Role

Chapter 5

Grief is like the great Aryth. At times her waters are calm, at others she
drowns and oppresses. The only thing to do for it is learn to swim. After
Elbio died, I wasn't even afloat.

I buried him on the Day of Freedom, early in the morning. Duergar do not know
compassion, and so I was alone with his cold body and my grief. I found an
out of the way tunnel, one that seemed peaceful, and one I thought he'd have
liked to play in. I dug the hole and I made a small marker with his name on
it. There I left him for all time.

I know now that we never get over great losses. We become them. And, they
often shape us into different, harder and more malevolent creatures. In the
weeks after Elbio's death I found my grief hardening into vengeful resolve. I
would visit my pain on all those of the Forests and Light. They would suffer
as I suffered. As Elbio suffered. Vengeance would be ours.

What would be the tool of my Vengeance? It would be the most powerful force I
know. The force of Persuasion. For it is by flesh and blood that all great
deeds are done. Do not even the gods themselves work through flesh and blood?
Persuasion is the tool by which men are bent to facilitate the ends of their
betters.

With little more in my head than a knowledge of Venoms and little more in my
heart than Vengeance, I set out to become Persuasion's pure dedicant. There
was nothing for me in Aran'gird any longer. I didn't know much of the
overworld, but I knew enough to know of the Empire. That was a place a
duergar like me could find power and a chance to use it against my hated
foes.

Wanting to hone my abilities of Persuasion even before taking my bloodoath, I
traveled from library to library seeking any Knowledge I could find.
Knowledge is the guiding force of Persuasion, after all. (More on that to be
included in my work on the subject.) Upon this quest I learned of an Eternal
Library and the immortal Witch Ishuli. I learned that her followers Dedicate
themselves Purely to a particular Knowledge and that the best of them earn
the opportunity to contribute their life's work to her Library. I joined the
guild of shamans and sought her for my empowerment.

Thus begins my memoir, for thus my life began.