Ameris Santraeger once more gives a controversial sermon on the streets of the city.
Ameris looks out over those gathered, a welcoming smile. When he speaks, his voice is hoarse. Those who have a good view might see a healing scar wound across his throat.
"Thank-you all for coming." The priest's smile fades, and he does not speak, letting silence draw on a little.
He begins to speak, an even tone.
"I have spoken much about evil this past month. One particular evil in fact, the Zhentarim." A pause.
"There are other evils I could speak of." He looks out across those gathered, his gaze finally pulling towards the Thayan Enclave.
"Evils that stand out in the open." A frown growing, an angry frown. Then a sadness. His gaze dips.
His fingers drum on the lectern.
He looks out over the crowd again, with anger once more.
"Evils stood among us now. Or crazed cultists following a dark god of dragons, bending their own knee and plotting to bend ours. Or nihilistic servants of pure,unadulterated evil, craving eternal night for the Lady of Loss, numb to others, numb to their own sense of self, seeking to make everything nothing." As he relays these, there is a strange tone to his voice, the anger giving way to pity.
The hoarseness of Ameris' voice does not suit fiery rhetoric, and it wavers.
He takes a deep breath, resting his voice a moment.
He continues, a calmer delivery, the angry edge in his voice quieter.
"Or evils lurking in the shadows, slithering like Viper's to coil around the city's wealth and nobility, their Eyes cold with murder. Their lies are now a Song to be sung, far and wide; their own instruments ready to be unstrung."
A pause, another breath. He takes a flask from his belt and wets his throat. Public speaking seems to be testing him.
Ameris offers a sad smile, and he continues on almost as if it is an aside.
"These last care nothing for those who serve them, leaving them out as carrion when they fail, when they are sent against such an impossible foe as the slayer of the Angel of Decay, Insen. Such cruelty is a mark of evil. It is goodly to show mercy to any who abandon such a cruel cause. You know where I stand." The last, as if addressing a
particular group, its not apparent which.
Ameris leans back, hands on the lectern.
"Yes, I could rant with righteous fury about any of those evils, and yet more. I could speak words of fire and warning. For as those of the Watcher say, preparation is half of any battle, and by my words I could prepare the people of this city against coming threats, and threats already here, all the things there are to fear."
He looks about, quietly, his gaze meeting those who look in his direction.
"I am not going to do that."
He speaks with reflection.
"Two days ago, Wren De Corvi, Herald of Darkhold, was shot and killed here in the city. You will have all heard this. Many of you will have heard how I was arrested for this crime. Some will have heard of the crossbow alleged to have been found within the Temple of Ilmater. I can tell you now that I did not do this."
He shakes his head.
"No, the Herald had been marked for death by servants of the Lady of Loss, and it is they who stand as clearest suspects in this wrong. Her last days were lived as her service to Darkhold began, in fear of a monster." He then leans forward on the lectern, and stares at Kahanak in the crowd.
His gaze moves about the crowd, still leaning forward, an intensity in his voice.
"That fear was a failure of mine. A failure of all the goodly. All the righteous. Every soul has a right to live free of fear, unless they work to place such chains on others. Every soul needs protection. Every soul has worth. It is time that is understood."
A passion enters his voice.
"I know many understand this. I have had the honour of working with many people who believe in the worth of others.I have fought beside them. I have healed beside them. I have distributed alms beside them. We have looked over lost children together, we have helped the lost together, we have stood together, for better things. Noble things. And against worse things. Cruel things."
He nods firmly.
"Yes, I know many such people, whose hearts are filled with love and tolerance, wisdom, duty. Who share their time and effort to aid others. Whose hearts burn with compassion for those in need, and righteous fury against those who hurt others."
Ameris smiles, as if relating a glory.
"I speak of the paladins of the Radiant Heart and Silver Rose, the knights of the Everwatch and the Lathanderites of Beregost, standing as they do against monsters and undead to fight in defence of the innocent. I speak of the druids and rangers of the Elder Circle, guardians of nature, who fight as fierce against unnatural threats as any paladin."
He continues.
"I speak of the faithful of goodly and righteous gods in the city, not just of my own faith but of the Triad, or the Watcher, or of Tymora, or of the many visiting goodly clergy we welcome. I speak of that great project, the Halls of Inner Light, bringing together gods of love and tolerance in unity and understanding, and spreading that message to all."
He continues.
"I speak of the likes of the Phoenix Company, the Darius Holding Company, the Order of Lions, and the Sword Coast Commercial Exchange, whose charitable efforts have uplifted many out of want and need, slaying the dragons of hunger and want."
He continues.
"I speak of the tireless Hellriders of Elturel, at Lord Dhelt's command keep vigil over the lands knows no rest, who harry monsters and villains, and keep the roads in a modicum of safety beyond Duchal lands. A noble task, one emulated by many this past tenday, as many of the groups I have just spoken of, and many other voluneers, took to the roads and brought safety and peace where there was once cruelty and danger."
He continues.
"I speak of all those adventurers and champions not in any of those organisations, that stand ready nevertheless to set themselves against that would harm others, guardians by spell or blade, or by soft and gentle word and charitable endeavour."
He continues.
"And I speak of those who would seek to help others to help themselves, like Ashan Wayne and his Bladestone Foundation, teaching any who wish for it how to defend themselves, so they need not fear the predators in the world. Noble work, to remove fear."
Ameris falls silent and looks about the crowd. Slowly, his smile fades, and he grows stern in aspect.
A hardness in his voice.
"Yes, yes, I have met them. I know many of them well. I know what those who fight to defend this city can do, when they are roused to act. So did the legions of the Blight so find." His hands grip the lectern.
He leans forward.
"I do not speak words of warning now to the people of this city. No. I want them to listen to what comes. It is for them I speak, so they understand they can sleep easily at night. But not to them."
He grips the lectern, a fire in his voice.
"I speak instead to those who set aside their empathy and hold themselves above others in selfishness. Those that pursue evil and cruelty, and set aside mercy and kindness. Those that think their own greed makes it fair to deny others freedom, happiness, safety, and life. I speak to all the predators and tyrants and slavers and murders and torturers. I speak to the followers of dark gods who preach of death and ruin; I speak to crazed culists to dragons and fiends; I speak to those who kneel before a hag with a serpent's mark and those who offer up their service to a lich of bones."
That fire is an anger.
"I speak to you, who defy the law and use fear blended with lies to bring this city to heel, and make it a thing of profit for you, or a thing to further your divine, insane goals. I speak to those who think that it is unmarked that a woman lived in fear until she was slain on the streets of Baldur's Gate – a woman, who despite being my foe, did not deserve this. I speak to those that think it is acceptable to play out the war between evils with another here, in these walls."
Ameris gestures to the nearby eastern gate.
"Right by the eastern gate, that one gate that stood firm against even the Blight, under my Sister Reine Arlynson's command, insulting all who gave their lives to hold the line."
Ameris takes a breath, calming. Some moments pass. His gaze dips. He drums his fingers on the lectern. He looks to his left, then his right, then to the crowd once more.
"I speak in case you think you will teach this lesson of fear and all will look and calmly accept it. I speak to you and say this. You are not unmarked. You are not unknown. You are not unwatched. The shadows do not hide your cruelty as you think they do. The blood red footprints you leave mark your passage, allowing pursuit to close. Those who have slept, awaken. Their compassion and mercy for those who suffer turns to fury at your cruelty. Set it aside now. Now. Choose a better path. I will help you." He presses his hand to his chest.
"Many will help you, if you seek to change."
A pause.
"But continue in your ways, sinners, and there will a time when you will hear music play. A song of justice. And your deeds will be held to account."
Ameris raises his hand to bless the crowd, his very long winded threat to a large variety of evil organisations done. "In the name of Ilmater the wise, the merciful, the enduring."
