The only destiny that matters is the one you make. Kangar’s mantra would be thrown around throughout the drydocks in Volos – the Rilador refusing to think of any other way of life. The clothed folk of Gulnur despised this, sticking to their rigid scriptures instead. There is one true Path. The road less traveled is the one worth taking. All dogmatic nonsense. Tithes and other offered gains kept them in line, but everyone knew what they really thought of the ships flying the flag of the blood wyvern.

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Here in front of me now is a new faith, with a man standing before me with scorched flesh. Dorian Keene willfully marked his body with an ominous brand below his heart. The pain must have been exquisite. Around him a retinue of gnolls led by a wirey old beast with tattered cloth snarl and circle this new emissary of their God Nurzhan. Nurzhan is the conqueror and Gulnur is not a fan of his antics, at least according to what those clerics seeking passage through the Lankaeran Sea would try to preach about. I was never much interested in their sayings – actions always speak louder than words.

Dorian stands defiantly in front of his devout, but we still need to get other things done. We are here for two things, both about ten feet away. One sways from a rope, a relative of J’s. The other is enclosed in a great hulking contour of iron, now which the gnoll of the cloth teeters upon. He has a wild look in his eyes – is he drunk? No. Perhaps this is another aspect of Nurzhan.

As tensions rise, we hear a ruckus near the entrance to this dungeon. Two figures are being led by a couple of guards – a grue and her hired sword. It was Narcel’Uss and Ildan. I contained my glee as they sized up the space. The priest demanded who they were, to which Narcel’Uss fluffed up and gave her typical response about being daring or something along those lines. But then she changed her tone – Dorian and she were darting gazes back and forth a bunch. This god works in mysterious ways.

Narcel’Uss and Dorian consult each other a while, with the grue pointing excitedly and gesturing with her hands a lot at Dorian’s new brand. Dorian doesn’t look as impressed and excited, and occasionally looks over to me for my thoughts. He looks mad. He looks very mad. Narcel’Uss is also having a hard time containing her excitement, with gouts of purple lighting occasionally rippling out of her body. They turn around to the priest, who along with them is also excited. He’s now glowing with green flame, to which Narcel’Uss shouts a thing about heresy. I assess the others to see if everyone’s about to fight, and I briefly meet the eye of the gnoll I set free. I had nearly forgotten about her. She was watching things carefully and I knew in my heart that she didn’t like this extravagant show. She was a person of action, like me. She was looking more at her leader, and then I realized something. This was not the true leader of these gnolls. He was a blight, and was holding the others back.

The priest and Dorian continue their ritual with a physical challenge, one-on-one combat. Neither seem suited for the task. The gnoll conjures a flail out of thin air and cudgels my friend, striking true. I have not seen Dorian use these types of displays; in fact, where is his bow? He prefers to stick to the shadows. I understand soon why as the blows quickly overcome him. He staggers back and sways before his adversary. This is not his fight, but he’s got enough courage to fight anyway.

It reminds me of you.

When he goes down the gnoll priest stands triumphant, but the mumbling in the chamber grows. I take the chance and rush to the aid of my friend, seeing if there’s still life in Dorian’s bones. I cradle his head and check – is there anything left in there, yes! He’s more resilient than I thought. I use what I know to keep him from dying, after which all of the world gets ripped apart into chaos.

Several gnolls charge in and begin wildly striking the party. We stand firm and assume our positions, with the priorities being rescuing Julia Pangol and keeping Dorian safe. Below me a rush of power jolts Dorian back into health, with him clearly looking confused. As this happens the priest climbs upon the iron golem rusting at the edge of the chamber and ignites the husk with green energy. The golem animates and takes grasp of an enormous blade and swings it. It doesn’t catch – I was just quick enough to dodge the blow. I grab my anchor and feel a rush of power envelop me. I unleash it on a gnoll to my left, spraying a stream of fresh blood on the battlefield.

The melee continues, with squeals of combat emanating from the room. A couple moments later, J uses her druidic power to unseat the priest from his new pedestal, with its frail form hurling right over top of me. I turn briefly away from the golem and end the priest’s misery, snuffing out that green light coming out from him. Dorian passes to my left and turns his gaze to the golem, commanding us to focus our attention on it. Ildan stands at the ready and meets the creature, with me beside. We continue the fight with the iron husk while Dorian climbs its body. We see Dorian struggle with something on top of the golem for a moment before prying something off, then reaching down inside. As he does, the sword swings again. Rather than striking true, part-way through the swing the blade slows, then stops.

Dorian climbs down from the dead body and limps forward, holding a box. The golem’s heart! Julia, now freed, quips about it being dangerous. We all know that these things are dangerous, and Dorian quickly places it into some cloth and slings it into a backpack. This is what we can use to save the girl! But I realize something. The box is dangerous. Lucien is dangerous too. What would happen if he had the box?

I ask this to Julia as the T.I.P. recovers, but am interrupted by Dorian, who still seems to have a wild look in his eyes. He is staring directly at me with wildfire in his eyes – the rage blazes out of him and is pointed straight toward me. What did I do? He unleashes into a tirade about responsibility and keeping things cool and things going according to plan. Why is he so angry? We did what we sought out to do! We rescued J’s cousin, we got the box, and we all survived and had the chance to have a good fight! I tried to explain these things to him but he was having none of it, consumed by something that I’m all too familiar with. I look down at Dorian’s scar and wonder if I’m carrying something similar now. I must be. Dorian shakes with emotion as he lets out something that must have been brewing for some time. But I’ve learned my lessons and let the tide roll through. It will come up and go down, like clockwork. This happens to us all, and it’s okay. The best thing to do is stand up and let it happen. My friend finishes and puts on his clothes again, with his own power, walking out of the chamber. In this moment, he reminds me of you. So much like you.

<<Paragraph about gnoll war leader. I’ll need her name from the adventure log.>>

I follow behind the rest of the group, slinking a little bit. Dry blood is still caked to my skin, my strength for the day is waning. I am tired. We head back to the caravan under a path that has been cut from the surrounding forest, and it seems like the only road we can take for now.