Finding the Path

(This is a character related post about my current D&D character Kharask torn flames. This post deals with a past event in Kharask's training.)

Kharask moved further into the sandstorm. His guide, Khel'keth, was a wise elder among a nearby tribe. He would come to Kharask's tribe during the warlord training, to impart his wisdom with the individual recruits. Khel'keth was in his autumn scales, and the tone of his scales were a deep earthy brown with no highlights or shades among even the thicker scales. The elder led Kharask into the sandstorm for close to an hour, both dragonborn were used to enduring the sandstorms as were most warriors, for the Thri-Kreen would use the sandstorms to raid smaller villages or caravans while the dragonborn senses were overwhelmed. Khel'Keth stopped after a few more minutes of weathering the storm. "This area here will be far enough." The elder paused and spoke again, the dragonborns voice was easily more powerful and commanding than the storm around them. "Kharask Torn Flames, you must now tell me what you see." Kharask focused for a moment, but his sight could not fixate on anything except the moving sand and darkness swirling about them. The elder must be speaking about something else, something far less visible, but something that should be more noticeable. Kharask did not speak, so the elder spoke. "We live as small tribes and villages among the wastes Kharask. Our people prosper only to be diminished by natural predators, old enemies, and new ones. We do not abide the law of one warlord, king, or emperor, but create law among each village. We are a people seperated, a people broken. We all know this, and we all strive to become what we once were." Khel'keth paused a moment, slowly taking in what available air was around him. "Young and old among our tribes and villages grow desperate to return to our former glory. Many agree this is why more blue scales appear in the wastes as the years draw on. Our kind are turning from what we were created as, to twisted forms, wiling to serve dark masters for the overwhelming need for unity." The elder gathererd more air as he gazed headlong into the storm. "Our path is ahead of us Kharask. It lies always in our sight. It is the resurrection of our people, not its destruction. Our people will fade into existence, or we will finally burst from near extinction, to rise again as just lords and kings of vast lands." Kharask took in the elders words as Khel'Keth paused again. "Elder Khel'Keth. When I look for a path within the twisted sands I see one. I have always seen this path. Enemies and allies both lay broken upon it, and far ahead, at the edge of my imagining is a land that would be turned into a kingdom." Kharask finished, and the elder began speaking. "The path you see is the one that all dragonborn should see. As a warlord and leader you must inspire those around you to see the hope that the future can bring. Destruction and death are just small parts of honor. If we would die following this path, our blood would mark the trail for others behind us." The elder turned and began heading back, and Kharask followed. Khel'Keth spoke a few minutes into there departure. "Leave ambition behind you. Leave arrogance behind you. Take only yourself, and the vision of this path. Sacrifice, sorrow, and pain will mark your trails. Enemies will block your path, and allies will seek to forge new routes. Stay true to yourself and your vision, and know that all of these obstacles only prove the very existence of what you seek. It is attainable. We will be reborn." Kharask took in the power of his elders words and there emotion. It was obvious that Khel'keth had suffered greatly following this path. But his words were confusing to kharask. He spoke of the dragonborn as if they were the only race in peril, the only one in trouble. These were trying times for all races. Kharasks vision showed him a kingdom that would strengthen not just the dragonborn, but all those in need of there protection. It would show the right course for others to follow. If the dragonborn were so desperate that even the elders were losing clarity in there visions, then it was time indeed for the younger warlords to take the mantle, and find the direction they needed. Strength must be allowed to flow back in to rimoria. Kharask was not so arrogant as to believe he could do this, but he did know that he would follow the path, never lose it, and sacrifice whatever he had to, if only to make the way clearer for those in line. Kharask forged these thoughts in his mind, focusing on that simple goal, knowing that finding the path was just as easy as losing it. He would not let his people down. He would not let her down. He rested his entire soul on those words. To be damned if he would fail.

(Ok, a little seasoning on kharasks motives. hope you enjoyed!)