Neverwinter Forest sinew

the shadow listened to her war reaper as carefully as any spirit-whispers, and found the wonders of mortality in his words. intrigued and strengthened in her resolve, the voidsent creature studied her companion as she contemplated her response. thoughts of merrick evoked only pity now, for his night pearl had ventured beyond the veil and had seen his bear worship for the farce it always was.

the god had many faces; hunger was only one, and to worship only one aspect of creation was to be misled.

my father, bear-priest. merrick, the shadow turned with a gesture to follow, intending to lead her ash warrior toward the mountain of the bear cultists. he is misled. he see god in face of the bear, but god have many faces. demand many tribute; tribute in blood, in secrets, in passion, in magic.

merrick betray me. woman come to mountain; he say: family. i say: trespasser, abandoner. i leave ursus, find faces of unnamed god, she explained patiently in her odd halting speech, by far the most words to leave her mouth at one time. faces of god are hidden in shadow of bear mountain. i come to show light to blind bear-priest. he will not see. we leave alone, when moon leaves sky again, to where land ends. to see faces of god. a rough-hewn plan, riddled with little holes where mortal events might twist and churn and force the pair to plan anew, for it was a plan passed down through the will of the god of many faces — and the unnamed god may rule the earth in absolution, but never the hearts of mortals. mortals must always choose, whether it be to follow or to fight.