Ascension

[Lollercide]

"Soften this old armor.." Hano thought to himself. Holding his hand over the worn pages of a book encased in leather, supporting it's spine with his other hand he sits in the corner of a quiet room full of many book cases. At his side were piles of prayer books, books on the Divine, and books of lore and legend of the Deities. Sweat rolled down his face, falling on the book he held, as mustered up every ounce of his effort to concentrate.

He could feel it. He had not felt something this great before and could not recall anything similar from his thoughts, but this feeling... His now strengthened oaths and convictions bled through and into him making it all so familiar to him. These things he was unable to understand, the powers he had been unable to fathom all seemed to make sense, even without explanation or any bit of logic. He could simply feel it.

As he muttered words that seemed to come out on its own, he could feel The Divine pulsing into his very being and coursing through his veins, empowering him. The words did not make sense to him, either, but he understood them all the same. Running his hand across the pages, chanting these incoherent words, a bright golden light flickers from his finger tips. He's sweating more profusely now, shaking from the effort put into his concentration.. Holding on to this feeling as if it were a cornerstone slowly eroding away between his grasp.

The light begins to bend and wrap around his skin, he feels himself tremble.. No. It was a roar in the distance vibrating through his body. A roar only he himself could hear as the light darted across his skin forming feint scales with a platinum sheen, swiftly making its way to his face. He focuses harder, trying to complete the blessing, reaching desperately for the cornerstone slipping from his grasp.

He drops the book to his feet, burying his face into both of his palms and letting out a gasp for air. "So close!", he cried into his hands. A man approaches him from behind, wrapping his fingers around Hano's shoulder reassuring him. "Keep going, Hano. You've almost got it. You've come this far, and now there is no turning back. Not without shame. Feel The True and let him guide you... You can not fail if you do." Hano lifted his head from his palms, wiping the sweat from his face with the back of his hands.

Panting from the exhaustion, Hano, nods to the man without giving him so much a glance. His eyes now focused on his hands trembling trying to recollect himself. Thoughts raced through his mind, both pleasant, and not. Balthasar, Samantha, Tamryn, Osclow, Karthus, his mother and father.. All of their faces and his experiences with them flashing through his mind as it fortifies his determination.

Gathering one final deep breath and releasing a long drawn out sigh he calms himself, reaching for the book that had fallen.

[Lollercide]

A month passed changing the Paladin drastically, and in more ways than one. He returned to the familiar room, glancing to the chair he favored over the others during his studies. As he continues, his eyes roam to the various bookcases all in their expected place. A smile made its way to his face as he blew out a breath of satisfaction, stirring the dust particles and causing them to dance in the light.

"Soften this old armor..." He quotes himself thinking back to a month ago, lifting the emberwood scabbard holding the Flames of Avanthyr from around his back and then places it to the side. The soft flames that would be glowing from the scabbard are rendered near invisible by the sun's light peeking into the room.

Relieved of its weight he rubs his face with both hands trying to collect his thoughts. It has been a while since he had a room alone to himself in the Temple. Not that he didn't welcome Tamryn, or any of his Brothers or Sisters' presence... Just that times like this were hard to come by. After the fine feast held at the Trade House, he had a lot to think about, and it was past due that he did so alone.. With Torm.

Abruptly, without any signal or warning he draws Bane Slayer from its sheath, swinging it from around his shoulder and rests its tip on the floor before him. He falls to a knee, clutching onto its hilt and just as abruptly as he started the motion he falls into silence resting his forehead against the broadside of the blade. He draws in a long breath and closes his eyes, daring not to look up from his blade.

"...I've learned what it is to kill, to give, and to take. How to live, learned to love and to hate..." The runes hum, whispering into his ears as a tear streams down his face. "...I understand, and was even blessed with experiencing the most important emotions and components of life. I understand what it is I must protect. I humbly kneel before you with these feelings fresh in mind, knowing that I must protect them and every being's right to them." He smiles a wider than usual smile, comforted by the warmth of the humming runes. "Thank you, Torm. Thank you for gifting me with so many allies with such strength and conviction. They would die for me, as I would for them. They are my greatest strength gifted to me during my short existence here on Faerun."

Hano pulls his forehead away from the blade slowly opening his eyes ahead of him. "However, kneeling before you so humble as I am now, I dare make such a bold request... Grant us your might and guidance, Loyal Fury. Give me and my allies who so selflessly serve the people to protect them, their rights, your blessings so that we might be successful during our darkest hour, should it come. If we are to embrace whatever end we face, let it be with your unwavering loyalty and righteous fury. If I am to die this very moment, it will be without regret, Torm. I have lived my life loyal to your ways - Loyal to the people and Tyr's judgment. If I had the chance, I'd live another life in your name."

He slowly rises to his feet, hands still wrapped around the end of Bane Slayer's hilt. "I'll willingly give and do anything you might need from this mortal shell. Anything you would ask of me if to ensure the people their rights and safety." Straightening his posture he sets his gaze before him.

"For the people."

[Lollercide]

Hano returned to the old room once again. The once still air now disturbed with his entrance, shooting dust particles up to dance around in the beams of sunlight that peeked through the window. He lifted his scabbard from over his shoulder and placed the blade to the side, against the book case.

The wooden floors now creaked under the weight of each step, and with the cornerr of his eye he catches a book he had left a few months ago ... exactly as he left it. His dry lips parted just enough to sigh, further stirring the dust in the air. Feeling secure in these old and familiar walls, still adorned with the various book cases, he begins to speak to himself.

"Osclow, my brother, so bright and full of spirit -- I pray that I might see Tia one day. Maybe hold her in my arms and tell her how lucky she is to have a great father like you ... as lucky as I am to have a great friend like you."

The paladin brought himself to a knee, his brown hair glowing in the sunlight and revealing the various strands of white hair. Likely not from age, but stress, as he was prone to such, and perhaps something else?

"Karthus, my friend, while where you've placed the dagger still burns, you were always wise in your ways, even if you were misguided. Your betrayal with Elric still pains me, but He knows how much I still love you as a friend. We've been through a lot together, and that will never change. No matter what your fate might be. Rest, or live, in peace and truth."

Lowering his head, he stares at the worn boards before him, reaching out and tracing the tips of his steel-clad fingers across a scuff mark, he continues,

"Nulinus, find redemption. You are the one and the few that wish to honor your word and oaths, despite the mistakes you've made. You were once a mentor for me, with Yashia, Calandra, and Hans."

He drags his fingertips across the scuff mark, bending his digits into a tight fist while suppressing the pain of how things have changed.

"Cade ... What ever happened to you? Did you even ever really exist? Or are you another product of ... Him, of It? These names that do not belong to faces, these faces that do not belong to names. Broken memories ... Are they even mine?"

He lifts his head and looks upward, his eyes focused as if meeting someone else in the eyes.

"Tamryn Jorandur, my wife, my love. I can't remember our time at the campfire, even when I want to so badly. I can only look back to then and wonder what was, what is, and what could have been. Ever since I met you in the training room of the Triumvirate Barracks, I've admired you. More experienced in ... everything, really. A strong sword, a brilliant mind, and a soul that sought to right the wrongs so badly that He could even recognize, giving you a second chance."

His eyes begin to shake, being held open for too long. Eventually he blinks and looks down to his shaking fist.

"You excel at everything I wish to be, the reasons I became a paladin. Your hands are closer to the divine than I could ever hope to be, an angel in His name, and I praise Torm every day for allowing my fate to be beside you."

Hano rises to his feet, bringing them together as he straightens his posture. The silver plates of his armor shine brilliantly in the sunlight, each unmarred despite the battle wear.

"The True ... Torm. I have, once more, another bold request to ask of you."