Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Herran then as he reaches the site where the bombing had occurred yells out in a booming theatrical voice.

You have not won coward! and you never will!

The deeds of the Ilmatari run deep in this city!

Through thick and thin -they- above all others have streamed to the aid of those who have suffered ... from rising dragons! to demons and devils! ... vampires ... drought and famine ... attacks from without! and within!

The helpless may not be able to stand against you -butcher- but -I- will!

Ameris is a person I am proud to declare as friend .. neigh ... family!

I am not alone in my resolve! but I am the one calling you for what you are ... -coward-. You will be found ... and you will face your demise. You are not the first .. nor i fear the last ... who will try to insert your darkness into so many. But i promise you! ... you ... like those before you ... will face your doom through the resolve of this cities guardians!

I Herran Hymn declare myself your hunter ... your foe! Ameris will -not- be left to face you alone!

He does not bother to look around, not even knowing if his words have been heard, he merely storms off on tasks he had already planned.

A woman's body is brought to the temple by two men. Shortly afterwards, the watch visit with another body, both being taken to the infirmary. Some commotion takes place within the infirmary, prompting Sister Adolina to rush into the room and, later, some rather pale looking and nauseous watchmen to depart.

Since then, Ameris Santraeger is not seen at his usual ward rounds.

In the last few days Ameris is seen taking up his duties in the infirmary once more. He wears an eyepatch over his left eye and he seems to avoid surgical tasks, passing them to other priests. Notably, once off duty and during times of quiet, he is seen practicing his use of the scalpel on fruit and the like.

Similarly, the priest is seen praying much in the chapel, on occasion accompanied by Telia. He kneels head bowed, before the Altar, either motionless, or lips moving in whispered prayer. He maintains, for the most part, a sense of peace, although worry might be evident from time to time, to be banished by prayer or Telia's touch. He would seem doting of, and apologetic to, the witch. The witch does not seem keen on being doted on but she endures.

Ameris can be seen about the temple a great deal, no longer wearing his eyepatch; the eye once hidden is glassy and milky. There is a calmness about him that has been absent in the past month or so. In fact, he seems almost serene, compared to how he has been before.

That said, he seems busy with various tasks: stock taking, treating various chronic patients he has had a long term relationship with, writing reports to other clergy. He can be seen speaking to Father Marcus, Sisters Rachel and Adolina, and Brother Khalso as well as other clergy in quiet moments; there is a bittersweet tone to their whispered talks.

Following the incident with the elves in the Chapel, Ameris would take what time he could to offer quite words of support in among his seemingly busy duties. Indeed, he would make a point of offering to pray over the pair, as and when they require it. He would also make sure a blessed candle was nearby supplemented by spells of light.

kleomenes wrote:Following the incident with the elves in the Chapel, Ameris would take what time he could to offer quite words of support in among his seemingly busy duties. Indeed, he would make a point of offering to pray over the pair, as and when they require it. He would also make sure a blessed candle was nearby supplemented by spells of light.

The auburn haired elf would appriciate Ameris' efforts and thank him. She'd also promise to speak with him later.
On the next day, it would seem the other elf has awoken. After a short discussion, and arrival of another elf, they leave the temple and head back to Doron Amar.

Once more Ameris gives a sermon in the chapel in the Temple of Ilmater. Attendances are perhaps down, considering the recent trauma of the Barber, and indeed Telia and the two children under their care are not present.

The priest wears his Ilmatari robes, and skullcap. His left eye is glassy and milky, sightless, as he looks out over those gathered.

“Brothers, Sisters, friends, welcome.”

He offers a smile, a gentle, beatific smile.

"Last I spoke words of praise to the Broken God, they were met with horror. The one called the Barber, a servant and priest of the Lord of Murder, wrought an atrocity on the people of this city, on those who look to faith."

With a burning resolve he looks about, meeting as many gazes as he can. "Those poor souls who suffered and fell that day are not forgotten. This temple's doors are open to their families, and we weep for the suffering and loss, but we Endure, so that it is mercy that owns the meaning of the tragedy, not the Barber's crime."

He pauses, taking a breath. "The Barber sought my death, and the death of those near to me, as he had slain many before whose lives were lived for the poor and needy. He had carved a path in blood across the Sword Coast for many years before he came here. His crimes were many, his crimes were merciless."

He continues, a firmness in his voice. "He sent a message which took the life of an innocent man who I could not save, as well as taking the sight in my eye." He gestures to his left eye.

"He bid me sacrifice myself by presenting myself to him, and claimed to have taken three hostages to exchange for my death."

A solemn tone. "I prayed much on what to. The Ilmatari cannot leave souls abandoned, so my thoughts were much on the hostages.

His gaze dips. "I will not lie to you, friends. The decision was hard, and it was bitter. My faith on the one hand, my love for my wife, and the children we have recently taken into our care, and our friends and comrades, on the other. I felt pain at doing my duty. I saw the hurt in the eyes of others, and wept for it."

He looks up with fervour. "But they tell us in the Seminary, suffer in His name, and He will be there. So I descended into the Barber's trap; and stayed as true as I could to the ideals of the Broken God. I loved my foe, to grant him a chance to change his ways. But to no avail; and so, I was made to suffer."

A pause. "And he was there."

He speaks with passion now. "The inhuman cruelty of the Barber could not withstand Ilmater's righteous fury. And so, that beast, that monster, that killer whose tapestry of praise for his god was wrought on the sufferings of the needy was left open to be slain by the righteous fury of friends and comrades, whose love for the merciful saved me."

With finality, he speaks. "The Barber is dead."

He lets it sink in. "His body is even now waiting transit to Amn, so those who last suffered at his hands can verify that he has passed on, and their suffering be eased."

He speaks with joy. "Tell your family. Tell your friends. Tell all those you see in the street. The Barber is dead."

Again, he lets a few moments of silence pass. “Brothers, Sisters, friends, even as we grieve, and we count the cost of the wounds he cut deep into our faith, let us all remember that indefatigable truth - Pursue the service of Ilmater, and he will provide.”

He smiles, then. "Our faith is not one that promises an easy world. It accepts the reality that there is much evil and suffering. Sometimes, that evil makes itself known directly, and spreads its suffering far and wide. The Ilmatari do not say that evil is powerless; we do say that we will stand against all evils, great and small.

He shakes his head.
"It is not true, that the Barber's existence disproves our creed. All that would disprove our creed would be if in the face of such horrors we abandoned Ilmater ourselves, rather than speak from our hearts and say that whatever the world is, Ilmater's ideals are what we stand for."

He smiles, triumphantly. "We Endure. And He stands with us."

He looks about, sadly now. "Alas, my service must move on from this temple. The Lord of Murder seeks to complete the work against me that his servant could not; a rage incited by the Broken God's love for our faith, and anger at our communal sufferings. I am no stranger to violent threat, but the wrath of a god does rank higher, and needs must that I do not draw his agent's eyes here."

He smiles. "Tymora has blessed with opportunity, to undertake Ilmater's work and undo the wrongs the Barber left behind him in his passage up and down the coast, and to keep the family I owe so much for their support during this dark time safe. I will be leaving soon, with visits in the future brief."

He chuckles then, to lift the mood. "More than I already did."

A sigh. "I will miss this temple, I will miss you all. I came here alone, of weak faith, and foolish impulses. I leave a father and husband, wiser than I was, perhaps...but most certainly, of unconquered faith. Thank-you for allowing me to share in your comity. You will remain here, always."

A hand is laid over his heart, and the speech comes to an end.

Ameris would repeat this message several times, hoping to see it spread.

After early morning prayers, bittersweet farewells are said as Brother Santraeger takes his leave from the temple he has served in for longer than the past three years. While any partings are sad, there is a newfound hope and resolution about the priest. He is earnest in his thanks to those he has served with; for their patience with his ways, and the wisdom they have shared with him.

His farewells are not restricted to the temple. He makes the effort when completing his rounds of his regular patients in the days before his departure to talk things over with them, stating that while he himself moves on, Ilmater does not, nor does the temple of the Broken God's faith. This process occupies much of his time.

*Clint James can be seen on a daily basis at the same time almost going into the Illmater infirmary and sitting next to a patient they seem to be good friends*

The once familiar figure of Ameris arrives back in the temple, to visit Nezkreal and a number of others who had come to see her. He is clad in his priestly vestments and seemingly in good spirits. The priest, it seems, was expected. Some time after another priest arrived, of the elven goddess Sehanine .

After some time talking, a miraculous event took place, involving the appearance of some mysterious chicken soup - which, after it was imbibed, regrew Nex's arm!

Following this the group headed outside and teleported away.