The wild surge is filled with music and dancing. A solitary halfling sits alone, apart from the festivities, clutching a warm tankard that has obviously been with him all night. If you approach, his face changes from introspective to questioning.........
"Do you have faith, friend? A wonderful thing to have, don't get me wrong. I believe in Katia, evidence of her presence is abundant, trees, flowers, animals. I follow her ways and recieve small powers befitting of our relationship. I respect her, so she respects me, but I do not deal with her on a day to day basis"
"Huh?, What am I talking about? Clerics and paladins, matey! Clerics and paladins! What? Yes I know they all follow different gods! What's confusing me tonight is the difference in attitude of some of em that follow the same god."
"Elaborate? Get me another ale and I'll tell ya what I mean"
"Thanks matey, I don't owe ya for this, do I? Good. Well, let me give ya an example. Two paladins I met today.Both followed the God Toran. Both sought to destroy evil in the land. Both were mighty warriors."
"One that I travelled with was the purest soul I have ever encountered. He covered our backs and fought by our side. Even when his shield arm was broken he charged into the melee with more care for his companions safety than his own. He protected his allies and smote his enemies, upholding justice to the letter."
"My point? Yeah I'm gettin to that. Another ale, please."
"The other I travelled with took us deep into the crypts of Hlint. Like the first, his devotion to smiting evil was mighty. The undead cowered before him and he destroyed them with a single word. He led us through countless abominations and destroyed all evil in his path. But here the similarity stops. As we left the crypts, we were ambushed by scores of undead. Seperated, we battled for our lives. His words echoed down the musty passages, I remember them clearly even now.'Come on!' , 'If any of you die, I'm not bringin you back!'. Told us he wouldnt even bring our corpses back to our family! He said this as he waited by the exit, seemingly deaf to the battle raging behind him. I bear no grudge against him, we wouldnt have got through the maze of crypts without him. It seemed to me that completing our mission was a lot more important to him than making sure everyone survived, although we all made it out in the end."
"He was certainly a paladin, even with what little magical sense I have I could sense the holy aura around him. But why was his dogma so different from his 'colleague'? What holds holy men to their code? Their God can't be everywhere at once! Who regulates these 'Paladins' of Toran? My point? That WAS the point! Look, if you don't understand then just buy me another drink and leave me to my thoughts. Good night to you."
