The Sunmaster Speaks of Purity
Subject: Re: Who would have won?
"Sa'id, I wonder if you wouldn't mind taking me inside for a bit. I need to sit down. Water too, if it's available."
Sa'id brings the old cleric inside as quickly as he can. Once the Sunmaster is seated at one of Gully's tables, with a full cup of water in front of him, he says, "Bring everyone inside, Sa'id. We must talk, and this discussion is for everyone's ears." Sa'id just looks up at Garyth, who goes outside to bring in his men. "Did anyone from Overlook survive? We've had no news of the outlying towns since the Duke ordered the city sealed."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Who would have won?
Sa'id smiles. "Yes, Garyth and his men helped evacuate the town before the army arrived. The citizens of Overlook are under the protection of the Kalama halfling tribe. They have also sent one of their scouts to assist us."
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Who would have won?
Garyth nods. "The dark one sent his army after us. They caught up with us a few times." He pauses, images of children struck down by Murrkat arrows floating before his mind's eye. Of Kenneth falling. "We lost many," he says, struggling for a moment to control his emotions. "But most made it to the Kalama lands. It's only a temporary safety, though--the undead army was close on our heels. If their forward elements have not yet reached the Kalama sentries, they soon will."
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Who would have won?
Pensive comes inside with everyone else. There's not enough room around the table for everyone to sit, and the taller party members seem to have reached the chairs before him. Pensive climbs up lightly onto a window sill to get a better view of the Sunmaster's face.
He'd heard little talk of the old man, or his God in Nesalin-- the soldiers he'd been instructing had preferred Hieronius, the battle lord, he believed. And Pensive had little interest in Gods. The Path of Blood and Stone taught that the Gods were benevolent ancestors who nonetheless, had wandered away slightly from the right order of things. Seeking aggrandizement and honor and worship-- that was not the way of the Path. Pensive bore Gods and priests no ill-will-- each, in their turn, would come to know Blood and Stone.
Elvira's holy symbol bumps against his chest as he shifts on his perch. Pensive touches it, finds a little comfort there. Perhaps the Sunmaster would better know where it came from.
From: Ty
Subject: The Sunmaster speaks of purity
Fellus smiles at Garyth's news that the town was not totally destroyed, but frowns when the guardsman explains how temporary their safety might be.
"I fear that my news is all bad. My loyal pupil and friend, Father Colin, has been slain. He was killed while trying to help me leave the city. Father Dominic's fate is unknown to me, though I fear for him as well. The city has gone mad with fear and suspicion. In this climate, Elise's evil spreads quickly. She has but to accuse someone of being in league with the demon, and they are taken away. I tried to use the aid of my God in exposing her black heart to others, but she seems to be magically protected from this sort of scrying.
"Finally, I was forced to call on Pelor for a powerful blessing that gave me the ability to flee the city, though using such powerful gifts leaves me greatly weakened. I only hope that I have not left myself too weak for the journey the mountain." His face grows hard for a moment. "No! I have not. Pelor grants me strength, and no human frailty is beyond his power to overcome."
He drinks more water. "But now we come to what must be done. I have been granted a vision and wisdom from Pelor. One of his mighty servants walks this island, and guides those who fight the demon. This servant came to me in a dream. You must take me to the black temple, where I can pray that Pelor will intervene in our behalf. This you know. But the way will be hard and fraught with more than one kind of peril. The demon's servants you are well aware of. Fortunately, most of them are away from his temple, and only a small force remains in reserve. The demon is growing ever more powerful, but he is holding this power back, trying to gain strength enough to shatter his prison once and for all. This means he will not be using his power to create more undead, or grant his servants unusual gifts. This helps us, though it also creates a new peril. It is of this peril that I must speak.
"The Demon is as strong now as it has ever been. Stronger, perhaps. It will not attack us physically as we travel, but it will be attacking our will, our goodness, our desire to do right. And it will be strong. Very strong. To survive without losing our will, we must be as pure as we can. We must shed fear, doubt, hate, suspicion, anger. We must leave no room for the demon to enter our minds."
The Sunmaster looks about the room, staring each man in the eye. "If you can not do this, then you must remain behind. If you come with us, and give the demon room to use you against us, you may doom us all. Better that you stay here."
He leans back, "But I can help. I will consecrate a place here as holy ground. And I will hear the confession of each man who is willing to open himself to me. And I will pray to Pelor on the man's behalf for cleansing and strength of purpose. Only by purifying ourselves in this way, will we be strong enough to brave the temple. Without Pelor's grace, we WILL fail."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Sunmaster speaks of purity
Holy shit.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Sunmaster speaks of purity
Bartok speaks up. "Human priest, your damn right about the evil. My people have been fighting it since it started. But do you demand that I bow to your human god? "
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Sunmaster speaks of purity
"Bow? No. Ask for his protection and blessing on our path to the demon's temple? Yes. For reasons beyond our ken, the other god's have chosen not to intervene in this matter. Pelor will be our shield here, or no one at all."
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Sunmaster speaks of purity
Pensive smiles. He can't help it-- the Sunmaster's voice tickles him with warmth and comfort. He smells like warm bread, like wood in the fireplace, like comfort.
Pensive can't stop grinning either. As serious as the news is, as dire as the situation, here was hope. A grim hope, too, and here he was smiling like a giddy boy. Which was how the Sunmaster would certainly see him, if he didn't clean the stupid grin off his face and address him with the respect he deserved.
He hadn't felt this way since Deacon Comfort had found him in Little Grelling.
"Sunmaster," Pensive says, trying to look solemn and respectful. But he can feel all the freckles on his cheeks itching into a smile again. It was really no use. "I'll confess to you."
He'd have to find out from someone what a confession actually entailed, later.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Sunmaster speaks of purity
"I will accept the blessings of any god that is good, especially in this dark time. Will you accept the blessings of the spirits of the Kamala?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Sunmaster speaks of purity
Fellus smiles, and then says in flawless Halfling, "All the powers of good are Pelor's allies in the eternal struggle, and so are my ally as well. I hope that the Lady of Root and Branch does watch our path and bless us."
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Sunmaster speaks of purity
Bartok is stunned. This human spoke his language like he was born to it. He knew of the Lady.
He drops to his knees. "I will confess to you. I will serve you in this mission. I will watch over you when I can. I will defend you with my life. My word as Kamala makes this so."
When the time to confess comes around Bartok will do so.