View source for A Knight's History of the Merchant District Barony part II

'''Year 2 Traitors'''

Things seemed to be getting better for a while. The District Guard was growing and returning order to the streets. Cameo and Zeer were wed and seemed to be doing some good for the district. Another Knight was appointed for the Merchant District, Sir Cudbriht Barrington. Our biggest problem was dealing with Baron Falk of Lower Cordor. It was uncovered by a personal friend of Simone Giovani that Falk had given orders for my own assassination, presumably for my public condemnation of his actions towards the great hero, Erok. He had hired Stoneholders, a cult of Banites who valued tyranny and fear, to serve as district guards and it was clear he cared not for his people when after a public protest on behalf of the hero, Erok, he still continued with the execution and flaunted the results by stepping outside and showing the severed head to the protesters. He was almost killed in the riot that ensued but it did not deter him from his dishonorable ways.

We discussed many options about what to do concerning the "less than subtle baron." Unfortunately, nothing was ever accomplished with this. With the up-spring of rumors surrounding Cameo and Zeer, Falk was all but forgotten. By now, I had taken on a Squire, one Thal Oakenheart, a good and sensible man with a history of service in Waterdeep's navy. With the rumors and my fierce defense of the barons, tensions rose between the people and the district government and my squire was no exception. He challenged my wisdom of defending the barons and proclaimed that he did not trust them and that they were up to no good. I should have listened to him. As it was, I wanted so badly to believe in Lady Cameo, for she was the first one who ever believed in me.

It was that unyielding blind faith that would be my own downfall and cause so much pain for the people I cared most about. With everything going on, with my determined defense of the barons, they decided to turn their attentions on me and try and recruit me to their cult. It is something I would never do in my right mind, but unfortunately, if it is one thing that Zeer was good at doing, it was putting you off balance and after a series of events and talks that did just that, I myself fell to Cameo's influence.

For months, the three of us caused much damage to the city, many of my own friends fell victom to our cult, including my own beloved, Torch. It was not until Zeer proclaimed that Shar wanted the life of my best friend's newborn daughter that I could see what I had become. As much as I cared for Lady Cameo, I could not let anything happen to that baby girl. In my twisted sense of defense, I turned on my own squire, who, by this time, had been knighted by Lady Huefiira, the baroness of the outskirts, and sought his death in order to save the life of his child. My attempt failed fortunately, but to my horror, after waking from being hit by Lord Siannodel's spells in defense of Thal, Rowen was there. The mother of the child I tried to save. My best friend and wife of my former squire. I could not bear to face her, though she just looked at me with those understanding eyes and said she forgave me. I could not, in my state of mind, understand how she could possibly forgive me for what I had done to her family, but she did nevertheless, and it was right then and there, that I decided I would never let this cult make me hurt my friends ever again.

They offered to take me in and help me, but I could not put them in danger. I instead returned to the barons and told them of my revelation. Zeer, seeing he had lost his hold over me, decided to condemn me and blame me for all his mistakes in attacking the Oakenhearts. He wiped my memory of everything having to do with my time with Shar, and yanked the very soul from my body.

I awoke weeks later, with no memory of the past months, to the mage, Lair, reviving me. Zeer and Cameo were there, and I had no idea what had brought me there. Then, before I could even get my bearings, the announcement could be heard shouting in the streets that Baroness Huefiira was bringing charges against Cameo and Zeer. The trial was chaotic to say the least. I could not fathom that so many would lie about such things. I protested the proceedings as much as I could, but to no avail. The verdict was delivered as the evidence was overwhelming. Cameo and Zeer were escorted out of the city and I was left to wander alone outside the courthouse. I remember saying some very harsh words to Lady Huefiira as with my amnesia, I was still under the impression that the former barons were innocent. Some friends caught up to me and pulled me aside to talk. While speaking to them, we realized that something had happened to my memory and upon examining my belongings, found evidence to suggest that in that time, I myself was part of a Sharran cult. I took the realization quite hard and there was also evidence there of my beloved's fate.

I tried to keep going, amidst the sorrow, the shock, and the unrelenting nightmares. I returned to my job as guard commander of the Merchant District and days later, as I was interviewing a hopeful guard recruit inside the baronial estate, we were interrupted by Duke Galverson's men. The elites had come to search the premises. During the search, I felt I had the responsibility to tell them what we'd deduced, and so I informed them of what I had learned of my past and of my apparent amnesia. I allowed him to search my belongings, and the Corporal confiscated a few things he found in my possession and relieved me of my duty in the district.

An ominous uncertainty fell over me, as I did not know what to do. I had lost my liege, my love, and my station, and I knew not where my future was headed. I had much to pay for, and I could not blame the others for not trusting me. I would submit myself to whatever punishment the Duke demanded. It was the least I could do for the people I had hurt so much, memory or no.

by Trynn'delynn Eldafire in the 20th year of Arelith's Reckoning

[[Category:20-29 AR]][[Category:Cordor‏‎]][[Category:History‏‎‏]]