Marion - Days 38 - 39

--- Day 38 ---

The day started out as uncertain as I'd expected, but at least now a path is clear for us to follow.

I had much concern over Hrogar and his actions, now that I had finally heard all sides of the tale. Although his actions weren't horrifying, I'm not certain they upheld the Paladin Code. They were not driven by malice or cowardice, but instead by a curiosity to observe and record. I'm sure if the gods stripped him of his powers, it would be due to inactivity instead of anything other.

This proved to be the case.

I'd already told Hrogar that I would go with his on his journey last night, and I reassured him of this fact this morning when I brought him some breakfast. Some of the paladins in our group, Alcander the most vocal of them, insist that this is only his task to do, and that no one else should interfere. I'm of the opinion that this may be a way for the gods to be testing us all, to see how we would help one of our own. It's my philosophy that we should help out how we can unless the gods tell us otherwise, instead of asking permission whenever we want to lend our assistance. The gods gave us thought and reasoning for this, we are their beacons and advocates, not their automatons.

I couldn't do much but sigh and cry at Arcadius' proclamation either, especially when he kept repeating that it wasn't my way and that I wouldn't understand. Questions went nowhere with him. What if I did want to understand?

I was making the last cinches in my pack when Hrogar comes to me with a vision. He says that it's becoming clearer, in focus... to somewhere we've already been before - the mines.

Oh, how I dread that place. It seemed that our group had been plagued ever since we first investigated that hillside. We've lost Paladins to other callings, we've had nightmares through our slumbers, paladins fighting out paladins... and perhaps it all leads back to this place. Hrogar went to tell the others, and they leaped at the chance to go back to the mines.

This has me a little bit suspicious, to be honest. Hrogar's first atonement would have probably taken us to another den of evil, perhaps even worse than this one, and they shunned the idea of accompanying him. Hrogar mentions the mines, however, and everyone is on board. I wonder if there's something else going on, or if their gods finally gave them insight. I'll still be on the lookout, however - I still can't forget the nightmares of the evenings.

--- Day 39 ---

It'll still take a while for the feeling of having a group leader to finally sink in.

I thought a bit about it while traveling to the mines yesterday and today, and I think Ryan's a fine choice to lead our group across the countryside. Originally when I came back with Hrogar to the group, Alcander was set to lead. I wasn't quite certain about this, and cast my vote for Ryan instead.

Admittedly, I believe Alcander is probably one of the strongest and toughest Paladins of his training level I've seen. With but a lion skin, a club and a bow to his name, his courage and skill on the battlefield are unparalleled. There's no one else that I'd want to protect me in the heat of battle, but I'm not so certain on the finer aspects of leadership, especially when he makes our presence known to all evil opposition in longbow range. I understand that there's a Paladin Code to uphold here, but they can't uphold it if they're dead.

Ryan's proved to be the most well-balanced of all the paladins here. He knows when to fight and when to parlay. He knows when we should use the diplomatic talents of Hrogar, the courageous acts of Alcander, the virtuous outlooks of Arcadius. Ryan looks at the world and seeks to understand how best we can fight the evil in the world, for how can we best fight that which we do not know the weaknesses of?

I cringe in fear as head back down into the mines. I know that I have the light of Kaladis upon me, and that he'll see me through, but it's hard to see his shining light from the dark depths of these caves.

We're not far into the caves when undead are upon us. I see most of my comrades awkwardly swinging at the foes, their swords ineffectively swinging through their targets. I muster up my courage through my Seal of Kaladis, trying to turn away as many of them as I can. In the next room, we've more undead to come and thwart us, but only after a bone-chilling voice comes from the walls themselves - it challenges us to try and cleanse it from the mines.

We're almost to the end of our rope - my memorized spells start to dwindle as I feel fatigued from turning - when a bright flash of light assaults my vision. I cringe and turn away from it, and I hear a cry echo through the cavern. The light dims down, and when I regain my vision, Arcadius is shimmering with a light afterglow over where one of the undead forms used to be.

We've still one left, though, and the paladins can't quite fight it off. My summoned creature has come and gone, the paladins have used all their healing powers to attack the undead. The will of this creature to survive is strong, I can feel its oppressive weight upon me as I raise my seal to it once more. I breathe in the light of Kaladis, and direct my seal to it again.

"In the name of Kaladis, the god of Vows and the sanctity of Marriage, I command you to leave this place!"

My will and the will of Kaladis pour through the seal, and I can imagine a beam of light striking out towards the massive undead. The willpower is formidable, but with one last push with th remainder of my faith, my god and I push through his defenses and strike his wicked core. He shrieks in terror and attempts to flee from the group, only to meet the unrelenting blows from Alcander and Arcadius.

My will spent, I sit down on the cold stone ground and close my eyes.