The Red Lions

Aha! I am Manila, its spirit its essence its very soul. There is nothing about this city that escapes my vision. Which is what I will be saying at the end of my adventure. For now I have to explore this new world that has been presented like an oh so sumptuous feast waiting to be devoured. In these first few days the secret order of the BVC has welcomed me like a brother into their fold. I join them daily in their rituals, dancing, singing at the moon, eating their spiritual wafers, bizarre stuff really. After my travels though it is all pretty humdrum. I picked up the schedule so fast in fact that a junior member had mistaken me for one of the masters, I assured him that I was nothing more than a guest in the order though.

Eventually I was introduced to some of my potential students. These young wards were the frontline in the defense of the order’s honor. Using their physical prowess and with a joint effort they continually compete in a tournament to decide who will be the torchbearers of the island. They command the floor with an orange sphere as they seem to defy gravity their bodies twisting in an effort to achieve victory. Truly an amazing vision. I was invited to one of the events in this competition where I was proud to see that the cabal that I had enjoined myself in was a dominant force. They deftly outmaneuvered their opponents to continue their road towards perfection and once again being the so called masters of the islands. Last year the title was taken from them by a mysterious old sect that the BVC had thought they had vanquished. I inquired further about this sect and it turns out that they were founded by none other the Diabolico family. At hearing this I knew that coming to the Philippines was the right decision.

And to top off a great night dear Paco had finally arrived. Apparently there was a typhoon near Tokyo that slowed his otter driven sled to a halt. None the less the versatile Paco mushed his team through and they arrived safely albeit quite tired. United again we decided a day or two of rest was in order before instructing our new students as well as beginning our search into the history of Don Diabolico. It is only a matter of time until we track down the fiend.

Stay tuned…

The Race

Chunneling into the depths of the earth’s crust my mind drifts to the coming year……………… I bet you’re wondering what I’m doing inside the earth’s crust? Very well we will begin with that and move onto my inter-monologue in due time. Being the perpetual competitors that we are, Paco and I decided that a race to Manila would be in the best interest for everyone, with the winner being the greater gentlemen. That’s how gentlemen’s bets work right? As I was saying Paco, that cheeky miscreant, bragged that his aquatic sled-dog team pulled by otters would make quick work of the expedition, but I knew I had him bested for I had called upon the help of my old friend Nikolai Retroski the world famous geologist. You see Nikolai has just perfected his method for travelling through magma via a submersible like contraption he calls the “Incendia Viator.” As I am sure you are well aware the Philippines are a part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” a chain of volcanoes in the ocean. It is these very lava spewers that formed the 7,107 islands that make up the Philippines.

Hmm what’s that Nikolai? Oh now look what you’ve made me do I am writing everything I say. Well Nikolai had just informed me that we are nearing the surface. I have scheduled a meeting with Admiral Arthur Jackbar of the U.S.S. George Washington which is currently docked in Manila Bay. Admiral Jackbar and I have been friends since our days living in the Mariana Trench doing research on how Lazuli Trench Frogs (volo rana) can withstand the intense pressure and can manifest oxygen in water without the use of gills. It was the Admiral who exclaimed that “It’s a trap!”... a type of venus fly trap, the Lapis Fly Trap (musca oxygenium) that lived in the frog’s nostrils that was able to convert water into oxygen for the frog to breathe. The two species living vicariously off of each other.

Anyway I have received more information from the BVC, which currently stands for the Brethren of the Valiant Carbuncle (it changes a lot apparently), on my living quarters. It seems that they have spared no expense in making me comfortable. While I am generally content with the most basic of necessities like swan down pillows and mink fur toothbrushes they have gone above and beyond. The kitchen is a few steps away, a bathroom adjoined to my own, several meditation rooms within reach, and a training facility, all in all very comfy. Pictures soon to follow. The students that I will be teaching I am informed have been engaged in rigorous and intensive martial and mental arts in preparation for my arrival. Silly little rug rats, they have no idea what I have in store. (menacing laugh) Now that I mention it I don’t even think I know what I have in store. Well I guess I’ll just wing it. Maybe Paco will know more when he gets here, if he ever does. Honestly sled-otters, I don’t know how he thought he could win the race with those furry layabouts. They’re probably swimming in circles for fun as I type.  

More soon to follow…