The Lopanic Games Open

Dear Luur’na,

At your lifemate, my brother’s request I am writing to you in case you should be required to inform me of ill tidings. His pigeon message about ‘New Beginnings’ arrived on the 1st of THOTH. I know these first two sentences seem cold and almost angry and if that is how you perceive them know I am sorry but a writer like the Master Elf Bard I am not. I feel you deserve an explanation and I am unsure if my mother or Zeelik has shared much of my travels with you. Over a year ago I left our former tribal caves and have been plucked out of obscurity like a hero in old tales to make something miraculous!

A God… Rebuilt

I am the chosen scion of the Great Lady among a group of six heroes called: CrIsis! We are reclaiming the pieces of the Lawgiver, Osiris, himself and making it ready for his lifemate to bring him back from the dead! The current roster of heroes I am graced to call friends is as follows.

The former Dwarf pirate, turned mariner of light, Master Overkill.

The Elven Alchemist and Stratego of War and Life, Master Azariel.

A Hooman priest of the Great Lady Isis and a noble friend, Brother Indaris.

A wielder of the mighty Mental and Magical arts, the Kobold storyteller of Light, Master Asher.

Our newest member and Master Druid Priestess of the Lawgiver himself, the Elf, Sister Caminata.

I am going to make the assumption that you are aware my and Zeelik’s father has been saved because of the torture I endured as part of a cease hostilities agreement between the Gods of Light and Dark. He is now safely living among the capital of the Church of Light and Dark on the Isle of Lopan in a surface city called Sekti-Abtu. He is working with master Dwarf smiths making weapons and aiding the cause of Light. I bring this up because he finally made me answer questions I had not thought important given the tasks ahead of my fellows and I.

I was “in love” with you. At the time it was a child’s crush and my heart was yours to do with as you saw fit. I could not understand why you chose Zii’clymnt over me but it is in the past. Zeelik has told me he treated you poorly and would not elaborate. Given that Zii’clymnt and Groun’na’s thug Ca’zan nearly burned me alive in A’zad’s tower. I will have to accept that understanding the heart of a woman is just beyond me. Please understand none of this is a bashing of you for the list of my mistakes are being recorded in books for the world to read, and Master A’zad always said to be careful not to use glass runes when making swords.

I beg your forgiveness in the matter of your wedding. I am sure my companions could have arranged for me to be there when you and my brother were lifebonded, but I am unsure and will never know how I might have reacted seeing my first love being put forever beyond my reach. I did not bring it up other than to share the absolute joy I felt at the news. Yes, I said absolute joy. While my love for you at the time was childish my desire that only the best happen to you was not and has never changed. I want for my brother what I want for you, only the best things in life! So yes, to hear that you freed yourself from Zii’clymnt’s hold over you and knowing that my brother and you have found light and solace in each other means I have two less things to worry about. I only hope when I find my lifemate I smile as brightly as my brother did looking into your eyes.

I truly hope this sets to rest any concerns you may have had about me since my father seemed to have them I felt the need to address it here. Now on to the Lopanic Games!

~ The 1st of THOTH ~

After the ‘Opening Ceremonies’ and word from my brother I turned to Brother Indaris, knelt and made a prayer, ‘’I am bad at prayers when I come up with them, I hope I am doing you proud and have met the Soldiers Of The Torch, knowing that I helped to inspire their creation fills me with hope I am doing your good work. Another band sets forth to try and reclaim thy temple in Troker, my brother among them. I know the gods do so much for us we never see and most fail to understand as just coincidence. I know you take an active hand and may that hand guide them safely to Troker so they may continue to bring thine light to dark places of the world.’’

Looking at the good priest I asked, “You think it was okay?”

He replied with a suprised look, "You are one of her champions, priestly intervention is helpful to bring a community together in prayer, trust me when I say she is listening to your own personal prayers. Try not to start with I’m bad at prayers even if you are, but the gods would prefer a badly worded but heartfelt prayer, rather than a very pretty but empty prayer. That was a heartfelt prayer, and the gods would recognize that. If you do it every day it does get easier. If you want I can get you to lead a talk and prayer at the next gathering I’m at, and people will listen.

Looking like someone had just slapped me I was stunned by his reply. "I’d love to talk to the group you select, just tell me if I need to use Hooman disguise, " and standing, “we should help get Overkill ready for his debut to the world.”

The good priest smiled at me and said, “Brother Xerx’ses, I would be honored for you to come and talk as you have a very special view of the world with your personal experiences, and I believe your experiences could help others. Hopefully your disguise won’t be needed everywhere but here I do believe you will give a bigger impression as yourself.” Then Indaris laughs and say’s, “I think you might have that backwards, I think we need to get the world ready, if possible, as Overkill will probably try to head-butt it into submission!”

Onward, we tried to head off to the rowing event. However, first we headed to Titan Park to take the ‘Oath’ in front of the statue of Rurga Truthsayer. Then the statue was imbued with the Truthsayer’s power and the statue spoke, “Remember all that give an oath to me and break it will die.” Looking around we members of CrIsis noticed some people had vanished at the oath. Then was the great line for exiting Titan Park where they went over event ‘specific rules’ for each person as they left and verified their identity. We were told of there would be celebration party that evening for competitor’s and a guest for each in Alliance Park. None of us opted to go afraid that we would be targets for ‘altered’ food and drinks. I was worried Master Overkill would screw someone from another team and get disqualified.

Brother Indaris, Sister Caminata, and I were about to head to the Religious Sector to pay homage to the gods when Master Overkill said he needed me to go with him and meet Mikala at the Ras Magiras hotel. I thought again with this bloody hotel, just make it with more towers and call it a summer castle. I read that in a book on the History of Wisdom, though I have never seen a summer castle. The group started arguing about whether it was safe, a trap, was this the real Mikala. I had raised my hand to mention that maybe we could forgo any fees by just transferring accounts and give them the money as a thank you for all the work they had done for CrIsis. Soon other members spoke up about investments of coin and time. I also was ignored for the same reason I watch to not step on small folk. My raised hand was 3-4 feet above their heads they never saw it. Eventually, it was decided we would meet up in an hour at the tavern where Master Overkill cheated on his lifemate, but opted for some other location. After warning him about getting hooked up with some slut I noticed he checked more than a few of the fasteners on his golden armor. On we went and since the start of the ‘Games’ I have been able to ditch the disguise of a Hooman via magic. You know short people aren’t bad, having had to be one for weeks on end each day I can see benefits and consequences to each size. Seems I learned something today, Master A’zad would be proud I think.

Master Overkill entered the room of Mikala’s office/suite with a sense of hesitancy. I stayed outside just in case their was a demon or other evil changeling try and trick us by dividing us up into smaller groups to deal with. At one point I heard wood cracking at one point and was being prepared with Carpet of Adhesion spell so I could stop the ruckus and let everyone calm down. I was thrilled to find out soon afterwards that I heard laughter then more talking (to low to make out what was said). Until I heard the shout…

…‘ave you ever seen a mole hill?’…

…now no fighting came but I again had readied the spell holding the last syllable as long as I could before releasing the energy once more. Mikala escorted Master Overkill out and made his salutations to me when I greeted them. Master Overkill looked stunned when the door closed behind him. I looked at him and asked, “What’d he say?”

The dwarf replied, “I… I’ll tell you on the way back to the vegetables.”

He told everyone about his agreement and we understood. I then brought up going to the religious corner because of something Rod Rambler had said to me once regarding prayer and the Games. My personal differences aside when advice is good you should follow it even if you are not fond of the choices a person makes. Good advice is what it is, good, and therefore important to warrant adherence to. I explained that I was going to perform a vigil for the Lawgiver in the temple for the Cult of the Great One. This ‘Cult’ is the world wide faction of the Church of Light dedicated to Osiris and the prophecy of his resurrection. I prayed and read what books they would lend me as I sat at the main alter and hovered over where I had lain Uraeus’ Fang upon it. I was dedicating my time in the games to the Glory of Osiris as the world renowned bard had suggested we might do as others before us had to their chosen faiths. I had even taken it a step farther, before I had left Sekti-Abtu I had my father and the Master Dwarf smith of the Church of Light repair and alter my suit of tempered bronze scale armor. It now has scales to make it look like golden snake skin my my sword’s namesake, Ra’s golden cobra, Uraeus!

Gaitkeeper.