Description
You look at a tall slim man. He is dressed in a long black cassock of
plain wool with no decorations, with baggy sleeves girded with a plain
rope. The cowl of his cassock is open so you can see his face. It
looks young, maybe even pretty, but the determined grim expression
would fit more an old man. As he looks around, he does not seem to
notice things, he looks through them oblivious to what happens around
him. The expression on his face never changes. The hair is long and is
tied on the back of his head with a plain cord. Through the hair you
can see long ears of an elf, but the pale color of skin fits a drow
more. His hands have thin wrists and long fingers with smooth skin,
obviously not used to hard work or a weapon. His whole body looks
frail like a body of a man who never trained it.
Role
The decision
Added Sun Feb 15 17:14:06 2004 at level 7:
"Half-drowish citizen of Udgaard Zauttevre is found guilty in theft,
robbery and escape from the prisons and is convicted to ten years in
Udgaardian jails in a solitary confinement", said the judge and
lowered his mallet. Zauttevre, a 18 years old half-drow was taken by
the guards and lead away from the courthouse.
The band of free forest citizens as they called themself had been
caught on the last week except of Zauttevre. He wasn't caught only
because he was away gathering lumber for the fires. The band was
responsible for large scale raids to the town and farms around it.
Zauttevre was caught when he tried to get out of the jewelry with that
small emerald which he thought would let him leave the town and live
freely somewhere else and start a new life. Who would think all this
would turn so bad. But it was too late. Years of free life ended. The
prison cell was all stone and a tiny window with was not big enough
even to put his head through even if there weren't those metal bars
across it.
Life in a prison went slowly. Days after days, weeks and months
passed. There was nothing at all to do. First several years of
imprisonment were terrible, insanity and thoughts of suicide were
close. Just thinking that he spends his best years of youth in this
wet dark hole was unbearable.
On the fifth year of imprisonment he realized that he falling into
abyss of madness. And it would probably happen if only one idea
didn't come into his head.
He couldn't find his place in this world. His theft was clumsy and
robbery pathetic. What should he do in the life? Magic, he tried
it. There was a mage in the band who could make himself turn into a
bear. A terrible creature to scare travelers. He also knew some
spells. But Zauttevre couldn't cast any of them no matter how much he
tried.
How did all those people around him live? They used the system, its
protection to their benefit. Bankers and merchants became richer each
day, they were guarded by the laws and guards who enforced it. Why
couldn't he make a use of it as well?
Years of imprisonment passed. The seed of thoughts that were planted
gave a growth. He dreamed of making use of the society for his own
needs. But this was not enough. There was something more that could be
done. One of those nights on the straw mattress in his cell he
remembered the words of a prophet in a street, "Khasotholas, the God
of Order be his blessing on this town..." he forgot the rest of the
sentence.
What if he became a prophet, maybe even a priest of Order? He could
interpret the rules in his favor when it is needed and no one would
dare to object when a power of a God would stand behind him. This was
tempting, but how much of a priesthood did he know?
Three years were left to freedom yet. But he was lucky. For his good
behavior he was released sooner only spending eight years in the
cell. The judge decided that he has turned to the right path which in
fact was true. Right out of the prison door he went to the church of
Udgaard.
One year he spent as a servant to the priest in the church. He even
learned some simple prayers which could be used by anyone without a
divine blessing. He also learned that the God Khasotholas does indeed
exist and that his divine jurisdiction is Order indeed. A year after
leaving the prison he went on in a search for the God that he hoped
would grant him the blessing of Order.
The place
Added Mon Feb 16 09:53:48 2004 at level 8:
In his travels looking for the God of Order Zauttevre encountered one
problem that he didn't know how to deal with. He had no idea where to
look for Khasotholas and where he could reside. He tried to
investigate this, ask in bars and taverns and even in library of Inn
of Eternal Star, but no one could answer his question. Even those who
should have probably known it, the citizens of Empire didn't give the
answer.
There was only one choice but to find a best fitting place where he
could ask the God to grant him his blessing.
In his search for the shrine Zauttevre have heart of a dark terrible
place where Order had been established with an iron hand of an
Archmage, the Island of Corte. He have heard different rumors about
that place, but none of them sounded good. Still, if that place was
an island of orderly society, he had to try visiting it.
No captain agreed to sail to the Island, so he had to steal a small
ship for it. He left the docks of Hamsah Mutazz and sailed to the
cliffs of Insanity which rimmed the Island. When he was near he left
the ship and sailed to the harbor in a small boat to see a terrible
view of the city.
The power
Added Tue Mar 9 13:48:21 2004 at level 51:
Who could recognize a barbarian from the woods in a gaunt figure with
glowing eyes dressed in black walk walking the Palace
corridors. The live in Empire was driving Zauttevre obsessed slowly
and steadily. The power was already in his hands over a lot of
citizens but they were not dedicated, no. He watched and noticed
flaws in what they did. Most were not true, many were not worthy, a
lot were not fitting the standards that he set for himself.
Fear was gone from the corridors of Palace. Perhaps that was the
reason. Foolishness was allowed and that was bad. The counsel for a
rare exception was interested in possessions and in most cases did
not make an attempt to interfere in citizen's life. The High Priest
was a rare exception, perhaps he could even become a good Emperor. If
Zauttevre didn't want that position for himself.
Palace should be ruled by an iron hand, controlling everything and
giving enemies no hour for rest. No one from the counsel could
promise this, Zauttevre didn't even attempt to point this to the
Elders.
Why bother, they are already nearing their age of ruling. The age
will change as Great Lord once mentioned to Zauttevre, he could
wait. Before the change he should show his dedication and superiority
to those who can seize the Throne and that was naturally what he
wanted to do.