Azidreth BlackBane the Venerable Magi of Light, Captain of the Brigade

Role

Chapter 5

A chill breeze, inordinately cold for the warm autumn night, rustled through
the fallen leaves and scraped branches together. Its intangible form twisted
through the meager shutters that sat slightly askew on the ramshackle house.
Icy fingers grabbed at the old cleric's hunched shoulders. He turned slowly,
heart filled with dread. Though his hearing had degraded much over years, he
could still pick up the foul, unholy screams that wind carried. His measured
tread carried him over to the window, and his eyes gazed across the miles,
seeking the unseen. He knew the source of those wails.He had witnessed the
unspeakable evils that now rode upon the despoiled breeze. A gnarled hand
reached up to grab at the phoenix pendant hanging from his neck, feeling
comforted by the familiar shape and solidity of its purest of metals.

Another scream, this one much, much closer, brought the old man back to the
present. His hand dropped away as he turned around, leaving the pendant to
sparkle in the candlelight. Raw agony, pain incarnate, filled the air as the
cleric's knowing eyes fell upon the woman before him. He whispered a prayer
of intercession to Shokai, and saw immediate relief come to the woman. Not
all of her burden was eased, however, for the Gods had made this painful on
purpose. Prayer again filled his thoughts: for the midwife, for the mother,
but mostly for the child. If this one, too, came out possessed, he would not
stray in his faith. Evil, he knew, was never innocent, no matter what form
it took. Eyes again glazing over, he recalled the many horrors he had
faced...

A final scream, and then an infantile wail, made the cleric cringe in
anxiety. The midwife's tentative steps approached from the rear. The old
man turned, fearing the worse. As his gaze captured the babe, his eyes
widened in shock. The mother cried in distress, thinking his reaction a
foreshadowing of the worst. The cleric seemed not to notice. Nor did the
babe, whose surprisingly knowing eyes fixed upon the cleric's pendant.

With tentative awe, the cleric took the babe from the midwife. As he did, he
felt a familiar sensation wash over him. Though not nearly as strong, it
reminded him of the sensation of Victory he felt in the presence of his Lord.

With a joyful smile upon his lips, the cleric held the babe up, defying the
evil wind that still blew through the window. The tension in the room
vanished as the cleric spoke the first words in the room since the delivery
began. "No taint. His soul is pure." For a moment, the cold wind ceased,
and for once, no one noticed the horrible sounds drifting in the window.

The window that faced south to the forest... and the Dale beyond.

Role

Chapter 4

Dear Mother,

I miss you more every day. Only my hunger for knowledge keeps me from
running back to you. I'll stand firm. I'll make you proud. One day, I'll
come back for you

The things I've learned here would astound even the Old Man. Using this
magic that flows through my veins, I've already discovered how to change
different parts of my body to what I please. Soon, the guildmaster says,
I'll be ready for the ultimate test... complete transformation.

I know you're lonely, Mom, with no one there for you now that Dad's gone.
But when my learning is complete, when I am strong enough to face the forest
on my own, you'll see me striding into the village with my head held high.

Soon...

With eternal love,
Azidreth

Role

Chapter 3

I have failed her.

With horn and hoof, I battered my way through the dark woods, besting all the
evil in my path. As I had promised, I strode into the village with my head
held high.

Held high, that the tears could fall farther.

Nothing is left. What once was a proud settlement, a spot of light in the
darkness, is now an empty void of razed houses.The dirt paths are covered
with ash. The trees are scorched, the fields barren, and the well dried out.
The temple, once a house of worship and thanks, is now a throne of
defilement. I know not what was unleashed there, but no one could have
survived.

My life has never seemed more empty. My once-high purpose to defend my
village has crumpled like the ashes of my home.The only drive left in my
soul is the call to stand victorious over this darkness. Perhaps I can stop
another from having to echo my truth.

I have failed her.

Role

Chapter 2

Stricken with hollow grief after the massacre of his village, Azidreth did
not know where to turn.The friends of his childhood were gone, as was his
mother.Feeling adrift without their guidance, he wandered aimlessly.

It was in the warriors of the Fortress that Azidreth again found the Light
blazing brightly. Theirs was not senseless rage or vengeance, but a
righteous zeal.The retribution they dealt was not guided by a thirst for
blood, but a longing for eventual peace. Though not quite certain of
himself, Azidreth set out to join their fold.

Role

Chapter 1

Azidreth stood on the ledge, glancing down at the home he had come to love,
at the family he had found.

A voice that sounds like a soft fire says 'and do you believe you could
uphold these duties?'

Aarn says 'Ya best not have ta think 'bout dat one. I seen yer fightin'.'

Azidreth glanced down at his hands, wrinkled and crooked with age. He felt
the cold wind biting into him has it never had in his youth. He closed his
eyes against the doubt, and a memory drifted into his consciousness.

****************************

You say to Cytherea 'How can you lead troops into battle when all you can do
is roar at them?'

Cytherea says softly 'By feelings, and trust.'

Cytherea says softly 'I believe you would make a good Captain.'

****************************

Renewed by the faith of his Sister and dearest friend, Azidreth reopened his
eyes. He glanced at Aarn and the Skyborn, feeling only their curiousity and
honest trust of his coming answer.

Azidreth squared his shoulders and said, 'The flame lies within the heart,
not the body.'

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