Penance of Duty

[Fezzik]

Set up inside the Gelley House for Wayward Children, Becky takes her place at the head of the room, numerous children of various sizes, ages and races gathered about her. Her armour shining, polished and freshly cleaned she puts up her hands to ask for silence. One of the nearby retired Helmite Knights coughs gruffly and makes a face of a Fatherly nature and the children calm down and focus on the speaker before them.

“Every person has duties. These duties vary depending on ones faith; ones morals, and ones Ethics. Doing what is right, is far harder than doing what is wrong. This is something I want you to remember as we continue these talks. “

Some of the older children murmur; a few little ones play with various little imaginary toys.

“What are the duties of the Church of Torm?” She waits, but no one puts up their hands. “The Penance of Duty. Part of my reason for being here is for that Penance, but more so, it is important that you know of the Powers that would help the people of Faerun. The Debt of Persecution - a debt we must repay to all the faiths of Good. The Debt of Dereliction – a debt that requires the full stance of defiance and force against the cults of Strife, Madness, Death and Murder. The Debt of Destruction – a debt to refurbish all the damage done to the weave during the Time of Troubles and the Year of Wild Magic.”

“Who can name some of the Good Powers that seek to aid all the people of Faerun or Oppose the Dark Powers?”

Silence followed for a few seconds until a little hand goes up. Looking at the Helmite Knight the little boy blurts out quietly, “The Watcher!”

A smile crosses the Hin Paladins face. “Yes, the Church of Helm, the Watcher, has stood to face against the Evil in the world. Slow, steady planning and to protect the weak, those that are unfairly persecuted, the injured, and the young. Greatly has the Watchers church dealt with problems in the Valley we all call Home. When the full plans of the Watchers forces have been made, little goes wrong with those plans, and the foes who are foolish enough to stand against the Watchers clergy and followers meet their folly quickly.” She bows her head respectfully to the old Helmite Knight who now stands straighter than he had with a gruff smile on his face, still watching over the young children to make sure they stay in order.

“Now, that’s enough for today. Tomorrow we might consider the Earth Mother. It’s time for your play session.” With a smile, she helps usher the children out, answering a few questions as the children exit. Some of the children taller than her, but still giving her the respect they do the old man.

[Fezzik]

“Alright... settle down please.” Becky ushers the children to their seats. Over the course of a few weeks, she has managed to teach the children the basic dogma’s of all the Goodly Powers. “We’re going to have a little quiz today, and a question session too.”

“Who knows the Power that opposes the Furys?” A little hand pops up from the back waving frantically. “Yes Valarie?”

“Valkur!” A nod and a smile from the little hin lecturer makes the little girl beam as she jabs the little boy beside her with her finger and sticks out her tongue. “Civility please Valarie,” draws a quick blush and a rapid nod of the head, followed by a Yes Ma’am.

“Whose followers make careful plans, and protect the meek?” A couple of answers before the right one pops up. “You are all right, Justice and Strength do plan, and all the Goodly Faiths do often protect the meek, but it is, as you pointed out “ - a quick nod to the red haired gnome boy- “ the Watcher, Helm, is the chief protector of the weak, young and unpopular.”

The quiz continues. Chauntea, the Earthmother or Great Mother, aiding farmers and peasants with crops and plants, all things growing and being reaped; nurturing the earths fertility. Lathander, the Morning Lord fostering hope and renewal. Mystra, Selune, Eldath, Lurue, Sharess, Shialla, Tyr and Ilmater. Once she is satisfied that they understand the basics of each faith, she calls for any questions that the children may have.

[Fezzik]

Questions with tricky answers

“When you come across someone who is doing bad things, what do you do?” Becky nods at the question and gets up from her stool, pacing slightly as she thinks for a moment.



“What am I doing now?” Pacing, moving, Thinking – she puts her finger on her nose as she gets the right answer. “Why would I need to think?” To see who might be around if you need to beat them up! – draws a frown and a shake of the head; Because you need to know what the persons dids and Whys?! – draws a nod. “Should my actions be reflected in these, or should I paint everyone with the same brush?” After a brief pause she answers for them. “Justice must be tempered with Compassion. Those whose actions harm, or could cause harm, to others we must treat with some difference than those who only would bring harm to themselves.”

“What if someone steals to feed their family, but makes another family starve because of it?” Becky pauses a moment.


“Is the person doing good to try to feed their family?” Mostly nods. “But stealing to do it, is that bad?” General nods, some looking skeptical. “But stealing from someone else and making them starve, that is bad?” Mostly nods again. “What could they do instead of stealing?” Some chirps of work, but only one comment that seems to satisfy the Paladin a little better; ask for help. “So instead of stealing, they could ask for help. Is this harder than just taking it?” A pause, murmurs and then as if a candle is lit in the room, sudden enthusiastic nods. “You remember what I’ve been saying then, good. It is harder to do good, than bad. Being strict with your own morals, ethics and faith will lead you to where you need to go. Being good, although it will be harder sometimes, will be more satisfying. But why would it be satisfying?”

After a pause again she continues. “Sometimes things take a long time to grow. When you do a good deed, you don’t always see the fruits until well after the seed has been planted. Some might object to your good deeds, some might not understand them. If you know in your heart it’s the right thing, and that it will help others, and not yourself even though some might try to make you baulk or change your mind you should continue. Continue if you can see the path is Just, Compassionate and you follow the strength of your heart. You might fail; but in failure you will learn. The Good Powers have laid out paths that will help you when you cannot think whether or not you are doing the right thing. It is good to study them all, so you will know what you should do, should you be confused.”