So here in this chapter the opening dream sequence is inspired by this charming children's book The War Between the Vowels and the Consonants which is very much inspired by the Classism of Victorian England with the Vowels reprisenting the upper class and the consonants reprisenting the lower class also some of the 'Cults' mentioned in this chapter are ideas from my fellow members of the Shard Forum

That night as Chanchalla slept she had a dream...A memory from her childhood, She remembered standing with her two brothers with their Father, she being the youngest was quietly sucking on her finger as their Father had a stern look on his face as he gave them this speech.

"Never trust a Sarpah." Lord Ayrram said to them "I know that isn't a very popular opinion here in Nilam while we may have to do business dealing with them, always keep them at arm's length! They are cunning, sly, two faced creatures!"

Chanchalla woke up with a start! As the guest of honor she slept in Seven-Scars wagon also for her own protection.

Chanchalla realized with horror what she might have to face when she finally rescued her Father, what would he say when she found out she had fallen in love with a Sarpah? Challa had hoped the fact that the Turtles had no knowladge of the Sarpah Goddess and probobly wouldn't approve of her, that would help her Father see that they weren't like Darduni Sarpah, but now she realized her Father might not see a difference, to him, a Sarpah is a Sarpah and an abombination in an abombination.

The First light of False Dawn was beginning...

Sometime later, Seven-Scars invited them all into his wagon to discuss the plans. The Turtles graciously offered the contents of the cooler to Seven-Scars and Aneka, and they gave the Turtles something that looked very much like curry and rice, you ate it with bits of flat bread to scoop up the stuff.

The Turtles found it delicious

"I'm surprised." Seven-Scars said "...To most Janah Kekra is an aqured taste."

"It tastes like lobster curry." Don said between bites "For the longest time lobster was seen as soething you feed prisoners now seen as high class food because they realized what condiments to put on it."

"Mostly several sticks worth of butter!" Mikey laughed as he crammed another bite in his mouth.

"I see..." Seven-Scars said beginning think that these Turtles' world may not be so different from Dardunah after all. "Anyway...We have consulted our Seers to see what the best of course of action is, and after our consultaions some of our Seamstresses are making you all a cloak to conceal your...Unique features, each cloak is in your signature colors you will not look ike ordinary Janah, but as we've noticed our sky is not something you're used to, you'll find brilliantly covered cloaks will actuallycamouflage you against our brilliant sky.

And really that did make sense in this psychedelic colored world the best way to blend in is with garish colors.

"While we wait for your disguises to be completed..." Seven-Scars "...It seems best I should inform you of the country you're in and the local customs...We're near the city of Matra, Capitol City of the Country of Magar, the ruler is Isvar Sursarahm who is actually a Turtle, albeit a Sea Turtle.

"I guess it would be too much to think we could appeal to him as fellow Turtles..." Mikey sighed

Seven-Scars smiled a somber grin "I would have a better chance of appealing to him than you would...Magar used to be a land for Vajrah but then the Wars of Twilight happened, Magar was the place where some of the worst atrocities happened, the Sarpah enslaved the Vajrah, forced Vajrah slaves into gladiator fights for their entertainment.

That made all four of the Turtles gulp hard, their minds instantly went back to the Gladiator Games of the Tricertons...

"We've heard that one before..." Don said darkly

"Things have become much more amiable between the Sarpah and Vajrah in Magar today..." Seven-Scars quickly said "...Although unfortunatly slave fighting is still a popular passtime here, inviting one to dinner, be it at a one's home or a resturant is a common way of showing respect, defference and honor, Magari food is noteriously fattening and if you are a guest they will not stop telling you to 'eat, eat' as this shows you are liked."

Mikey chuckled "Sounds like my kind of people!"

"Slave fights aside..." Don added darkly

"Seven-Scars..." Leo said quickly "...Is there anything more you can tell us about the relations between the Sarpah and the other races?"

Challa knew she hadn't told Leo about her dream, but she could imagine after what he had just heard, his own feelings toward her prompted him to probe the situation on interracial tensions particurally after baring the brunt of Aneka's aggression.

"The biggest reason Vajrah and Paksin still struggle to except the Sarpah is their worship of Amasúrah the Mother of Demons, of course if you asked a Sarpah they would say that name is an insulting slur and her true name is Nagamissa."

"All right..." Don said hesitantly is little afraid about what the answers would be to his question "...Does anyone know what are the...Tenets of their relgion is?"

"Obviously the Sarpah will deny it..." Seven-Scars said "...But we know for a fact for we have encountered insane priests trying to bring back the old ways that their worship does include...The sacrifice of Janah..."

Mikey did a spit take...

The Turtles all felt the blood drain from their faces, not just what they had just heard but because they knew as they themselves were reptiles a Vajrah or Paksin could be very willing to tar them with the same brush.

"If that's the case..." Don said "...I'm sorry but the Vajrah and the Paksin have every right to be distrustful of them!"

Chanchalla noticed Aneka had a surprised expression on his face realizing the sincerity of Don's words she knew he was realizing 'You really aren't like our Sarpah! You really are something entirely different!'

"Of course I did say those priests were trying to bring back 'The Old Ways' Seven-Scars said "I've known many Sarpah who are perfectly honorable...There is a local cult started by a Sarpah an Agama named Lüqihan of the now disbanded House Küglin he founded a Cult known as 'The Sleepers of the Lily Field'

Once again Mikey chuckled "Oh man, that sounds like a Hippie Cult, or at least the name of a psychedelia album!"

Don elbowed Mikey as what he was saying might be seen as extremly rude, of course Seven-Scars who didn't know a good chunk of the words refering to 20th Century life merely said "If you say so...Anyway the Legend goes that one day the founder while peacefully dozing after dawn in abeautiful field of purple monlush lillies which they claim are the favorite flower of Vavi'il a local Devah of gardening and storytelling and said to be a daughter of Krilarah, he claimed one of these petite flowers supposedly leaned over and whispered in his ear great wisdom and prophecies of things to come

Too foolish he was to believe them, but soon was proven wrong by a series of fateful events that the flowers had prophesied him and only because of these foretelling he was able to survive. In order to honor this mysterious little flower, he began to spread his story, and soon had founded a obscure little following that, as he sadly departed soon after, outlived him for so many years. It is a curious fact that many sleepers don't reach old age. The Sleepers' followers all keep at least one monlush lily in their quarters, sometimes an entire flower bed."

Now that raised Don's suspsions "And...Nobody's looked into that?"

"I think the fact that most members don't reach old age is something the rest of Society likes..." Seven-Scars "...Probobly believe it keeps the cult small and keeps the Sleepers from becoming dangerous..."

I think I'll save the other cult for the next chapter