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The Pact Of A Dying Master
- by Cardinal Ximinez

The cleric came in to see the Temple Master, his hands caked with the dirt of dozens of graves, his heart heavy like lead... "It is finished, the last of the grave sites has been dug my master."

The Temple Master lay wounded on the bed. His face an ashen visage of death, he motioned for the Cleric to come closer. "My old friend, how many of the order still survive this day?", the Master uttered past the gurgling blood in his lungs.

The Cleric, eyes dried beyond the ability to cast more tears, looked down to his fallen mentor and spoke, "Tis only a handful of the order left, my Master."

The Master motioned again, "and what of the city?"

The Cleric stated grimly "The city of Trinsic still burns, and the fighting goes on." Taking a slow breath, the Cleric speaks, "Master, is this the end of our Order? Has Compassion failed us in our need?"

"Nay my child, Compassion can never fail us..." the Master whispers.

The Cleric, exceedingly distraught, speaks "But what shall we do? What CAN we do?!?"

The Master tells the Cleric, "During the battle, I saw a great blue standard flying in the midst of battle and an legion of men fighting to protect the city, find the leader and ask him to come to me..."

The Cleric rushes out into the darkness and finds the legion camped outside the city. After speaking with the leader, the two men head back to the Temple.

The Cleric breathlessly utters, "Master, I've brought their leader as you requested!"

The Temple Master eyes the Legatus standing before him, a man in his mid thirties, his armor and blue cloak showing signs of fighting and his face battle hardened and grim. The Temple Master motions for the leader to come closer to the bed. The grim Legatus comes and kneels beside the aged and wounded Temple Master's bed.

Aurelius speaks "Ancient one, why have thy requested my presence?"

The Temple Master looks up into Aurelius' eyes and speaks "Our Order is old, we carry within us knowledge long lost to most of the world. But our paths and way of life has always been a tenuous one." The Temple Master coughs and takes a long breath before continuing, "We have always held faith in our virtue of compassion, tending the sick and helping others in need. In this battle, many of our acolytes and clerics fell while keeping with our sworn duty". The Temple Master's eyes rimmed with tears as he continues, "I've watched most of our clerics fall in battle in the quest to help others, and now I know what must be done to continue the Order, but I need help... your help..."

"What would you have me do, Ancient one?" Aurelius speaks....

"When I was struck down during the attack on the city, I lay among the dead and dying. At that time, I received a vision that my Order needs to learn the ways of battle to defend not only ourselves, but the people we are sworn to help. You were in that vision, and I would humbly beg your services in teaching our clerics the art of battle, and in return I will place the knowledge and wisdom of this Temple at your disposal so that compassion may once again be spread throughout the world".

Aurelius holds the dying Temple Master's hand and states "Compassion need not stand alone, let the Virtues of Justice, Honor and Valor ride with it, and keep it safe... I swear that I will help train your Clerics to become Paladins of all of the Virtues, so they may roam the lands and bring peace to the people."

The Temple Master looks to the Legatus and in his dying breath whispers "You are an honorable man, I've seen that in the battle today- when others ran, you came to the city's aid; I can die in peace now, with the knowledge that my Order will continue and the people have hope..."

The Temple Masters body become still, and Aurelius thinks back to the battle. How these Clerics and the Temple Master bravely faced untold horrors to help the people without hesitation. Acts of sacrifice and honor like that must be repaid. His gauntled fist clenches as he stands and salutes the fallen Temple Master. "I will not fail you in this..."