Contempt & Noble Honor

The Priest just smiled at the Prince. "Oh, how noble of you. And how pathetically stupid and selfish. Yes, you will die a man, but what of all the others? Instead of fighting for their humanity you will die safeguarding just your own. Instead of fighting to win, you will sacrifice yourself in glorious defeat. Yes, quite noble indeed. And, I imagine, that with your last breath you will smile in the face of the enemy and claim victory because you will have died a hero. But know this, the Shoggoth won't care. It will simply toss your dead body aside and sit back and watch as the world comes to an end. And your noble sacrifice, your oh so honorable suicide, will mean nothing."

Exeter raised his guantleted fist to strike the Priest for his scornful words, but Exotica stayed him.

"What if he is right?" she asked.

Exeter shook his head. "In the end all that really matters is our honor. And if this is the end, I will not sacrifice it. Not for the likes of evil men like him."

"You do not know the meaning of the word evil," the Priest rebutted. "Tell me this; your gods that are so good and righteous, are they here ready to aid you in this battle against evil? No? Then speak not to me of what is good when even your own good gods have retreated before the Shoggoth. But my gods have not. They stand ready to come to our aid, to do what must be done to stave off eternal destruction. But they must be called forth, and only your sister can call them."

"Never!" Exeter growled.

"So be it," the Priest replied and walked away.

Later that night Princess Exotica stole silently through the camp to where the Priest lay, alone and unguarded. She reached out to wake him but was startled when his eyes opened, the dark orbs staring directly at her. "Are you now prepared to do what must be done?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes, though I fear my brother will neither understand nor forgive."

"That is irrelevant," the Priest replied coldly. "Now come with me. What we must do is now more difficult than ever and I confess the path before us is no longer so clearly laid before my eyes."

"Then you are just as lost as I," Exotica murmured.

"Hardly," the Priest chortled. "But before we resume our journey upon the Path we must pay a visit to one who can aid us. We must seek out the Dark Carnival. We must speak to the Barker."

Leaving the camp of Prince Exeter far behind, the Priest of Eibon led Exotica to the...

1. Fens of Canmoor
2. Southern Caves
3. City of Walants

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