Triel, aspiring Paladin of Tyr

[magus_taliesin]

Triel enters the Temple of Tyr, stubbing her toe when she takes a seat and barely notices. She sits down heavily, looking at the floor, as tears fall freely on the stone.

"H-hello Tyr."

"Am I wrong? I-I don't know what t-to do. I should follow orders, b-but...aren't we supposed to change hearts? Am I going about it wrong?"

She sniffs and wipes her face.

"Tyr guide me in this. H-help me, give me wisdom and strength."

"Thank you Tyr...I-I will come b-back tomorrow."

[magus_taliesin]

Triel enters the temple and takes her usual seat.

"Tyr, I am confused."

"I have tried to find a way to uphold your teachings and follow the orders of the council."

"I cannot turn my back on something that is wrong. I cannot abide hate and injustice, these are the tools of evil, but it seems that our orders are now to cease to preach the message of fairness and justice."

"Are we to allow politics to outweigh our faith? Should we turn a blind eye to injustice because the victim is different? I look at myself through their eyes and wonder how that can be. If I was not a paladin would they also ignore the hate and injustice I have suffered?"

She looks up at the banner of Tyr with pleading eyes.

"Help me to understand this. I feel torn in two. I know that teaching love and kindness is right. I know that judging and individual on their actions is right. I know that hate, injustice, and evil should be met head on with kindness, tolerance, and mercy. Am I wrong? Are these things really only important if the victim is human or elf, and the oppressor is an orc or...a...tiefling?"

"I do not know what to do. I pray for your guidance and wisdom. I feel that I must remain true to your teachings, but how can I do that and follow my orders? Show me a path Tyr, so that I may do what is right."

"Thank you Tyr, I will come back tomorrow."

[TheVoid]

*A whispered and sensual voice speaks to Triel's mind. As she finishes her prayer and exits the temple of the even-handed god*

"Follow your nature.... it will guide you to your destiny..."

*The words are fleeting and calming as the mid-autumn breeze, but they verberate in her mind for the rest of the day*

[magus_taliesin]

Triel is filled with peace. She feels a sense of calm and assurance.

[magus_taliesin]

Triel enters the Temple solemnly and sits in her usual spot. She contemplates her surroundings for a time before bowing her head.

"Hello Tyr, it's me again."

She smiles, knowing in her heart that he hears her.

"I know I ask a lot of you, but I only ask because I worry about others. I do all that I can to help, and I am glad to have your hand guiding me in all of this."

"I seek your aid with a friend, and...hmm. A friend, and a woman that I believe is in trouble."

"I am sure you know what happened today at the fire, with Miss Narasida, and the man that claims to own her. I really think that this time I was starting to get through a little. She seemed like she wanted to talk, and she was being markedly different from her usual self."

"When that man approached she couldn't get away fast enough, and he nearly threatened me and Miss Aya."

"Tyr, sir...I don't care that he threatened me, I am not concerned for myself, but Aya is such a sweet girl, and not a warrior. I know she is an Ilmateri, but I was hoping that you could look out for her. Make sure she is safe."

"I would like to help Narasida more now than ever. I believe her dark influence is this man who calls himself Calad. If he holds her against her will he may also be casting a dark cloud on her soul. It may not even be her nature that is dark, but the influence of this man. I seek your wisdom and guidance in this matter Tyr. Give me the strength to save this soul before it is too late."

"Thank you Tyr, I will return tomorrow."

[magus_taliesin]

Aya and Triel enter the Temple of Tyr. The young paladin is leaning on the shoulder of her friend, sobbing quietly and pulling at her hair from time to time. Aya guides her to a pew and they both sit quietly. Slowly Triel gets herself under control and wipes her panicked eyes.

"I...I d-don't think that it w-was Tyr's voice I h-heard before," Triel says softly, her breath catching from time to time on a stray sob.

"I heard it again, h-he said he wants me...wants to show me power. H-he wanted to kill them all..." her voice catches in her throat as she looks at Aya in panic, "If I had thought it...I think he would have killed you too..." She breaks down again, sobbing quietly against Aya's shoulder, pulling at her friend's robes in tightly clenched hands.

Aya comforts Triel as the sobs slowly fade away. The young paladin sits back and takes a deep breath. She folds her hands and bows her head over them. Aya closes her eyes and just sits close so her friend knows she is there.

"Tyr, I need you now more than ever," Triel beings to pray.

"I am sorry I thought it was your voice I heard. I was wrong. I need your strength, your wisdom, and your guidance. Protect your servant, for she feels a dark presence near. Shed your merciful light on me Tyr, cast away the dark."

"I have devoted my life to you, Tyr, and I ask for your blessing. Protect those around me from this darkness. Do not let it harm them. If it is my path to be lost, please keep those around me in the light. I will fight it with all that you have taught me Tyr, but I don't know if I can fight it, and protect others. I am asking for your help, as your humble servant."

Triel and Aya sit quietly for a time, just sitting close for the assurance of friendship. After a time they talk, and then pray. They remain this way through the night, using their shared friendship to keep the darkness at bay.

[magus_taliesin]

The following morning Triel left the Temple, her friend still asleep on a pew, and headed to the inn to order a hot bath. She could not shake the feeling that whatever had talked to her had touched her in some way.

Once the tub was brought up and filled she quickly climbed in and started to wash. A standard cleaning turned into a frantic scrubbing of the skin til it was almost raw. Triel scrubbed and wept until it hurt, but still did not feel clean. Having no wish to cause any more pain she climbs out and dries off, getting dressed. She gets a firm grip on her nerves and heads out for the day.

[TheVoid]

The soothing wind falls gently on her now nearly raw and sensitive flesh as she dresses. The whispers returns gentle, suggestive, and mischevious...

"Scrubbing the taint from your flesh? Oh no my dear.... it's much deeper than that...."

[magus_taliesin]

Triel enters the temple of Tyr, escorted by Tal. She thanks him for his help and walks up the aisle to sit for a moment. Her eyes are red, and her hair is a mess. There is blood on her armor and a panicked look in her eyes. She sits for a time, looking at the alter before going to the inner sanctum of the Temple to pray.

"Tyr, it's me again."

"It's getting worse. The voice wants me to do horrible things. I am afraid that he hurt the man that attacked me. I told him no, but he did it anyway. Tyr, please have mercy on my attacker's soul and guide it to a peaceful rest. I did not want him to die."

She looks up at the statue with tears in her eyes.

"I am afraid...so very afraid for everyone. I will be strong though Tyr. I will give my very life before I let him take me. I will ever be your servant, even if I have to take my life to remain that way."

She stops as images start to flash through her mind. Disjointed visions of a battle, mountains, trolls. The man that attacked her in Bereghost is surrounded, he is struck down. She sees the end through the man's eyes. Triel stumbles and gasps as the vision fades and her body is her own again.

"Oh no...Tyr forgive me..."

She flees to the lower level to her sleeping cell, climbing onto the cot and pulling her knees up to her chest, hugging them tight and rocking slightly and weeping. If anyone were around to hear she is whispering softly, 'I am not a demon', over and over again.

[magus_taliesin]

After a period of siting on her cot, rocking, she drifts off into a fitful sleep. The first time she has let her eyes close in two days. She always knows the dreams will come, but eventually she always succumbs to sleep no matter how hard she tries. Her arms go slack against her legs, and her body relaxes. There is no way for her to know how long she is asleep before they start, this time they are different.

Pain, too much pain. So young..."No...daddy please!" It's not her father though, it's different. Flames, searing eyes burning a hole in her soul, the devil smiles. Trolls are close, a man screams, the devil laughs. "No, don't hurt him." The devil mocks, she knows it's her fault. "No!" she turns away, but is pinned. "Let me go!" She rolls away, her legs are caught. "I won't give myself to you!" The last of her strength, falling, landing hard and cold."

"NO!" Triel jerks awake, lying on the floor of her sleeping cell. Her cot is turned over, and her legs are wrapped in her blanket. She gets up and washes herself in the cold water basin. She wipes the tear marks away, and avoids the tiny mirror.

She knows that sleep is beyond her this night. She decides to write a report for the order about recent events.

[magus_taliesin]

Triel walked toward the small boat dock on the river, her friend Aya close behind. She had just gotten the news, and she was taking it hard. She was dressed in black, and for the first time had her head covered. In one hand she carried a bunch of bright yellow flowers. In the other, a scarred and blackened mask.

Upon reaching the docks she looked out onto the water for a moment, quiet and watching. Finally after a time she pulls a flower from the bunch and lifts it to her nose.

"My love, wherever you are now, I hope you are safe." She casts the flower into the water and watches the current catch it up. She picks another.

"I send these to you with all my heart," She casts it in, taking another, "You were the first truly kind person I met here."

She watches them be carried away before taking another, "I will always love you for all that you were to me. I pray that wherever you are you are again whole and beautiful."

She casts the rest of the bunch into the river, "You were always beautiful to me Naomi."

[magus_taliesin]

Triel enters the Temple of Tyr after a long absence. She approaches the alter sheepishly, taking a knee and pushing back her black hood she has worn in mourning.

"Hello Tyr, it's me."

"Sorry it has been so long since I talked to you, but I was a little upset...a bit angry. I don't think that's the proper mindset to pray with."

"I know it wasn't your fault that Naomi is dead. I know you did everything you could, but these things happen."

"I pray that you help her to find a merciful rest, and if there is something other than happenstance behind her death, I pray that you help me find justice for her on this plane."

She pauses and takes a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for what might happen next.

"If it is the 'voice', whoever is talking to me, that is responsible, I pray that you give me the strength to defeat it and to insure it harms no one else."

"Thank you Tyr, I will come back tomorrow."

[magus_taliesin]

Triel entered her small cell in the lower levels of the temple, hoping to get a couple hours of sleep before the dreams started. She unbuckled her armor and let it drop to the floor without much care, and fell onto her cot. She lay there, struggling with herself, forcing herself to relax and close her eyes. She wanted sleep so much that it brought tears to her eyes, but the apprehension and fear of what the dreams would bring made it hard. Finally she succumbed to the exhaustion, and after a couple hours the dreams started...

Hot, ale-stinking breath. Gap-toothed smiles. Pain, so many different pains. They hit her to make her still while they hurt her in other ways. She tried to fight but she was too small. Suddenly the face flies away and is replaced by a bestial visage of horror and hate. A leering, horned thing that just laughs at her as he tears the men apart. She is splashed with the blood of her father.

Her house in Daggerford. Heat, and fire, pain and fear. She is in her room, the rest of the house is aflame. Where is her mother? The beast again, in her doorway, pointing at the window. She runs, making for the hole in the wall. She looks back, calling for her mother. The beast is there, capering as flames consume the woman that bore her. She closes her eyes and screams.

A forest of masks. Triel opens her eyes, it's cool, but something's wrong. Someone is in pain and needs her. She starts running through the trees, brushing masks away as she flies down the path. Suddenly a clearing. The beast is there spitting flame over a form on the ground. The person is burned, her skin blackened. Nothing recognizable...a mask. Triel screams, reaching for her sword. It's not there, she is in her night shift, she has no weapon, and no protection. The beast turns and lunges at her. She tries to flee but trips. The thing is close, she screams again as the claws reach for her...

Triel snaps away mid-scream. She is covered in sweat, and tangled in her blankets. She looks around the room, wide-eyed, but slowly realizing she is in no danger here. She drags her pack over and digs out Naomi's mask, holding it close as she falls back on the bed and weeps.

[magus_taliesin]

Triel enters the Temple of Tyr, in a surprisingly upbeat mood that she hasn't had in a long time. She greets the priest at the head of the aisle before going to the back of the Temple to the private alter. Leaving a generous donation on the stone she takes a seat on one of the benches and collects her thoughts.

"Hi Tyr, It's me. I think that I have been able to reach two souls who were hardened against me. I had forgotten my own values for a time, and had lost my way, but I have returned. Naomi's loss, and Narasida's harsh words had made it easy to stray, but you, and one of your Brother Ilmater's followers, have shown me the path."

"I apologized to Narasida the other day, and I think it caught her off guard. The rest of the day she was unusually mild, and almost nice to me. She didn't talk about harming me or my friends, nor did she question my chosen path or my past. I have returned to the path of kindness in the face of adversity, respect, even to our enemies."

"I also spoke to Miss Rith'alaria. She apologized for being harsh with me, and I for seeming put off about it. Something has hardened her heart, and I understand her feelings toward orcs and the like. She will never accept my reasoning, but I hope to at least get her to understand it as I understand hers. I don't know exactly what happened to her, but maybe in time she will confide in me."

"Thank you Tyr, for your guidance and wisdom. Thank you for guiding me in justice, and truth. I know that justice means judging each being on their actions, not what might happen. I know that wisdom means not taking the chance of condemning an innocent soul to death because he or she might do evil. I thank you for this, and everything else you have helped me with in my life."

"I will return tomorrow."

[magus_taliesin]

Triel awakens in the early morning hours, looking around as if not knowing where she is. She is groggy, probably from Sister Meri's medicine. She feels strange, she doesn't exactly know what it is but for the first time since she was a little girl she feels rested. She thinks hard, she doesn't remember dreaming, no nightmares. Another first.

She's holding something tightly, looking at the end of her arm she sees Aya, sitting on the floor, asleep with her head on the edge of the bed. Triel is holding her hand so tightly the fingers are white. She lets go and quietly climbs out of bed, moving to the small table to wash her face.

An entire nights sleep, she can't believe it. She is wary of Meri's warning about the addictive properties of the sleep aid, and hopes the tea works just as well. She feels rested, but she knows, deep down, that if she tries to sleep without the medicine the dreams will come back, the nightmares, the visions. She can almost feel them lingering on the edge of her mind, waiting to spring on her when she is most vulnerable.

She moves to Aya, pulling the blanket off the bed and around her friend's shoulders. She kneels down, looking at the woman's sleeping face.

"Such a good friend," she whispers almost soundlessly, brushing a piece of hair behind Aya's ear. She smiles regretfully, knowing in her heart she would never ask Aya to not take her vows, but wishing it just the same. She forcefully pushes that feeling aside and kisses Aya gently on the top of her head before going out to see if she can help the sisters with breakfast.