Conducts of Virtue
-Valor
-Empathy
- Conviction
- Humility
- Sacrifice
- Honorable Combat
- Restraint
The path away from our Leader can begin from a position of good as well as evil. Remember that young Lance
~Linus Swordshiner
1.- Truth, honor, and loyalty are your highest calling. Never deviate from these principles, even if it should mean your death.
2.- Never question Toran, nor his priesthood. Your loyalty to your God will be put to the test in a time of trial. Remain steadfast and loyal during that time and all shall be achieved.
3.- Aid those that you can, and neither ask nor expect reward. Your valor and honor will bring glory to Toran's name.
4.- Do not suffer evil, hatred, or corruption, for these are the greatest sins of mortals. Battle against these sins and those who commit them, but be mindful that there is no shame in retreat, especially to preserve your life and the lives of other innocents around you.
5.- Your word is your bond. Keep your word, even should it bring you to death's gate. The faithful of Toran must honor their word and trust in their valor and their God to aid them in keeping their promises. There is no honor in a vow that calls for the death or dishonor of innocents, and such promises may be freely broken.
6.- All life is sacred. Rapine, pillaging, and other crimes of war are strictly forbidden to those in Toran's service. Killing should be an act of last resort.
7.- Honor your enemies, regardless of their race, even in defeat. Make no demands of others. A knight of Toran should be proud and self sufficient. There is no shame in accepting offers of help, but a Paladin in Toran's service should NEVER REDUCE HIMSELF TO BEGGARY OR DESPERATE PLEAS.
8.- Unless specifically directed by Toran or his priests, do not enter another god's temple except in times of extreme duress. Even when desperate, you may only enter temples of gods sympathetic to Toran.
9.- Remain virtuous and honorable in all ways. Do not participate in anything that would require you to compromise your Code. These are the laws of the Paladin, and those who would treat them lightly are not worthy of the title.
Toran be praised .- The portrait
*The knight stands in his bedroom, in front the only portait that decorates his room, ornated in a golden frame, in a careful done canvas with exquisite detail is it there, the young elf lady attaired in the elegant light grey dress, smiling, almost as if smiling at him, he has been there standing the gaze of the portait for hours now, it was a long day, one filled with hard tasks that the knight is not used to do, to be an acual father, the echoes of the laughs he had in the last few hours was still roaming in his head, making his mind to travel back to the moment where he had to charge to poofy the dragon in his wooden personification of a small wood carven knight for the amusement of the little girl. That nigth as he stands there observing the portrait as many times in the past, secluded in the sancticity of his room, the night had something strange on it, something magical, somethic eeric, something just out of the ordinary, the cold air of the Northern mistonean city of Leringard, did not help the mood of the enviroment.
For a moment the knight percieved a movement over the corner of his eye, as he turns around a small white cat had made some boxes to fall, not a big problem, just some more work for the next day, he returned his sight at the portait again, the lady painted there seemed to smile a bit more, it was surely his imagination , he keeps pondering in meditation the knight mind was filled in thoughts old and new, good and bad, watching the portrait usually help him on dificult days, he liked to speak to her, her beloived painted there as in the years past, as if speaking with it and tell it his problems would give some peace, some tranquility , the noise was heard again this time to his back, with a small smile the man turned around expecting to see the white cat again, he was surprised just to see nothing, his only reflection on the mirror on the other side of the room. he took his time to searching for the little cat in hopes to catch where the little menace had hidden, yet the cat was sleeping comfty over his bed without any trace of recent activity, he just sighed and moved towards the bed, taking the cat in his arms moving towards the entrace of the room and let it out of it, as he opened the door the dark corners of the Stargazer's castle greet him with a solemn silent hymn, is then when he heard the laughter, after dropping the cat on the floor he turns quickly looking for the origin of the laugher, but only the portait greeted with the very vivid smile, her eyes on him as always and never again at the same time.
As he return his gaze to close the door, he saw the old lady walking slowly towards him, something diferent on her as she aproaches in a slow but steady pace, Lance smiled a bit as seeing Keira moving that way, but before he could leave the room, she gestures him to stop as she was walking towards him, Lance waited as the figure of Keira comes near him, with a smile* -Master Lance, * the woman would bow at her * - Keira, what are you doing over here?, you should be resting,- *Lance said to her with some concern but with a bright smile as he looks down at her * - Don't worry any more for it Master Lance, The sickness is past, I'll be fine now *she said with a radiant smile, looking up at him* Its finally time for me to rest, I'll miss you *the woman would reach for her cheek as the confused knight gazed upon her, as the realization finally reaches his mind he looks at her shaking his head* No, that can be true Keira, how can you say that when I am looking at you right here, right now, *she smiles at her with that caring look putting her hand on his cheek* Don't worry Master Lance its only the natural way of things. you will not miss me too much, and you'll see me soon enough at this rate master. *The words of the woman pierced thru the mind and heart of the knight as he observed how she started to walk away of him, the light of a lightning stroking in the sky filled the room making the knight to turn again towards his bed , as he returned his sight towards the hall the woman had gone, he gathered his wits and closing the door behind him returning his sight to the empty room, the solitude whispered in a soft and gentle breath a tune of sadness on his ear, as he walked back towards the center of the room, posing his sight on the portait, he smiled a bit towards the smiling image in the canvas, and almost appeared as if the painting smiled him back, he closed his eyes and shakes his head when the voice made him turn back in a quick reaction towards the door,
-Who's her , Lance? -
The small girl asked with an air of inocence looking from Lance to the portrait, The young Myla had entered his room, probably being awoke by the words of the convalecient and delusional Keira and him, the girl walked and stood beside him carring her arms as if hugging herself looking towards the portait in awe , Lance looked down at her , how could he explain it ? to a little girl.
- She's a friend of mine, Myla, a very good friend of mine , She is milady Iellwen, -
Said in a calm voice towards the girl, The girl made a big O with her mouth as the couple turned his sight to the inquisitive gaze of the portait , Lance kneel beside her and smiled at the little girl* - What is it Myla? can't sleep ? - *The girl shakes her head no * - Lance what are we going to do without her? - She asked with a hint of sadness on her voice - *The knigth looked at her, with an encouraging smile,* Don't worry about her, Myla, Keira will be fine, If our lord decides to take her of our side to be on his glory with him, its not a lose, She deserves rest, If not he'll return her to our side , and we'll be enjoying her food soon enough, all we can do now my little one is to pray , In praying we have to find solace dear one, I know that the options does not seems as good as we would like to hear, but you have to have faith, alright? *The girl smiled a bit sadly* She said you would say that, she said I have to take care of you when she's gone, I don't want her to be gone, Lance
* Lance put both of his hand on her little shoulders* Neither I Myla, neither I, but its not in our hands now, *the girl look up at the knight and nods firmly * You won't let her go, right? you'll do your best ? *she asked finally* [COLOR=#0000ffyes , my dear , I'll do my best [/COLOR]*he said firmly , the girl nodded at him and steped back a bit glancing at the picture again, Bye Miss Friend of Lance, -the girl waved to the picture and then look at Lance *
I am going with Jillian, *and then the girl stomped out of the room ,the knight stood and sighs a bit, asking to no one in particular * Why is so hard of late ? *he looked at the picture as if expecting an answer, Only silence came from the painted lips of the canvas with her intense sight still posed on him*
- Its not hard always ? you should carry that as a burden no, ? - *Lance turned around to his back listening to the new voice, as the young boy attaired in a blue turncoat over an initiate tunic was smirking towards him, The young Argos was standing there as it was more than 20 years ago, * What is it father? surprised? - Lance unable to speak at that moment just looked at the boy standing on the corner of the room with a smirk * Argos.. you... - Can't be here? What are you going to do Lance? What is wrong with your mind, Don't you learn? Are you going to spoil her as you did with me?
*The now teen Argos attaired in the classic Stargazer blue and gold armor started to walk towards him* You did a great job dad, and for my cause your life got destroyed, what do you want to do now? Why with her? Will you love her more than me? Will you scheme to let her alone as well ? Tell me?
- You don't know what you are speaking here, you are not even here * Lance said frowning a bit to the now grown man attaired on a dark plates and long hair, The man smirked at him* You don't have any more burdens to lay on her, right father? you put all those on me, I carry it on my very name, *smirks*, or she will be your Mylanna Dragonbane, you can't deny it have some ring on it. Looking at the brigther side, you dont have a mother for her to lose *With a final smirk he said* - Or maybe you have ? -*Lance frowned at the man that only remotely would look as his son and instintively reached to where his sword would have been, unfortunately the sword was not there that night* -Maybe there is hope for her if you keep yourself away from her as you did with me.
*Another lighthning stroke over the room and the figure of the young man disappeared from sight, without noticing before Lance found himself in the room alone again as a singular laughter was starting to spin all around the place, the voices of the thousand people start to laugh in his head. and the world start to spin around.... *he opened his eyes and found himself standing still on the middle of his room, his eyes widen as he get used to the scarce ligth produced by the candelabra, the constant sound of the rain over the roof was the most prominent sound of the night, just the far bark of a dog break the sounds of the calm rainy night , the knight took a deep breath as he looked over the door of his room and his bed, the small cat still sleeping over it, when he turned his sight towards where the portrait wall..
He was surprised by the sight, upon turning he found the very face of the woman he loved, the very hazel eyes watching him scarce inches away from his face, The image of the portrait had escaped the canvas, the dress only joining the canvas on the lower part, as her body extended out of it towards him to almost touch him. Her other time smiling lips showed a cold smirk, and watching him with her penetrating gaze, Lance became silent for the moment, unable to move or even speak. The elven lady, extended her arm and touch the knight's cheek, with her gloved hand, givinga soft caress.
- What is it Lance sir? Aren't you happy to see me? -
The lady asked in the same voice he ever heard, The same voice he will ever remember, his eyes possed into hers as the touch in his cheek lingered - Ell - *he said slowly*
- Yes Lance sir, Its me, * the lady removed her hand of his cheek * It has been too many nigths and the day I speak to you , you are not going to say anything? Eight years now Lance Sir, Its unbelivable how fast time pass. *The lady smile turn into a soft laught that made the knight, smile with a mixure of feelings * Why I am still here Lance sir? - ,* she asked with genuine curiosity
* The knight with calm voice answered* - You know the answer to that, you know why you are there , and why you have been there all this years. -
- Oh Lance Sir, don't be naive, please, you have your Toran to stand for you, Don't do this to yourself anymore, What are you going to do when your Keira is gone? you know she'll leave you soon, What would be of that girl? -
- You have a lot to live now Lance Sir, to still Living in a past that is no longer on your hands. It did not worked as we expected and you know it, Look at your household , just look at it. -
*The elven maiden aproached to the still shocked knight and whispered to his ear * - After all .. you are only other of the things I have to let go....
*The Knight opened his eyes as he sat on his bed, all covered in sweat , in the middle of the night, the figure of a very sick Keira, with Myla at her side were there looking at him with worried looks, instinctively the man turned to the far wall looking at the canvas, as the lady there returned the same look with her mysterious smile, alwyas there for him.- The pale light of the moons left the trio in the room speaking in the middle of the confusion *
To my Dear princess :
Its that time again were the world comes too closer to an end, I know , I know, i've been perhaps saying this for too many times, and that perhaps This won't be the last war we'll see. Still I am here writting the letter again. I feel that is the right thing to do, and nothing that is written here is not said to you in person.
I once heard a term called , the song of the warrior, its a long story, but preety common, and i must say that it applies here, I am drawn to this conflicts, no matter how much i try, someone has to step up and well .. do what i do I know this at times is hard for you, You my dear wife, an observer of how the world changes , how is that we fall in love with each other, I don't really care, the important is that it happened. And that in that you are the most wonderful event that has happened to me. Thank you for being my wife.
I want you to understand that my position here is going to be a high risk one, I know you know it, but I want to ask you to take care of our family if by the sunset of the battle you walk out and i don't, War is a terrible thing, And Myla would need someone to be there for her, I promise to do the same , so stop looking at this letter with that stare please. I know what you are thinking, That I am writting this words again, perhaps, that I've written this in the past, true too, But i'd rather writte them over again and hope for you to tease me tomorrow about it. Cause it would mean that we are there and that we lived over another war. I'd love to hear your teasing on this one. And yet if its not the case, I've told you before the demise.
Finally not much i can say other than . I love you, I will and always love you.
Yours ever, in his holy light .
Lance Stargazer.
Dear Commander Lance Stargazer
You taught me how to forge armor and work with metal. This is a pauldron I made for my very first own armor, and it has seen a lot of action since. Time and combat being what they are, I recently needed to replace my pauldrons. I want you to have my right swordarm pauldron. You taught me how to use my arm, mind and heart in craftsmanship, combat and life, and for that I am eternally grateful. Please keep the pauldron as a reminder of the time when we were younger, learning and training to be who we are today. A reminder of brighter, more hopeful days where today's devotion and focus roots deeply.
Be HIS Light,
~Paladin William Leox
For Duty and Deity .- Pride and diplomacy
*Lance smiles a bit amused perhaps, the letter arrived after too much time, his thoughts were lost on the subject, and the political arena he is into now, how to deal with someone who doesn't trust the help, he look down towards the small stone that may of course help him to get in contact with his sister in faith, but he discards the thoughts inmediately, as his eyes return to the letter, his eyes reading it fast, twice for that intent, he folds the paper in half and returns it to the envelope where it arrived, looked at the remains of the Siphe crest seal wax that was destroyed so the letter could be opened *
- Well.. they are a perfect match in pride at least -
*he mutters to himself, as he let the letter down, to be placed into the safety box on his room, he had a lot to think about, how to crack the nut when the man doesn't trust him enough to open, Spies. the very thought make his stomach turn over, he had not been insinuated such thing ever, nor his mind ever considered it as an option, he really hate politics at times, as he thinks that, he looked upon the bed on the room, the elf laying down there, the Aragenite that decided to be his wife, laying down there, he couldn't help to think on that part of the letter again when seeing her, to remember the task that was going to be imposed on her, make his stomach turns around again, he took the thoughts away this time *
*Slowly walking towards the balcony, dresseed in his sleeping tunic, he steped to see the exercises of the night, the watches, the long yell from the guard as they call "Clear" for the morning patrol, he looked towards the south, then to the north towards the forest of the Horn Kingdom, he is still awaiting the reply from Maran, somehow the letter brought the information he needed, and glad that he replied since now he knew the next step to go, and how to help their mistrusted neighbours of the south, The person he needed had been hard to be located in the past, that small halfling druid if she was still the one in charge of the land, she may be helpful she may not. alas he'll help .*
**He smiled a bit narrowing his eyes , as the first sun rays appear on the horizon, he stood there, enjoying the sight for a moment, then shaking his head start to head back to bed, Ell would worry if she found that he was not able to sleep, the less he needs is to give more worries to the people he cares about, the world keep moving anyway, and the pieces were in place*
For duty and deity ... Eaornath D’lisk,
*The couple of travelers arrived at the small village, the glum feeling could still be felt in the air, the death and sorrow felt could not be washed from the inhabitants who still had just had no other thing to do to keep going with their lives, of every thing that had changed on him, this never had been, the feeling of impotence on how the enemy had once again threw dispair into the lives of inocents, he had heard once to one of his many rivals that there is no such thing as an inocent, and despite this, this people had no guilt or deserved what happened to them here, Hilm gave him a purpose, something bigger than his life where he could help people to reach for some of Toran's grace, but at times he missed to be able to do the small work, the real work, the politics .. that was his burden. *
*He moved into the field, he and his wife walking side by side, with traveling clothes, the long and sturdy cloaks hidding their true selves, to avoid suspicion... even if this people weren't as suspicious of any new strangers in town, hard and cautious faces recieved them during their stay. *
*As they walked they saw the remains of a house that was previously burnt, the new dig graves being blessed by the priest to prevent the bodies to raise again, the sorrow of many sons, daughters of Hilm lost to the senseless massacre, and the distrust... It all hurt on his heart as if it were his own loss, but the face of the man remain unfazed*
*They did not found an inn, it wouldn't be the first time they had to camp in the wild, it was no problem at all for them*
*The stay was as expected, after a couple of days and the proper visit to the temple, the couple left the town back towards Hilm, He didn't mentioned his rank or name, not even to the priest in the temple, there was no need to bring more trouble to this people, he had work to do, rebuilding work awaited, His visit served to oversee the damage, and to help him plan the rebuild effort, Lance Stargazer won't stay idle upon this people, Hilm people, his people suffering this way. The plans already drawn on his head....
... On the following days from arriving to Hilm, preparations were made, and materials prepared with engineers and builders dispatched towards the small village*