"Hold thy tongue, Narcel'Uss"...

Her words sometimes still come to mind, unbidden and unwanted, yet startlingly clear. As though she is still standing behind me and commanding me with her firm words. Teaching me how to follow her path. My mother...

My mother was unknowable. She was a was a bright, burning star in my life and the lives of my people. Influential, strong, powerful. Yet, much like a star, she was also distant and cold. During my young life, the times I did see her were from a distance during ceremony or only for a brief wink of time during my "lessons". When I saw her preach from Nurzhan's altar, I saw how our God worked through her and commanded the crowd of worshipers. She pulled them to her with her glittering words and her bright, burning conviction. When I looked at her, I saw the Priestess of Nurzhan, but not a mother. Though the expanse between us was great, I still looked up to her. I admired her power. Even near the end, when magic abandoned us and she began to lead us towards ruin, I still respected her resolve and the hold she had on our congregation. 

I am now among a new congregation. This one claims to serve Nurzhan's will but I can see that their priest is a pretender. As my eyes search the room I see twisted symbols, bastardized images of Nurzhan's sign. I see members of the TIP interspersed with the crowd and a small gnome that has similar features to J suspended from a rope. I see a piecemeal altar set up around a golem's body, silent and still. Then, my eyes fall on Dorian. He is branded with this sign, pretending to be "Chosen". Coals alight in my chest and I can feel their heat radiating out through my eyes, the fire licking at my throat, ready to become a cry of hatred. 

"Hold thy tongue, Narcel'Uss"...

I hear her and immediately I am a child again. She strikes my hand, hard and I choke back my tears. She tells me that a Priestess of Nurzhan will feel great pain during her life but that she must always show strength in front of her people. I am not allowed to cry out or let a single tear drop. Instead, the pain turns to anger and my brow furrows. She looks at my face with a placid expression and says, "You want to lash me with your words, do you not Narcel'Uss? There are times for words and times for control. Nurzhan demands control from her acolytes. Hold thy tongue, Narcel'Uss. Show me control". She strikes my hand again.

I am back in the present moment and I can't help but rub the back of my hand. My face is tamed and I know her words to be true. Now is not the time for action. I must judge the situation and help my friends if I can, though the blow to my pride will not be forgotten. "I am here to serve you my lord", I demure. My companions look surprised. They do not know I can act the part when need is great. 

I advise Dorian and try to teach him as much of Nurzhan's word as I can. No members of the party would listen before so I must treat him as a Grue child, teaching him the most basic of scripture. The deception works up until his physical challenge against the priest. Dorian is struck down by the old priest and we are drawn in to fight the enchanted golem. Even though some of our members were weakened and spent, we are strong when we fight together.

After the fight, Dorian lets loose on Ren... something about freeing the gnoll I had captured. Part of me wishes he had the same upbringing as I, and that the false pretense of being "Chosen" was real. He would know his responsibility as the leader of the TIP and that there are times when you must hold your tongue. Perhaps Ren deserves punishment for acting on her own, but she did so with conviction and belief and I respect her for that. Poor Dorian seems completely out of his element and on the edge of madness after this exchange. Ren seems somewhat cowed by the encounter and we all leave separately, the expanse growing between us. I am reminded again of my mother and the responsibilities I still hold. My ring is still in Lucien's possession. I need more power... power to protect my companions and to take back what is mine. Perhaps this chalice hold some clue or key to unlocking it? In the distance, our manor awaits us.

Narcel'Uss Tanorthal