<< prev the Journal of Tyrian sin`Vallenti pg. 4
I have been reborn.
Never before have I felt such... purpose... such drive to fulfill my Master's Will. Even as I sit here penning my journal entry I feel the tug on my soul to go forth and spread hate and discord. There are relationships to rend, lives to take, and empires to crumble.
I am awaiting judgment from the Inquisitor Ascendant who will determine whether I receive their blessing to go forth into the world once more on my unholy mission. The verdict is unquestionably yes. I have forseen it. I have seen many things which these petty fools can only begin to imagine.
To think, all these years I was cooped up in the bowels of this cloister when I should have been out sowing the seeds of evil far and wide. Our true mission has been lost... lost in years of senseless bickering and infighting amongst the houses. I would have been more than willing to continue that charade had I not drowned.
Yes, I was drowned. I suppose it would surprise you to learn that I died in the frigid underground river which flows through the Crystal Caverns. I went to restore life to a foolish human monk who had been pulverized by men made of jewel and stone. The scion of Fear accompanied me at a time when I could see no further than the money offered for rendering a service. Me, a Priest of Innoruuk soiling my soul for a few shiny coins! Unthinkable now, but my mission then.
We battled our way across a broken bridge and traveled through underwater tunnels infested with the flesh-eating velium crawlers whose roars deafen and teeth rend. A dark cavern lay before us and there we found a massive stalagterror barring our way. Through prayers and righteous might we won through and Innoruuk brought life back to the lifeless.
It was the sight of these Geonids which led me astray. They were taller than an Ogre and made entirely of jewels. Yes, unfinished gems and stone were animated and alive before me. They were silent and still but undeniably sentient (as the monk soon explained as we traveled out of earshot). Great riches would be had by any who could defeat them and harvest their heart gems.
While my true mission was unknown to me, I allowed greed to turn MY heart. I, who should be held incorruptible by anything on the mortal plane, fell for one of the very tools which I should have used to spread hatred in these mines. Perhaps I should have sparked war between Coldain and Geonid... or used the Ry`Gorr to assault the Drachnids (and their crystal spider cohorts). Instead, I whispered to Daggerclaw that we should secretly murder a great many Geonids and harvest their gemstone hearts for ourselves.
We had returned to Frostone by then and, after a meal and a brief rest, we endeavored to return to the Geonid mines by the same underwater tunnels as before. That was when I fell into the darkness.
I followed my reptilian companion through a rounded tunnel of ice. He was lithe and swam strongly against the current which tugged incessantly at my robes and strained my endurance to its limit. Ahead lie the opening in the surface which would lead us to the mines. I was beginning my ascent when a trio of velium crawlers (who had been feasting on the flesh of their fallen comrades, I might add) noticed my heat and assaulted me. My arms and legs were bound and my chest constricted by their sinuous bodies. I could not cry out for help (and when I tried, I recall seeing the last of my breath bubble to the surface)
The wisdom revealed to me when I slipped the mortal coil moved me deeply. I do not consciously recall exactly what I saw or experienced (except in flashes which answer all of my inner questions concisely and completely) but I do remember my first post-revelation memory... a piercing whistle followed by the presence of a smelly halfling - and then the sharp crackle of druidic magic plunging me back into unconsciousness.
I awoke near the druid ring in the Commonlands. Daggerclaw was watching over my still form and the good folk of the plains were granting us a wide berth. Perhaps it was my own enhanced aura of evil... or maybe the heavily armed and menacing-looking Iksar standing over me. Whichever it was, I stood wearily and explained our next destination... Neriak.
Once again, he took the new direction in stride. He already knew the way and, as I was feeling safe, I explained a great deal of my new insights to him. He was the Chosen agent of Fear to accompany me, Lord Innoruuk's Chosen agent of Hate into the realms of the mighty that they know the true meaning of terror! It was ordained and commanded by both my great god and his lesser god that we do this. He took it well, as if this sort of thing happened every day. So it must be that Fear's Chosen knows none.
A lesser Inquisitor was sent out to dismiss me. As Lord Innoruuk promised, the craven circle of Inquisitors had caved into my demands. The trembling young lad quivered as he handed me some holy artifacts to use in my quest. As well he should! I have the power of Hate and Fear coursing through my veins! I am to meet Daggerclaw outside the gates (the Dragoons would not allow him to pass, and it amused us to humor them) and from there we will embark on our next great adventure.
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