As he often did, Nate directed himself to the temple of St. Orlan immediately upon returning from an adventure. In this case, he had no wealth to tithe, for the expedition yielded nothing but three coins, all of which disappeared into Ollie’s pocket. However, he looked forward to recounting the events to Father Anuak and to engage in the ritual of confession.
Nate explained his recent moral quandary with is companions in Tienarth’s Raider’s, many of whom were quick to dispense violence, even when such response was ambiguous or even unjustified. Zombies and orcs left little room for consideration: the undead and the inherently evil deserved nothing but destruction. Yet those beings with free will had often faced deadly force with no opportunity for redemption when their motivations opposed those of Tienarth’s Raiders.
In this most recent foray, Nate forcefully warned his comrades that he did not feel the dwarf defending his home and claiming past wrongs could rightly be murdered. Fortunately, Dacha survived. Nate confessed regret for responding with anger, always seeking the gentleness of the Anointed One, even towards his enemies. Of this, Anauk absolved the paladin.
Further, Anuak advised Nate to consider that his companions were imperfect creatures with the free will to choose to undo their wrongs. And they had done more good than evil over the years, even if the spirit of the adversary sometimes took hold of their tempers.
When Nate questioned the fairness of the burdens placed upon him as a paladin, having to keep to a strict oath, the father reminded him the privilege of qualifying for the exclusive order. Few who wielded a sword could also hold to an absolute code of honor that required shunning wealth and protecting the weak. Was it fair that some were born short of stature or weak of will, he asked. The Anointed One granted different talents and different challenges to each of his children.
“Dwelling on fairness distracts from productive contributions, and true satisfaction comes from performing one’s role well, regardless of perceived inequities, much like the story of Saint Orlan himself. The lich Putah turned our blessed saint to ash in their final battle, yet it was Orlan who fought with honor to the end. Imagine the opportunity to make such a monumental sacrifice in service of the true and good!”
“Do not lose faith in your companions, such as Ghevont. The Anointed One has given him many obstacles in this life. You may be the beacon he needs in order to navigate perilous waters. Be a lantern to his feet. For he is an important part of your team. Together, you all have accomplished much and will continue to rid the world of Molok’s influence. Consider his great power versus the undead and his creativity in producing solutions.”
“You are truly the hero among your peers, whose heart is pure, but they can rise to your level if you are patient and continue to support them. Remind them of their good deeds and the importance of following the teachings of the Anointed One.”