Today morning prayers were interrupted by a most unexpected circumstance. As our Order bowed their heads to Kiri-Jolith & Great Paladine the body of a near lifeless wizard or the Red appeared amongst our number. The poor wretch was battered & bloody, with a crucial wound to his abdomen. Medicinal assistance was swiftly summoned and I was forced to maintain discipline among the ranks while the clerics tended his wounds.
One of the holy brothers advised me that the mage had asked for me by name and so I attended him, though I could tell by his pallor that he drew his final breaths. Grasping my hand in his he passed me a scroll, demanding that I deliver it to Sir Dominic. I knew of no knight by that name but who am I to deny any man his dying wish, even one of questionable morality? Upon my acquiescence regarding this this task the wizard's soul was taken up by Holy Lunitari, may it find peace on that Red Moon.
My superiors were most insistent on reading the parchment bestowed upon me, but my honour required delivery to Sir Dominic and no other. My devotion to honour over the chain of command earned my arrest and two days of imprisonment & interrogation. Once it had been established that I was not an acquaintance the mage neither evil, nor good, I was released; the scroll, however, was not returned to me.
11th December 356 AC
Since my last entry I have discovered that the neutral sorcerer who met his end in the High Clerist's Tower nearly a fortnight ago was named Horstman. Little else have I been allowed to discover, though I have been informed that Sir Dominic has arrived in Palanthas. I am to request his presence & escort him to the Knight's High Council for promotion to the Order of the Sword and for questioning, I have also been given invitations for his travelling party. These include Brother Ithariel of Kiri-Jolith, Lady Azshauna Mage of the Order of Law, Starsong of the Plains people, and Nedlog; a kender.
In this time I have also experienced a dream of such prescience that I feel I must record its details.
I found myself wandering an unfamiliar forest when I came upon a glade in which slept an elderly man, he was awakened by my footsteps. The venerable gentleman engaged me in idle banter before enquiring why my career appeared to have stalled. “Was it because I was waiting for my father to die?” he asked, “Or because my purpose had not yet been revealed?”
As I stumbled for an answer to questions that had been weighing heavily on my mind, he moved back to general chatter. This continued for a time until the conversation ran its course, leaving a silence between us.
I was preparing to leave when the old man asked if I knew what a deacon was. I have never been a devotee of the various faiths but the Knighthood requires a certain level of theological virtue & understanding.
“A Deacon” I replied “is one who acts as a servant of the church, so the elders may do their work.”
He added “You should become a Deacon for Sir Dominic, for he will require great assistance in the future.”
I protested that I was in fact higher in rank than Sir Dominic, my brother knight only being an Initiate of the Sword, the old man replied,
“Be that as it may, do not seek to be the elder in this case, for the burden is heavy. Assist him, and your purpose will be complete.”
And with that I awoke.
I do not pretend to know the source of this dream, though at no point did I sense evil intentions. Do the gods not, on occasion, communicate their wishes to the mortal realm through dreams? And is Sir Dominic not a Chosen Warrior of Paladine? Who better then to devote my attentions to than one whom the highest of all the gods has marked for service.
I shall fulfil my obligations to the Knighthood by delivering Sir Dominic to the Council as ordered, and once I have done so I shall discuss with him the purpose laid before my & offer him my shield.
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