A plea for help.
This day began like many others.A walk through the city.
Filling the bucket behind the Temple of Tyr with fresh water for the three dogs that live in my neighborhood too. Fred, Georgia and Phillius.
Getting three fresh loaves of Rosemary herbed Oat Bread from the Baker.
And bringing them back to the Home behind the Ilmater Temple for the children to share for breakfast. And one for my bag for the road.
It was done for me, as I now do for them. Kindness deserves kindness.
Many call it an Orphanage, Refuge, Disease hole, depending upon which type of spoon graces your mouth, you may call it something else. Me. I call it Home.
For that is where I spent my youth. It is the place that taught me to read, write, heal, care, defend yourself, and defend those that cannot.
"A family was robbed last night, beaten and bloody. The mother is in our infirmary having her wounds tended. Please everyone, join me in prayer for her swift recovery".
After the prayer, I leave out the back way, winding my way through the hallowed hallways to the Temple proper. Offering a quick nod to Khalso, his jaw set rather grim as he guards the door to the infirmary, I rap my knuckles on the door three times, before hearing a quiet "Come in"
Sister Rachel greets me as she looks up from her bandage preparation table.
The city is rife with cruelty, why must life be any harder than it is. It's already hard enough to just 'live' and put food on the table for a family, but to have to deal with savage thievery.
The sad thing is... many of the underworld grew up in hard times, and turned to the help of Ilmater and his refuges when in dire need.
I found the family, they were broken, disheveled, ... suffering.
I approached with open arms and sat down to hear their woes.
I informed them their mother was doing well in the care of Sister Rachel in the Temple and you'll be able to come see her in the afternoon after she has rested.
I then gave the children another loaf of bread from my bag, smiled and ushered them off, informing them I need to speak to their father.
I enquired about their assailants, to which the Father was able to give me a precise description of a dwarf that I know well. The description matched that of Robard, whom grew up in the 'home' around the same time as I did. Robard and a pair of thugs approached the family in the night, barely a word spoken, and began their beating, and left with some of the family belongings, particularly a simple copper necklace with a greenstone pendant that belonged to the Mother. I informed him that I'll track down the bandits and return the necklace.
"A cave just outside the Northern gate is a renowned hold for tradeway bandits. Perhaps your assailant is there."
Thus I set off and worked my way through the caves. A few bandits in the cave must have recently acquired a haul of booze, because the few I ran into were very groggy, and didn't require much convincing to "pass out".
I eventually found Robard in a storage part of the cave network. Lazily counting a purse of coins he no doubt pilfered from a victim.
"ROBARD!" I shouted and drew his attention alarmingly, causing him to drop the coin purse, the coins clinking to the ground.
As recognition took hold, a greasy leering smirk spread across his bearded features.
"Hello Lou Lou, my my... you've grown into quite the woman."
"Enough of your lewd remarks you overgrown pot belly little knee high. You beat and robbed a family in the Gate last night" I threw at him accusingly.
Snorting derisively "Heh, and what of it. They had it coming."
Gritting my teeth, I steeled my nerves and balled my fists.
Sensing the tension brewing, Robard drew a dagger and offered coyly "Don't think I won't gut you Lou Lou, just because we done time in that rat hole together". And with that he flicked the knife across the room at me, dodging swiftly it flew by me, to which I realised it was a distraction as he lunged across the floor and barreled into me.
We rolled about, belting the living out of each other, but drawing on an inner strength from a well deep within, I gained the upper hand.
There I left Robard, broken and bloody on the floor... like a bloody message to all that would come across him. Wiping my nose with my sleeve, blood smearing across the ragged brown, I cared not.
I returned the necklace to the family, and gave them the purse of coins from Robard.
"Blessings of Ilmater be with you Louise, thankyou! Thankyou!"
Feeling rather dejected, confused, elated, tired, morally challenged... that left me with one avenue for consolation. I sought out a friendly wise ear to hear my tale. Heading into the Temple, I quietly entered the Chapel, where I encountered Brother Marcus alone, reading from a text. He looked up, smiled warmly and beckoned me to approach.
But through it all, Brother Marcus, smiled, listened, never interrupted.
After I had finished my tale... the air hung silent for what seemed like many minutes and we merely looked at each other.
His response eventually came, a twitch of his eyebrow, pursed lips and a long exhale followed by.
"You have righted a wrong... punished the inflicter of cruelty... suffered for others... and mended emotional wounds... you have done enough this day, go rest, and be blessed by Ilmater knowing that you have served well this day.
He merely put an arm on my shoulder, and a welling of warmth and calm came over me, I smiled, and left.
