*Little Delisha knelt down in front of Mielikki’s Altar mimicking the Priests and Priestesses she’d seen do the same. *
“Oh Great Mielikki” the little Bard began in a shaky voice, “please hear my prayer and send your blessing to end this horrible curse that has been mysteriously placed on the Fury Guild.”
“Here is my tale of woe, Great One”, Delisha continued, “the curse of the Fury Clerics”.
“Martina Luther was Fury’s first Cleric, recruited to be a support Cleric for the Den. Her chosen weapon, as a young member of the clergy, was the heavy crossbow. Martina was something of a child prodigy with her devastating ranged attack, with confirmed reposts showing well over 100 kills without a miss.
A full Cleric, Martina had just turned level 35 when “the incident“ occurred. During a routine battle, Martina targeted an opponent and shot her deadly bolt just as Highdish Slowhand critically hit the same opponent. The wayward bolt hit and killed a brown bear. Immediately all bears, cats, wolves and dire creatures became hostile, attacking little Martina on sight. Several attempts at relic retrieving to improve her reputation (with much help from Circle and NC members) were attempted, but unfortunately without success.
Then one day Martina was sleeping in Mel when the Diviner sounded the alarm. The little Cleric exited the Inn just in time to see some evil, bottom-feeding, snake enter the Den. Quickly buffing, she waited till the intruder came out of the Den and then casted an implosion on the relic stealing skunk! Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a Forest Walker ran up directly into the implosion circle killing him instantly. Immediately all the Circle NPC defenders turned hostile and attacked Martina (letting the invader get away).
She killed three more NPC defenders before she got under control and let them beat her down and kill her. Yet her dead body hadn’t time to hit the ground before a Good Sumerian rushed out of the Den unaware of what had happened and resurrected the dead little Halfling. Immediately Forest Walkers again attacked her and lashing out in self-defense she killed three or four more before they again took her life. Still not truly grasping the situation, the Good Samaritan resurrected her once again, to the same horrifying results.
Over the next several weeks she and Highdish were successful on three relic raids (out of a dozen), which improved her reputation within the Circle to minus eight.
At this time, I decided she must retire from active status and become a Fury crafter, as she would likely never regain good standing within the Circle. At first she was against the idea and fought like a tiger when we tried to take away her Mole Man Rags, but now she has now accepted her fate and does all the Fury potion and scroll casting.
Chosen to fill the empty Clerical position was young Joan of Bark. A thick-skinned, no necked, mean-spirited, Dwarf girl from the Thunderthigh Clan. Not wishing to repeat any Martina’s previous mistakes, Joan was not allowed to carry a missile weapon so no chance for an accidental bad shot. Furthermore, all her spells were buffing and defensive so no chance of an accidental misfire. A strength-based, Fighter-Cleric specializing in the heavy flail, Joan could knock down most anything or anybody.
All went fine and the new Fury Cleric proceeded up through the ranks reaching level twenty-four without mishap or misfortune.
Then suddenly last week, out of the blue, as Joan left Ave Crossing and entered into the Dark Forest, a hostile Jaguar attacked her. Her uncontrolled attack of opportunity bashed in the kitty cats head and now all bears, cats, wolves and dire creatures are hostile to Joan, attacking her on sight.
This unexpected deja vu is simply too bizarre to be a coincidence and surely must be some type curse is all I can conclude! Joan is completely distraught, has gone on an eating frenzy and can now barley squeeze into her armor!
Please Mielikki, if you can find it in your warm, merciful heart, watch over Joan, send her pleasant dreams and help her waddle just a little faster that she may escape the vicious attacks of your forest creatures. Please, oh Great One, help poor Joan overcome this evil curse and guide her heavy steps as she attempts to follow the long path back to righteousness… to once again be loved and accepted by the woodland creatures she has sworn to protect and defend!
Amen"
At your service,
DZ
