Iorrjaer

Chapter 9

Yophiel followed Barsabel around, helping her with the chores of cleaning up. She had eaten and was feeling a lot better. The stories that she had heard were still echoing around in her mind as she was making sense of them. Bethar's story... Graphiel's story... so tragic. How did they keep on going? How did they see justice in the world? How did they get up every day and forge ahead?

Barsabel noticed Yophiel's distraction and dismissed her. They had gotten everything gathered and now it was the tedious but single job of washing. She wanted the extra set of hands but not if they were not going to be helpful.

Yophiel made her way over to Malka, who was setting up his game board. He saw her approaching and welcomed her to sit with him. She did and watched with interest as he set the pieces up.

"You're always welcome to play." Malka said, noticing that she was keenly intent on seeing where the pieces went and how the board started. "I know that you know this game."

"Maybe... I was wondering... could you...help me?"

Malka finished placing the king in its spot and met her eyes. "Of course."

"I just...I just want to know. I want to know about the gods. Who are they?"

Malka sat back. He was happy that Yophiel was asking questions. He was intrigued in her shift of attitude, she was almost back to how Graphiel had described her. Almost like the spores had somehow been enhanced. Malka got the feeling that there was a stronger fey stimulus.

"The gods are beings that live in a celestial existence above our own." He answered. He continued before he left too much of an opening. "They are gods because they exist in a state of being higher than our own, mortal life. We pray to them to gain their favour. Blessings that empower us."

"What about curses?"

"Any curse is the work of a devil – an evil deity that lives in the infernal realm - the realm beneath ours. Asking a god to curse someone, actually employs a devil. A counter being to a god, if you will."

"Is there one god above the others?"

"No." Malka answered. He could guess where she was trying to go with that question. Her sunken, contemplating face told him that he had not answered as she had wanted. He explained: "The gods are a harmony – a balance of virtues and good nature. Each god works in tandem with the others to achieve this balance. Following one over the others is to put that one above the others, above the order that they maintain, harmoniously. That is dangerous.

Following one creates a dogmatic rhetoric that can then spiral out of control. Putting one god above the others, any god, threatens that peace." He watched Yophiel's face, wanting to see if she was understanding what he was saying.

She understood his meaning but wanted to delve further into it. She wanted to know more. "What about Paladins being chosen by their one god?"

"They are chosen by one, yes. That does not mean that the others are therefore irrelevant. Take Vetti and Vettig for example: both are gods. One is the goddess of life and the other is death. A Paladin of Vetti does not forsake Vettig nor does a Paladin of Vettig forsake Vetti. Paladin's are meant to uphold the virtues of their deity, to be a vessel for that god's message.

Bne is the Paladin for the God of War – Khokale. That does not mean that he is out there creating war. No, he seeks to end wars before they start. But if war is inevitable, then he is there as a force to end it. A Paladin of Vettig does not seek death. Nor do they murder to appease death. Murder is an affront to Vettig and those that commit murder are judged by her Paladin.

Her paladin is her proxy on our plane of existence and deals the necessary punishments. Death is a natural part of life and should be understood as that. Vettig's paladin would be there to ease the passing, comfort the living and be a guide for the souls. Murder is a devil's trick and is answered as such."