Role

Chapter 15

Azhelak collapsed, he slept for many hours. But when he woke he saw the world through new eyes and
the first thing he saw was Andira's face. He appeared exhausted, which he was, but he was also
confused. Imagine for a moment that every thought you had was shared with someone else. In this
case the curse that devestated the Tul'vharun. Imagine your entire life never knowing true freedom
despite no chains resting upon your flesh. This is how Azhelak felt. For the first time he knew
freedom and the feeling intoxicated him.

It is important to note that the curse is not broken. The Ancestral Curse still settles upon his
form, reminding him of the Tul'vharun's plight. If he were to breed, his offspring would carry the
same darkness he just defeated. The same disfigurement. What he managed to do was free himself from
the darkness' influence. He no longer has urges to compulsively shed blood, nor does he ever lust
for the sins of the flesh. He is free to do what he must to see the curse formally broken from the
Tul'vharun and that is to find Draclivis, the mage who stole the Spear of Purity and used it to
become an abomination. It is believed that the Lich still lives and Azhelak intends to find him
and send him to the hells. While even this may not break the curse it will at least let Azhelak
die knowing he did all he could for his people.

This newfound freedom has also filled Azhelak's mind with grandiose plans. He intends to start a
series of attacks on establishments of civilization that he finds overly offensive. The first of
these targets he chose after a conversation with Andira: the Brothels of Hamsah mu'Tazz. He intends
liberate and burn the whorehouse and hopes Andira will organize the Acolytes to care for the women
once they are free. Further thoughts on this has Azhelak wanting to create a new community, a second
refuge built on the principles of absolute freedom. A place where those who feel they have no choice
but to sell their bodies, or to fight in the arenas, or to be slaves in the fields of the tryants,
can go and live in accordance with the natural order.

He is currently planning his strike on Hamsah. He considers this the start of a new dawn, not only for
him but for the Wardens and maybe... just maybe, for Andira. He organizes the Wardens to send the first
message of this new dawn. "Let our legacies be written in the blood of the tyrants!" Azhelak said to
a large gathering of Wardens and Harbingers. "Let us carve a new world from the hollow existence that
they call civlization!"

Free at least. Free at last.