Fanaxia: A Shortage of Candidates

Tavros nodded and let the first mate head back towards her ship. The sailors were useless for his purposes; they might accept their Captain's word as law, but every man and woman among them had signed on in order to escape life on land and enjoy the freedom of the high seas. Or sea, in this case, since everything outside of Fanaxia itself seemed to be one single body of unbroken water.

"No luck?" asked Ruin, sounding almost sympathetic despite his firmly-stated judgement that Tavros had brought this on himself -- a verdict that Tavros would be hard-pressed to argue against, at present.

"None," said Tavros, eyeing him. "I don't suppose you'd consider--" he'd been half-jesting, but he stopped when Ruin's expression became opaque. 

"I have compelling reasons not to remain in Fanaxia," Ruin told him, in a tone that suggested that no explanation would be forthcoming and no argument would be accepted. This, clearly, was a law of Nature or the next best thing. "And anyway, you should know by now that I'm not worthy." 

Tavros nodded to himself. "You're right. I apologize. I shouldn't let myself get desperate." And then he thought, Gods-damned horizon walkers... Because Ruin was right, and he knew it. Ruin had his failings, but his intentions were good... but good wasn't enough. He wasn't an organizer; and however sympathetic he might be to the Titan King and his followers, he would never be a priest -- or even a paladin -- of Amun. And Tavros should be grateful, not irritated, for the reminder of that... but here they both were.

"You knew this wasn't going to be easy when you accepted the geas," Ruin reminded him, squatting down beside him on the deck. 

Tavros groaned. "Please don't do that." 

"Do what?" 

"Try to use the Paladin Voice on me." 

Ruin raised an eyebrow. "Is that what it was?" he asked. "I thought it was just the Annoying Elf Reminding The Paladin Of What's What voice." 

Tavros groaned again, resisting the urge to slap the back of Ruin's head, and Ruin grinned at him. "Come on, it's not so bad as that. This is Styre. Just because you didn't find anyone the moment we arrived at the docks doesn't mean they aren't here."

Tavros nodded and stood, and Ruin rose with him. "I suppose you're right. It just seemed better to start with those on the outside of everything, and not the established authorities."

Ruin shrugged. "That still might be possible. Didn't your group get involved with the centaurs? Who says the new High Priest of Amun needs to be human, or even bipedal?" 

Tavros blinked. "Well," he said. "There's a thought."