The ocean breeze does little to relieve the stifling heat of the mid-day sun, but the edible creatures-- their bones like spun sugar, their skin a salty-sweet like bacon-- are utterly delightful to the omnivorous.<br/><br/>Along the deck, from among the 'ordained' and reclusive types who, throughout the journey, have seemed to avoid the more hedonistic of the crew, weave a pair of young women, one full-figured and dark of hair, the other slight, fair, and holding a parasol of ostrich feathers, "Children!" calls the elder, the dun-haired one-- "The temple of Akathos welcomes you to Kraken!  Part not with all your coin at once, for there is work and food for all.  Akathos welcomes his children with open arms..." (Akathos is, known to all of you, an avatar associated with scholarship, writing, and messengers.  He is often portrayed as a bare young man with four wings on his back, a book under one arm and a bow in the other... on the mainland, that is)  The fair one, looking a bit younger and perhaps pale seems reluctant to call aloud for fear the heat will find her faster if she does.  Her white vestments and shawl all but conceal her face.<br/><br/>She catches out at Tessara's sleeve as she passes by the young woman, and if she catches her, she gives her the sisterly embrace that the chosen of that 'order' present to others of the same sex-- a simple hug, hands upon shoulders, cheek touching cheek.  "Here," she says quietly, and presses a thin, short ribbon of tattered hemp into Tessara's hand-- it is marked with the symbol used to denote the early hours past dusk-- a glyph representing a stag, drawn by hand with a quill some hours before.  "You have a sword... we need you, and your companions..." then, louder, "Please come to the temple this evening for welcoming."  Her large eyes are a pale, sweet blue, and frail as she seems she's quite pretty.  "The hour of the stag, you and your companions as well."  She smiles faintly before turning her attention to the next of the passengers on deck.<br/><br/>Ropes are tied, and the guffaws and greetings begin, "How much rum ye sneak aboard this time?  And don't count what's fillin' yer belly, you blaggart!"  "Oh, by the swells, it's Izo!  Hey Izo, did you fuck all the new whores to death or can they still manage to stagger ashore?"  "Oh just yer ma, Nen!  And don't fret it, I buried her at see after I buried meself in her!"  A chorus of riotous laughter, "Oooh Bloody Hell, I'll take your teeth for that you skunk-humping titfuck!"  "Hey-- you've GOT to see the frame of this azure-feathered bird what lighted with us this voyage, lads! Four months don't seem long enough to drool on that!  Balkazans' tits, I thought me balls would dry up like a gravel pit, I did!"<br/><br/><br/><br/>