A Matter of Faith - Hoard of the Dragon Queen.

Raan shook the rain from his cloak as he passed through the stone archway to the temple of Torm. He felt a wave of warmth wash over him as he was greeted by the soothing glow of many torches that illuminated the walls.

Before him stood a modest hall. Perfectly carved and polished pews were arranged in a circle around a large hearth in the halls centre.

Raan eyed several robed attendants shuffling about, seemingly unaware of his entrance, save for one who approached him with hands out at his sides, palms visible. 
Young male, angled chin, eyes and nose covered by cowl. Elf, possibly half-breed. No weapons visible.

Although Raan had been instructed to attend this hall by Assuran himself, he still kept his guard up.
If it looks like a trap, it probably is, echoed the words of one of the chosen to train him.
The purpose of this event, seemed to be yet another training exercise.

"Your swords are not needed here," said a woman's voice. It sounded aged yet it resonated clearly across the hall, as if she were next to him.
Raan eyed a figure sitting opposite the large hearth in the centre of the room. Possibly the origin of the voice though he couldn't be sure.
"If it is all the same, I'll decide that, should the choice need to be made."

Raan saw the  figure across the hall shuffle. Her shoulders bobbed a few times. Possibly laughing?
A hand gestured for him to approach as the young robed male turned about and led him in further.

Eight lives visible. Secluded areas could house more. Circular room. No real defensive position.

As Raan walked closer he could now make out a woman's face. It was lined with many years of age. Long silver hair pulled back in a pony tail.
Her robes looked faded. Older and less ornate than the others in the room.
"Welcome, Raan. Chosen of Assuran. Sit, and be at ease."
Raan raised an eyebrow reflexively at this woman who seemed to know so much about him.
He sat down next to her in the same pew, moving his sword from his side to his lap with enough distance between them to seat another. 

"You have me at a disadvantage," he replied. "I do not know your name."
She turned her body towards him, sitting with hands resting in her lap.
"A name doesn't give me advantage for it is only a name, Raan." she mused. A quaint smile on her lips. Raan realised suddenly that her eyes were not dilated, that she wasn't actually looking at him, so much as though him.
"Oh yes," she nodded. "I am quite blind." Her lips and nose scrunched up a little and she raised her hand slightly, turning it from side to side. " In a physical sense, that is."
Her hand returned to her lap, as she leaned in closer to him.
"Some things I can see clearer than a blue spring sky," she whispered. as she patted him on the knee "Raan, Chosen of Assuran."
"I would appreciate some discretion towards my identity if its all the same to you." Raan whispered back quietly. 

" Oh you needn't be worried about, dear boy." She raised her hands and gestured here and there, motioning Raan to take a look about. "You're in a temple of Torm." She replied as if that was assurance enough.
After a moment of silence, she continued. "That means, Raan, Chosen of Assuran, that what we speak about here, remains here and for no one else but yourself, and myself."
She relaxed back into the pew, putting an arm on its back rest, tracing the intricate carvings with a finger. "It's as simple as that."
Raan huffed a small sigh, shaking his head dismissively.
She shifted her position back to her initial pose. Hands folded back in her lap.
"So," she began, " The hour is late. The temple is empty and peaceful, and Raan, Chosen of Assuran, enters this hall. What brings you here, Raan, Chosen of Assuran."
"It's just Raan, and-" He started to respond.
Her hand shot out open and hung there. "Good to meet you, Raan, I'm Milly."
Raan paused only for a moment, then shook her outstretched hand. She shook it vigorously, with quite a strong grip.
She moved back and motioned for him to continue. "Go on," she replied.

"I was sent here by Assuran. I received no other instructions other than that,"
Raan explained. "You seem to know more about this meeting than I."
A puzzled look crossed Milly's face, then suddenly, realisation. " Oh, the whole "I Know Everything About You," routine." Milly dismissed it with a gesture. One of His gifts to the devoted. I know the innermost truths of anyone who walks through that arch." She mused
"That's more Assuran's idea of fun isn't it? Irony, and poetic justice?"
Raan didn't know how to answer. This was the first time he'd actually spoken to anyone about his situation since the events of Greenest.

"Yes, it is a mandate of Assuran to administer true justice to those who would harm the innocent," he stated flatly. "The crime will imitate the punishment."

"That is exactly the same thing the last Paladin of Assuran said," she chuckled. "To the letter!"

Raan disagreed with the title of 'Paladin', but more pressing was the talk of another trained like him! "Another came here? How long ago did you see him?" 

"Her" Milly replied. 

"Her, then!" He snapped back. 

Milly shot him a Mother's glance of disapproval and Raan immediately knew his error. He stiffened his posture. 

"Please, tell me about her." He asked with a tone full of respect.

Milly nodded and smiled. "She was very much like you. A soul, drowning in grief, her life about to end far too soon." 
This sounds all too familiar, he thought.

"Assuran plucked her from certain doom and put a bit more of a spring in her mortal coil and set her on the path that you walk now." 

It couldn't be a coincidence that another like him had come here. Perhaps it was just more training? 

"What became of her?" He asked. She waved a finger from side to side in a mock disapproval.

"That is the end of the story, Raan, You're skipping ahead."

Raan sighed again. "Continue, please." He said and Milly seemed happy at his use of manners this time.
"When she came here, she too said that Assuran had told her to come. She didn't have swords though. She had a beautiful curved bow," She smiled fondly. " She sat right where you're sitting now and asked why she'd been sent also."

Raan waited now, the pause in sentences growing.
"Go on," Raan prompted.

Milly moved forward a little in the pew, closing the gap between her and Raan.
"Before we continue, Raan, who sent you here today?" 

"Assuran," he answered with a puzzled look on his face. "I told you that before."
"He sent you?" She pressed, "Assuran himself, spoke to you?"
"Yes, Milly." He answered again, trying not to become frustrated at this sudden line of obvious questioning.
"When did he ask you to come to this place?"
"Four nights ago," He continued. "Where is all this going, Milly?"
"Did you argue with him about reason or need to come this temple without a reason?"
Raan shrugged his shoulders, "Yes, He rarely sends me to any place with an explanation. It's always a trial to get any kind of straight answer from him!" Raan scoffed. "But that's gods I suppose."

"You suppose?" Milly asked, raising an eyebrow, nodding as if she had heard enough.
"She was here for two days before she got her truth." Milly said, "But she was a lot smarter than you are so I'm going to save you the time."
Milly looked over her shoulder towards an alcove at the back before Raan to answer her clear insult. "Kel," she called, "Kel, are you near?"
A middle aged man, older than Raan, but far younger looking than Milly shuffled from the alcove over to them.
He smiled nervously at Raan, his eyes darting from Raan's sword across his lap back to Milly.
"Yes, Milly. Can I help you?"
"Kel. Tell us how long you have been in the service of Torm, please."
Kel smiled funnily and Raan got the impression that Milly already knew the answer before it would be stated.
"I have been in devoted service to Torm for twenty two years of my life." He said humbly, head bowed at the mention of his deities name.
Milly looked back to Raan. "Kel here is one of our most devoted priests," she explained. "He is a gifted healer and provides an invaluable service to this province." Raan just eyed her, waiting for his chance to retort to the not forgotten insult.
Kel bowed at the kind words. "You honour me, Milly. Thank you."
Milly looked back at Kel. "Answer me one more question, please Kel." She asked. "When was the last time Torm spoke to you directly?"
The smile faded from his face. "You know that Torm has never spoken to me, Milly." He answered. Raan concealed his surprise as he saw Kel become saddened by this line of questioning. "I pray to him and through my faith, His will is carried out."
Millys face filled with compassion. "Of course, Kel." she replied, her voice full of empathy. "No one is denying your faith, or your gifted skills as a healer." These words placed a forced smile back on Kel's face.
"Thank you, Milly," he bowed and began to move away. "I'll take my leave now."

Milly smiled back at Kel and slowly looked back to Raan, her smile completely diminished by the time she faced him.
"You were sent here, Raan, as your predecessor was sent here, because you do not realise just how unique your situation is."
Raan said nothing back, still stunned by the revelation that Kel had provided.
"Gods don't speak to people every day." She started as Raan's usual cold scowl began to evaporate.
"These priests, devote their entire lives to Torm and his edicts." she motioned around the room at the others who were tending chores or in deep prayer. "Some go their entire lives in service to Torm without being endowed with the ability to cast a simple cantrip."  Raan could now see where this was headed and braced himself for what was to come.
"And you!" Milly stood up, finger poking Raan's shoulder repeatedly. Her voice suddenly raised "You cant even respect a god, who endows you with such incredible power! Who speaks directly to you!" She continued her assault. "How long have you been in his service, Raan? A year? Not even?"
Raan moved her finger from his shoulder and raised his hands in surrender.
"All right, Milly!" He shouted over her voice, "I hear you!" wanting this much deserved berating to cease.
She paused, her anger now changing to a visage of hurtful pent up grief and words left unsaid.
She paced away from him a few steps then turned, as if she was about to launch into another lecture. She bit her lip, once, twice then looked away once more, shoulders slumped.
After what seemed like an eternity of silence, save the crackling of the hearth, Milly turned back to face him.
"You need to stop fighting Him and start listening to him, Raan." She said, quietly. Raan only sat there and nodded.
"It is one thing to believe in a god," she began as she sat down next to him and put her hands in his. "But to have a god believe in you! That is quite the rarity."
Raan looked her in the eyes for a long moment, stood up and walked away from Milly.
"Before you go," She called after him. Raan stopped and cocked an ear over his shoulder. "Should you ever pass this way again, have the respect to leave your weapons at the door."
As Raan walked away and caught a glint of silver above the stone arch. There, flanked by two torches hung an ornate bow and quiver etched in all too familiar markings. He halted again.
"What was my predecessors name?" He asked, not taking his eyes from the bow.
"That is a question fit for the start of a story, Raan, Chosen of Assuran." She replied, "You should have asked it then."
Raan nodded and smiled as he pulled the cowl over his head and moved silently back into the night.