Role

Chapter 14

Azhelak has long said (even boasted) that he is a free man. Until this day that was not true. He
has long been a slave to the same darkness which has forced the Tul'vharun to commit horrible
deeds of lust and blood for more generations than most can count. Azhelak had a difficult decision
to make: would he go into the swamps and let these urges consume him, and attempt to defeat them
alone? Or would he allow Andira to aid him at the risk of hurting her? Baerinika simplified this
dilemma for him by stating the obvious: Even if he goes alone, Andira will follow to the end of
the realm. And if Azhelak in a dark cellar is dangerous to her, imagine him in an open swamp.

And so with this, after a brief and familiar talk, Azhelak agreed and he and Andira set out for
her home. The darkness was dormant in Azhelak, as he had just fed upon the blood of the Orc
Chieftain Uhrungh. Andira, however, had other plans. Using a sort of blood magic she roused the
darkness with her beauty and her words.

What happened next is difficult to explain. Azhelak began to lose control of his own body. As his
paws would move, controlled by the darkness, he would fight to bring them back. Every muscle in
his body contracted as he fought with the darkness over the freedom of his form. The darkness
taunted the nearly nude Andira, who pressed against him, while taunting Azhelak subconsciously.
Images flashed in his mind of the darkness using his body to defile Andira's flesh before
ripping out her throat. It showed him hunting Warden's in the Prosimy. He saw exactly what
the darkness intended and he knew he had to fight. He had to save Andira. He had to save himself.

He heard the voice of the Spearmaiden: "I walk with you." He saw the line of his people, back
to the beginning. He saw the looks of despair on the old, and the looks of hope on the disfigured
faces of the young. From his eyes he saw the darkness placing his claw at Andira's throat. To his
horror she did not back away, but rather turned her head to offer it a greater access. As he saw
the first drops of blood he knew it was now or never. He mustered everything he had and shoved
the darkness from him. He fought. He battled. He won.