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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Insight" data-source="post: 2292201" data-attributes="member: 11437">JacobyJacoby | Shrine of Bahamut, Outside the Village of Cumberland, MiteaOOC: I'm going to assume a few questions for you in the dialogue below, just to keep things moving.  If this is a problem, post in the OOC thread and I'll change it.Clelind looks away from Jacoby and regards the claw symbol upon a stone circle above the door, the entrance to the Shrine of Bahamut.  Following a period of inexorable silence, Clelind again turns back to face Jacoby.  "My boy," he says.  "The Order of the Silver Dragon... where to begin?  The Order is more an ideal now than anything real.  It was once a shining example of all of the good and honorable things Bahamut stands for.  Started off that way, long ago.  The Dragon commands us to do Good works in his name, and honors us with rewards, some material, and some... of a far more valuable variety."Jacoby smiles and produces his silver star pennon.  "So the Order was founded by followers of Bahamut?""Yes," Clelind replies.  "Though they did not know it at the time."  He laughs, a chuckle to stir up old cobwebs.  "A band of adventurers, they were.  Known as the Circle.  Don't know much about them at all.  They founded the Order of the Silver Dragon based on the addled dreams and visions of one of their number.  Kept seeing a silver dragon in his sleep.  Spoke to him - through him - taught him of the tenets and beliefs of old.""Was Bahamut talking to the man?" Jacoby asks, playing unconsciously with the pennon."What is that in your hand?" Clelind wonders, taking the silver star pennon before Jacoby could answer.  "Looks familiar.""It's a pennon I found," Jacoby replies."Interesting," the cripple comments after a few moments' examination.  He hands it back to Jacoby without a further word."So Bahamut told the man to create the Order of the Silver Dragon?" "Hard to say," the cripple answers.  "It's a topic of much debate amongst members of the Order.  But in any event, soon, the Order of the Silver Dragon was formed.  The Order's heyday was more than three generations ago - long before you or I were born.  These knights who obeyed no worldly lords or powers, they righted wrongs and sought out evil wherever it could be found.  Such was their mandate.""What happened to the Order of the Silver Dragon?"Clelind frowns and turns toward the Shrine, lightly touching the mark upon his chest.  "They... we... are still around, in one form or another.  Not many left now."Jacoby jumps towards Clelind with a shout.  "I knew you were a knight.  Had to be!"The former knight half-turns at the movement, and is overcome by the joy he detected in the youngling's voice.  "I was.  That was a long time ago.  But yes, I was indeed a member of the Order of the Silver Dragon.  Still am, I guess."Taking Clelind's shoulders in his excitement, Jacoby's mind raced.  "I must tell you of my vision then!  I saw Bahamut in my dreams as well!""No," Clelind retorts.  "What you must do now is go inside."  The cripple's once-powerful arm pointed at the dark doorway leading inside the Shrine of Bahamut.  "You will find answers there.  If I am still here when you return, we'll speak again.  Otherwise, good luck, young one, and may your sword be true."Jacoby timidly pushes the stout wooden door open, revealing a once-proud shrine in shambles.  Broken rock walls line the inside of the building - Jacoby had not noticed these from the outside.  After a brief initial examination, it is obvious that this was at one time a place of great distinction.Feeling again the hair on his arms and the back of his neck rise, Jacoby whirls around, taking in the entirety of this unremarkable ruin.  Strange as it would seem, he cannot see beyond the broken walls of the shrine.  He is truly alone in this place.  Only darkness outside."Thou hast come," a voice, created from power and fury, says with thunderous presence.  Jacoby stumbles at the sound, which threatens to tear him limb from limb.  He falls, and crawls into a corner to escape what every fiber of his being tells him is surely his doom.Only Jacoby's innate courage, a rarity amongst people nowadays, enables him to turn to face the origin of this voice.  He sees nothing, just darkness, an unnatural sort of obfuscation in one corner of the shrine."Servant of the Dragon, approach," the voice commands, and Jacoby, unable to resist the call, obeys.  He stands, takes a few baby steps into the expansive darkness, and stops.  "Walk no more closer, Jacoby of Amberlea," the voice says, its tones sending shockwaves through the young warrior's soul.  Jacoby stands, staring into the darkness, wondering how this voice came to be, and to whom it might belong."I cannot appear in thy midst, Servant of the Dragon, for to do so now would only destroy you.  Be assured that I am here in thy presence, to give you succor and provide you with sustenance to thy soul.""Thou hast doubt in thy thoughts.  Thy perceptions cannot comprehend what I am, but be assured that thou art in a place of peace and of glory, though thou cannot see it now.""Servant of the Dragon," the voice continues, "Ask of me one question and one question only.  Think upon it, and be true.  The answer provided to you shall makest a permanent a mark on thine own soul."</blockquote>

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