Role

Chapter 5

He began to shake, holding the blade above his head, blade pointed downward
to his father. While he grappled with the gravity of the situation he had lost
track of the other possessed soul in the room, Sheayla, who had silently snuck
behind him. Before he could make his decision she struck him firmly in the base
of the skull with a heavy candlestick from the altar. He fought away the darkness
of unconsciousness and staggered to his feet. He swung his blade in a wide swathe
aiming for the woman's neck but she was thrown out of the way by his now standing
father. Stepping inside the wide slide the Elf sunk the iron blade into his son's
face, scarring him badly on his left cheek.

Caldysias fell to the stone floor, blood rushing from his face. A swift kick to
his jaw flipped to his back where he looked up through clouded eyes to his father
standing over him, smoke coming from the burning hand which clutched the iron
dagger. Caldysias accepted death, he was defeated physically and spiritually.
But before the final blow would come, a volley of arrows struck his father a
half dozen times and the woman four times. The Darsylon Guard had tracked the
young Elf when they found nothing in the North.

Screeching with sounds that could only be described as demonic animals the two
fled from the temple and into the Vale. The Guards gave chase but never found them.
The blood trail was lost days later near the Loch northeast of Voralian City.
The Captain of the Royal Guards assured Caldysias that no one could have survived
the wounds those two had and that it was a miracle that they made it as far as
they did. "That area is rich with orcs, they probably claimed the corpses."

Caldysias wasn't so sure and he was eager to heal and begin searching again.
This, however, proved impossible as the King of Darsylon decreed that the menace
that was brought upon his Kingdom by the practices of the House of JOhlesianathas
was a greater threat than asset and the family was politely asked to leave.
The House chose to set up in another Elven Kingdom to the Northwest. Caldysias
entrusted leadership to one of his brothers and told them to continue to research
the cults. "What of you, brother?" he replied. "I will be going to Voralian City.
For far too long our House has been on the defensive. I seek to see this ended."

Life in Voralian City is radically different than Darsylon or any of the great
Elven Kingdoms. A busy center of commerce it is not uncommon to see all walks
of life passing through on a daily basis. Caldysias dedicated much of his time
to a local soup kitchen where he fed the poor and the unfortunate. It was from
here that he was first introduced to the Paladin's guild. The Paladin Code very
closely mimicked Elven common etiquette and the views of his family creed.

(cont.)