As usual, nice work! Vivid.
I do agree that the scope of your tale seems somewhat grand... I like to hear that you are tying things back in that you originally introduced.
I'll be patient of course.
Out of curiousity, do you have an idea about the size of your story? For instance, would you classify it best as a short story, novellette, grand tale, etc.? Or are you writing this more from a free flow as the ideas come to you to paint the picture, and are uncertain about the scope as of yet?