Role

Chapter 9

Unalethekai glanced up from the still form of Jaisel, resting now that the
plague had been purged from his prone form, just in time to see the slim form
of a dark-elf pass by arched entrance of the Dark Temple. Jaisel noticed too,
his face contorting into a snarl.

"Itzel." the assassin said, warning clear in his voice.

"Mmmm." said Unalethekai, the comment sounding like a rumble of thunder on
the horizon as it reverberated around within his massive chest.

The Storm-born Knight considered his situation. Jaisel was seen to, cured and
well. The drow, however deserved careful consideration. Never one to strike
without thinking, the fact he had never met this drow ranger before made him
even more hesitant.

"Know anything about him, lad?" Una said, peering down at the assassin at his
side.

"I know he's a drow, and that's enough," said Jaisel, the zealotry evident in
his voice. Unalethekai chuckled at hearing this.

"Aye? Well, not enough for me, lad. If I've learned anything in life it's
that you check your charts before you raise anchor."


***********

Suddenly you find yourself watching the scene from a distance. Unalethekai,
massive as an anchor and ablaze with righteousness is speaking down to the
dark-elf Itzel, dwarfed next to the storm giant. Itzel's manner is reserved,
his posture relaxed, unthreatening. Sincere. Unalethekai has a smile on his
face, and it's clear by the way he's moving his hands that he's preaching
something, and without hearing his words you're certain he's speaking of the
soul's journey, and how enlightenment can come to all beings if they are
willing and sincere, resolute in their faith that anything is possible.
Itzell is nodding now, a small smile playing across his lips, his eyes
brighter, now, inspired by the larger-than-life Knight standing before him.
He no longer sags on the boulder where he sits, and his shoulders straigten
as both storm giant and drow turn to look in the direction Unalethekai is now
pointing, towards the Temple at the peak of the mountain above Mourdroular's
Monastary.
************

As though transported by thought, a vision of a pulsing altar of pure Light
fills your mind, in an austere room carved from white marble. You realize,
now, that this is where Unalethekai has sent Itzel on his quest for
enlightenment and repentance.

***********

As the vision fades, the clear, strong voice of Unalethekai echoes within
your mind.

"May the Strength of the Storm ease your burdens, brother, the rains wash
away your sullied past, and the lightnings strike you dead if you betray your
soul and my trust by stepping off of this path you've set yourself on."