Lost and Found (Mark's Journal)
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As he sits alone on the foot of the bed in a purchased room at the Dancing Mermaid, Mark finishes polishing his armor… ensuring the hunter and azure platemail shines better than the day it was forged. After hanging the plate over an empty chair, he gives a sigh of relief as he walks back to the bed to prepare for a night's rest. Washing his face in the small waterbasin that sit near the nightstand, he looks in the mirror at the stubbled face that leers back at him. Turning around, he sees a small object on the ground near the door. His face turns from an expression of curiousity to one of happiness as he leans over to pick up a small sprig of tiny white flowers that seem to have fallen out of his pack. Taking a moment to look at them, his mind filling with pleasant thoughts, he walks over to the desk and presses the flowers in the back of a leatherbound book. He draws a knife from his sword belt, hanging on the headboard of the bed, and begins his nightly shave of his face, and trimming of the thick goatee framing his lips before sitting down to write in the aforementioned book.
@76128ff46d:
For the last few years, I traveled this land as a ghost. I was a shell of my former self, and not only that, I was lost in more ways than one. Stumbling back upon Norwick was what I thought to be nothing more than a stepping stone across the river to Waterdeep, to my small village nearby where I would return home and admit defeat to everyone who watched me ride out with my head held high. Luckily this land turned out to give me so much more than I could have hoped for.
Being faithless is a very strange feeling. A feeling of loneliness, stronger than any I had felt. The goddess who once looked over me had forsaken me, as I did not follow her dogma truly and her prayers were not spoken directly from my heart. She had every reason to turn her back on me, and I do not fault her at all for her decision.
I came to have faith in only my swordarm and shield, and it got me through a few more years, yet the feeling of emptiness never subsided. No matter how hard I fought, or how long I tried to forget, the whole in my soul was there… and it wailed to be filled once more.
When I returned, I was lucky enough to meet Ama'bael. A beautiful elven girl with a heart larger than the sword on her back, she has nothing but good intentions for all that she meets. She speaks Common, though it is a bit broken. But to hear her tongue speak Sylvan with me is enough to bring a smile to the most grizzled frown on the most miserable man's face.
I was the man lucky enough to share her first kiss... and many more after that. I still feel the strongest joy in my heart every time she takes my hand, and the hole in my heart is partially filled. There was still something missing, however, and Ama being the kindhearted elfie she is... she would not let me be incomplete.
She helped me.
She held my hand as she led me to the temple to pray for guidance. As I knelt at the altar of Duty's Bond, I prayed for just that. I asked the gods themselves, what I should do, and which of them I should devote my life to. As I opened my eyes... there was one thing in the temple that caught my eye I had never noticed before.
A banner, with a gauntlet... an unclosing eye embedded inside.
Helm. The Vigilant One. The Everwatchful.
I spent the next couple of weeks reading what I could about Helm in the temples, but that is not the way I learn best. I also began to seek out Helmites, who may teach me more. Adelie is one. A woman in the Defenders who took me out on a patrol as she taught me more of Helm's teachings and her own beliefs.
Sir Roland Brynmor. I was led to him, and I waited for him on the steps of the temple. When I told him my story, and how I just wished to learn, his eyes were both hard, and kind. He invited me to travel with him, and to learn of Helm through our adventures.
Needless to say, I graciously accepted.
I hope I don't let anybody down.
