Role

Chapter 3

The Life Ritual, was what the priests called it. A monstrous black haired
minotaur, chained and muzzled stood over the High Altar of the Just. Upon
it, lay Odrallag's mother. She was naked, and beautiful. Odrallag knew he
was not to be looking on, but his brothers had dared him, and, being the
youngest, he always had something to prove. He watched quietly, as the High
Priest and the Just Acolytes chanted and circled the altar, blessing both his
mother, and the captive minotaur. The chanting grew louder, and the black
monster moved closer to the woman. He saw her wince as the
minotaur entered her, and her face seemed to alternate between pleasure and
pain as he thrust himself in and out of her. In short order, the deed was
done, and Odrallag grew surprised as his mother's belly began to rise, almost
immediately. It rose, quicker and quicker, until Odrallag was sure it would
burst, which of course, it did.Blood and gore sprayed the now bellowing
black monster before her, and a black furred calf rolled off of the altar and
onto the ground. At that moment, Odrallag nearly burst from his hiding
place, but fear was in him. Fear of the giant beast, fear of death, but most
of all, fear of the power of the Just Lord.

In moments, the High Priest and his acolytes had surrounded the newborn and
were performing another ritual, at this, Odrallag witnessed a pillar of light
strike down upon his new brother, the babe screamed, but came away healthy
and hale, his cries only the cries of a strong new child. Another soldier,
for the Just Army. It was then, that two guards came, leading a chained and
hooded old woman in robes of black, covered with runes seeming to pulse with
dark energies. An acolyte was before her, and led her up to the altar.The
High Priest stepped up and whispered something into her ear, as he pulled the
hood from her head. The shackles were taken from her hands, but an iron
collar remained around her neck. Odrallag could feel the dark energies as
the old woman began to chant, could feel the evil filling the small clearing
where the altar stood. Then, in a clap of thunder, he saw his mother rise to
her feet, unhurt and beautiful once again. Odrallag was stunned even
further into silence and immobility. That is, until the blood filled his
vision, and rage took over.