Phasorin Zau — Disciple of the Pure Flame

[Steve]

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A hooded man in crimson robes adorned with intricate embroidery stood facing the ever-burning cauldron, head bent as in honoring The Flame, as the Devoted Flame of the Tendrils returned from chambers, headed back to his ever present post within The Temple. A pause, in the silence of the room, with only the ever-present crackle and flare of smouldering coals within the great purifying pit, to disturb the air that hovered between the two men.

The hooded figure raised up his head slowly and only slightly, not in a way that he would only now be aware of the presence of the returning priest, but slowly as to let the priest know, the hooded man was not unaware. The Tendril priest's eyes burned into the back of the hooded man, seeking illumination into the identity of one that would face The Flame without any appearance of respectful fear.

"Let fire and purity bless you, my son...." spoke The Tendril priest, clearing the air, attempting to deduce the purpose of this new arrival within the temple.

The hooded man, reacting to the spoken words, turned with a powerful grace, smooth like a bending flame around dry fuel, consuming the form in its caress. As the hooded man finally faced the The Tendril priest, hands moved to open showing palms, where in each, new and separate flames flickered to life, blazing crimson and casting powerful shadows around the man.

"And the Eternal Flame shall purify us all." now answers the hooded man with hand aflame, a response made in harmony to that which was first spoken by the Tendril priest—a call and response, between the Knowing.

The Tendril priest, if having earlier showed any hesitation from seeing this hooded man within the Temple, was now standing at respectful attention. A realization had taken hold of his thoughts, and was now a guide to the situation. He speaks again to the hooded man:

"Preceptor Zau...your arrival was foretold...."

[Steve]

In the town of Beregost, upon the boards carrying notices and public announcements, one more is added to the depth.

[parchment]On the Ruin of the World

Though it is true, and I do so believe
Your Providence to be, Lord of Flames
Forever boundless (nor could I believe its opposite, because experience proves it)
At times it does seem colder still than snow
When I behold the world turned on its head,
And lifeless on the ground, like a spent pyre,
Lies every virtue, every custom of balance.
I find no brillant light, or guiding flicker flame,
Or even someone freed from sin through your blessing of purification,
For still...some men deny you, others say you care not for salvation.

But, Lord Most High, I think you linger still
Because of your great purity without fault,
Or, else it is you wait, because you know that a day
Is drawing near when a challenge shall test the value of all.
Your Mercy will not always turn towards us:
The enemies of the Eternal Flame are here revealed;
Now the waters drown the beggar;
The soil has come into pirate hands;
The skies are laid low;
Here lustfulness and every prey abounds,
And opposite them your faithful seek that higher state.

Do you not see that the people have gone quite mad,
How full of pride they are, yet a font of vices
That makes my heart consume itself with scorn?
Oh! Look at that debauched effeminate,
That panderer in merchant dress, a clown
The rabble follow and the blind world loves!
Are you not moved to scorn, yet watching...
When you see how those lustful swine delight,
And never earning your highest praises of the Flame
With sycophants and parasites taking it, then...
All the while your faithful are expelled from land to land?

Now those who live from spiritual theft are all content,
And those who feed the most on others' blood,
Who rob from the widows and from swaddling babes,
And those who rush to ruin the fire with fat
A pure and most special soul is one
Who now with eternal flame about him,
Beyond books and papers replete with swindlers,
And those who best are skilled in unpure deeds.

The Sword Coast is so oppressed by every vice
The never by itself it will unload,
And the Head, its head, is crawling on the ground,
And never will return to its great office.
How you must wish to temper all into the pure state
With pain, the gain of avoiding further ruin!
Words are not enough...
But here all men and women,
Each one does what he can to do to purify.
Those past times, once chaste and pious, long past, shall return.

The Pure Vision, spread like wings of flame
The rabble and the wicked hordes cry out underneath;
Be it faith or philosophy.
All men now turn their backs on doing good;
No-one is on the straight path any more.
And for what good does good no longer do!
So now the small flame I carry grows,
But wanting for not
Shall envelope, completely, all before it
For I know in the time of the cleansing
It will be clear to all which soul was true
And who did raise his weapon against ambition.

Oh Tyrant, tis not the way to be careful
Not to lean against weak, helping hand...
Burn out the palaces and loggias
Accept these offernigs in your Name,
And share your gifts to just a little few,
For you will be the change, harsh and measured, to all the world.[/parchment]

[Steve]

The Preceptor takes hold of one of the ancient tomes detailing the history of the Pure Flame...and the words carry the candle-flame like inked pillars of truth.

Within the cavernous temple, the Preceptor is carried away by the power in what is said...and in that moment, he speaks aloud what he has received in script, for all to hear...:

The Kossuthan religion holds that only those fit to succeed will do so
The faith of Kossuth is innately superior to other faiths
And those of the other elemental lords pale in comparison
With regard to water that flows...such it will one day be made into steam.

Fire and purity are one and the same~
As you see the smoke produced by fire rise, witness its creation by the element of air in its jealousy
And through the impurities of the material, it is cleansed by the flames.

Ambition is a force beyond resistance
Reward of successful ambition is power.

There is an inevitability of change
To a higher state being
That arrives through difficulty
Accompanied through the pain
And that is why we do not fear it.

As you enter into the faith, hear these words~

The eternal Kossuth sends his pure fire to cleanse us all and temper our souls to a more pure state. Expect to be tested and strive to rise to the challenge, no matter what difficulty or pain it brings you. Follow the Promised above you, for they have proven their worth and achieved a higher state which you too can find in Kossuth's service. Find the true vision, the final goal of your life, and pursue it utterly. Give yourself totally to the cause, and it will return eternal rewards to you. Guide the teeming masses to the pure light that is Kossuth so that he may reforge all life into its essential form, and complete order and harmony will follow.

[Steve]

The Preceptor practices his lesson, over and over, before the burning cauldron—a witness within the flame, ever present.

"Awaken the to the pure light that is Kossuth, so that he may reforge all that is lived yet wasteful, back into its essential form...and complete order, and harmony, will follow."

This the Preceptor repeats, developing into mantra-like form, until by will and devotion, flame from the cauldron leaps from basin into the Faithful's own hands...so empowered.

[Steve]

Subject: DM Rumours of Amn

The strange affliction rages on in Amn, and now rumors say that there are already around seven victims of it confirmed, found in their homes dead or disappeared during nights. All of the victims are from the poorer inhabitants of the two towns.

A red hooded man in red-dyed cloth embroidered with thread shaped in flames, was overheard commenting in the public plaza of Beregost, that it would only be purification by the Eternal Flame, that would cure the strong and release the weak, from whatever suffering has placed upon the people, by the Gods.

Some may speak that the Man himself, was able to envelope his hands in a flame, and offer to administer the Purification, personally.

If any of the commoners would have showed fear from the Man's power, he would have, as calmly as possible, assured them that this Purification was a gift, and that only through submission to such purity as flame, would they know a life lived of least suffering...or, did he mention no life to suffer by, should the Flame decide?

The rumors ended with assured tones that the Man bringing offers of purification came and went eastward, past the road leading to Gullykin.

[Steve]

The Preceptor and a holy Firewalker oversee a Promised walking the fiery path....