A Crushed Lily

[Vendrin]

It was a cold morning in Waterdeep. The sun would soon push it’s way further into the sky and burn the cold away, but for now Auril had a firm grip on the city. As people walked to their destination, the cold ocean air rushing in over them, most drew their cloaks close about them, trying to save as much body heat as possible, cursing the cold as they did, though one man softly uttered his thanks.

Barid Mosinel walked down the streets, his cloak flapping freely in the wind behind him, his dark armor polished, and his breath causing mist with every exhalation. He welcomed the cold; it made it easier to bury his emotions, as its numbing freeze flowed through him. His destination, The City of the Dead, loomed before him, and he appreciated the gold and effort spent to keep the large graveyard well kept.

He walked with swift confidence to the grave that brought him to the resting place of the dead. A fine purple lily was cradled gently within his gauntlet covered hand, it’s blossom, almost perfect. He looked down on the grave, and slowly fell to one knee, placing the lily on the ground before the marker, protecting it from the wind.

“I’m sorry it took me so long, my love. I was weak, and the pain was… too much. It almost still is.” He spoke softly, and with grief in his voice. “Things are different now… Justice has finally been had, the beast of a man who killed you is dead by my hand. But my work is not done, I have learned much, and my duty is to spread those teachings to others.” Barid looks up into the morning sky, the light from the sun assaulting his eyes, but the pain is almost welcome to him, as a tear runs down his cheek.

A wind rushes up, and without his notice, the lily he had put before the grave is blown behind him.

The grief fades, and he begins to speak with the voice of a zealot. “I have been tasked to bring Peace to this world. To bring my Lord’s True Justice, to make a perfect world. And I’m doing it for you, my love.”

He stood up and turned without looking down on the grave, burying his pain, grief and anger deep within him, focusing on his devotion to his new god Bane.

As he walked away from the grave of his love, his boot landed on the lily, crushing the beautiful flower beneath his heel. He did not notice, and walked on, his Dark Lord’s vision and the vengeance it promised was all that held his attention.

[Misty]

I like!

[Burt]

Nice.

[Mikayla]

Very nice Ven - short, but sets the scene and the character pretty much perfectly.

[Vendrin]

Thanks, the scene just popped into my head, so I decided to write it up.