“Chimera!” Mantarok God of the Forge and War screamed.

“What is it? I’m busy.” Chimera asked drawing his attention from the mortal plane.

“Did you just orchestrate a pure air Kel’Aish? He will be hunted by the Cloud Swarm. If he’s traveling with your champion, that puts them in direct conflict.” Explained Mantarok.

“If you have a better way of exposing him to the Tempest, I’d like to hear it. He stands a fifty three percent chance of tapping that deific energy in conflict with them. They are also the closest. I assumed you’d approve of this part.” Chimera replied, relaxing back into a chair away from the glowing sphere that represented the planet. Mantarok stepped around the orb to look into Chimera’s many sets of eyes. Chimera’s grin told his brother everything he wanted to know.

“Fine, but I’ll claim the survivor at Shattered Sky only after you’ve played this card. The Swarm is on the northern continent and will have to fly over Kakiat Forest to even reach them. That will create an even larger conflict, but they will have air superiority. I’ll have to move some pieces.” Mantarok replied.

“Why do you speak the name Cloud Swarm?” asked Không Khí, God of the Hunt & Air appearing in the room from the doorway leading out. His white hair flowing against a breeze located nowhere else in the room. He wore a hip quiver with short bow strapped across his back. With eyes that resembled the endless blue sky, he glared down at his brothers.

“Why are you here? You have responsibilities to attend too.” Said Mantarok standing up and assuming a defensive posture.

“All is in hand. It is Cheshire’s turn, is it not? Why are you hear?” replied Không Khí.

“Moral support. His champion is the dumbest in centuries. Feel free to return to your work…” Mantarok tried to say before being cut off.

“An all air Kel’Aish! May I offer you an alternative to this stratagem? I would like to keep this one.” Asked Không Khí.

“What do you propose? I have a guess, but I doubt even you would accept a two percent chance of being correct.” Cheshire asked. Không Khí looked at his two brothers and came to a reluctant decision. The God of the Hunt and Air glided from the top step of the sunken floor down to the bottom and took a seat. He looked back up at the two other gods and said one thing:

“The Wode.”

Deacon and the others met outside of The Tower’s entrance. They were all impressed by the layout of the inside. It seemed expand beyond the base that can bee seen from the outside. Much larger than their Guild House. They waited another five minutes before Tantus finally showed up with an oversized backpack that looked stuff.

“What is all of that?” Amanda asked.

“It’s my portable laboratory. This is a magic bag you see.” Tantus replied.

“It looks heavy.” Said Ralph.

“Oh no, no. I assure you it’s very light weight. Here try it.” Tantus said easily slipping it off his back and handing it to Ralph with his right hand. Ralph took the straps and almost fell backwards expecting a hefty weight unfortunately overcompensating.

“Then why is it so big? Deacons bag is just a satchel, but he keeps putting more and more things in there.” Amanda asked.

“To be honest, I didn’t get the spell exactly right. I can stuff as much as I want in it, and it won’t weigh anymore than that. The downside is it grows bigger with the accumulated weight. Something to do with the snakes innards I used.” Said Tantus trailing off into his own thoughts.

“Give him back his bag. We need to get moving. I’d like to report what we found and mobilize the guild before I have to meet with the priest of Ryan. I assume that’ll be whole thing.” Deacon said starting in the direction of the Adventurer’s Guild.

There wasn’t much talk on the way back to the guild. Every now and then you could hear Tantus muttering to himself. Deacon found himself on a side street trying to cut a few blocks closer to the Guild. The city had streets laid out randomly. Like they built it as they grew with no plan. That didn’t make much sense to Deacon considering how tied into the government they Ryans were. He guessed that was something he’d have to ask about later. Deacon took a step forward and immediately pulled his foot back spreading his hands out to either side of him and calling a halt.

“What is it?” Amanda asked pulling a knife.

“Can you feel that? It’s really cold right here.” Deacon said right before some of the junk in the alley shot forward at an alarming speed straight for him. Deacon slapped it out of the air as shingles from the roof started to rain down on them. Just then a spike of ice shot up right in front of Deacon blocking his path forward. Spinning around he saw a person holding a sword across Tantus’s throat. The assailant who was wrapped up in desert garb began to speak when a blue shield appeared around Tantus forcing the sword away from his neck. That was all Amanda needed to see, she threw the knife in her hand which forced the attacker to duck. Subsequently Tantus spun and took two steps back being covered by an advancing Ralph and Deacon. Instantly there was a puff of smoke and as it cleared, he was gone.

“Anyone catch what he said?” Deacon asked.

“Yea something about you being known to the Empire and that you’ll pay. Standard Vasilly blood feud nonsense. We see it a lot in the guild. Now this ice spike trap went off too slow. According to the device on the ground you should have been encased. Yes, yes, it’s a capture device. They want to display you, Deacon.” Tantus explained.

“What?!” Deacon took a step back. He didn’t like the idea of being captured and put on display like some kind of hunting trophy. He didn’t sense anything but the cold with his aura. This troubling. Maybe Jacob was right. Training needs to be added to the do list.

“Sounds about right.” Amanda said.

“You say that about everything that happens.” Deacon shot back.

“Stop being a lightning rod for calamity.” Amanda said reclaiming her dagger.

“She’s right, two significant things have happened since we got back in town to report a completely separate significant thing. I figured you’d catch on by now.” Ralph said as Tantus managed to dispel and retrieve the ice trap.

“Don’t have to throw it in my face. People know where I live and set ambushes for me on the routes there. I was literally just walking.” Deacon said.

“Make fewer enemies.” Amanda said pushing past Tantus who was inspecting the three plates that made up the ice trap.

They made it back to the Guild late afternoon just before the start of sunset. Considering Typhus and the rest of the Cardinal Unit didn’t meet them at The Tower, Deacon assumed he’d see them in the cantina. The courtyard was just as busy as when they left. After passing through the gates, Deacon noticed a great number of people dropping to their knees in his presence. It bothered him simply because it didn’t seem necessary. He waved his hands and walked over to a few people lifting from the ground.

“But my lord, you saved us from a life a slavery. We owe you this and more.” Said one of the kneelers.

“Are you all the ex-slaves?” Deacon asked getting nods and affirmative sounds from many in the crowd.

“If so, never bow again. It was Chimera’s will that I was in the position to do anything. If you need to show deference to anyone, make it him.” Deacon said hoping that would shift some of this in a direction away from him.

“Praise Chimera! Praise Chimera!” chants began filling the courtyard from all around him. Deacon immediately regretted what he said before receiving a new notification from his slate.

New Message from your patron- Well done Deacon, here is a new quest.

New Holy Quest- Grow the flock- Create two hundred followers for Chimera, create two priests of Chimera to lead them. Fifty out of two hundred followers reached. Zero of two Priests. Rewards; New class ability- Dead Man’s Parade.

“Great.” Deacon said turning towards the entrance.

“That’ll end well.” Amanda said hurrying through the door.

“What did you expect. He is the Champion of Chimera.” Ralph said waiving to one of his friends as they entered.

“I’ve never been in the Adventurer’s guild before. It’s a lot more…rugged than I imagined.” Tantus said.

“It grows on you.” Deacon said.

“Like fungus.” Amanda said heading off toward the Cantina.

“Really?” Tantus asked looking at Deacon.

“No, not really. Come on, you can put your bag down in my room. We’ll meet you in the Cantina guys.” Deacon said to Amanda and Ralph.