Parthia – World of The Misplaced Dungeon.
{Timeline: October / November 2018 – MD between Ch. 30 to 50}
Rickie watched the channel between the kid’s island and the mangrove island grow near, the temple castle shone white under the sun and two temple guards stood guard on the seaward tower. Noorbat stood nearby also watching as his ship’s home port slowly came into view. Not that Silverton was in any way impressive, it was only a large village though all the buildings appeared to be stone built.
« Welcome home Rickie, give my condolences to the kid, up to you whether you tell him that Steve was already watching Far’diva and he is on my to be ruined and killed list. »
Rickie smiled, “so you’re not going to chase the kid off.”
« No, but he’ll have to work, cabin boy will do for now. Now as for you, will you serve a stint in the Marines or Special Forces. I’d like you to be skilled at defending yourself, especially as you seem to possess a rescue complex. »
“Yes Mother. I can’t say I’ll enjoy the life but you are right, I seem to find myself compelled to help.”
« Just two months. With skill crystals training goes fast. »
So Rickie passed on Mary’s condolences, and found himself explaining to an incredulous cabin boy about the dungeon of Blue Lagoon and her unorthodox outlook on the world and life. He could almost swear that someone was chuckling in the depths of his mind.
Then he showed the kid where everything was to be found and introduced him around before taking his leave and making his way to the training halls under the kid’s island.
He decided on the Special Forces as he suspected he would often find himself on his own in the future and came to regret that decision often during the next month and a half.
Then came the day that he had to deploy, Mother apologised to the ones who were only in for the training but Ocidon had requested help in a worthy cause and so Rickie found himself swimming to the Temple with his squadmates.
Then they were marching past Mother who was sitting at her ease at the God’s right hand, as he marched past he and his squadmates received the blessings of Ocidon and Mother before marching through the gate.
Rickie found himself along with his squad and two squads of marines in the temple of Ocidon in the city of Uvadelton that was situated at the southern limit of their ocean. They waited for the moment when they would march out with the priests and the temple guard to do Ocidon’s will.
Then finally they marched out of the temple one sunny mid-morning. Rickie and his half squad scouted ahead of the raiding party checking the cross streets as they went. The other half squad brought up the rear and ventured occasionally onto parallel roads. Their presence had the tendency to clear the roads they were traversing of the local townsfolk.
The local guards took one look and withdrew wanting nothing to do with a temple war, though some of the braver among them did shadow the column.
The shrine to Vortexius Blackbeard was partially hidden behind a dilapidated warehouse near the docks, the smell of rotting fish and other less salubrious rubbish was being carried inland by the light morning breezes. The special forces squad spread out to cover the assault troops from attacks in the flank or rear. Rickie found himself keeping a wary eye on two local guardsmen while wishing for something to numb his sense of smell.
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With a roars of ‘for Ocidon’ and ‘for Mother’ the temple guard with the able assistance of the marines stormed into the shrine. The special forces squad withdrew a few paces towards the shrine as more local guards started trickling in.
* * *
Commander Tav’artor was furious. How dare those damn priests cause trouble in his well run city. He gathered his closest cronies and headed out to stop those meddling priests from upsetting a very profitable apple cart. As he hurried he gathered any guards he came across on his way to the docks. Maybe he’d be in time to save Vortexius’ shrine, and if not then he would punish the perpetrators.
He arrived to see a few of his men just watching as the shrine was being sacked and a mere eight beastmen, mostly cats but including two of dogs blocking the way to the shrine.
“WHAT’S GOING on here? How dare you animals attack the citizens of Uvadelton. Put down your arms. YOU’RE all under ARREST!”
Commander Tav’artor saw, with disbelief as the animals closed ranks, their mage and healer taking one step to the rear while the rest grinned and prepared their javelins.
Then more of the uniformed animals left the ruins of the shrine and formed up to either side of the others. These had long oval shields instead of bucklers. All their shields were bluish emblazoned with a white dolphin.
“HOW DARE YOU! Drop your weapons! You’re all under arrest.”
“Mother wouldn’t like that. Go fuck yourself with a rusty spear,” said the wolf beastman with gilded helmet.
Before a rapidly empurpling Tav’artor could respond to that insult two priests of Ocidon emerged from the shrine with three men with shackle sores.
“Commander Tav’artor, please let us pass, this is temple business, Ocidon will not appreciate it if you hinder us. This was a shrine of...” stated Carraloss speaking as the most senior priest present, and thus nominally in charge of the raid.
“YOU ARE ALL UNDER ARREST for murder and mayhem. Drop your weapons NOW!” interrupted Commander Tav’artor.
By now the temple guards had emerged from the burning shrine and formed up, ten to either flank and the final ten as a reserve.
One of the former prisoners stepped forward and approached the guards, “I’m Gart’valo, a mechant of this city, and my fellow prisoners are Erud’dalito also a merchant of this town and Sir Trov-tanitor a ship owner and merchant of the Luvarian Empire.”
Tav’artor fumed, “I don’t believe you, you’re one of their cronies. KILL THEM ALL!” And with that Tav’artor lunged and drove his sword through Gart’valo.
« Brace yourselves my Children. »
Then the ground groaned and shook. All around buildings shook and crumbled. The harbour rose and tilted. The waters receded taking all ships not belonging to the city with them leaving the former port city almost two kilometres from the shore. The ground shook violently again and to the south of the city the river was blocked and found a new bed that avoided the city.
Caraloss brushed the dust from his robes, “come children, let us return the temple. We have much to do before we leave this place cursed by Ocidon Earthshaker.”
* * *
Rickie found himself sharing guard duty at the temple as the faithful streamed in and were directed through the temple’s inter temple gate. Then they withdrew leaving an empty shell of a deconsecrated building behind.
He spent his leave exploring his home both above and below the waters, he was taught several new enchantments and rose rapidly in levels. Then it was time to go back to work.
« Rickie are you willin’ to spend some time wanderin’ the world as a journeyman enchanter and spy? And will you want a companion cum bodyguard? »
Rickie grinned to himself, this sounded like fun. Better than soldier or sailor. “Yes Mother, I believe I would like that. I don’t think I need a companion though. Are Journeymen rich enough to be able to afford one?”
« Not usually, but you are an enchanter and they tend to be richer than the average journeyman if they’re any good. »
“I’ll pass, where do you want me?”
« I want you to visit Meerkatton first, have a chat with the badgers an’ see what they recommend. Then head for Arsouk and if you think it’s viable, make your way seawards from there. »