Role

Chapter 8

Caldysias' time in the Fortress was well spent. He climbed the ranks swiftly,
a testament to his training and zeal. At a time when the Maran were at their
weakest he rose to the challenge and was named Marshall of the Fortress mere
moments after being honoured by Baerinika with the title of the Maran.

Leading the Fortress was not easy, as the might of the Empire had grown
and the Chasm was tenfold stronger than it is at present. Caldysias persevered
by relying on the people around him. He delegated responsibilities and led
by example. He forged strong brotherhoods with men like Baelen and Amatrysti
while his infamously serious demeanor was tested by the love and friendship
of Andira and Keara. He focused entirely on his worship of Baerinika and
his responsibilities within the Fortress, however he was never truly focused.
No matter how hard he tried, no matter how hard he prayed, he was tormented
by the thought of his father roaming the world afflicted by the demons he
was sworn to fight. It was not until after he earned the tattoo of his Lady
that he realized he could never truly dedicate himself to purity until he
saw the past laid to rest.

Without much of a word to anyone, as he feared they would try to accompany
him, Caldysias set out in the dead of night. During his time in the Fortress
he had acquired, both by experience and coin, the location of many of the
Zurconian cultists. He went from shrine to shrine, temple to temple, cutting
down every adherent he found, many of whom were possessed themselves. But
he never found his father.

As he traveled he did as much thinking as he did hunting. He came to understand
that the mission his family was sacred and that losing his father was terrible,
but to allow it to rule him like this would only be a further defeat. Armed
with this peaceful resolution, he entered one last temple. Inside he found
no cultists, only an altar, upon it was a ring that Caldysias immediately
recognized: it was the golden band adorned with the crest of his House. It
was his father's ring. When he picked it up off the altar he heared a hissing
voice in the shadows: "He belongs to us. Soon, you will too."

Caldysias clutched the ring tightly and walked back to the surface. Without
a word or a second thought he began to march back to the Fortress with new
fire and zeal. He would seek to build an army to destroy the Shadow Cults
once and for all.