Role

Chapter 8

Remarkably, as soon as he started looking for the positive again, everything's
been working out perfectly for Vartin.

He took an oath of humility to get his pride under control and has been
stunned by the strength of his supplications.

He's been helping the Fortress to the best of his ability, both materially and
spiritually, giving guidance to many that brings him a sense of fulfillment.

Attending the wedding of Zicdorgle and Damil gave him the courage to try to
ask out someone he'd been attracted to, and she said yes, so now Pititti and
him are a couple, having gone paragliding and other fun activities together,
and Lady Azorinne even seems to approve when he proudly declared as much.

Oszuarre made mention that he thought it was strange that Iroenyphe was so
'chipper' but that after talking to Vartin he understood that happiness was a
shield against the Maran 'falling', and Vartin was the one who learned from
Oszuarre there, and feels like now he knows what Azorinne was so concerned
about in the first place.

Watching the Fortress grow brings him joy, he enjoys fighting at the side of
his fellows, he gets along very well with Gherod and Pititti and Damil and the
rest of the Heralds, and he's comfortable in his own skin as an Acolyte. He
even gets to slaughter the wicked from time to time, with a few more Vampire
and Imperial kills under his belt.

He has two thoughts on what he could do in the future, and he intends to ask
Lady Azorinne if She would consider granting him either the virtue of Charity
- so that he could guard and protect the weak, the Maran, Pititti on
adventures - or Retribution, so that his healing and lay on hands could strike
those who curse his allies with just retribution and that he could experience
the full strength of a paladin's humility. Additionally, it would let him
utilize the teaching of Divine Retribution to see who of those in the Twilight
regularly kill the Good, and thus deserve justice for those sins. These are
greatly appealing to him in his studies at the moment because he's realised
his 'style' as a paladin is far more supplication-centric than someone like
Erorm who focuses on Punching Really Hard.

Of course, Vartin is also aware that She may decline on account of the Naobyn
issues, but having not seen Naobyn for a long time, Vartin is sanguine and at
peace now with it. After all, he's just happy enough to be an Acolyte when he
thought he would justly be a Scribe forever.