Part 1
“Budal. Runmeak. I am very disappointed in this Port so far.” Vordea said as she continued to half drag the two hapless Guards through Port Sulala as she made her way to the Customs Office. “We created you better than this.”
“Ma’am, who are you?” Budal asked as he tried to stop her to no avail, her strength seemingly limitless.
“Introductions will be made once we’re indoors. I don’t want to cause a scene.” Vordea replied, paying his futile attempts no mind.
A curious crowd of on-lookers had gathered behind them by the time they arrived at the Customs Office. The Guards stationed outside took one look at Vordea, her escorts, and her crowd, and sighed.
“Budal, care to explain?” One guard asked.
Before he could answer, Vordea pushed past the guard and went inside, dragging Budal and Runmeak with her. The two Guards outside looked at each other, nodded, and crossed their Battleaxes.
“The Customs Office is closed until further notice. Go about your business.” The guard stated.
Inside, Vordea was already causing a ruckus, pushing her way through the long line. Once she reached the front, ignoring the shouting from the merchants and travellers who had been queuing, she spotted something strange. A statue of herself mounted on the wall, in dwarven lands no less. She turned to her escorts.
“Budal, Runmeak, why is there a statue of me on the wall?” She demanded, gesturing at the statue. “I’m far more widely known in human lands.”
“Wait...” Budal said, finally realizing who their impatient captor was. He turned pale and glanced at Runmeak, who was making the same realization.
“Ah. Perhaps it is indeed time for an introduction.” Vordea said, noticing their reactions. She released them, and her tentacles slithered away under her black coat. The crowd had overheard her conversation, and the office was now completely silent as they watched her.
With a smile and a bow, Vordea began her introduction. “The elves called me The Great Destroyer, the orcs call me Broken Mirror, I am known to the dwarves as Lady Chaos, I am the one, the only, the magnificent Goddess of Change and Chaos herself, Vordea!”
The Customs Office was completely silent for a moment, then it was pandemonium. People began to shout, some were bowing profusely, others were attempting to escape, only to discover all exits already locked from the outside. Vordea could only laugh at the chaos her introduction had caused.
“Budal, Runmeak, go do your job and restore some order. I do plan to enter the Empire legally, even though none of you could actually stop me.” Vordea said after spending a few moments observing the chaos.
After several minutes order was restored, with Vordea making it clear none should ever bow to her, as she doesn’t deserve it. She made her way up to the counter, where she was directed to the same private room used by Sirene nearly 10 years earlier.
“My Lady, after briefly consulting with the Capital, we’re going to issue you an Imperial Visa.” The Dwarf said, looking through the papers on his desk. “Since you insist on entering the Empire through legal means, we do need to fill out the visa, however.”
“How quaint. Very well.” Vordea said, taking a seat and putting her feet up on the desk.
“Please understand we have to fill out every field, my Lady.” The customs officer responded, finding the form he was looking for. “Let’s begin. Full name?”
“Full?”
“I would say your legal name but, well...”
Vordea smiled unnaturally wide, until her mouth was as wide as her face. Rows of sharp teeth could be seen as she opened her mouth to speak. “My full name cannot be comprehended by mortals. Even Vordea is an approximation of my first name used for your benefit.”
“Lady Vordea it is.” The Officer responded, betraying no emotion, to Vordea’s mild confusion. “Um, occupation?”
“Really?”
“Really. It’s part of the visa process, my Lady.”
“Goddess.” Vordea said after some thought. “Any of my other titles would be like describing your occupation as ‘form filler’.”
The officer chuckled in response. “As you wish. This next one might be a problem. Date of birth.”
Vordea gave a small smile. “I was born before time began. I have always existed. I will always exist, in some form or another. In the reference of this kalpa, my birth is at The Dawn.”
“Unfortunately for us, I need a year.”
“And a year you shall have. Twenty five thousand, eight hundred and forty four years before the reign of Emperor Ironhand, The Dawn occurred.”
“I’ll put down ‘-25844 Ironhand’, then. They’ll enjoy that one.” The Officer said, smirking. “Purpose of visit?”
“I am searching for my next High Priest. Karand held no promise, but based on my voyage upon the Kraken’s Revenge, Tel Hazan and the other southern continents may be better.”
“Interesting. The Visa has been approved for an indefinite stay, mostly as a formality. Enjoy Tel Hazan, Lady Vordea.” The Officer replied, stamping the visa, before handing it to her.
“You're an interesting one." Vordea said, raising an eyebrow. "You've shown no interest in who I am, and treated this like another day at the office."
"Lady Vordea you're not the first force of nature to enter the Empire officially, and I'm almost certain you won't be the last." The Officer said, placing his hands together.
"Maybe I'll see you around, Begnus." Vordea said, before getting up and walking straight through the wall, leaving behind a hole. She tossed a bag of coins at Begnus, shrugged, and kept walking.