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Time passed, and in that time Jarza had followed on Zinorzo's report, and found herself leaving the cavern to share lunch time with the midnight watchman Greyzoo. The rat immediately noticed the difference between the male and the female gronks, and was even more willing to share his food. Neither one of the door guards made any more reports back to their commands about the difference in these shared lunches.

Weeks passed, and the large cargo ship carrying Isaad and his group finally landed back at Kun'doajjie. The dawn broke the blanket of darkness as the ship was being moored in. As Isaad came down the plank to the wooden surface of the docks he was approached by a group of green robed devotees.

They knelt before him as he stopped before them, and the one in the center spoke, drawing a scroll from under his robes. "High Inquisitor Isaad! I come bearing a message for you."

Isaad curled back his fingers, beckoning them with his right hand. "Rise, and deliver."

"Yes sir," the messenger said as he stood and approached, holding out the scroll.

Isaad unrolled it and read over it quickly, a look of concern growing over his face as he did so. "Blackwarp believes as I do, though his methods are less than favorable." He rolled the scroll back up and pocketed it inside of his robe. "You may go."

The messenger bowed as the others rose to their feet and made their way off. "Good journeys, High Inquisitor," the messenger said before joining the others.

Tayin came up by Isaad and inquired, "What is it, High Inquisitor?"

"The Champion," Isaad said, "he has announced that a new method of choosing the Grand Inquisitor is to be used, despite tradition."

Tayin scratched at his scalp. "That doesn't make sense. The Grand Inquisitor has been chosen by a trial of fire through the grand temple of Uzzadujoza for more than 300 years."

Isaad started to walk, as Tayin followed him, with the quiet Whispee only steps behind him. "Ozzan'duajja believes that due to the condition of the state - recovering economically and unhealthy in moral - this time desperately calls for a new Grand Inquisitor. He is calling for a nation-wide popularity vote by devotees and monks to decide who must be the one to ascend." He turned and looked at Tayin, and then to Whispee. "As you know, there are only three candidates. I can promise you however, no matter who ascends, we have to make a point to regain the trust of the people who blame Uzzadujoza for the failed trade and the bad harvest, or else we will all be doomed."

Tayin patted Isaad on the shoulder. "Sounds like a big job! You got my vote."

Isaad looked at his shoulder for a moment, brushing it off gently. "Thank you. Now, I must go see about our transportation." Then he headed onwards, while the other two stayed at the docks.

Tayin waited until Isaad was out of ear-shot before he looked at Whispee and smirked. "Voting for Tuzeen if I can even vote. I assume you're voting for your kin?"

She looked down slowly and shook her head. "No. I won't vote." She began to walk towards the northern housing district.

Tayin followed behind her and asked; "but why? Ruufus is one of the three! With him as Grand Inquisitor, there's nothing the Order wouldn't know!" His hands were at his side as he shrugged animatedly.

Whispee sighed gently and stopped. "So Tuzeen would what, bring a happy face to the Order? Isaad would bring more law, and there would be fewer ruffians amidst the lands. Any way you look at it, they all have something different to bring. How could I choose just one?"

Tayin put a hand around Whispee's back, leading her towards her destination. "However, Ruufus is inexperienced and could buckle under pressure, no offense to your family of course. Isaad is very strict, and this could lead to more resentment for the state."

"Tuzeen is carefree, and could be too lenient, leading to more criminal groups surfacing," Whispee said, continuing on Tayin's negatives. "They each have good sides and bad sides, Tayin." Then she stopped and turned to him with sad, pleading eyes. "Now, I just want to be left alone in this short time we have here. Just... please, Tayin."

Tayin was taken back by this. He had never seen Whispee sad, and didn't know how to respond. All that came out was "oh, okay." He stopped as she continued, and watched her walk off into the housing district alone.

As the day continued on, little activity went on in the port city, aside from the merchant ships of other kingdoms and loosely affiliated other beings of fortune. The rattus were only seen few and far between. Those that had to work the dreaded "Day Shifts" were those running shops, and other more essential matters of state and foreigners.

One of the ships owned by such beings of fortune at the city was known as the Seascab, and had just made port right after dawn. With the docking plank down, a rattus wearing a fairly decorative tricorne was sighted coming down, making heavy steps to emphasize his presence. To his sides was a group of three that contained one myrrold female who had an appearance worth staring at, one thin rattus with a pair of glasses that carried a book and quill, and one large buck of a rat carrying an axe, a cutlass, a dagger, and an oar - for starters.

The dock registry master approached with caution, accompanied by a young boy. If his tail could've curled between his legs from the stench, it would've, and it showed on his face. "It's five gold to be dockin' here. I'll need yer ship an' cap'n names."

The rat in the tricorne grinned wide as he slapped a pouch into his hand. "Hoy mate, name's ain't important, aye?" He shook the hand with the pouch and let go, then waved a hand back to his ship. "We only be stayin' 'ere a small while. Be gone before sundown, savvy?"

The registry master looked into his hand and saw gold pieces shining from inside the pouch. "Right then. See that ya are. I ain't coverin' ya past me shift." He looks down at the boy. "Come on boy, nothin' to see 'ere." Then he took the boy's hand and went on back towards his post.

The rat in the tricorne, also known as Captain Daggerblood, was one of the men of fortune that had been seen on the Devil's Leg, one of the many islands between the Outlands and the Empire's Soil. This was an island whose existence had been denied many times be the Empire of Thorns, who had scanned the coasts of the islands ever since the pirates were first sighted. Daggerblood was one of the more infamous of those from the island, known to never have run from a battle at sea, and to have kept plenty of prisoners, only to release them back to their own people later. He turned and issued orders to the others. "Thrash, go wit' Quart'rman an' find us some food. Rosemary, come wit' me, aye? We be getting' some fine Thorny Wine! Ha-harr~!" He turned and took a step, then stopped. "Blast! Belay the last one an' go wake the geezer, aye? He said he's got business, an' we ain't stayin' out our welcome 'ere."

As the other two rattus headed off into town, the myrrold approached and ran her hands up along the captain's chest. "Aye, Captain. I'll meet you at our usual spot here." Fixing and folding his collar, she smiled. Then she turned and teasingly swayed her hips as she went back up the plank.

Daggerblood grinned and turned, keeping that image of her in his head as he went for the Half-Tail Tavern.

Tayin sat, staring into his mug. The dawn had long since risen, but he wasn't going to bed. He was puzzled, and although inebriated, continued to try and think about what could be bothering his fellow inquisitor. The plain wooden tavern had mostly emptied by now, as the rattus had gone to bed, and the other species hadn't quite come in yet. All that was left were three drunken rattus refusing to leave just yet, a small female meexus who was watching Tayin, waiting for him to leave, and the daytime attendant, who was cleaning what parts she could.

Tayin looked up, as he felt another enter. This one peaked his interest, as he seemed to make a large presence of himself, which was much against the nature of most rattus. He watched him further as he recognized the accent of a man at sea, but things weren't quite connecting for him at that time.

Daggerblood noticed the inquisitor watching him, and smirked, making his way over. He held his mug in one hand and slapped his free hand on the table. "Ahoy, Inquisitor! Ye be lookin' a bit worse for wear!"

Tayin looked up, not moving much from the sudden slap and sound. "You have a sword. Why do you have a sword?"

Daggerblood put his hand on the pommel of his rapier. "Oh-ho, this? Lots o' enemies, aye? A captain's gotta be sure of 'imself! I'm sure you be holdin' the same."

Tayin patted his cassock where he had his short sword, assuring himself. "Yes. Captain, eh? Pirate, maybe?"

Daggerblood held out his arms wide. "So what if I am, eh? Not just any pirate captain be walkin' about by his lonesome, aye?"

Tayin slowly stood up, and stumbled as he did, holding onto the side of the table. He went for his sword and said, "I must capture you then... pirate."

The captain bust out laughing, and took his hat off, fanning himself mockingly. "What'll I ever do?" He fit his hat back on and stepped back. "Yer pissin' yerself drunk, matey. Don't pick fights there's no winnin'."

He went to take a swig of his mug when Tayin leapt at him, swinging as he drew his sword. Daggerblood drew his rapier with his free hand and parried the swing with ease. He took a nice draw of the drink as he parried three more drunken swings that came at him from Tayin. With the last one, he dodged to the side and threw the inquisitor off balance, making him stumble forward past the pirate, who kicked him in the side and onto the floor. He held the mug out and grinned. "Ahh~! Drinks like this is worth comin' back!" He went over towards the bar as Tayin nursed his side, standing up carefully. "If you want to throw yer life away, Inquisitor, then meet me outside. Right now, yer not worth the damage." The captain set the empty mug on the counter, and tossed two coins into it as he walked out.

Tayin, feeling thoroughly mocked, grimaced and headed outside. "I'm not losing to a pirate! Lord Uzzadujoza would not allow it!"

Daggerblood stood outside and had his sword drawn, with his free hand resting on the pommel of a dagger on his hip. "Boy, you still got spirit? Yer drunker than I thought."

Tayin held his sword in two hands and narrowed his eyes. "Shut up! I'll take you down, or kill you trying!"

The pirate captain laughed loudly, "Ha-harr~! Think yer goodly-thinkin' gonna 'elp you 'ere? I ain't holdin' back this time!" He grinned, licking his whiskers where he got some of the drink.

Tayin yelled murderously as he rushed forward, recklessly swinging at his target. Daggerblood easily parried into it, and pounded his elbow into the inquisitor's chest. Tayin coughed as the wind was knocked out of him. He stumbled back a few steps, and then suddenly found a leather boot in his face, sending him flat onto his back.

Daggerblood put the tip of his rapier in front of Tayin's nose and got a very serious tone in his voice. "Mate, I ain't killed nor stolen from any imperialist or spiritualist afore. Think I gonna start today?" He took his sword away, and narrowed his eyes as Tayin raised his head. "Get some sleep, mate. I ain't worth yer death."

This did not please the inquisitor, who seethed inside. As the pirate turned his back and started back towards the tavern, Tayin got up and rushed him. Just as Daggerblood started to hear the footsteps, he turned around. Tayin leapt upon him and took him to the ground. Raising up his sword, he said, "It'd be worth it to see your corpse, even if we both go to the Dead Zone."

A loud boom broke the moment, as Tayin's blade was thrown from his hands by a powerful force, and he fell off of the pirate from the power. Daggerblood stood and quickly stepped away as Tayin turned and looked.

There, robed in a more vibrant dark green and hunched forward, was an old figure with one mangled hand raised. From the darkness of the hood was nothing but a single shining light. The raised hand was wrapped up in white bandages, and his other hand supported him, leaning on an old crooked wooden staff. Surrounding the old figure was a group of four crew members from the Seascab, including Rosemary.

The captain brushed off his leggings. "Saw you, geezer. Surprised ye stopped 'im." Rosemary rushed up to the captain's side to put her arms around him and make sure he was alright.

The old figure coughed violently into his bandaged hand, coughing up blood that he wiped on the sleeve of the closest crew member. His voice was like scraping gravel and dust, like a man in his last years. "You've not out-lived your usefulness yet, pirate." Moving forward at a slow pace, Tayin had time to grab his blade and get to his feet. The old rat pointed his mangled hand out at him the moment he stood. "Follower of the false name, do not die before you need to!"

Tayin stood and stared, confused and dizzy. He started to feel like none of this was real, and like he was living in a dream. His head swam with thoughts, as the world began to spin, and despite his attempts to stay standing, he hit the ground, and consciousness faded from him.

Tayin had a fevered dream of the shining light. Instilled with fear in the presence of the glow, and what may lie beneath the robes of the old rattus. The power he felt radiating off of the old man was something dark, something deeply sinister. The words "false name" echoed throughout his dream as he ran in fear, as the air he ran towards fought back with the name "Uzzadujoza."

Black wings grew like fluid from the back of the old man, and became large black claws. The frame of the old one was encompassed by the over-whelming darkness, as only an evil laugh, and the shining light remained, which shone on Tayin's soul like the greedy eyes of a thief. The claws grew and raked at the skies as they chased after the inquisitor, and wiped out the only word that comforted him in the darkness.

Tayin woke up after sundown, and found himself laying in bed. Whispee sat at the side of the bed. She had a pack of ice upon his forehead to try and help him to feel better. He groaned and reached out, taking one of her hands, and spoke in a forced voice. "Where am I?"

"Half-Tail Tavern, a good citizen brought you here after finding you passed out just outside. Brought you back headband and all." She smiled, bringing her hand back.

He shook his head gently. "I didn't want to fall asleep..."

She chuckled gently. "Smelled like you had plenty enough to drink. Don't think you could help it after beating up whoever you were in a fight with."

He grabbed his head, holding where she had the ice. He was wearing a gauze, lightly stained red. "Fight? Ugh... bloody pirates."

Whispee smirked and patted him gently. "Here, I thought the last of them were gone. At least you found some entertainment during our visit and took care of them before passing out."

Tayin slowly sat up, groaning as he did. He looked away from her. "Yeah. Good thing."

His actions worried her, but before she could speak the door opened up. Isaad stepped in wearing his full outfit, and crossed his arms. "Inquisitor Tayin, I see you've woken up."

He nodded and confirmed. "I have, High Inquisitor. I am sorry for troubling you."

"No trouble," Isaad said, "but next time you decide to go drinking, I suggest you wear plain clothes. No need to tarnish the inquisition further."

Tayin slowly looked up at Isaad. "I'm... I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking, High Inquisitor."

Isaad nodded, and Whispee looked between them, worried. "Make this your last time doing so, or the next time may be your last as an inquisitor." To the silent response Isaad sighed and continued. "Now, hurry and make ready. I have a carriage with a pair of Deeziekee waiting outside. You can sleep longer in there, and we can have Heath change the bandage."

Tayin nodded and said, "Ku, kaoton izzadonjo."