun on the 10th when I heard the cry for “land” and New Crests! I will write more after I see to ship repairs and some minor issues that came up during the trip.

Amor Meus Etrinus Fortem,

Xerx’ses Goldenhorn,
Osiris’ Unyielding Strength,
Immortal Demigod War Wizard of CrIsis,
Head Weaver for the Tri-Arcanum Guild,
aka: Captain Osric Orghallar of Shield Of Light

>> Written by Xerx’ses Goldenhorn, sent on the evening of the 10th of Majestic, 4th year of King Guy the First of the Timiro Kingdom, 72nd Year of the Wolfen Empire, 345 year of the Dominion of Man, and 25th Year of the Western Emperor Voelkian Itomas II. <<

Art by AZ-Rune Art, commission him at: artist@agodrebuilt.org