Role

Chapter 4

Early adventuring days were a whirlwind of tasks, new people, mysteries, and
practice, practice, practice. I spent much of my time studying with the other
priests in the guildhalls of Galadon, Voralian City, and Hamsah Mu'tazz. I
researched the lady Joihe, a goddess of adventure, mystery, magic, and spirit,
spending much of my time trying to find out what I could about Her: the Cadre,
Her shrine, and how best to be a voice and a set of hands for Her faith. Her
story and Her philosophy spoke to me in a way little else in my life had
before, it felt like meaning and true family could come from a place of
excitement and a life of journeying.

The first hundred years after the academy was spent in journeys. I learned
different ways to help the people I met and worked to make friends wherever I
went. All of this was done in balance. Too many evil creatures pruned? Help an
anti-paladin for a few days. Too many dwarven souls dispatched? Aid a would-be
Maran. Too much time spent putting out fires in the wilderness? Heal the
Captain of the Blood Tribunal for an afternoon. See a wanted member of the
Village? Heal them with a supplication while they attack guards within a
protected city. So many thank you's and, such as that last one, so many don't
ever do that again's. But why balance? I find it to be the best path to
harmony, peace, and spiritual growth. But balance isn't passive, it takes work
and focus.

I focused much of my time trying to find the ear and voice of my Lady. When I
was finally blessed by Her presence, she imparted upon me the importance of
three virtues: Loyalty, Merit, and Time. For Loyalty, it was as simple and as
complex as it sounded. Joihe insisted upon my fealty to Her and to the Cadre
above all else, something of which I had already decided upon. It was Time,
Time spent proving my Loyalty and patience in the development of my faith that
was critical. I had much to give yet it would be impossible to give all of it
in short order. But interestingly, I was challenged to come up with my own test
of Merit, how did I prove that I was worthy of being in the Cadre? Something I
needed a bit of time to think about.

Lastly there was the mystery of my birth, something I hadn't taken for granted
or ignored. I began to ask the pixies within the Emerald Forest about the story
I had heard; about the abnormally large pixie infant brought to Evermoon in
need of care. Most knew nothing of it or believed I was telling them a fairy
tale from some faraway land. Finally I spoke to an aged pixie who tended to the
rose bushes I frequented. She scolded me for selling her flowers and so I gave
her gold I had collected from some quest or another. She scolded me some more
and said she didn't need gold and I asked, well what do you need? Her response
was as plain as it was odd: 'The Apples You Have Lost.' And that became my next
mystery.