The sky grew greyer and a light snow fell, he could here the children sing. It was Yuletide a time for Great Joy, but he only looked sad. The fire roared in the fireplace eliminating the cold, but it brought no comfort. The large man in his middle years pulled the cloak closer, and stepped out into the balcony adjacent to his room. Normally you would find the jovial Tobin downstairs, enjoying the feast, but tonight he wanted to be alone. Sullen faced, he began to weep openly for what happened. As he stood in the cold looking across the valley to the statue of Sul, memories flooded his thoughts and vison.
He remembered the day that magic collapsed. The refugees flooding into the area, among them was the new order dedicated to Sul, an order of Illumination as they called themselves. Tobin welcomed them as he welcomed all the rest, but soon trouble arose between the peaceful tolerant followers of Sul and the more radical ranks of the order. This radical group misinterpreted the teachings and writings of Sul and Tobin, twisting it to say that all users of magic were evil and tied to the forces of shadow and darkness. They openly resorted to and advocated violence against mages, it culminated with the Order of Justice (a combination of Paladins and priests of Oxor and Kerius), along with the Sul’s Holy Guards (an order of various fighters that are loyal to Sul, founded by Feng himself to protect the temple of Sul) were to late to stop a hanging of a young female mage by a mob of the Order ‘s more radical supporters. Tobin had been furious when he learned of this misdeed. He called for a Trial and afterwords he had the Order excommunicated and ordered to leave the valley. It was during this trial that it happened, the highest ranking man of the order of the illumination, had met with Tobin. The man’s name was High Inquisitor Urnt Bowkenth. During the meeting, the conversation started to turn in a very bad direction. He started to say how could Tobin take this stance against such obvious evil. Tobin reminded the High Inquisitor that the lady loves all, and that we should try to rehabilitate and forgive. The High Inquisitor retaliated by mentioning how Tobin tried to rehabilitate Rohan, then he said something that rocked Tobin, “Evil is sometimes born not made, he was the son of Incanus, Tobin you knew he would not change, it is his nature. I think you are hiding something inherently evil Tobin, and when I find out what it is, it will be eliminated” Tobin did not respond, he smiled a sly smile. In that moment Tobin felt that the Inquisitor could be right, that Rohan’s Spawn would be just as evil as Rohan. That night he had a nightmare of a being that looked like Rohan, Tobin knew this was his son. He was destroying the temple of Sul killing the acolytes, and desecrating the temple. Tobin ran to stop him when Rohan appeared from the shadows and with instant speed he killed him. He remembered awaking in a cold sweat.
He did not get any rest that night.
As a light snow began to fall outside, Tobin looked at the letter again. It appeared hellish red from the light of the fireplace. The flames bore him no warming comfort, instead it seemed to only chill his bones. He remembered receiving the letter, from a Guardian agent. He knew it was from his good friend Quarion, an accomplished Bard and member of the Guardians. In it he wrote that the child that he had saved was growing ill, and unless Tobin came immediately he feared the child would die. The dream was still fresh in his mind and Tobin heard the words of the Inquisitor echo in his head “Evil is sometimes born, not made”. He remembered his precious church, and thought the dream was a portent, a vision sent by Sul. He decided not to go, to let Incanus take his grandson, he thought the world would be a better place in the end. That night, he had another dream. Again a being was attacking and destroying the cathedral. Tobin again ran to confront the being. The Being began to flee towards the Giant statue of Sul at the entrance to the valley. Tobin followed and cornered the being, he again expecting it to be Rohan’s son, he pulled the hood from the being to reveal himself, and in his hands was a body of a dead baby. Tobin surprised, backed into the statue collapsing it on top of himself. He woke that very second and immediately understood, and left that night… No matter what the lady will give any being hope, there is hope for redemption, even if the creature was born evil.
Tobin hurried to find Quarion and the babe, but he arrived too late. The babe had succumbed to his illness. Tobin felt guilt, he should have followed his heart, and he knew the lady could never forgive him. He had turned his back on her teachings, even after all the times he had written the exact words. How could he live, he decided that it was time to leave the priesthood in more capable hands.
He returned a few days ago, as the light snow began to fall. He made it a point to have the babe buried in the cathedral, even as the other priests began preparations for Yule. He made arrangements for an Acolyte he trusted to run the temple and the Valley. He did not attend prayers in days. “I am not worthy, to even live in this great temple that she built”, he sank deeper into depression.. How could he let an innocent die. He threw the letter in the fire. “He will find out, and he will come”. He sensed it immediately the cold chill that made his hair stand up. He made it a point, not to let on. He felt the steel penetrate his shirt, and sunk to his knees, as his life’s blood ran. He looked up at the dark-skinned figure, looked into the skull pupils and mouthed the words “Forgive me”, with a gasp he slumped over.
The dark-skinned being for the first time felt some guilt, but he brushed those feelings away, angry that he even felt that way. He was about to leave through the open window, mixing in with the shadows, when he looked back at the slumping body, he seemed to go back. Just then his keen ears heard the coming of some acolytes, and he left through the window into the night.
