(AUTHOR'S NOTE: The following character, Erik Nevard, was created by our veteran dungeon master in the War of the Five RPG on Roll20. As such, I have his permission to write from Erik's perspective.)

CHAPTER FOUR: THE FAVORED SOUL: ILMATER'S CHOSEN

On the Outskirts of the Yuirwood

"Hail, Karuna and Killian!" I call as I approach my fellow adventurers. "What have you scouted out?"

"A smelly cave and its smellier inhabitant," replies the tiefling. A female next to him glowers. "Another aasimar."

"Truly?" One of my eyebrows raises. "Who'd have thought to find so many Planetouched in one place?"

"So this makes three of us?" The female, her eyes like twin sunsets, fixes her gaze upon me. "I am Tati."

"And I'm Erik Nevard." I place a hand over my heart and bow my head. "Leader of this brave and merry band, which we call the Restoration Corps. Ilmater knows this land needs restoring in the midst of chaos."

My new kin-sister, in blood if not if not in spirit, gives me a curious glance. "You mean the Broken God?"

"Aye." Taking a slow, deep breath, I brace myself against my quarterstaff. "I am one of his Chosen." When the one named Tati kneels, I help her to rise. "Nay, lass. I'm not a god, but his devoted follower."

"Just the same, he's a bit more than a man," says Killian with a smirk. "He has celestial blood, like you."

I wave his comment away. "I'm not called to be served, but to serve. Not to live in comfort, but to suffer."

"Hold," says Tati. "I have heard stories about those who are elected by their gods, one out of hundreds of thousands, plucked out of the masses stuck in the mud. How did the Broken God come to pluck you out?"

"Another time. "For now, we need to move out. I hear rustling. Could mean danger." I raise my staff; Killian readies his bow; Karuna points his spear, and Tati points hers. A doe emerges from behind a quilt of trees, stares at the four of us, then flashes her white tail and leaps away. We lower our weapons.

As relieved as we are, we don't sheath or lower them. Where deer roam, wolves will soon follow.

Making one's way through a forest, especially one as vast and meandering as the Yuirwood, is no easy task. We have to take great care not to trip over roots and stones underfoot, and Tati almost gets her foot caught in a hunter's snare. Luckily, Karuna points it out just in time for our newest recruit to avoid it.

"Thank you," Tati says, letting out a whoof of relief. "So we're the Restoration Corps. What's our first thing to restore – the first step to achieving our greater goal?"

"We have a contact by the name of Janus," I tell her. "Incidentally, she is a fire genasi."

"By the spirits! We extra-planar beings might as well be more numerous than the elves here," Tati exclaims, and we laugh uneasily. "What does she want?"

"One of Janus' men, named Skalanis, has been captured by the Sylvan Collective who dwells here. We're going to negotiate for his release."

"Or, failing that, kill them," Killian says. "I still can't believe we're doing this job for as-yet-unknown pay."

"Gold isn't our main concern here." I square my shoulders. "Someone's life is at stake."

"Why did the Collective capture him? Are these elves really that territorial?" asks Tati. "If so, I fear we may have jumped from the cooking pot into the fire. Who's to say they won't find us and take us prisoner, too?"

"That's why we need always be vigilant." I brush a shock of white hair from my brow. "Make haste."

No one complains. No one questions me or asks to rest, even Tati. We all sense danger, and that's enough to stifle any doubt. With my sapphire eyes as hard and faceted as the gems they resemble, I can see more than an ordinary mortal can. I grit my teeth at certain shadows, brandishing my quarterstaff as a warning gesture. They retreat, but whether they be from man or beast, I cannot tell. Rumor has it that these woods are haunted. Now that the Red Wizards of Thay have broken their tenuous alliance and scattered, I wouldn't be surprised to find a few shades or skeletons here. Maybe even demons or devils.

Not that I'm scared of any of them. The Painbearers, with whom I spent many a moon, saw to that.

"Nevard?" asks Tati after a long while. "Would you please tell me of your faith? What do you believe?"

"Ah-ah-ah!" Killian waves a finger at her. "Don't get Karuna started on his scars. Don't get our leader started on his god. Are you sure you want to be lulled to sleep by a recitation of all Ilmater's doctrine?"

Smiling, I hold up one finger. "Freedom for the people." I raise another. "Ease of suffering for all." With a third finger, I explain, "Offer a chance at redemption." Pause. "There. Are you slumbering yet, kin-sister?" Laughing, she shakes her head. Killian, on the other hand, shakes his with a grumble of defeat.

"People think my god's laws are hard to live by," I say. "They fear the trials to come if they take up the Crying God's cause. So they should – the way is more arduous than climbing a mountain – but at the end, a greater reward awaits than any sack of gold or any noble title. What you gain is strength of spirit, strength of will, and strength of body. What do you lose? Only your fear and pride."

"Losing fear is a good thing," says Karuna. "Fear makes you weak, but pride? That keeps you alive."

"I speak not of pride in survival, but the sort an evil king feels toward his subjects. He counts. They don't."

"You mentioned redemption earlier," says Killian. "Can even bastard Thayans achieve such a state?"

"Aye, but they have to repent. If not, then salvation means nothing. Redemption does not depend wholly upon the mercy of a god, but upon the desire of the sinner for it. Ilmater forces no man to fall to his knees and weep. Even though he forgives even Loviatar, she herself takes too much pleasure in tormenting others. Why would she want redemption?"

Harsh words, but true. I speak as Ilmater's chosen, borne to bear the burdens of the world.