Editing Zal'Kazzir's Difficult Conversation with Mi'Shun (section)

== Zal'Kazzir ==

''*Zal'Kazzir continues to gaze north into the impenentrable gloom*''

"Yes, Mi'shun, you may have my trust, and I pray it is not misplaced, as I pray yours is not." 

"I assure you also, that I will muster all of the wisdom and guidance I may, and if I should be taken by malice and a desire for cruel revenge, know that it will be only my hands that are bloodied, and my soul that is torn. If I would seek such vengeance, and I do not, yet, at least, I could not ask another to do such things."

"I will unburden to you three things; a belief not shared, a fact unknown, and a secret kept. All these things weigh heavily on me, and are anathema to my.. to ''our'' companions, but I must marshal all of the allies and resources that I may, despite the prejudices of others."

"Allow me to start by describing a belief that I hold: I believe that people are people first, and that who you are, not what you look like or whom you serve determine your value as a being. I mean this specifically in the case of we Sarcosans. I am, in fact, a corrupt and decadent lackey of a puppet government. Does this mean I am a stupid, weak-minded follower? Of course not. I may cultivate that image, as does the sussar himself, but even he is no great friend of the Shadow: He.. ''WE'' may be selfish, and manipulative, and corrupt, but we are not irredeemable villains from some children's fairy-tale. There are many in Sarcosa who are like this, nobles, officers, and even many legates. Just because one bears faith in the shadow, is one a villain? At what point does lip-service become faith? And is faith in power and faith in self-preservation the same thing as faith in the Dark Lord? All men have faith in Izrador at some level; none can doubt that he exists, and none can deny that if they call, he will answer. I do not know how to answer these questions, and I am secure in my belief that Izrador is the bane of all life and must be defeated, but I, unlike many, do not condemn all those in his service, whether politically, culturally, or religiously. There is far too much death, judgement and hatred in the world already, and who am I to hand down yet more? Who are any of us to do so? we cannot know a man's soul, and we can not reliably know what the future will bring."

"This brings me to the fact unknown. That I have a sister is widely known, however, what none of our companions are aware, is that my sister, Zalma, whom I love unconditionally, is also a Keeper of Obsidian; a keeper of forbidden knowledge and soon to be confirmed master of the pale. She took up her mantle in order to advance herself and to protect the family, and she is '''very''' effective in her work. She has faith, as I believe all men do after a fashion, and she serves because she is well rewarded with status, security and power. We will need her help to rescue Zia, and I trust her implicitly. She is in Baden's Bluff now, along with my father, and I will be working closely with her in the coming weeks."

"Finally, there is a secret I have kept from our companions, and one that I doubt will be secret for too much longer. There was another Legate, a Sarcosan woman whom I met in Vrolk's spire named Lady Ahimia. We escaped the nail togehter and rejoined the others just before Vrolk's ritual. Despite her aid in defeating Vrolk, including saving Eranon's life, our companions, who do not share the beliefs I professed to you, wished her dead. I bear feelings for Ahimia, and I also don't believe in handing out murder and judgement, and so I volunteered to do the deed, citing my feelings for her and my unwillingness to have another do what I was obligated to do. As far as the others know, I stabbed her in the heart with a poisoned blade, and then summoned flaming beasts to finish her and consume her body. They are right, after a fashion. They saw all of these things, but they saw an illusion, not reality. My image stabbed her image, and illusory beasts attacked her image while I called real hippogriffs to carry her to safety. Our 'boon' comapanions, ever hostile and mistrustful, actually congratulated and praised me for what they thought was a brutal, cold-blooded murder. I like to think that there is some justice in the world, and that somewhere far above the Sorshef watches us, and it pleases me greatly that I was able to get Ahimia to safety; and it pleases me as well that she was here, and that she discovered Krell's plans, and that even now she seeks my Zia. She is a legate, and she has a great deal of blood on her hands, but she is a person, and she risks herself for a family she does not know, and... and I love her."

''*Zal'Kazzir's voice is ragged as he says these words, as if taken aback by his own emotions. He pauses, waiting for Mi'shun's response to so much information*''