If you missed the last chapter, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/222936031?sort=0&page=0]here[/url]. If you want to find all the chapters, go to the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/222701511?sort=0&page=0]Table of Contents[/url].
I feel I am a little slow with making these chapters. Soon, I will figure out a schedule that works best for me. If you like this series, I hope you stick with me for the long run. Enjoy!
Our Ketch had just left the Chryses Outpost out in Jupiter's Trojan asteroids. Vesrik had gotten the parts for our prime servitor; it was about time that House Scar had it's god return. I did not know how Teriks Prime met his end before, but I'm sure Vesrik knows; he keeps many secrets.
"My kell," I ask him, "how will we create Teriks? We do not have an Archon Priest to take charge of his construction."
Vesrik just smiles behind his mask. "You are right, Zatkis. We do not have a priest, let alone a lower Archon, to help us. We cannot create Teriks Prime."
This was just great. What was the point of this if we did not have the proper eliksni-power to create a prime servitor? Was our encounter with Seren Cay all for nothing?
"Then it was pointless. We went on that whole trip to 6 Demeter just to create ties with some Awoken pirates!"
My kell just clicks with laughter. I didn't find this funny at all! Sometimes I wonder if he just gives the crew these crazy missions just to get a kick out of it.
"It wasn't pointless, Zatkis. Our next journey will fix that minor problem: we are going out to hire an Archon Priest!" Vesrik seemed highly delighted to do this.
I immediately have my doubts about this; one does not simply 'hire' an Archon Priest. They are extremely religious, prestigious engineers, and ruthless warriors. That's an individual you do not find in the Reef, and where would we find someone willing to lead the worship of Teriks Prime for the House of Scar?
I persist him. "My kell, where will we go? How can we find an eliksni who is worthy of leading the worshippers of Teriks within Scar? It just feels hopeless."
He shakes his head in disapproval of my pessimism. "We are going to a place where the chances are highest! There is a place, a town and marketplace, where anyone can go to find the best and the worst in the system: Pahanin's Cove, Venus."
Pahanin's Cove: a Vex ruin, once home to the timeless machines. Now it has been abandoned, left to the peoples of this star. People go here to hire mercenaries and trade whatever is worth buying or selling. After the Vex abandoned it, humans and eliksni migrated, making a permanent settlement, and cultivating one of the best markets in the system.
But to find an archon here is far-fetched. "Are you sure we will find one worthy to be an archon there, Vesrik? It is worth a shot, but do not expect so much."
The Scar Kell nodded with understanding. He knew what he asked, and the chances were slim; but he would never stop trying to rebuild his house. That is why all eliksni, no matter what they thought of him, still called him the Kell of Scar. He was the only one worthy of leading this house, and we could not ask for any better.
"I know what I am getting into, Zatkis. I know that I have set too much weight on my shoulders, but it is the burden of a kell. If the house is without an archon, the prime cannot be built properly, or is open to attack. If the house does not have a prime, it will not be able to sustain it's children. If the house does not have a worthy kell," Vesrik had a sorrowful look in his eyes, and said, "it is doomed, planting the seeds of scattering."
Vesrik wanted everything for House Scar. If he could get an Archon Priest, it would help the house a great deal. His barons went out and helped, but there were few of them. They were able to bring many eliksni into House Scar, but they did not find an Archon, let alone an Archon Priest.
Vesrik turns to me and says, "Inform Valerie and Rager of our mission. We must have hope to thrive, yes?"
"Understood, my kell."
I walk over to where Valerie and Rager are speaking on the bridge. I inform them of Vesrik's plan and Pahanin's Cove. Rager just looks really bummed out.
"Didn't we just go on two missions, one of which you almost died on, Zatkis? Does Vesrik give out any breaks?"
Valerie just glares at him. "Rager, [i]you[/i] were the one eating and lounging while Vesrik and Zatkis were on the asteroid. I was the one keeping the crew in check!"
Rager backs down and keeps it zipped, thank goodness. Everyone in the bridge watched Vesrik as he walked to his Pilot Servitor and communed with it. No one knows how he learned it, since only Archons and Archon servants were taught how to do that. I knew that he could do this, but he still didn't have the knowledge to build a Prime.
Vesrik walked onto his speech stone to make the announcement. "We have our heading! We are heading to Venus, more specifically, Pahanin's Cove. That is where we will find an Archon Priest for Scar; it is a necessity to make our house grow and survive. Our House may not be entirely eliksni, but I assure you, we are no lesser than the other houses."
The barons aboard the bridge whispered to each other, and they seemed puzzled. I knew that Pahanin's Cove may not be great, but it is our best shot. If we were to find an eliksni with the skill to become an Archon Priest, that town is where we would search.
Vesrik asks us, "Any questions?"
A baron, Nayvadis, steps forward. "Why Pahanin's Cove, of all places? We all know a better choice would be the Trial of Vosyth." The other barons nodded in agreement, but I had no knowledge of what they spoke.
Vesrik said firmly, "Pahanin's Cove is my choice, Nayvadis. Normally, one would choose to go to Vosyth for help, but I am choosing the quicker way; I'd rather not take one of his 'tests' if you know what I mean."
Nayvadis grimaces behind his mask, and sits back down. I felt like I was the only baron in this room who did not know what the "Trial of Vosyth" was.
Vesrik stepped off the speech stone. He shouted with excitement. "Alright, then. Into the jungle, we go!"
I still pondered on this "Trial of Vosyth". If this place was the better choice, why wouldn't Vesrik choose to go there? I know he mentioned a test, but he is normally confident about such things. All I could do is trust his judgment in this situation. Hopefully whatever lives at Pahanin's Cove is worthy of the Kell's offer.
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I am excited for this Archon's debut.