Role

Chapter 4

For all my righteous ambition, I was still an untrained and inexperienced
young mortal. One of many. The world I entered was dangerous, fraught with
hundreds of would-be murderers. I would need to learn to survive, thus I
sought the way of warriors and the monks of Macalla.

I was fortunate to find tutelage with Thay Bladesinger, Warrior Guildmaster
of Evermoon Glenn. The fortune I found was in the wisdom of his many years,
not merely his skill in the craft of battle. He gave me a pearl of erudition
so great it has guided nearly all of my decisions.

"Begin with the end in mind," the Bladesinger would say. And when it came to
my martial training, that was exactly what I did. Thay would explain well my
genetic deficiencies. Not deft. Not hearty. Not strong for my size. In fact,
as he would explain, I had but one trait to use to my combative advantage.
Wisdom.

I knew then that I must one day seek the monks of Macalla to teach me the
fabled Space between Hearbeats technique. In nature, an animal must play to
its strengths and instincts. The gazelle uses its speed, it does not try to
bite as the alligator does. Nor does the alligator rely upon his speed to
chase down his prey. So too must Japhire rely upon his greatest asset.

Though it does me some honor to wield the axe as Arianat did long ago, the
truth in this selection was made that I might break the weapons which could
not be disarmed. The use of the lance, or polearm to most, was chosen that I
might be able to cutoff means of escape from my weaponless foe. Or, should my
foe choose to wield his weapons as he dances with me in battle, he shall
surely pay the price demanded by the Space Between Heartbeats.

I write this not merely to explain my choices as a warrior, but to introduce
this idea of beginning with the end in mind. I wonder if the Ancients, who
were there at time's dawn knew something of what would become of Thar-Eris. I
wonder if they knew what I would discover having left my home of Al'Arianat.
I wonder if the answer to this question would aid me in bringing the Rise.

I will ask this question of Ergush, Lord of the Storms. For I am as the
Storm. With my warrior training I am a Storm of destruction, bringing fire
and flood that the foes of Thar-Eris find ruination. But with my wisdom I am
a Storm of renewal, with teaching rains that restore balance to Her. I have
reached my 48th title, the beginning of my Storm is at hand - let Ergush give
council as to what the end of that Storm holds.