[Downtime] Doubts of the Young Tormite

Kayla enters the Temple and prays inside. She prays to the Loyal Fury to give her an insight about this weird feeling. She also begs for His forgiveness, if what she felt was violated the Tormite teaching.

After she finished praying, Kayla seeks the priest who greeted her.

Kayla did not hear any reply - just the usual divine power of Torm still flowing through her.

And then after looking for a while, Kayla found the priest

"Good day, sister-of-arms, is there anything that we can help? Or would you like to discuss anything?"

"Good day, brother-of-arms" replied Kayla while making a greeting gesture.

"Well, actually...I wish to discuss something that...unusually occurred to me. It is something personal, I think. Is it alright for me to bother you with such topic?"

"If you really wish to have a talk about it, then I do not mind. Would you like to discuss it in the confession booth, or would you be more comfortable to speak about them here?"

"I guess the confession booth would be more appropriate, if I may"

Kayla inhales deeply and exhales slowly while closing her eyes. Then, she opens her eyes and begins her confession.

"I think it happened for the first time when I was aiding the priest of Waukeen Temple to find one of their missing cleric."

"Back then, we encountered several Chuuls and found corpse of Aboleth. We also found, unfortunately, corpses of the Waukeen cleric with several other adventurers there."

"After we done with burial and cleansing, we found several items with unknown origin. We can only guess where they came from, but no one can confirmed it. And then, we decided to..."

She suddenly feels an urge to not continue her words. It is a feeling she could not describe. Is it fear? Is it anxiety?

Whatever it is, it was stronger than usual which made Kayla need a while to set her mind together again.

"...we decided to keep them until we found their rightful owner. Not long after that, suddenly..." she paused again. Recalling that event is enough to send chill down to her spine. However, she needs to push herself.

"...I could heard Tiamat's laughter. I was not sure, but I felt that she was laughing at me. At the same time, one of my companion asked me whether she could bring one of the item with her..."

She paused again. The sense of guilt once again approached her each time she remembered it.

"...and I suddenly felt...upset with her question. I...felt for a moment that everything we found back then was belonged to me. That feeling was rather weak actually, but it came so suddenly that...it slipped past my guard. Fortunately, I was able to control myself immediately."

"At first, I thought I was just exhausted. However...that feeling was coming over and over again, particularly when it related to reward from a mission."

"For example, when our charter received a request for eliminating an Orc raider group, the first thing I unconsciously look for was the sum of the reward. Things were getting worse when the reward was handed to me, as I almost kept the reward to myself without divided it with my companions. Fortunately, I was able to grasp back my sense and immediately trusted the reward to my companion, before that strange feeling took over me again..."

The confession booth went into silent again for a while.

"The truth is...I am afraid. Although it has yet to cause any harm, but this strange urge of feeling had bested me several times, lest only for a moment. Therefore, I wish to seek enlightment and guidance, to prevent it grows stronger than it was..."

After she finished her confession, Kayla lifts her face and stares at the chamber's windows silently, waiting for answers from the priest...

The priest listened carefully, and finally replied.

"There might be several causes, but more important is not giving up. This might be a test from Torm, whether you will yield to the evil thoughts or not. Be strict, and be just, since it will save you from many problems."

He paused for a moment.

"This might be the first time you encounter treasures and rewards thus such feelings grew. However, always respect and abide to the rules in your group, especially on dividing the rewards. With a clear and just rules -and better if that rule set is approved by everyone- it will be easier for you to face your inner doubts. You can easily look upon the rules, and act according to the law you set together with the group. Law is one of the best way to battle doubts."

He hesitated.

"There might be a chance, that because of the lack of the law, that you seemed to filled with doubt. Do not worry about 'evil thoughts', for they are always there. Torm judges people based on their acts, not based on their thoughts. Even so, which one do you think 'stronger', someone who never do evil act because they never think of them, or someone who never do evil act, despite that their inner beast is always seducing them?"

He seemed to smile.

"Do not worry, just keep the Torm's way as you act. Abide to the law, set a rule that is both just and fair, do good deeds and endure our inner selfish thoughts. That might be better. I actually am glad to hear that you bested that dark feelings up until now, as that only proves your mettle in Torm's way. Please continue in keeping your faith in Torm."

Kayla is stunned by the priest's answer, as if she just had found the biggest revelation in her life.

"That was...you are right. How could I did not think that way before...? Now I feel embarrassed for not realizing something as simple as that."

She looks straight at the chamber's windows. Her eyes are now filled with confidence. There is no trace of doubt left in her face.

"Thank you, brother-of-arms. Your words had lifted my soul and swept away my doubt. I apologize for making you spent your time just to remind me about such an obvious matter."

"It is by Torm's guidance that we can meet and talk about it. It is by Torm's blessings that you can find the answers. May Torm always show the right way."

With that, Kayla now free to continue her day.

Kayla thanked the priest again before she left the temple. Outside, she looks at the sky to make sure the day is still young.

After that, without any doubt filled her mind, she proceeds to the Flaming Fist Mercenary Guild's Headquarter.

The Flaming Fist Mercenary HQ stands tall albeit several blows it suffered recently. The news regarding their real situation has not been spreading yet.

Kayla was greeted by a guard, who will escort her to anywhere she wants inside the compound