‘Water, is the lifeblood of all life.’ Without it, every person, every plant, every animal would perish upon the sweltering dunes of Qadira. Ever since the Cataclysm, remembered the Aasimar Toledo Twins knew that all the esoteric trappings of glittering gold were worth meaningless in old Qadira when thirst tore asunder the old world. Oasis, Riverside townships, and even the old capital of Katheer became flocked with refugees fleeing the anger of the auric sun. Where those who were displaced however, the strain put to the test of the Satrapy’s resources. Despite its vast wealth, could not feed starving masses with mere piles of gold. Thus, the Golden Road collapsed, half-masticated upon the sands. The Jewel of the East that was Katheer became tarnished in ashes, blood, and dearth.

Yet, there were those who still cling to its luster beneath the old metropolis. A mix of faith-bearing Sarenites of what remains of the Dawnflower’s Clergy along with those that remained of the cerebral classes of Katheer had rallied around the sole remaining material wealth that is worth thousands of its weight in Gold: the city’s Aquifers, known as the Azure Canal.

The four companions that made up of David’s Team ‘X-Ray’ quiver at foretasting the Waters’ cooling kiss. If it were not for the Rainfall that decided to descend upon them…

It would have been the salvation of Sarenrae’s grace when one is relieved to be warmed with her radiant smile whilst quenching the thirst of the sandy land with Rainwater, brought forth by the shedding sweat by the Duo-God of Wind and Water, Gozreh. Together in this sodality, they brought forth life upon the parching deserts of the Golden Road.

But this downpour was instead a scourge upon her blessed nation. Instead of life-giving Waters that the land thirst for. The rain brought forth only searing doom upon both life and those made from its fruition. Infused with hatred, the rainwater fell upon the land with waters that cleanses life through burning acid rather than invigorating it. They were like a volley of arrows whose descent darkened the skies with seething animosity for all of creation. It was as if the very gods had decided to punish Golarion for some unknown transgression? Perhaps as justice for the death of the All-Seeing Eye?

Tomos and Tutoria fought through their tears as the acidic rain cauterized their pearlescent skin. Their ecclesiastic clothes from Sunhill Monastery slowly melted away from their threads. The same can be said for the Arizonan Desert Rangers too as the acid rain made Isaiah and David could barely see past three feet ahead of them less the Rainwater stings their irises. The four pushed their carriage away against the flooding swamplands of Katheer’s outskirt settlements towards a nearby remise situated upstream from the river atop of a commanding hill. The coach house was sturdy upon its frame and would be a perfect shelter for the Carriage to stay until this downpour wears off.

“You can hide your cart over there!” Leon yelled at them through his walkie-talkie’s broken static.

“Watch for the crashing waves!” Tomos cried.

The acidic downpour blew gale winds that forced the nearby river waters to flood upwards They ate away the soil ravenously causing a deluge of mudslides, stone bricks, and all other sorts of debris to thwart their path. They could not afford to be slow-footed less they too become devoured in nature’s wrath.

“We gotta keep pushing upwards guys!” David jostled through his blistering bodies as arrows of acid rain fell upon his skin. His old ranger clothing was able to shrug some of its devilish arrows for now but if they don’t find any shelter soon Team X-Ray could be reduced to human soup. “Son of a bitch it stings!” he cursed as one droplet of acid rain bit through his skin.

Leon’s Trailer alongside the X-Ray’s Carriage managed to push along the wetted sands uphill before the terrain became hostile to the treads of their wheels. Tomos grabbed the reins of their workhorses towards the Carriage House as he began to scour through their ebony bodies for scarring on their bodies. The building wasn’t as worse for wear compared to the rest of the surrounding outskirts. It did show several signs of decays and faults that leaked out a fraction of mucky water into the remise but overall, they should be able to weather the storm for the time being.

“Here friends, I have these two ponchos and some tarpaulin you can have.” Leon came out of his Trailer, carrying three shimmering cloths in his hands. One red, one blue small of luminescent cloths whilst carrying a larger one “Consider this from me, ‘Credit’.” He chuckled as he hung them over the stables.

“Sun and Fury, the monks never told me that Katheer would have this kind of rainfall…” Tutoria heaved a sigh of relief. “I should have spent more time scribbling a few scrolls of Resist Acid before we got here… not that… thanksgiving to the Dawnflower takes more precedence…” she shyly twiddled her thumbs.

“These clothes, they feel soo… stiff yet so… silken…” Tomos fingers caressed the plastic cloths of Leon’s ponchos. “These ‘pawn-chose’ what are these?”

“They are Water Proof cloaks, made from materials that should protect you and this cart against any other of those nasty burns until this rain-rain goes away to come again another day. Not my first rodeo with Acid Rain.” Leon explained as he tossed the large tarpaulin over the battered Carriage bows of X-Ray’s covers. “Help can you fetch the other side of that cloth please pretty fellow?”

“How do I wear these?” Tutoria asked. “The blue one matches my eyes.”

“Like a cloak.” Leon gestured blushingly.

“Lemme show you kid.” David grabbed the blue poncho from Leon. “You raise up your arms onto this hood and…” he guided the young lady as the raincoat fell effortlessly down to her body.

“I am feeling like… light as air.” The Aasimar Paladin twirled around with her new clothes.

“You look fantastical sis.” Tomos gave his thumbs of approval.

“So Tutoria, Tomos…” David raised his hand. “Tell me more of Katheer. It used to be the capital of Qadira right?”

“Indeed. Those old roads we had journeyed by were the veins of Qadira, Katheer would be its beating heart.” Tomos nodded, motioning his finger scholarly as he explained further to the Ranger. “Before the Cataclysm, the Great Market would be overflowing with gold thanks to trade. Carpets, Perfumes, Horses, Weapons, and all other interesting stuff would exchange hands as far as the eyes can see.”

“Not only that, but it seats the most sacred of sites the Dawnflower’s grace upon Qadira. The Temple of the Dawn’s Grace and the Zenith of Sarenrae. They stood proudly as it greeted the sun every day when it rises from the east and bids it farewells to the west. I have never been to that Temple before but I wish if we are able to have and my brother take a pilgrimage there. Anchorite Ebrahim was a good friend of the High Priestess Kamala who stands watch over the Temple in Katheer. I… we need to let her know of what happened to the Monastery.” Tutoria added. Her voice abated of the Sunhill’s tragic fall.

“If there’s no more of that Acid Rain anymore by then, I guess it won’t hurt.” David took the suggestion into his head. “But we will need to find that Desnan Spherewalker first.” He reminded the young folks in his group.

“We can start at the old Visitor’s Center. It will be the first place someone would notice our Spherewalker. Someone the likes of her would stick out like a sore thumb under the Caretaker’s attention. If she’s not strumming up some tunes there already.” Tutoria explained.

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“We must be wary. Especially when we enter the inner parts of the city, however, I know that buildings near the city center where the Temple of Dawn’s Grace were the most damaged by the Cataclysm from the stories I had heard from travelers. Luckily the Temple’s wards would have protected most of the Temple during the Cataclysm. I say we should try to avoid any places that look like it could come collapse on us. Its best we find our Spherewalker, wave a nice ‘hello’ to High Priestess Kamala, and then get out of there as soon as we can.” Tomos nervously pulled the collar of his shirt upon hearing of the thought of staying in Katheer for too long, their pilgrimage notwithstanding from his more ecclesiarch sister.

“Sounds like a plan. Let’s get ourselves comfy down’ere and wait fo—” David dropped down to the floor and crossed his legs.

“Ehh---Ahhh!” a voice cried out from the raging storm outside just as the group was about to settle in.

“Eyo! Some-bunnie iz’in trouble!” Isaiah turned his head away to the coach house’s weathered wood doors. “Dey outta ‘ere!” young Ranger grabbed the other poncho, of a lusty shade of tangerine from Leon, wore it quickly and bolted off.

“Damnit Ice, he’s probably fucking dead already. Stay here!” the Elder Ranger clumsily rose back up to stop his Junior but he had already run off back into the fray. The sour winds from the rainfall outside swam across the Coach Houses’ air from the opened gate.

“That valiant little fool… tsk… tsk.” Tutoria shook her head. “David, help my brother and Leon fix our Carriage. I will get your little oaf for you.” The Paladin secured the buttons on her Poncho and

“Just get the you and the kid back here safe.” David clenched his hand.

The Neophyte Paladin nodded and gave chase to Isaiah.

The hateful downpour had only intensified when before they had entered the Carriage House but thanks to their ponchos, Isaiah and Tutoria could power through the stormy weather without only having to worry about the ankle-deep marshes to worry about.

“W’ere you at?” Isaiah cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. “Tudie, help me find’em.”

“H-H-Here!” the voice alerted the Ranger and Tutoria towards them.

“I am only doing this because I cannot abandon those who cry for help.” She told the Outlander. “But don’t go running off like an idiot again.”

“Have a lil’ faith girly.” Isaiah snickered. “Over there! By that house!” He pointed out.

[-]

“Clear the way!” Tutoria and Isaiah yelled at their friends as they carried the shivering thin body of an apricot-skinned individual towards the Carriage that was being mended of acidic damage by David and Leon.

They placed the stranger atop the Carriage’s basket as Tutoria climbed atop to administer her healing magic to them.

“Holy Sarenrae, taketh my hands and guide thee to thy maladies that harm this wounded child of thee. Grant me the power to aid her and ease her suffering just as you eased the suffering of our hearts…” Tutoria prayed as radiant golden light shined upon her palms.

Laying her hands on the injured stranger, Tutoria began the healing ritual to pull them away from the throes of death.

Watching observantly, David looked on at the stranger with curiosity. The person was humanoid in shape with hands, head, a torso, and legs but that is where similarities ended. Peculiarities were abounded by the stranger’s orange yet silken skin, four fingers rather than five, a transparent red sail-like parody of hair, and mirrored ridges around their neck. More akin to piscine variety of personhood than stock standard humanity, or what divine heritage the Toledo Twins keep claiming a lineage of. Scanning down to the stranger’s clothes, they were of a skin-like quality of similar materials he had seen in swimming clothes he would sometimes scavenge during the Desert Ranger’s travels around the ruined wastelands. They were remarkably feminine that wrapped like a second skin around the stranger’s slim yet limbering body with a cross shape torso adorned to her abdomen with fishnets. What was even more troublesome was the assortment of nautical tattoos that adorned the Fish-Person’s body of eldritch if hierarchal patterns of naval motifs.

“This mutant… nothing I have ever seen before…” David

“That is not a ‘mutant’ Outlander. But an Azarketi.” Tomos admonished him. A sigh escaped his mouth as he shook his head. “They are like… how do I say this… Fish-People.”

“Fish-People?” David nearly chortled. “With gills and fins and everything?”

“Yes, pretty much. Don’t call these folks ‘mutants’ Outlander not just for my sake, but theirs please.”

“Ah, Fine… ‘Assar-Getty’s burg’ whatever…” he waved it off.

“Get… your hands off… ah… I am fine! I am fine!” the orange-skinned Azarketi shooed away Tutoria. “Shite!” she arose from the carriage and stumbled her two nimbly feet on solid ground.

“Are you okay child?” Tutoria carefully approached the Fish-Person, her hands still radiating with holy healing power.

“Don’t ‘child’ me with your holier-than-thou bird-shite you prick! I am fine! I am fine!” the Azarketi continued to shoo the Paladin away as she pushed aside an apprehensive Leon as she leaned her body towards one of the stable gates as caught her breath.

“Don’t be so ungrateful! We just saved you.” Tutoria frowned, dismissing the holy magic from her palms before placing her hands frustratingly on her hips, her hand inching towards her scimitar.

“Dave, I found this with her where we found her.” Isaiah passed over a long-rifle with a curved blade attached below its barrel. It was a harmonious piece of ingenuity, both as a weapon and as a trophied artwork.

“Give it back!” the Azarketi turned around and made a leap for the firearm held by Isaiah.

“Whoa! Whoa! We just met you and you want to grab this gun from us?” David stood in her way. He was cautious by this Fish-Person. The fact the first thing she does is leap for her weapon alarmed the world-weary Ranger. He didn’t want to come to any unwholesome conclusions about this stranger, but it pays in his line of work to be cautious.

“Right now, you just called my friend a… a… just not a nice thing after she tried to help you.” David berated to the Azarketi. “I know that after being wherever the hell you were stuck at for a while can get into ya, but please let’s all be reasonable here.”

“Duh-Dah… Fine…” the Azarketi hesitated but ultimately she nods, inhaling from her chest calmly.

“Let’s try to be friends here right now. Who are you?” David asked.

“M-M-Merizi. The name’s Merizi.” The Azarketi shyly wrapped her body, as she averted her gaze from David. “I… am… was… part of a ship. Until it sank to the bottom of the Inner Sea. I managed to survive and now I am cast away over… over… where did the Storm pass me over?” she asked.

“Qadira, just outside of Katheer.” Tutoria asked.

“Well that explains the lil’miss Sunshine o’er there.” Merizi strafed her head to Tutoria, eyeing her Sarenite Holy Symbol on her chest that shine of brilliant bronze.

“Do not speak of Sarenrae nor her servant’s name in vain Azarketi. I just saved you…” the Paladin reprimanded the Fish-Person.

“Eh, I’m only messin’ with ya!” she sanguinely teased the Paladin. “But in all seriousness… thanks for the heals!” Merizi stretched her arms upwards and sideways as she revived her body back to her fit form.

“Alrighty Merizi, where were you going anyways if you were in a ship?” David asked the Fish-Lady.

“I was… shipping some cargo Northward when Gozreh decided to bring bad tidings upon my voyage…” Merizi explained, speaking in a lackadaisal tone in stark contrast to her previously reserved demeanor.

“Goz-who?” David furrowed his brow.

“She means her ship sank because of a really bad storm. In sailor talk… more or less.” Tomos whispered to David.

“Yeah… sink…” Merizi bashfully sulked. “Y-You, you ain’t from aroun’ere ain’t ya?”

“It’s a long story…” David shrugged alongside with Isaiah.

“Well then, we’re you all wee folks doing out’ere anyways?” Merizi asked them.

“We are actually going to Katheer. We are looking for someone who was last seen there.” David answered.

“So, I guess you will journey Northward when this rainfall passes?” Tutoria asked the Azarketi.

“Fuck my old Ship!” Merizi spat. “T-they… they betrayed me! L-L-Left me to die-drown’ere.” She pulled her fish-fin like red hair as she brokenly answered the question. “Lucky to even be alive at all!”

“Oh…” Tutoria lowered her head before she pushed onwards with the conversation. “I guess you can come with us for now to Katheer whilst you decide where you want to go next?”

“Yeah, I like that… yeah. I go with you.” Merizi scratched her chin before she nods in agreement. “Can I have my Piercing Wind back thou?” she pointed to the Firearm she had attempted to grab earlier.

“AFTER we find the person, we are looking for.” David tells her.

“By the tide and tempest, what bird-shite is this?” Merizi protested.

“Right now, I don’t know if I can trust you right now. Not after what you tried to do earlier. I am going to need a good reason why we should trust you. Not until at least me and my friends find the person we are looking for in K… Ka… ACHOO!” David set his conditions to the Azarketi Stranger before the butterfly that accompanied him, a memento of his mission at hand caused him to sneeze again.

“David here is right.” Tomos agreed. “As of this moment, you’re really testing me and my sister’s charity here by just how unthankful you are. If you can behave until we do our business at Katheer we can hand you your firearm back.” The Aasimar Twins both collectively put their foot down.

“Oh, alrighty then!” Merizi reluctantly agreed to the terms. It's not like she had much of choice after what happened to her undignified departure from the Burned Saffron.