Role

Chapter 5

I have a confession to make. Prior to joining the Academy, I was not a
God-fearing man. In fact, there were times I questioned the existence of
such beings. I'm still a fairly young man and barely out of the academy,
yet I find myself blessed by the presence of many gods and those that
serve them. First, the Lord Corrlaan, when I first began my path of
redemption. When I first traveled to his ledge I honestly did not know
what to expect. Perhaps that by sitting on the ledge I would have some
time for personal reflection to think about the things I'd done wrong and
how I could change that. I certainly did not expect to meet with the Lord
of Archons himself.

His revealing himself was a revelation in itself. It gave me hope. No
amount of praying would have prepared me for what happened while I was
out hunting trolls with my friends Graile and Lero. I was... Visited, by
the Captain of the Thundering Maiden, Neltouda whilst we were in the
past. I'd received a mug of her signature stout.. Seemingly from nowhere.
I'd asked if anyone else had seen it, and I certainly didn't -see- anyone
else in the forest. It seems I made a fool of myself however as I offered
a short prayer thanking 'the Thundering Maiden,' for the gift of drink,
rather than the captain of the ship.

What happened next was stranger still. The Captain began speaking to me.
No one else could understand her words however as they could only hear a
booming voice. She told me that she brought the gift of liquid courage
seeing as I would need it for the path I walk. To be certain, I was
amazed she even -knew- of me, let alone seek me out and offer her own
help on my path. She mentioned that my Spirit was tied to her own. As she
plucks the strings of mine, so do I pluck the strings of her own.

It wasn't until we were crossed by the healer Yttreya that I would
understand what she meant about liquid courage. My vow against magic
makes it difficult for me to be helpful at best when I travel with
friends. It makes it impossible however, for me to do anything but call
for help when my friends are picked off and killed around me.