“Thanks, dude.”
“Just be a wee minute, my lord!” Oren said grinning at me, and I tried not to shake my head. It took less than five minutes before the next two arrived, and I realized the former slaves and crew of Oren’s ship had spread themselves about in the new group of volunteers. When I raised an eyebrow at Oren, he grinned back at me.
“Well, it be like this, Lord; the oath ye swore to us were a lot more…simple. We felt we should be th’ same as everyone else, no favorites! Plus, it do mean they can all see that we’re th’ same.”
“Thank you, Oren.” I said quietly and I moved up to stand at the top of the gangplank where they could all see me. It had crossed my mind that I’d bound the new recruits from the village with a more formal oath, but not with the first people, I hadn’t really known how to broach the subject without sounding like an ass, though.
“Ach, we’re all sworn to ye, laddie. It’s nothin’,” he replied, just as quietly. As he finished, Cai came running in and took up his place at the front of the group, a little out of breath. “Oh aye, at last the furry-eared bastard gets here, nothin’ like keeping yer lord waitin’ an’ all!” Oren called out, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Cai stood straight and tall, then slowly and regally raised his right hand…and flipped him the bird. There was silence for several seconds, until people started to snigger, then full-blown laughter rang out.
“Right, then! Repeat after me!” Oren took care to enunciate every word as he read from the notification that appeared before him.
I felt Oracle take control of our shared mana pool, linking to the Tower and reaching out to bind them all as they read aloud:
“I swear to obey Lord Jax and those he places over me; I will serve to the best of my ability, speak no lie to him when the truth is commanded, and treat all other citizens as family.
I will work for the greater good, being a shield to those that need it, a sword to those that deserve it, and a warden to the night.”
“I will stand with my family, helping one another to reach the light, until the hour of my death or my Lord releases me from my Oath.”
“Lastly, I will not be a dick!”
As the last echoes of the chant faded away from the Tower, I held my hands up and replied to them as I had before, having felt Oracle weaving mana through the Oath as they spoke it, knowing they were sealed to me and the Tower now.
“I, Lord Jax, do swear to protect and lead you, to be the shield that protects you and yours from the darkness, and the sword that avenges that which cannot be saved. As the Tower grows in strength, so shall you.” I felt kind of pretentious saying it, but as the cheers rose from them, I knew it was what they expected to hear.
“Now then, for those that don’t know already, this… is Oren,” I gestured to him, and he preened at their attention.
“And that’s Cai!” I pointed at the large cat-man, who quickly jogged over to stand on the opposite side of me to Oren. “Oren’s in charge of the ship, and any others that we get from now on; at least, until he’s dead or I find someone better!” That took the wind out of his sails, and he looked at me askance for a second, before going back to glowering at the new recruits. “Cai, here, is in charge of Tower residents, and will be sorting things like food and lodging. You come to him if you have any issues in those areas. Engineers! Get with Oren; I need this ship up and running as fast as possible! We have some spare parts from Oren’s old ship if we need them. Crew! Talk to Oren as well, as he’s going to need to fill some positions on the ship. If you’re not one of those chosen to help him, go to Cai, he’ll find you a job for now. Also, I wasn’t lying about the Skill Memories or Spellbooks. I have some, and they’ll be given to those that impress me and that I feel are a good match for the skill. Oren and Cai will report to me on your actions and your attitude! Last of all, the Tower is inhabited by three wisps!” I gestured to Oracle, who waved to the crew, getting more than a few grins at the way she was dressed. “This is Oracle. She is the keeper of magic and knowledge for the Tower and is bonded to me! I’d recommend you don’t piss her off, as she might look all pretty and sweet, but she’s got a foul temper! Next is Seneschal; you might see him around, as he’s taken to wearing an armored form covered in a black cape… the dramatic little bastard… and he controls the Tower itself. Last of all is Hephaestus! He creates the Golems and spends a lot of his time guiding them, so if you need his attention, speak to them."
"Doubt they’ll have much to say to you in return; Golems don’t talk too well, after all. Now, there’s one last thing I need to discuss with all of you, and it’s important.” The low murmuring that had built up instantly quieted as Barrett roared at the group.
“Silence!!!”
“Thanks for that, Barrett.” I said, a faint smile on my lips. “I want to talk to you all about religion. I don’t know if you have Gods, Goddesses, or beings that you follow, but here in the Great Tower, we are sworn to Jenae.”
“Jenae is the Goddess of Fire, Exploration, and Hidden Knowledge, and
