Chupacabra campfire: Tuesday night

[vkandis_son]

He'd been warned about gremlins and monsters and all manner of strangeness. Pity no one had thought to warn Karal about the weather. If they had, he might have done something besides watch in fascination as the snowflake slowly drifted out of the sky and landed on the tip of his nose

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[bound2blade]

Having spent the whole day in the gym sparring, Setsuna was ready to just get to her campfire and relax a little.

And, of course, found herself at Chupacabra instead.

Foot, meet ground. //"Dammit!"// She sighed and dropped down on a log. She was here; might as well get comfortable.

[vkandis_son]

"Good evening, Setsuna." He inclined his head towards her graciously. "Have you come to seek advice? Or the blessing of the Sunlord?"

After all, what other reason could there be for her to seek out his presence?

[bound2blade]

"Hm?" Setsuna turned her head. "Oh. Hello, Karal. I didn't even see you there." Although, really, she realized with a small smile, she should have. It was his cabin's campfire, after all.

[vkandis_son]

He drew himself up straighter. Hadn't noticed him? How could she not notice him?! No, no, she was a troubled child, it was not her fault. "Do strange compulsions still draw you this cabin?" Perhaps it was not a spell, as he'd feared, but the Hand of the Sunlord, shepparding her towards him for guidance.

[bound2blade]

"A bit, yes," Setsuna chuckled lightly. "Although I do like to think it was assisted this time by sheer exhaustion. After all, the other day I managed to find myself at Pixie for a change."

[vkandis_son]

"You should seek to find the answer to why you are drawn here. To continue on in ignorance invites further difficulty in your life," he told her firmly. "And the troubles which attend your friendship need to be resolved. The Sunlord can guide your path, through his humble servant," though his smile didn't look humble at all, "myself."

[bound2blade]

Wow. Setsuna never exactly imagined she'd ever encounter someone who could contort a sentence to be heavier and more convoluted than her own before. She blinked as she tried to let some of that process. Of course, she understood the more literal meaning behind Karal's vindication, but her mind made her skeptical of that. Head tilting slightly as she frowned, worriedly, she asked, "Are you...have I been coming around too much? I haven't started to annoy you, have I, by just...showing up so much here?"

[vkandis_son]

"Of course you have not," he said gently. Poor girl, so ignorant of the true teachings. "The Sunlord bids his priests to help any who need it." He leaned forward, fingers sketching a holy symbol in her direction. "I suspect His Hand is at work in drawing you here."

[bound2blade]

Setsuna's head tilted, also leaning forward to get a better look at the symbol Karal was drawing. It looked very unfamiliar to her, as were most of his words. Most likely just the religion of where it was he was from. "Well," she said, frowning slightly, not entirely sure what to say in response to something like that, "I...I'm Buddhist, you see..."

[vkandis_son]

A false god. Or, he conceded, perhaps not. Though it went against the core of the Writ, the existence of other deities must be acknowledged. "That is not important," he said airily, and more than a little arrogantly. She was here, and hers did not seem to be aiding her. "I am still willing to assist you."

[bound2blade]

Something about the tone in Karal's voice just then made Setsuna frown a little deeper; she wasn't exactly a hardcore Buddhist or anything, but there was something there that made her feel as though her beliefs were being...looked down on. Her neck stretched slightly as she looked over at Karal. "So..." she said, as if testing thin ice, "tell me about this...Sun Lord, you called him?"

Best to know where one was coming from before engaging in a topic of this sort.

[vkandis_son]

He scowled just a tiny bit at the disrespect (not that there'd actually been any) before he caught himself and smoothed out his expression. "It is what He is. He is Vkandis Sunlord. Father to Karse, protector and guide. All knowing and all powerful. Kind in his benevolence and awesome in his wrath. And I am His Priest, His hand in the world."

[bound2blade]

Setsuna nodded; she'd recalled Karal mentioning something about being a priest of sorts before, she thought, although she didn't particularly retain it. In fact, she must not have, because she also didn't remember him being so...adamant about the details. A certain spiritual vibe in his advice, yes, but this was well beyond that.

For a brief second, she considered pointing out that a god in one world might be ineffective in a world that was not its own, but she was sharply reminded that it is important, for both Buddhist and warrior, to respect all creeds and codes, unless it is firmly and obviously against your own creeds and codes. "I see," she said. "Tell me more about him? His teachings?"

[vkandis_son]

"You are interested in learning the Writ and the Rule?" He was a very good priest. Chose by the Son of the Sun and singled out for special attention. Perhaps it was not so surprising. "Vkandis accepts any and all into his flock, with open arms."

[bound2blade]

Interested was one word, true, but if Setsuna had to chose a more appropriate one, it would be polite. Karal had been very nice to her these last few weeks; it was the least she could do. "Under what circumstances?" she asked, pretty certain there was more to it than just general, ultimate acceptance.

[vkandis_son]

"Well, one must agree to abide by the Temple's laws, and the Writ and the Rule of Vkandis," he explained, smiling beatifically at her. To bring someone into the fold of the Sunlord was a Sun-priest's true calling. (No, it wasn't, unless you were an arrogant idiot of a Sun-priest.) "To tithe a portion of the fruits of your labor to the Temple. And you would be required to surrender your sword."