ROLEPLAY

Kamia'ata!

I woke to find a small bundle of sticks lying near my head. The Wandering Hermits of Onaru had been summoned to Zora. If it had been leaves, I would have walked but they were sticks, time was critical. I opened my satchel and pulled out smaller bag full of small orbs. I easily found the one with the symbol of Zora on it, held it in my had and spoke the words that would bring it to life, "Kami Waki." Seconds later, warm light enveloped me and I found myself standing near the Kami Altar of Zora. I thanked the Kami for giving me passage, used a small amount of dapper to create another orb that I dropped into my bag and headed toward the Temple Hall district.

I entered the Town Hall and made my way to the basement. I expected to see my brothers there but found I was alone or, at least, I thought I was. There, in the corner, sat a very old Zoraï. He bore the Scripture of Devotion on his mask. He was the First Hermit, Gorran.

Soon, the others arrived—Anzhanto, Lorick and Galtem—and the ritual began. By the end of it, Anzhanto bore the Scripture of Devotion on his mask and leadership of the Wandering Hermits had passed from Gorran to Anzhanto.

Galtem, always the inquisitive one not to mention a bit impetuous, asked Gorran about his reported death. "Yes, I died. I died in the Scorched Corridor years ago. I had died years before in Hidden Source but a need arose in the world and the Kami resurrected me. Part of our pact was that I would finally be allowed to die when I finished the work they had for me. That is why I died during the Swarming. I must not have finished everything to their satisfaction. Now that Anzhanto carries the mark of Devotion, I have done all that has been asked of me." With that, he left the hall.

At the completion of the ritual, Ben Chen Mian joined us and created a lumio from which he made this painting for me.