[color=f2f1cb][center][h1]|+| [u]ADEPT[/u] |+|[/h1][/center][/color]

Blood pooled on the metal flooring like red creeks that formed into crimson lakes as the last of the gunfire died down. A man claiming to be one "Captain Oliver" and the potential holy warrior Misha looked triumphant as the final three pirates who gave up their arms we now on their knees on the docks, the sun beaming down on them. One of them had a shoulder pauldron that gave a quick flash of light straight into Adept's face and the cultist felt the universe flow through him.

His eyes opened into the Realm of Star, the Void Above. His mind rushed through the cosmos like a rocket on a sea of black and he could only make out things in passing. The constellation of wonder at half tilt; a waning gibbous peering down upon the world; the blessed Ark of Armstrong; the constellation of mercy shinning brightly with Polaris at its head, Venus in full light; seven rings of Saturn above a blinding white light. And above all others, every star-saint in the Constellation of Redemption shone with the light of ten thousand fires. The stars had spoken to him, yes spoke in their ancient ethereal tongue they had. The Adept of Redemption had been shown the way in a blinding vision of faith and had the confidence of the universe behind him as he walked for the universe told him his path.

[color=f2f1cb]"Captain![/color]" the preacher's voice carried with it the authority and confidence of a man personally touched by gods as he walked towards the ship only to see the man in question dissapear into the metal machine. Cursing under his breath, the Adept searched for someone else who could get him on the ship. Looking once more to the big  burly man he thought of as a prime candidate for a warrior of faith, Adept directed himself towards Misha, [color=f2f1cb]"I believe that you will require a navigator for your ship!"[/color]

The Adept began to slowly walk over to the trio of defeated pirates, parting the crowds like ancient prophets with seas,[color=f2f1cb] "I am part of a mystic order of devotees to the God Star and its servants; I, as does most of my order, know a great deal on navigating through the use of heavenly bodies as we study them constantly. I have acted as navigator and priest aboard many a ships before and demand little; I am will to sleep anywhere and willing to take reduced pay."[/color]

[color=f2f1cb]"However,"[/color] Adept stepped in front of the three pirates and looked down at them. He could see the mild fear in their eyes, the worried looks as the Adept towered over them and could feel their breaths in the air, [color=f2f1cb]"I simply request I may be allowed to spread the Gospel of the Stars and in addition, to take these three men aboard as my disciples."[/color]

Three jaws hit the ground harder than hand grenades against settlement walls. Rationalizing the priest's words was baffling and utterly bizarre, the lot of them would barely consider themselves religious, believing pirate traditions and myths at best. They were pirates, crooks and criminals, and yet this man wanted them to become his followers?

[color=f2f1cb]"I will personally vouch for them and in addition I shall tend over them and they shall sleep with me in my quarters. I shall watch over them and tend to their spiritual wellness as well as the crew's. In time they may even prove to be valuable crew members trained for I have seen the goodness in their hearts and their willingness for redemption in their souls. If nothing else, I presume they already have some experience in the running of the vessel which could be most useful."[/color]

Stepping back a few steps, Adept went through a fairly dramatic process of introducing his name, showmanship was a key component of preaching after all, [color=f2f1cb]"And if you are wondering who I am, I am an Adept of Redemption of the Celestial Chantry, at your most magnificent service."[/color]