Chapter 4.1: Setting Sail
“Fine, I’ll go. I was planning to move on anyway.”
“Perfect.” Sekhenun smiles. “I was about to scream for help if you didn’t agree.”
She unbolts the door and opens it. You follow her, wondering what you had gotten yourself into. It was not long before you were introduced to Mehrune, descended from one of Akil’s relatives who had found themselves nobility when he became Pharaoh. She passes by without even sparing you a further glance.
The preparations for the trip took up the better part of the week. Besides you, there were nine other warriors hired to accompany Mehrune on this trip. You did not see Sekhenun after that first day, until you boarded the ship. Once the ship had set sailed, she came to meet you, briefing you on your quest in Crete.
Crete was ruled by a Gieloth who called himself King Minos. According to Sekhenun, Minos had an artifact, similar to the Sceptre of Ra, stored within his palace. She believes that she can use it to revive your powers, which are merely dormant and not lost. Minos has grown more and more comfortably decadent in the past few decades, and had invited an emissary from Egypt to visit his little kingdom as a prelude to proposing an alliance. When Sekhenun sniffed that tidbit out, she wasted no time in becoming a trusted handmaiden of said emissary, and made sure you knew of the well-paying job.
“What is Minos planning by inviting Mehrune? Does he plan to infiltrate the Egyptian court as well?” you ask.
Sekhenun shakes her head. “I don’t think so. He has grown comfortable in his skin after so many years. All I have heard points to Minos being obsessed with the ruling of his little island. He appears to be thinking only about securing his seat of power in Crete.”
“That’s not very Gieloth-like, from what I know.” You no longer had the ability to interpret the remnants of Pahnrath’s knowledge ever since you lost your powers, but you still knew their basic modus operandi: infiltrate and spread. To be concerned with just ruling one island was not a trait of theirs.
“This is the first time we’ve needed to spend so much time inside a host. Something about the inhabitants of this little mudball doesn’t suit our physiology.” Sekhenun sighs, and throws a wad of papyrus at you. “Many of the first-comers who took on a host-form no longer think as they should. They’ve changed.”
“Have you changed as well?”
She remains silent for a while. “Maybe. Or maybe it’s because of that stupid lower life-form diet you forced me on.” Standing up, Sekhenun leaves you without saying anything else.
***
Five days into your journey, the ship stopped by the island of Cyprus to replenish its supplies and allow the crew some rest. The rowers were to be given rest for two days, and then head out for Crete; which would take another week.
Right after you arrive at Cyprus, Mehrune gathers all of the men she hired. She remains quiet, her face unmoving, allowing her chief handmaiden to speak for her.
“I have heard that on Cyprus, there is an eternally young priestess who makes particularly effective love charms. Our Lady is slightly interested, and as such has decided to send out a delegation to visit this priestess. We will need two brave warriors to go with us.”
Eternally young priestess? Could it be another immortal? You wonder if you should leave the ship and volunteer to go. You look at Sekhenun, standing behind the chief handmaiden, hoping she’ll have some guidance – you see her blinking at you and twitching her face around. You have no idea what she’s trying to convey… why can’t she just beam her voice into your head as usual?
***
A. You volunteer to go. A chance to meet another immortal is too rare to pass up, no matter what dangers you might face. Who knows what aid she might offer you?
B. You stay on the ship – you no longer have regenerative powers, and now that you know you have a chance at regaining your powers soon, you should not take too much risk and save your strength to face the challenges at Crete instead.
***
Regarding the name, I think the ones with most support are Anbar-Shi, Enki's Lament and Sekhenun? Let's narrow it down to these three for voting - we can always change the name later if we want to.
1. Anbar-Shi
2. Enki's Lament
3. Sekhenun