I arrived at Hlint, and truth be told, it was a quicker trip than I could have ever imagined. Instead of sending me on my way via caravan or ship, they simply took me to the northern bit of North Point, next to the strange monument that the priests tell me are used to raise adventurers. There, they blessed me in Aeridin’s name under the monument, a blessing I can only guess would have been used to bind my soul to it. I didn’t understand at first, my soul is bound wholly to Aeirdin, why place it under some other symbol’s control? Does that not go against the teachings? Does not the binding to the soul in order to extend life go against the teachings as well? A wise man of the clergy then told me
“No. You are staying in order to better defend life with your own training. Sometimes a paladin not returning immediately to the cycle results in the greater preservation of life.”
I am still not sure if I agree with such words. I have taken the question, since my arrival in Hlint , to the local Aeridinites, by posting a notice in the temple of the Seilwood Chapter.
With those words, and my few belongings, I was hurled into the glowing yellow sphere next to this bind stone. My head spun and for a second there was everything and nothing all at once. I had heard of traveling through portals before, but never have I experienced it first hand, and to that I say: Good riddance.
I came out on the other side so I guess, on the continent of Mistone , next to a tower. Upon asking around (there was a very helpful wizard in the tower) I learned that I was just north of the gates to Hlint. I entered the gates and got myself situated, eventually putting a down payment for an enchantment for my sword that will help me to put the undead to rest in a quicker fashion.
The Townspeople asked a few things of me, from the harmless delivering of letters, to actually cleansing the crypt for a set purpose, an essence of sorts. I do not know if I could trust the man I handed the essence to, but I was taught not to judge, so he got the benefit of the doubt. There was another man, however, Johan, a fur trader, who asked me to kill animals to retrieve their pelts. This I would not do. I do not believe any life should be sacrificed for such a trivial reason. I refuse to kill an innocent animal.
Upon exiting the crypts once, bruised and broken I came upon a somewhat familiar face. We spent time talking as he tended to my wounds and I remembered where I saw him. Once in the Temple of Northpoint, a party gathered to heal the ailment of a woman who I can only guess was put under a curse. One of these healers was Rawkwin, who I know from stories that the priests in North Point tell. There were others here, and this man was with them, not performing the ritual but watching and taking notes. I am pretty sure he’s a mage of some sort, but he also called himself a Protector of the Weave; a Lucindite.
I met a few others, including a druid who believed that killing spiders was okay. Despicable. Spiders may not be cute or fluffy but they are part of the cycle as well despite what their negative connotations. Another paladin, of Toran, Praylor offered me help in ridding the trades’ routes of the pesky goblins. I tried, desperately to reason with them, but in the end they were only interested in attacking my friend and myself. Sadly I had to take out the leader. Praylor carried the head back to the dwarf for me and in return the dwarf gave me boots. I did not do this for reward, and I had no interest in taking the head. It seemed cruel and unusual, needless..Praylor thought otherwise and did it for me anyway.
Speaking of goblins, there was a man , a mage as well attempting to take on a few himself. I do not know who provoked the fight but when I saw the man fell I ran to his aid, laying my hands upon him and praying for Aeridin’s healing touch. It was granted and soon the man stood, if shakily again. I demanded the goblin put down his weapon but he was only interested in shooting me. I tried to calm him, tried to disarm him, and eventually was given no choice but to bring the flat of my sword down over his head, knocking him out…However when He awoke the man I saved decided to shoot him dead.
It was then that another arrived, offering the man his healing touch as well, a far more powerful divine method than my own. He introduced himself as Elladan, a paladin of Aeridin as well. I was honored to have finally met him. Along with the stories of those such as Rawkwin, and Talan, I have heard stories of this Paladin, and hoped to be able to fulfill my duties and accomplish much of the same I hear from him. In telling him as much I think I made him blush, but he seemed to have a few things to aid me in with regards to my post in the temple. He said that the bindstones work within the cycle , not against them, told me a bit of the soul mother, and gave me some general dos and do nots in regards to the teachings. His input was much appreciated and I look forward to speaking with him again.
However from the talk an idea sprung. Perhaps I can get people to stop fighting the so called monsters for ore and gold. Perhaps we can set up a kind of negotiation. I will ask those more intelligent and knowledgeable than I , and will then seek to go about fulfilling this new goal.
In Aeridin’s name I write and pray, by his word I live.
