As he does every
Godsday, Xyneg gathered his flock inside the beautifully austere
chapel dedicated to St. Cuthbert.
Hobbin, Ghor, Captain Mebrose, Jess, Castellan Ferec, and
every other inhabitant of the Keep, it seemed, packed into the tight
quarters in anticipation of Xyneg’s signature fiery sermon.
This one will prove to be even more of a spectacle, since
it has been rumored that he will share with everyone some of the
details of our heroes journeys.
“The world has
been overshadowed by an imposing façade of evil.
Word from the north has reached our isolated oasis with news
that the malevolent tyranny has sunk his foul foot upon the territory
of our beloved brothers in Furyondy.
Shall we stand by?!” Xyneg’s furious pacing slows as his
deep voice begins to bellow, “Shall we refuse to unite with our
own blood before it pours out before us?!
Shall we, the left hand, ignore the infection of the right
hand until it spreads to the heart and is too late, killing us both?!”
Veins appear in his
neck and on his forehead, his face turns blazing red, as spittle
spews from his mouth. Xyneg
has started to crack his whip a bit early this sermon.
“But the disease
is not located in some distant land, but can be found right here
on our doorstep! Our island
of purity is besieged on all sides by the iniquity of blackened
hearts and deeds. Bandits
have been roaming the countryside, killing innocent farmers and
herders. Orcs, yes, those
beastly creatures of degeneracy, walk the roads under the very eyes
of our watch towers. And
others, worse, fouler, more heinous creatures lurk away in caves
that lay an arrows flight from these very walls, ready to splash
them red with the blood of our children.
Shall we take flight west upon the
East Road?!
Where would we find safety in an imploding world?
Shall we stand by?!
Shall we not unite in community to purify our lands?
Or shall we hide away behind our walls, but have our children
grow up besieged by the weeds and thickets of moral deformity, as
in some noxious pasture.
And there browse upon and sniff the stench of many a baneful herb
and flower day be day, little by little, until they silently gather
a festering mass of corruption in their own soul!!!
“Let us unite in
community behind these heroes who have rid the land of bandits,
and who seek to purify it of all evil!
Let them hear our hearts as we stand behind them, supporting
them in their most righteous path of goodness!
Let us pray:
Our beloved
protector! [repeated in shouts]
Our Ever-vigilant
Guardian of righteousness! [repeated in shouts]
Shine the
path of your will and wisdom…! [repeated in shouts]
…with the
light of truth! [repeated in shouts]
We shall walk
in your footsteps steadily! [repeated in shouts]
And we shall prevail! [repeated
in shouts]
We shall prevail!
[repeated in shouts]
WE SHALL PREVAIL!!!
