A lone man stands before you. Many battle scars adorn his hands and forearms. He is neither a good-looking man nor hideous. His body stoops with what looks to be the weight of the world pressing both hands down upon his huge shoulders. A calm demeanor exudes confidence like a stone wall in the face of a relentless storm. As you watch him he begins to speak in a surprisingly young voice. "Listen to me for I will tell my tale once." He shifts his body slightly; a powerful grace emanates from the move. "I was once a valiant and proud warrior. Full of what some would call fanaticism. I served one they call the Grey God, a God of enlightenment. We were in the low lands fighting some Klaganese. Although they were uncivilized, tribal race they were many and had ferocity unmatched by anyone in the known lands. We had them surrounded and we were about to vanquish them. When a voice started to chant. a Klaganese raised his head from the middle of the pack, looking like something from nightmare, the chant started to get louder. A black and purple face staring at you, his eyes that couldn't have been open anymore with out them popping from his head. A headdress with carved bone in the shape of swords, 6 in all wreathing his head at all points. The chant drove its chilling rhythm to my very bones. We were frozen in place unable to raise sword and shield to protect ourselves. That is when the fear started to root our hearts. Then the beating of drums hammered at our limbs numbing hands and fingertips. I found myself trying to feel my feet as the enemy started to slaughter my comrades. I cried to my god to give me the strength to break this spell that held my body, but only silent greeted my plea!" "It wouldn't have been so bad if I could have heard them fighting. If they had been given a chance to fight like the men they were. But no! I was forced to stand there listening to the grunts as a club crushed their skulls. Listening to the silent thunder of anguish in my heart as they go to meet the Grey God." The warrior's face screws itself up into a mask of hatred. Raising to his full height he is a tempest of rage. "I received no help from my god. Pleading and begging like a common gutter rat, still nothing. I raged at the injustice of this vial act. We have never attacked or killed an unarmed enemy, now we sit here helpless. Is this the price we pay for our arrogance? I could not accept this and scorned my god for abandoning us to the mercies of our enemies. I closed my eyes and drew forth my being. Starting as a low growl, I exhaled my breath. I found that my feeling was coming back and I was able to move my sword. I gather another breath and this time a howl escaped my lips that contained all the agony that comes from see ones friends and companions butchered without a fight. I begin to move. I move left then right slowly getting faster. My wrath building inside, changing me. I start to mumble, laughing like a man left alone too long." "I see them! Moving around like ants, shifting shadow at the edge of my vision. I slowly move towards them. A titan of hatred has been unleashed as I start to dance with them. This dance is no ordinary dance. No thought or word was uttered, just ecstasy as my weapon ravages flesh and crushes bone." "When the sensation turns bitter-sweet, I realized something was wrong. I felt a blast that stopped my heart in my chest and I am standing there with a sword stuck in my side. Somewhere in the battle I had lost the distinction between ally and enemy. I had killed two of my company and now I would died without honor for no one can enter heaven that has killed his comrades in arms." "I do not remember how long it took for me to recover, but upon my return I was banished from my order never to return. Still wounded I was barely able to catch food let alone protect myself, but I did live!" "To this day I remember the stillness in my mind. The calm. Killing my enemies and the pleasure it gave as the blood ran from their veins. I continue my existence, but have turned away from the Grey God and his mercy." Staring at him you realize he is a huge man. With a sigh he slumps again saying, "My god used to talk to me all the time, but now all hear is silence. The silence that is my penance for the sacrilege of my questioning faith."

Testiment of Aknold Lifeshield,

Lost Paladin of the Grey God