Re: (Pitcarn) Bilbligh
"Pay attention, my privileged child. It will result in a longer life for you and yours.
"Desafon is a god, just as I am, and my equal. yet while you may strike another Ackee of your own village down in anger, you might hesitate if he was of the next village over: Your personal brawl could become the blood feud of two neighboring centers of population. The situation is similar with the Lord of Duels and I. He has his village, I have mine, and we must work together if we are to survive when the great serpents slither from the forests and assail our walls. The situation was far more complex than what I have told you, yet that is the essential core of the problem.
"The reason I ventured there was in an attempt to clear the spoor and toxic slime of the serpent from his home, but he rejected me, and the help my village was willing to offer him. As much as I would have liked to strike him down, it would have achieved nothing.
"Go now to your village. I want you to take a message on my behalf. Two priests of your village are to make their way to my temple, with all haste, for an internship of an indefinite period of time. For obvious reasons, they should not be the leaders of your village.
"After you have done that, runners are to be sent to all other villages, including the same instructions I have given to you. Every village is to send two priests, and only two priests, to my temple. Their stay at my temple may be for life.
"If your village is hesitant to send the runners, you are to make the journey.
"Finally, Jasper, you asked for my forgiveness. You do not entirely have it, yet you may earn it in time. You have interested me. If you wish to continue in my direct service, once you have completed the task I have just set before you, you too may join me at my temple, for a different sort of internment.
"I am leaving now. I hope to see you, or at least your villages priests, within three weeks time."
Pitcarn began walking towards his temple, taking as long as he needed to get there. He made sure, on his route, to detour at least once at another village. There, he repeated the orders he gave to Jasper, and also took a small boy of about 6 under his wing, promising him a feast of epic proportions. From this village to his temple, accompanied by the priests of that village and the child, Pitcarn walked the final leg of his journey to his home within his home.