As you get past the bishops, you unlock the nonstop runs, and if you manage the cult well, you can go for days until you perish or return by your own feet.
Just imagine The Lamb expending a whole week out on a run and one day they find Narinder in one of the rooms because he had gone in the search of The Lamb "because the cult was worried" and "he's only there to get them back"
I am so slow with these ehememe I'm trying.
It had been a week since the Lamb left on a crusade to Silk Cradle. After years of renovations and progress, the cult continued even in their absence. They had been known to randomly disappear for various reasons: gambling at Ratau’s, fishing at Pilgrim’s Passage, or even tracking down and beating up Midas.
But Narinder had never known them to be gone for this long.
When the dawn of the seventh day came, the cultists began to worry. Narinder heard their whispers, asking if the Lamb would return.
“The Lamb will return.” He preached in their place as he stood in front of the cult. “Those who doubt will be treated as dissenters. We have no room for those who think of the leader as weak.”
In no world did Narinder believe the Lamb had died. That was impossible, as they are death itself. However, heretics still roamed the land of the Old Faith. A capture for sacrifice was possible, but also unlikely.
Deep in his own thoughts, Narinder neglected the small pitter-patter approaching him at the podium.
Narinder glanced towards one of the Lamb’s disciples; a pink cat with the signature halo and robes.
“Have you been in contact with the Lamb?”
“The cult is getting worried about their absence. Some have considered leaving to go search for them.”
Narinder immediately responded by shaking his head. “If they dare to do so they will not be welcomed back in.”
“I know,” the pink cat sighed. “Are you not concerned at all?”
That was the question. Narinder wasn’t not concerned necessarily, not that he would ever admit it. However, the longer the Lamb took to return, the more dissent would brew, and Narinder did not feel like dealing with angry cultists.
“If you would be willing, me and the other disciples could take care of the grounds while you search for them-”
In no way did Narinder consider himself to give much care for the Lamb. They were his usurper, the one who forced him into this mortal state. However, the return of the Lamb would end his responsibilities as a mere stand-in. And, he was beginning to miss the delicious fish feasts that they would prepare specially for him.
So, reluctantly, he agreed to go searching for them.
This did not mean anything. He just needed them to return so he could go back to his normal routine.
The infinite storage of the crown was especially handy in these types of situations. The Lamb had been wanting to make new outfits for the cult, and in doing so they would require a large amount of silk.
They had gotten sidetracked a little, but they were proud of the immense amount of materials they would be bringing back. At this rate, they wouldn’t need to go on another crusade (nor send any missionaries) for a long while!
With a small sigh, they tuck a bundle of grass into the storage and set to wander into the next room.
To be frank, time had escaped them. There wasn’t a reliable way to tell time while out on a crusade, they could only try to remember the amount of times the night changed into a day. It had been… definitely more than 4 by this point.
The Lamb tried to recount their days as they stepped into the next area, the lack of enemies making it easier. Distracted by their own thoughts they fail to acknowledge the dark shadow of a creature looting through a heretics camp.
“Oh!” The Lamb glanced around their surroundings. “You took care of my job for me!”
The figure laughed lowly.
“As I have been for the past week, Lamb.”
The Lamb gasped in delight as they raced towards the figure, charging with newfound strength and wrapping their arms tightly around Narinder’s waist.
There was a brief pause before Narinder lightly pushed them away.
“Hi Narinder!” the Lamb practically was jumping out of their wool in excitement. “What are you doing out here? You’re supposed to be watching over the cult, silly.”
“Which is a fine task when assigned for a few days, not a week.” He sneered, turning a heretic’s pocket inside out and snatching the coins from within. “The cult grows worried. Convinced you are too weak to return.”
“Shucks,” the Lamb started to loot around the camp as well. “We need materials, the longer I stay in here the more I get.”
“You spend time on the most needless things, Lamb.”
Stopping midway of hacking a bundle of wood apart they turn to pout.
“What? Want me to spend more time with you or something?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.” Narinder flicked a coin in the Lamb’s direction, hoping to hit them in the face but it just bounced off the crown. “I just grow tired of taking care of your stupid followers.”
“That’s a cute way to say you miss me.”
A growl rumbled in his throat as the jingling bell came up behind his back. Lamb pawed their hooves up and around his waist again, turning him around to face them.
“I’ll be home in a day, two at most.”
With a quick peck on Narinder’s cheek and shoving something into his hands, the Lamb scurried off to continue the crusade.
Looking down in his paws he found the Lamb had left him a slimy fish.
