Part 3

In the morning, both the crew and other passengers of the ship gathered around Vordea, as she lounged on a deck chair at the bow of the ship. She was smiling broadly, and her tentacles were even visible, creeping out from the shadows below her.

“So, begin your questions.” Vordea said, continuing to smile.

“How did you make the sea serpents leave?” The lookout managed to be first, and his question was very practical. Vordea gave a knowing look at him.

“They were eager to see their mother. I should have expected this, but I haven’t been to sea in many years.”

The crowd murmured in response. What did she mean by mother? Multiple people began to try asking questions at the same time, drowning each other out. Vordea’s tentacles began to creep further, and with the speed of a whip, grabbed the ankle of one of the people shouting, which just happened to be the Captain.

“I’ll answer your question.” Vordea said, pointing at him. “You may speak.”

“Who are you, really? Mister Robson’s had a bad feeling about you since you came aboard, and you’re making the rest of the crew nervous now.”

Vordea sighed internally. She knew the question would be inevitable, but had hoped to delay it. Still, her disguise was paper thin and with her tentacles visible there was no point in denying it. She sat up in the chair, and stopped smiling.

“I have had many names over the years. So many names. The oldest Elves called me The Great Destroyer. The dwarves call me Lady Chaos. The orcs? Broken Mirror. But perhaps the most well known is my true name. Vordea. The Goddess of Chaos and Change.”

The crowd reacted in shock. Vordea herself was aboard their ship. Some of them began to kneel or bow, but Vordea quickly interrupted them.

“Do not bow to me. Do not kneel to me. I don’t deserve it.” She said with a tinge of sadness.

“Why are you here, Lady Vordea?” The Captain asked.

“A good question.” Vordea said, smiling once more. “I am searching for a new High Priest. Karand held no promise, so I am heading south.”

“Surely you could have just teleported yourself to Tel Hazan?” Mister Robson asked.

“I could have, but I want word to spread of my travels. I may be all powerful but I am not all knowing. If I don’t travel to my destination I could miss many people.”

“Was that Gilnan Pound real?” The first mate called out. Vordea laughed in response.

“A true merchant. I assure you, it’s as real as this ship.”

The questions and answers continued for some time until Vordea bored of them and commanded them to stop. She did not forbid anyone from talking to her, quite the opposite in fact, she encouraged them to come see her privately in the room she paid for if they wished for advice, or simply to talk to someone.

Throughout the rest of the one week voyage, every crew member and passenger on-board visited Vordea’s cabin at least once, some many times. Though some said they heard strange sounds coming from the cabin, including moans and screams, most dismissed it as rumour.

As the Kraken’s Revenge reached Tel Hazan, and made its way up the Volga River to Port Sulala, Vordea summoned all aboard to the deck.

“You may be wondering why I’ve called you all up here. While I have not found my next High Priest among you, it seems my initial thinking was correct. The south holds much more promise than the north, who remain paralyzed by tradition. Captain Miller, Mister Robson, as a token of my thanks, your vessel is marked.”

“Marked?” Captain Miller asked.

“None may harm this vessel or its sailors without trespassing me.” Vordea said, smiling wickedly. “I have already spoken to the sea serpents and the mermaids. This vessel is protected as long as it floats. The weather itself cannot sink her.”

“I... Thank you.” Captain Miller said, at a loss for words.

“Think nothing of it.” Vordea said. “It seems we are at our destination, it is time for me to depart. Good journeys, Captain.”

When the ship docked, Vordea patiently waited for the gangplank to the dock to be lower before walking off the ship. Her legendary impatience soon got the best of her though, as she got the attention of the nearest guard by grabbing him with her tentacles and dragging him over, suspending him upside-down so that their eyes met.

“Guardsman. Take me to the Customs Office at once.” Vordea stated to him, arms crossed.

“Hey! Put down that Guard!” Another Guardsman shouted, running over.

“Excellent. You shall escort me as well.” Vordea said, placing the other Guard back on his feet. Her tentacles slithered around his arm as she positioned herself between the two guards.

Captain Miller and Mister Robson watched in awe as she manhandled and coerced the Guardsmen with absolute ease, before disappearing into the crowded port.