Open to anyone in Satriya! A thread for the diplomatic party to Camhanaich's return!

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He had not wished to be gone so long. First blizzards delayed their arrival to the Rise, and then — then! The world had torn itself asunder as the cosmos unravelled. Strange dreams, and stranger realities. Gaping maws in the earth, promising a return to ancient waters for all things.

And still! The gods urged them onward in efforts to restore Ma'at. So the envoys of Satriya had combined their efforts with the Druids, and sought the glowing runes, and braved the wrath of chaos.

Now the world was not quiet, but the gods ceased their speaking. He'd felt the urgency to return home. Did this affliction to Geb extend South? Pharaoh and Queen were well protected with Phoenix at priesthood... and yet Hotep knew their journey North had gone on overlong.

He yearned for the sands and familiar temples, to make his offerings and take solace in. He was gratified when, brought to the others, Mekh, Arcana, El'Zeath, and Ra were all in agreement — to risk the undertaking, and shore their strength beneath the obelisk.

Out of friendship, the Druids instructed them in the finding of a sacred tunnel, and this wondrous river of magic had set them out in drier, more familiar lands. The deshret was never safe, especially now. But it was more familiar and, at least, far less covered in snow.

Now, Hotep crested the rise of dunes to put the Skyspear in his sights again. His heart fluttered in relief to see it unsundered. His song pierced the cold dark, echoing off ancients sands and proclaiming optimistic return.

It would be appropriate for a queen to wait in formal reception, but if the decorum of her court had been polluted, then Neith would at least level taboos in her own way, sweeping up a dune at exuberant lope, merging joy with the travelling party’s own.

“Hotep!!” She nearly falls upon the seer in grinning elation. They are home! They are safe! He is home!

They have arrived at precisely the most critical moment. Another day and they would have been too late, she thinks, pulling back to inspect each of the five faces.

“You are home! Tell me, are you all well?”

[senmut's weeks beside the flame had taken the rote aspects of fasting, of clearing one's mind, and of surrender. he felt purified as a new we'eb, as emptied of all emotion and conflict as he had been in those first days. as pharaoh, he had no throne. as a husband, he had only the loathing of his wife. as a father, he had the absence of his daughter's respect. the gods had scorched senmut and left him humbled. there had been no place for him in the halls of divine right, and now he had lost every pinnacle of pride once achieved. he had mentored this boy-king and his sister-queen; when her pale cowling took to flight, senmut grasped some frond from the inner halls and trailed her as if he had always belonged within a coterie of nameless priests. she had ramesses' gold, he saw, and toula's grace. the party for which their Great Royal Wife had left the palace was one magnificent. even in his sense of far-removal, he was able to admire the quintet of those with royal admiration. a pharaoh, once. a servant, now. in his teeth he held the long stem. in his voiceless approach, he reached to shade the face that was so familiar and was not, barring her in bands of light. a priest stood forth, slender in the way of harried men, but in his eyes stood the same tribulation of truth which senmut had always fought. he wondered but did not ask.]

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senmut's weeks beside the flame had taken the rote aspects of fasting, of clearing one's mind, and of surrender. he felt purified as a new we'eb, as emptied of all emotion and conflict as he had been in those first days. as pharaoh, he had no throne. as a husband, he had only the loathing of his wife. as a father, he had the absence of his daughter's respect.

the gods had scorched senmut and left him humbled. there had been no place for him in the halls of divine right, and now he had lost every pinnacle of pride once achieved.

he had mentored this boy-king and his sister-queen; when her pale cowling took to flight, senmut grasped some frond from the inner halls and trailed her as if he had always belonged within a coterie of nameless priests. she had ramesses' gold, he saw, and toula's grace.

the party for which their Great Royal Wife had left the palace was one magnificent. even in his sense of far-removal, he was able to admire the quintet of those with royal admiration.

a pharaoh, once.

a servant, now.

in his teeth he held the long stem. in his voiceless approach, he reached to shade the face that was so familiar and was not, barring her in bands of light.

a priest stood forth, slender in the way of harried men, but in his eyes stood the same tribulation of truth which senmut had always fought. he wondered but did not ask.

Oh, great merciful gods! The Phoenix gasped a great breath of relief as the call sounded out over rolling warm sand dunes. When the Divine Queen made haste from the temple the high priestess was quick to take an open flank. Her long legs carrying her just as swiftly as the royal wife, if not at times her having to slow down a pace or two in order to remain at a proper place behind.

Five had left. Five had returned. Another deep exhale at the relief of this, yet it is Setemhotep's features alone which she sought. Bless the gods. We are all most fortunate for your safe returns. For a time, she had been fearful of the great possibility that the world had swallowed them up.

Already, she had encountered much in her short life here. The land itself seemed angry, voices traveled to all, and images flashed as shared dreams for all. It was different than the home she tried to remember. So different, but she had to adjust. In fact, part of her was enjoying that was a new adventure…a new place to explore and find out the mysteries it holds.

Yet part of that is terrifying.

El’Zeath diligently sticks by Hotep’s side, like his long shadow. The druids were a hospitable group, and part of her knew she would have loved living there. But, this life was for a different purpose, at least for now. The flame had brought her to Hotep, and for him, she would stay, learn, and serve the leaders he serves.

As they cross over the desert rise, Hotep lets out a howl. El’Zeath stands by him, alert, ever watching for any oddities or threats. She had a protective nature, and Hotep is the one she protects.

Their arrival is greeted with elation. It brings a smile to her face as she bows her head for the Queen, as well as the others who have arrived.

”The druids showed us nothing but kindness,” she says gracefully, despite her naturally low and raspy voice. ”But the land itself…carries its own pain,” she says with a lowering of her head, eyes flipping to the landscape to see if Satriya had been hit by the cracks.

Ra followed the rest of the group, staying close to Hotep in case any other surprises came their way. Thanks to the druids, the tunnel that guided them home was quickly found. The convoy entered its dark depths in great urgency. Then in a quick flash, they were welcomed by deep sands and the presence of their grand home. Soon the Queen was greeting them on their arrival, happy that they had made it safely home.

Yes, they were indeed gracious and kind to us all. They helped us with anything that we needed and welcomed us as one of their own. We are very grateful to them. Yet the world is...hollow...seemingly weeping. It's as if it is hurting inside. Ra had been deeply effected by what he saw, nearly reducing him to deep silence and solitude for some of the trip. But he slowly came out of it, only to keep his friend safe from harm.